The 10 most affordable online MBA programs come from across the spectrum of accreditations and offer a cost-effective way to upgrade business skills with a low risk of accruing debt.
Two of the cheapest online MBA programs in the United States are accredited by top flight Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Both Fort Hays State University in Kansas and Jacksonville State University in Alabama carry that distinction. The AACSB is considered to be the most prestigious accreditor of business schools in the United States.
Half of the schools–Cameron University, Chadron State College, Columbia College, Grantham University, and Fort Hays State University–have their home campus in the Midwest of the U.S. Two schools in Missouri–Columbia College and Grantham University–also offer cheap online MBA programs.
Though these smaller business programs don’t carry the cache of the larger brand names in the online MBA marketplace, their base program costs are very affordable and worthy of consideration. Cameron University’s program has the lowest base program cost in the country at $8,250. The 10th most affordable program: Fort Hays State University at $13,600.
The schools offer a wide range of familiar concentrations, including information systems, human resource management, and marketing. American Public University has a group of tracks, including nonprofit management and homeland security. Fort Hays State University offers sports management, tourism and hospitality management, among others.
– Sean Gallagher
@seangallagherla
List Order: Base Program Cost, Low to High.
Cameron University
Campus: Lawton, Oklahoma
Type: Public
Accreditation: ACBSP
Base Program Cost: $8,250
Per Credit Hour: $250
Minimum Credit Hours: 33
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist/Electives
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Cameron University
Online MBA School Profile: Cameron University Online MBA Program
Chadron State College
Campus: Chadron, Nebraska
Type: Public
Accreditation: ACBSP
Base Program Cost: $9,450
Per Credit Hour: $262.50 (includes fees)
Minimum Credit Hours: 36
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 36 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist/Electives
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Chadron State College
Online MBA School Profile: Chadron State College Online MBA Program
United States University
Campus: Chula Vista, California
Type: Private, For-Profit
Accreditation: WASC
Base Program Cost: $10,800
Per Credit Hour: $300
Minimum Credit Hours: 36
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist/Electives
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: United States University
Online MBA School Profile: United States University Online MBA Program
Grantham University
Campus: Kansas City, Missouri
Type: Private, For-profit
Accreditation: DETC
Base Program Cost: $11,700
Per Credit Hour: $325
Minimum Credit Hours: 36
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist / Electives, Information Management, Project Management
On Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Grantham University
OnlineMBA School Profile: Grantham University Online MBA Program
Columbia College
Campus: Columbia, Missouri
Type: Private, Non-profit
Accreditation: HLC/NCACS
Base Program Cost: $12,240
Per Credit Hour: $340
Minimum Credit Hours: 36
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist / Electives
On Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Columbia College
OnlineMBA School Profile: Columbia College Online MBA Program
American Public University
Campus: Charles Town, West Virginia
Type: Private, For-Profit
Accreditation:
Base Program Cost: $12,675
Per Credit Hour: $325
Minimum Credit Hours: 39
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
Concentrations Available Online: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Business Management, Homeland Security, Resource Allocation, Information Technology Management, Marketing, Nonprofit Management
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: American Public University
Online MBA School Profile: American Public University Online MBA Program
Jacksonville State University
Campus: Jacksonville, Alabama
Type: Public University
Accreditation: AACSB
Base Program Cost: $13,170
Per Credit Hour: $439
Minimum Credit Hours: 30
GMAT Required: Yes
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Optional Concentrations: Generalist/electives
On Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Jacksonville State University
OnlineMBA School Profile: Jacksonville State University Online MBA Program
California Intercontinental University
Campus: Diamond Bar, California
Type: Private, For-Profit
Accreditation: DETC
Base Program Cost: $13,275
Per Credit Hour: $295
Minimum Credit Hours: 45
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Concentrations Available Online: Banking and Finance, Healthcare Management and Leadership, International Management and Marketing, Information Systems and Knowledge Management, Organizational Development and Human Resource Management, Project and Quality Management
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: California Intercontinental University
Online MBA School Profile: California Intercontinental University Online MBA Program
Western Governors University
Campus: Salt Lake City, Utah
Type: Public, Non-Profit
Accreditation: DETC
Base Program Cost: $13,406
Per Credit Hour: $406.25
Minimum Credit Hours: 33
GMAT Required: No
Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
Concentrations Available Online: Generalist/Electives, Healthcare Management, IT Management
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Western Governors University
Online MBA School Profile: Western Governors University Online MBA Program
Fort Hays State University
Campus: Hays, Kansas
Type: Public
Accreditation: AACSB
Base Program Cost: $13,600
Per Credit Hour: $400
Minimum Credit Hours: 34
GMAT Required: Yes
Minimum Time Commitment: 18 months
Concentrations Available Online: Finance, Health Care Management, Health and Human Performance/Sports Management, Human Resource Management, Information Assurance, International Business, Leadership Studies, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Tourism and Hospitality Management
Campus Requirements: No
School Site: Fort Hays State University
Online MBA School Profile: Fort Hays State University Online MBA Program
Notes About the Listings
Accreditation:
- AACSB: Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business is an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This organization accredits the world’s top business schools. Its standards are high and dictate that faculty must be involved in academic research, among other requirements. The group is a specialized accreditor for business schools.
- ACBSP: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs is an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This organization accredits a broad spectrum of business schools. Its standards are high and its emphasis in on faculty that is experienced in their field of instruction, among other requirements. The group is a specialized accreditor for business programs.
- HLC/NCACS: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. HLC is the accreditation arm of the NCACS. The group grants initial reviews of applications for accreditation and ensures standards continue to be upheld. One of the six officially recognized regional accreditation bodies in the United States.
- DETC: The Distance Education and Training Council. DETC reviews the quality of programs from distance learning institutes. It is an accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- WASC: The Western Association of Schools & Colleges. One of the six officially recognized regional accreditation bodies in the United States. Oversees schools in California and Hawaii, in addition to U.S. territories. Comprised of three commissions, which accredit schools at different levels. The use of WASC here is in reference to the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
Base Program Cost: Determined by number of credit hours multiplied by the out of state cost per credit hour. When an out of state credit hour cost is not assigned, the credit hour charge for online graduate students is used. Base program costs do not include additional fees, textbooks, or the cost of prerequisite courses or additional credit hours needed for certifications, except where noted.
GMAT Required: In certain cases, the GMAT requirement may be waived. This varies by school depending on undergraduate GPA, professional work experience, or previous graduate work. Schools that do require the GMAT may have a minimum score threshold to be considered for enrollment.
Minimum Time Commitment: This is the minimum amount of time a student would need to earn their MBA. This minimum differs by school–based on the student’s full time or part time status, waived prerequisites, or additional factors that are best discussed with an institution’s admissions office.
Concentrations: MBA students can opt to follow a prescribed course sequence such as International Business, Health Care Administration, or other concentrations. Or they will follow a Generalist core curriculum and use Electives to select a concentration of their own design.
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