An online MBA program can give you a significant career boost, but can you earn the degree without breaking the bank? We rank the most affordable MBA programs here.
The Master of Business Administration is a valuable graduate degree. However, it can also be very expensive.
The average cost of grad school is somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per year for both private and public grad schools. However, you can pay as much as $100,000 per year to attend some of the nation’s most prestigious business schools.
Of course, the MBA may still be well worth it. After all, working professionals who complete an advanced business administration program typically enjoy better opportunities for career advancement and improved earning power.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that MBA students will earn $20,000-$30,000 more than college graduates. The BLS says MBA students with specializations like securities, commodities, and financial services can earn 90% more than college grads!
This makes the online MBA a good investment. But starting an affordable online MBA program can make a world of difference.
Fortunately, many of the best online MBA programs are also designed to reduce your costs and limit your student loan debt. If you’re planning on attending a college of business for your graduate degree, now is a good time to make your first savvy business decision. Shop around for the most affordable online MBA that meets your requirements.
See our complete MBA program list for more information.
Students in the online MBA degree program will study topics such as organizational leadership, international business, and business analytics.
Online students can choose from countless areas of concentration as well, from supply chain management and healthcare management to marketing management and managerial accounting. In other words, affordable accredited online MBA programs are available in most popular areas of specialization.
An affordable online program can lead to well-paying leadership opportunities for business professionals. MBA graduates often become top executives, and are capable of earning a median salary of $98,980 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Choosing an online MBA program that costs less than $10,000 a year can be a great way to advance your earning power and career prospects without taking on a heavy student loan debt burden.
We have even more affordable MBA programs in our Guide to Affordable Degrees.
Schools that offer an online MBA have different admission requirements.
These are the admission requirements common to schools offering the graduate business degree:
Key Point: Some programs might also require an interview process.
Learn more about online MBA admission requirements.
Each college of business will require the completion of different courses, although there are similarities in programs. There are typically core courses, as well as electives and an individualized capstone project.
The typical courses offered in the online MBA program include:
Key Point: Most affordable MBA programs will cover topics such as organizational behavior, corporate finance, and business ethics.
Graduates with an online MBA have the credentials to qualify for several careers, including:
Key Points: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for to executives are projected to grow by 6% from 2021 to 2031.
The picture is even brighter for those who use their graduate degree to pursue careers as administrative services and facilities managers. Jobs for these positions are expected to grow by 7% from 2021 to 2031.
If you aspire to a career in business leadership, you must be sure that you can tackle the challenges of an accredited online MBA program. While you may be looking for cheap online MBA programs, quality is still extremely important.
Therefore, aspiring online MBA students must take certain factors into account when looking for the right online business school.
An online degree program from a reputable school of business should have a good public reputation and a strong academic track record. These factors will be important as you look to apply your fully online MBA program to real-world job opportunities.
Here are the factors that you need to consider when choosing from schools that offer affordable online MBA programs:
In addition to institutional accreditation, be sure your affordable online MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This national board provides programmatic accreditation, which is an important mark of credibility and academic excellence for the master’s of business administration degree.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Accountants and Auditors in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
In most cases, the most affordable MBA degree will be the one offered by a public university in your state. Online grad students enjoy access to in-state tuition rates just like traditional on-campus students.
That’s why we’ve ranked these online MBA programs based on in-state tuition rates. (*Out of state students may pay higher tuition to attend the MBA programs listed below.) The affordable MBA degrees ranked below below are all public options with an extensive range of online classes.
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
57%
Student body
5K
Fitchburg State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Fitchburg State University was formed in 1894, and began life as the State Normal School of Fitchburg. The public university’s original mission was to provide secondary education exclusively to women in the surrounding Fitchburg, Massachusetts region. Fitchburg gained the right to grant undergraduate degrees in 1930, and added graduate programs in 1935.
The primarily education-focused school became the State College at Fitchburg in 1960, and earned its present name in 2010. Today, Fitchburg State University offers nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate-level programs across 25 academic departments, serving a student body of nearly 5000.
Are seeking an affordable undergraduate or graduate degree program. Fitchburg is particularly accessible for in-state students.
Don’t prefer a city environment. Students describe the area around campus as urban.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
73%
Graduation
24%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
820/16
Albany State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Albany State University was founded in 1903 by Joseph Winthrop Holley, the son of former slaves. Inspired by civil rights icon W.E.B. Du Bois, Holley founded a school in Albany, Georgia.
Originally conceived to educate local Black citizens, the small teaching institution became the state-run Georgia Normal and Agricultural College in 1917.
Joining the Georgia state university system in 1932, the public HBCU serves more than 6000 students today.
Are studying in areas like nursing, business, and liberal arts. Each of these programs is highly popular among Albany’s students.
Are dependent on financial aid. Students describe the financial administrative offices as somewhat slow to process forms and financial aid packages.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
37%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
920/18
Fayetteville State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Fayetteville State University was formed in 1867 as the Howard School and is the second oldest state supported school in the state of North Carolina. The public historically black college was in fact the first teacher training school for African Americans in North Carolina and was, for much of its early history, called the State Colored Normal School.
Becoming Fayetteville State College in 1963, and reorganizing as Fayetteville State University in 1969, the institution serves more than 6000 undergraduate and postgraduate students today.
Are pursuing careers in business and science. Fayetteville has noteworthy programs in these popular disciplines.
Are planning to commute to college by car. Students routinely describe parking at Fayetteville as challenging.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
27%
Student body
3K
Cameron University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Cameron University was formed in 1908 as the Cameron State School of Agriculture. Today, the Lawton, Oklahoma-based public university provides more than 50 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, catering to students in the generally rural region.
Cameron University held its first classes in the basement of a local bank more than a century ago. Today, the public institution holds classes predominantly on nights and weekends, which makes it an excellent fit for adult learners. There are currently more than 5000 students enrolled today.
Are seeking an affordable education. Students describe both the cost of attendance and the cost of living in the region as comparatively low.
Are seeking a campus with a lively weekend and nightlife. Some students describe Cameron as a commuter school.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
33%
Student body
14K
Columbia Southern is a private online school that operates on a for-profit model. Headquartered in Orange Beach, Alabama, Columbia Southern University was founded in 1993.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by the national Distance Education Accreditation Commission (DEAC). However, the online school is also currently under consideration for regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Mission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of a wholly online education.
Are undecided regarding a major. With 26 associate, bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, Columbia Southern is a better fit for students planning to study in the specific areas where the online school specializes.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Student body
6K
Aspen University is a fully online university offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of subject areas including nursing, education, and counseling. Aspen’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Psychology of Addiction and Counseling are approved by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC).
The University of Aspen was actually founded as the International Academy in the 1960s, and significantly predates the inception of online education.
Wish to choose from a wide range of fully online undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Require a regionally accredited degree.
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
45%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1020/20
Angelo State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Angelo State University was founded in 1928, and began its history as San Angelo College. Gaining university status in 1967, the public San Angelo, Texas university began granting graduate degrees in 1969.
Today, Angelo State University is part of the Texas Tech University System. With more than 10,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Angelo State is Texas Tech’s second largest campus.
Enjoy smaller classes. Students describe professors as accessible and the campus community as highly welcoming.
Plan to commute by car. Many students describe the parking at Angelo State as difficult to navigate.
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
56%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/23
Wayne State University was founded in 1868 by five returning Civil War veterans. Initially chartered as the Detroit Medical College, today the public university is the third largest in the state of Michigan.
Wayne State University serves roughly 25,000 students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels online, at its flagship Detroit campus and across form satellite campuses.
Are still choosing their major. Wayne State has more than 350 degree programs to choose from.
Prefer a traditional campus experience. Some students describe Wayne State as a “commuter school.”
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
28%
Student body
5K
University of Arkansas Grantham’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Grantham University was founded in 1951, and originally began its existence as a for-profit radio licensing school. Even as Grantham expanded into a full-scale university, it exclusively provided distance education courses.
By 2021, Grantham had made the full transition to online-only courses. That same year, the for-profit school was purchased by the University of Arkansas system for just $1! Gaining public status, the Little Rock, Arkansas-headquartered school now serves more than 4000 online undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Enjoy a self-paced educational experience. Satisfied students described the convenience of being able to complete courses on their own time.
Are seeking a traditional campus experience, as Grantham is a fully online college.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
42%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
995/19
University of West Georgia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of West Georgia formed as the 4th District A&M School in 1906. Gaining college status in 1933, and joining the public state school system in 1996, University of West Georgia is one of four comprehensive universities in the state today.
With a primary campus in Carrollton, Georgia and a satellite campus in Newnan, the University of West Georgia today serves more than 13,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are looking for affordable options. Students describe UWG as a great deal for the money.
Prefer a lively campus on the weekends. Students describe the Carrollton campus as fairly quiet.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
41%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/21
Valdosta State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Valdosta State University was formed in 1913 as the Georgia State Normal College. In its first year of operation, the teaching college included three college level students and 15 prep level students. In the next decade, the institution evolved into the Georgia State Women’s College.
By 1950, Valdosta State had become a coeducational institution. Today, Valdosta serves more than 12,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are pursuing careers in education, business administration, and health sciences. Valdosta offers excellent programs in each of these areas.
Are seeking a big city campus experience. Some students describe opportunities for off-campus activity as limited in the relatively small town of Valdosta.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
39%
Student body
2K
Chadron State College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Chadron State College was formed in 1911 as the Nebraska Normal School. From its beginnings as a regional teacher college to its current status as one of three public universities in the state of Nebraska, Chadron is notable for its 100% admission rate.
Its accessibility makes Chadron State College a great point of entry for students living in the rural regions in surrounding Dawes County, especially in disciplines like business, healthcare, and liberal arts. Today, more than 3000 students are pursuing degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are seeking an affordable public education. Students describe both the cost of attendance and the cost of living as comparatively low at Chadron.
Are seeing a larger school. Students describe the campus and classes as small and intimate.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
30%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
985/20
Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Southeastern Oklahoma State University was formed in 1909 as the Southeastern State Normal School. Operating as a teaching school for its first 30 years of operation, Southeastern began to offer arts and sciences bachelor’s degrees in 1939.
The Durant, Oklahoma-based research institution is noted today for its popular programs in business, education, and biology. Today, the public university serves roughly 5000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are pursuing careers in aviation. Southeastern is noteworthy for offering one of the best aviation degrees for the cost.
Are seeking a lively campus experience. Students describe both the campus and surrounding region as relatively quiet.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
48%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/23
University of Montana’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Montana was formed in 1893 in Missoula, Montana. Founded just four years after Montana’s achievement of statehood, the institution was actually awarded to the town in exchange for its support of territory-capital Helena, then bidding to retain its status as the seat of government.
Just as Helena would become the state capital, University of Montana would become the state’s flagship public research university.
The University of Montana is noted today for its high level of research activity. And with roughly 11,000 students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, University of Montana is the second largest campus in the state system.
Enjoy nature and the outdoors. Students describe the campus as beautiful as well as being inclusive and welcoming.
Are still undecided on their major. Students note that course offerings are not as plentiful here as in some other public universities.
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
42%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/19
University of Texas Permian Basin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Texas Permian Basin was authorized in 1969 and formally founded in 1973. Based in the city of Odessa, Texas, the public university is noted for its state of the art science and technology facilities, including its ongoing plans to build one of the nation’s first new university-based nuclear reactor testing facilities in more than a decade.
Today, University of Texas Permian Basin occupies more than 600 acres and serves roughly 8000 students. Of these, nearly half are studying at the post-graduate level.
Are looking for a strong liberal arts program at an affordable price.
Are interested in attending college football games. In a state where college football is extremely popular, Permian Basin does not have a team.
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
25%
Student body
3K
Rogers State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Rogers State University was formed in 1909 as the Eastern University Preparatory School and spent the better part of the early 20th century serving as a military academy. Achieving university status in 1996, Rogers now offers 30 undergraduate degrees as well as a Master of Business Administration.
Based in Claremore, Oklahoma—with additional campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor Creek—Rogers serves more than 4000 students today.
Are seeking small class sizes. Students describe classes as intimate and professors as accessible and attentive.
Are looking to get involved in extracurricular activities. Students note that the number of campus activities to choose from is relatively limited.
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
54%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1081/21
Georgia Southern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Georgia Southern University was formed in 1906, and began its history as the First District Agricultural & Mechanical School. Today, the public university in Statesboro, Georgia offers more than 140 different degree programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Serving nearly 27,000 students, Georgia Southern is the fifth largest institution in the state university system and the largest in the southern portion of the state.
Are studying nursing, biology, and the liberal arts. Georgia Southern offers popular and well-rated programs in each of these areas.
Are seeking a school in a lively community. Students note that the small community around Georgia Southern offers few opportunities for recreation on nights and weekends.
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
63%
Graduation
54%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/23
Arkansas State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Arkansas State University was formed in 1909, which makes it the flagship campus in the state’s public university system. Beginning life as a regional agricultural school, today ASU has more than 150 degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Its main campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas is also home to the state’s largest library.
With more than 14,000 students enrolled, ASU is the second largest institution of higher learning in the state of Arkansas.
Enjoy nature. The campus sits at elevation atop a formation known as Crowley’s Ridge. Student’s describe ASU as a warm, welcoming, and beautiful environment.
Are not self-motivated. Students say this school is ideal for students who are good at working independently.
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
49%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/23
University of Central Arkansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
University of Central Arkansas is one of the oldest institutions in the state of Arkansas. Formed as the Arkansas State Normal School in 1907, it was in fact the state’s only teaching college for much of its early operation, which made it the primary source for most of the state’s educators.
Today, the University of Central Arkansas serves more than 11,000 students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Are pursuing careers in nursing, education, and business. University of Central Arkansas has noted programs in each of these popular disciplines.
Don’t prefer a campus with a prominent Greek system. Students indicate that fraternities and sororities play a defining role in the social atmosphere at UCA.
Tuition + fees
$5K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
34%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/20
Georgia Southwestern State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Georgia Southwestern State University was founded in 1906, and was originally known as the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School. The Americus, Georgia-based school would become a part of the state university system in 1932. The college exclusively granted two-year degrees for the next three decades.
Granting its first four-year degrees in 1969, Georgia Southwestern took its present name in 1996. Today, Georgia Southwestern serves roughly 3000 students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Like the outdoors. The Georgia Southwestern campus is often noted for its beautiful campus and its warm, welcoming community.
Don’t like the heat. Students describe the region as extremely hot and humid during the spring and summer months.
Find out how you can save even more money by completing free MBA courses at some of the best business schools in the world.