Online MBA Programs Ranked by Affordability (2024-2025)
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Earning an MBA can be expensive, with many programs costing $100,000 or more for tuition alone, plus fees. Add to this the need to stop working to earn the degree and the cost skyrockets.
Many students who graduate from expensive academic programs face the challenge of student loan debt. In the U.S., student loan debt has become a crisis with the total of such debt exceeding $1.75 trillion (FRED, SLOAS 2022). The rising costs of higher education are a major driver of the student loan debt crisis.
Another issue is that students may not realize how much the debt will cost them in the end with interest, especially on private loans. A study by LendKey Technologies (cited on Yahoo! Finance) found that 49 percent of borrowers didn’t know what their debt obligations would be, including monthly payments when the loans come due.
Without a proper understanding of the future debt strain, students take on more debt than they can repay, given their potential earnings. This can lead to financial stress, delayed home buying, and delays in starting a family. In addition to these repercussions, Huffington Post pointed out that student loan debt leads to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. In fact, of those surveyed:
- 10 percent of people say student loan debts are their top worry
- 65 percent of those with student loans lose sleep from the stress
- 67 percent have “physical symptoms of anxiety due to the stress from their student loan debt”
The question remains: what can business professionals do to advance their careers and earning potential while avoiding the massive debt load and the ensuing stress? The answer: find an affordable, online program that can give them the flexibility to continue working and living at home, while pursuing an excellent MBA education.
Plus, Covid-19 has ushered in some unusual opportunities. With GMAT requirements being waived at top-notch institutions and low-interest rates, now is an extraordinary time to apply for an online MBA program.
Explore online MBA programs ranked by affordability for the 2024-2025 school year.
These rankings are based on tuition data BSchools.org collected in 2024 from over 500 online MBA programs. Tuition information is as current as possible and is taken from the 2024-2025 school year, as published by each institution, and represents the total tuition cost for the entire program, as opposed to a single academic semester or year.
Most Affordable Online MBA Programs (2024-2025)
Most of these programs are accredited by reputable organizations (AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE) and are 100 percent online. View a school’s profile for full accreditation details. Let’s look at the 20 most affordable online MBA programs ranked by overall cost. Please note that the average is used when a cost range is indicated.
Rasmussen University, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, offers a very affordable 100 percent online MBA that can be completed in as little as 18 months. Through Competency-Based Education (CBE), students complete modules at their own pace, demonstrating mastery of defined competencies through real-world projects. Embedded within the modules are six transferable skills: critical thinking, communication, information literacy, diversity and teamwork, digital fluency, and ethics and professional responsibility.
Courses run 11 weeks each, with four start dates per year in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Course delivery includes interactive sessions, virtual labs, online simulations, and other collaborative experiences. The program ends with an applied project. Students may transfer up to 20 percent of the required credits from applicable prior coursework. The Rasmussen online MBA can be earned for approximately $10,000, the least expensive online MBA in our pool.
| Cost per credit: $218/credit |
| Number of credits: 48 credits |
| Total cost: $10,464 + fees |
Fitchburg State University offers an IACBE-accredited online MBA program with eight concentrations: accounting, business analytics management, finance, healthcare management, human resource management, management, marketing, and supply chain management. This program can be completed in one year or more with accelerated seven-week courses.
Courses for all concentrations include organizational behavior and development; management information systems; marketing management; corporate finance; accounting practices for managers; and strategic management.
| Cost per credit: $436/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $13,080 + fees |
Lamar University offers many AACSB-accredited accelerated online MBA programs designed to prepare professionals with the skills necessary for success in many business specializations. Students choosing a general MBA program complete coursework in subjects including core managerial finance, accounting, marketing, strategic management, economics and international management courses. MBA program specializations include accounting, business analytics, construction project management, criminal justice management, healthcare administration and more.
Students may complete their degree in as little as 12 months. Lamar University strives to make its programs accessible through affordable tuition rates and a decrease in the required number of leveling courses. A leveling course provides an overview of all core subjects associated with a particular program of study.
Affordable tuition, multiple available start dates, interactive courses and the flexibility inherent to an online learning delivery model makes Lamar University’s MBA program offerings highly competitive within the higher education marketplace. In addition, the many MBA specializations make it possible for graduates to pursue various careers across multiple industries.
| Cost per credit: $438/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $13,140 + fees |
Recognized among the “Best Online MBA Programs” by U.S. News & World Report (2024), the University of South Carolina Aiken is another top-ranked university known for its MBA degree program featuring a wealth of MBA specializations and low tuition rates.
Students can choose a general MBA degree or one of several specializations. The MBA General program features an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide graduates knowledge in many business skills. Students seeking to customize their education for careers in niche industries benefit from the university’s many MBA specializations. Available specializations include:
- Accounting
- Business analytics
- Cybersecurity management
- Finance
- Healthcare administration
- Human resource management
- Management information systems
- Supply chain
- Project management
Students can complete their degree in as little as ten months. For students whose bachelor’s degree GPA upon graduation was at least 3.0, no entrance exam is required for admission.
| Cost per credit: $464.93/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $13,948 + fees |
The University of Southern Indiana (USI) is located in Evansville, Indiana, and offers a very affordable, AACSB-accredited online MBA to both IN residents and non-residents. Offering concentrations in accounting, data analytics, engineering management, healthcare administration, human resources, marketing, and project management, the USI online MBA can be completed in just 11 months with accelerated 8-week courses.
Focus areas include effective leadership skills, accounting, strategic management, information systems, current technology, managerial economics, marketing, and international management.
Notably, the project management concentration courses align with the Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and prepare students to earn project management certifications in the industry.
| Cost per credit: $465/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $13,950 + fees |
The University of West Alabama (UWA) offers an affordable online MBA with 14 concentrations through the College of Business and Technology. With accelerated eight-week courses, the MBA can be completed in just 12 months. MBA concentrations include:
- Accounting
- Computing and data analytics
- Computer information systems
- Cybersecurity, cybercrime, and policy
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Finance
- General business
- Healthcare administration
- Human resource management
- International business management
- Marketing
- Rural business
- Sports management
The accounting concentration includes courses that help students satisfy the 150-hour Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure requirement. Key topics covered for all concentrations include research methods and design, managerial economics, financial management, business law and ethics, strategic management, marketing management, emerging business technologies, and business policy. The online MBA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and UWA is located in Livingston, Alabama.
| Cost per credit: $429/credit |
| Number of credits: 33 credits |
| Total cost: $14,157 + fees |
Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) offers a 30-credit online MBA with a general track or a concentration in finance, healthcare administration, and marketing. VWU seeks to prepare business leaders focused on sustainable business, socially and environmentally ethical business practices, economic value, and global business.
The university is committed to the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME), developed by the United Nations. It is the first liberal arts institution in the US to sign the UN Global Compact for ethical business practices, human rights, environmental responsibility, and fair labor.
Courses last 7.5 weeks with start dates six times annually in the fall, spring, and summer. The online MBA can be completed in as few as 12 months with full-time study. Core course topics include marketing management, managerial economics, business analysis, planning, and control, managerial finance, organizational behavior, business leadership, and information management systems. The program also focuses on global business, global responsibility, and sustainable business practices throughout the courses through dialogue, debates, research, and partnerships.
| Cost per credit: $499/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $14,970 + fees |
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) offers a 100 percent online MBA with a general business path or concentrations in accounting, data analytics, finance, healthcare administration, and international business. Offering accelerated seven-week courses, students can earn their general MBA in 12 to 20 months, and an MBA with a concentration in 12 to 24 months. Topics covered for all pathways include topics such as financial analytics, team leadership and collaborations, accounting, financial statement analysis, application, and interpretation, conflict management, organizational behavior, technology-based management, marketing, and managerial economics.
Start dates land six times annually in the fall, spring, and summer. Applicants with a non-business bachelor’s degree may need to take up to four foundational courses. The TAMU-CC online MBA is delivered asynchronously through Blackboard and includes discussion boards, videos, and interactive apps and tools. TAMU-CC is located in Corpus Christi, TX, and the online MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
| Cost per credit: $507/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 to 36 credits |
| Total cost: $15,210 + fees |
The University of Mount Saint Vincent provides a general online MBA and four concentrations: healthcare management, international business, nonprofit management, and risk management. This ACBSP-accredited program has instruction in accounting, finance, and economics; foundations of management, human resources, and business law; and foundations of marketing and the management of information systems. (Please note that those with a BBA can have these courses waived.)
This program can be completed in one year or more and is 100 percent online. Application requirements include two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a resume, and a personal statement.
| Cost per credit: $524/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $15,720 + fees |
Spring Hill College offers an ACBSP-accredited online MBA with concentrations in project management, leadership, and logistics and supply chain management that can be completed in as few as ten months. The college offers affordable tuition, an accelerated learning format, and small class sizes.
Topics covered may include cost accounting, international business, organizational behavior, business analytics, managerial economics, and financial analysis, with concepts of business ethics and social responsibility woven throughout the curriculum. Courses begin twice each in the fall, spring, and summer, and applicants must have three years of relevant work experience to apply.
The project management concentration prepares graduates to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam through courses in project management processes and practices such as cost and risk management, communication, social responsibility, quality management, project integration, scope management, and time management. The concentration in leadership creates business leaders who promote ethical decision-making and organizational change.
| Cost per credit: $555/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $16,650 + fees |
Auburn University of Montgomery offers an AACSB-accredited online MBA program, which takes one year or more to complete. It features courses in finance, marketing, management, and operations, ensuring a well-rounded foundation. To apply, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, and for those with less than a 3.0 GPA, GMAT or GRE scores are typically required.
This program is 100 percent online, requiring no campus visits. Please note that there are three start dates per year in the fall, spring, and summer, but only fall enrollees have the opportunity to finish within one year.
| Cost per credit: $566/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $16,980 + fees |
The Murray State University Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business offers affordable, fully online MBA degree programs that may be completed in as little as 12 to 18 months. Graduates are well prepared to work in several settings, including business, information technology, and data analytics in both the private and public sectors. The curriculum is robust regarding academic training and emphasizes leadership, ethics, sustainability, and diversity in the modern global marketplace.
Students may pursue an MBA General program or select one of several specializations. The MBA general online program provides students with the foundational knowledge to effectively work in all aspects of a business environment. Students may nonetheless specialize their skills through their choice of electives. The core curriculum focuses on developing skills in accounting, business analytics, managerial economics, and more. In addition, required capstone courses enhance students’ understanding of organizational behavior and strategic management.
| Cost per credit: $581.50/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $17,445 + fees |
Eastern Washington University offers a fully online, accelerated, AACSB-accredited MBA with concentrations in general business, finance, accounting, international business, and health services administration. This affordable degree can be completed in as few as ten months with seven start dates and six-week courses. A capstone course completes the core curriculum. Topics covered include essential skills in operations management, marketing management, leadership and ethics, data-driven decision-making, corporate finance, and advanced accounting for managers.
Applicants without a bachelor’s degree also take courses on quantitative analysis in business, finance, and accounting. Course delivery runs asynchronously through Canvas. Graduates may pursue careers in multinational marketing, health services administration, banking and finance, human resources, sales, financial analysis, import/export, international trade, policy analysis, and pharmaceuticals.
| Cost per credit: $400/credit |
| Number of credits: 44 credits |
| Total cost: $17,600 + fees |
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU Carbondale) is recognized as the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University System. The SIU System is a collection of diverse, inclusive, student-centered universities whose programs are designed to provide both a quality education and ignite students’ passion for education itself. A nationally ranked public research university, SIU Carbondale also acts as a regional economic catalyst, contributing to the quality of life for communities throughout southern Illinois. The SIU System strives to develop and exchange knowledge, transform lives, and improve whole communities.
The SIU Carbondale online MBA program offers both a general program and study concentrations for those seeking to develop more specialized skills. The general program is designed to train students in the foundational skills necessary to work successfully in various business settings. Available concentrations include marketing, finance, and analytics for managers. All degree programs may be completed in as little as 14 months.
Among its many distinctions, SIU Carbondale is also noteworthy for its accreditations. SIU Carbondale is among the less than two percent of the entire world’s schools offering business degree programs that hold a supplemental AACSB accounting accreditation.
| Cost per credit: $540/credit |
| Number of credits: 33 credits |
| Total cost: $17,820 + fees |
William Paterson University University provides a general online MBA program and several specializations, including accounting, applied business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, healthcare economics and management, human resource management, marketing, and sales strategy.
This AACSB-accredited program offers instruction in areas such as financial accounting for decision-makers; economic analysis for decision-makers; finance for decision-makers; statistics for decision-making; foundations of management; and marketing for decision-making. Additionally, general MBA students must take one of the following concentration courses: global marketing; international financial statement analysis; seminar on the problems in international business; or global sales management.
| Cost per credit: $595.75/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $17,872.50 + fees |
Avila University offers an online MBA in several specializations: accounting, executive leadership, finance, healthcare administration, international business, management, marketing, project management, and strategic human resources. This IACBE-accredited program has courses that run eight weeks each with six start dates each year, two in the fall, two in the spring, and two in the summer.
All concentrations feature instruction in financial accounting for decision-making; behavior, well-being, and ethics; applied microeconomics; financial management; global strategic management; marketing management; and an MBA capstone.
| Cost per credit: $600/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $18,000 + fees |
New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) offers an ACBSP-accredited, fully online MBA with a general business track or concentrations in healthcare administration or entrepreneurship. Core topics include managerial finance, accounting, business research, ethics and law, quantitative methods, ethical decision-making, business strategy, and marketing management. Accelerated courses last eight weeks each and the degree can be completed in just one year at two courses per eight-week session.
NMHU’s curriculum includes a multicultural focus and a focused problem-solving approach. The asynchronous curriculum includes case studies and simulations covering various decision-making areas in business organizations. Graduates will be able to apply quantitative and qualitative analysis to real-world problem-solving, understand and work from legal regulations and ethical issues that affect businesses and apply that understanding to real-world business situations, and lead with effective teamwork, communication, and presentation skills needed to promote a positive work environment.
| Cost per credit: $525/credit |
| Number of credits: 36 credits |
| Total cost: $18,900 + fees |
Campbellsville University Offers an online MBA with a general track or choices of accounting, church management, computer science, entrepreneurial leadership, financial planning, healthcare management, human resource management, information technology, international business, marketing, and supply chain and logistics management. Campbellsville University seeks to prepare MBA graduates who become servant leaders, living out Christian values in their business practices, ethics, and decision-making.
The program can be completed in as little as one year; however, most students attend part-time and complete the MBA in two years. Courses last eight weeks each and start dates land twice each in the fall, spring, and summer. Core topics include marketing management, organizational theory, managerial accounting, management information systems, business ethics, human resource management, business strategy, and managerial finance and economics. The Campbellsville online MBA is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
| Cost per credit: $529/credit |
| Number of credits: 36 credits |
| Total cost: $19,044 + fees |
Southern New Hampshire University is a well-known provider of online academic programs designed to meet the particular needs of working adults. Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, SNHU offers a very large number of MBA specializations. Applicants are not required to have a GRE or GMAT score and can transfer up to six credits into the program. Students can complete many programs in approximately a year but also have the option to set their own study pace.
Students seeking to start careers in very niche industries may ultimately find a specialization at SNHU. MBA specializations include accounting, engineering management, human resource management, international business, leadership, music business, sports management, and sustainability and environmental compliance.
| Cost per credit: $637/credit |
| Number of credits: 30 credits |
| Total cost: $19,110 + fees |
Southern Oregon University (SOU) offers a fully online, ACBSP-accredited MBA with concentrations in accounting, business analytics, finance, healthcare administration, information analysis and decision-making, and marketing. The program can be completed in as few as 16 months with seven-week courses. Start dates land in the fall, winter, and spring, plus two summer starts.
Key focus areas include teamwork, ethical leadership, and effective communication. Learned skills include critical thinking and effective problem-solving, conflict resolution, change management, financial decision-making, the use of emerging technologies, and research-based planning.
Core courses cover managerial accounting for decision-making, economic analysis, information systems, strategic operations management, strategic marketing management, legal and ethical business issues, and advanced organizational behavior. A capstone and graduate research project are also included.
| Cost per credit: $430/credit |
| Number of credits: 45 credits |
| Total cost: $19,350 + fees |
Additional Affordable Online MBA Programs Are Available
Beyond this list, you can browse a large selection of accredited and affordable online MBA programs by type, by concentration or by name. Simply navigate to a school’s full-page profile for full program details, including admissions requirements and tuition.
