The 28 Cheapest Online Master’s Degree Programs in Business Management

For business professionals seeking to climb middle or upper positions in the corporate scene, Master’s in Business Management online programs that are inexpensive are an added motivation. Through inexpensive online programs, students can attend at their own pace and learn beyond the basics of:

• sales,
• marketing,
• human resource,
• financial,
• and executive management.

There is a good reason for individuals in the business management field to aspire for a higher level of education. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that individuals with master’s degrees earn a wage that is nearly 90% higher than bachelor’s degree holders, particularly in the areas of commodities, securities, and financial services.

Online Master of Business Management degrees equip adult learners—consisting of experts and leaders in the field—with enhanced competencies and skills to better compete and thrive in an evolving business environment.

Online Master’s Degree Programs in Business Management provide an affordable option for professionals to advance their business skills and knowledge. These programs often allow graduates to gain the expertise needed to pursue a variety of management roles without spending thousands of dollars on traditional higher education.

Today, management master’s degree programs offered online don’t have to break the bank, thanks to colleges and universities across America that emphasize affordability and quality in their web-based learning programs.

Methodology

We have indexed accredited academic institutions that offer the cheapest online Master’s degree programs in Business Management, as well as related programs. We reviewed each of the school’s official websites for accurate and timely information on their affordable rates and top-quality education. 

Listed in random order, we also highlight how each program lets students get ahead in the real-world business arena through the courses they cover and the program duration. The following schools were selected based on the following attributes: 

• Offers affordable options for a Master’s degree program in Business Management, 
• Prepares graduates for upper Management positions in Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, and Financial Management, plus much more, 
• Provides a 100% Online or Hybrid learning format,
• Delivers a comprehensive Master’s of Business Management program that allows students to acquire knowledge in all aspects of business, including ethical practices, critical-thinking skills, and executing business strategies, as well as research to stay competitive, 
• Instructed by supportive faculty experienced in the field of Business Management, 
• Offers Financial Aid options; Grants, Scholarships and Military Discounts, 
• Addresses the most up-to-date and innovative technology practices used in Business Management, 
• Ideal for working professionals interested in career advancement and a salary increase,
• Some programs may provide degree specializations according to your interests and career goals.

To learn more, please see our Methodology page.

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Cheapest Online Master’s Degree Programs in Business Management

Montreat College

Prominent Program Features:

Earn an online Master’s in Business Administration at Montreat College, an academic institution headquartered in Montreat, North Carolina. The program, which is part of the institution’s School of Adult and Graduate Studies, is taught over the web-based learning platform Moodle.

With tuition of only $595 per credit hour, the affordable online master’s in management degree at Montreat develops students’ strategic planning and critical thinking skills as well as managerial and organizational leadership.

University of West Florida

Prominent Program Features:

The University of West Florida offers an online Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Logistics. This affordable online MBA costs only $16,434 per year at $377.60 cost per credit hour.

The degree requires 36 credits for completion and can be finished in as quickly as 16 months, depending on the student’s pace. The courses include:

• policy formulation,
• strategic management,
• policy formulation,
• and business process integration.

All programs and specialist degrees offered at the University of Florida are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Missouri State University

Prominent Program Features:

Missouri State University is an affordable and flexible choice school that offers a Master’s in Management degree concentrating in Project Management. The annual tuition is $6,250 with a cost per credit hour of $279.

Subject areas include:

• information systems in business organizations,
• fundamentals of economics,
• management of innovation and technology,
• cost analysis for project management,
• and product design and development.

Online adult learners get the same quality of instruction from on-campus teachers. Missouri State University has been regarded as a top Midwest school.

City University of New York

Prominent Program Features:

Students at the City University of New York, the third biggest university system in the country, pay a low-rate fee of $5,545 per school year or $470 per credit to earn a Master of Science in Business Management and Leadership online.

Today, almost 4,000 students are enrolled in the program since it was first offered in 2006. Distant learners are exposed to subjects in:

• global strategic management,
• business accounting,
• and conflict resolution.

The online MS in Business Management program at CUNY gears students up for careers in risk management, data analysis, or strategic direction. As such, they gain essential skills relevant to their future management careers such as analyzing numerical and non-numerical data, executing business strategies, and leveraging managerial skills.

Western Governors University

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a non-profit university that offers a Master of Science in Management and Leadership online program.

Online students pay the modest tuition of $7,842 yearly and are charged based on a six-month term instead of a per-credit-hour basis. In this accelerated program, 75% of students finish in just 19 to 46 months using high-quality learning materials. Key courses include:

• ethical leadership,
• strategic management,
• and human capital management.

A top university in the West, WGU is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

University of North Texas

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Dallas, Texas, the University of North Texas offers an online Master of Business Administration with a Strategic Management concentration. At a competitive annual rate of $31,530, the online graduate degree’s cost per credit hour is $1,081.70.

Students are trained in the areas of:

• organization management,
• development strategies,
• and similar specific fields on an international scale.

Sample courses include:

• financial management,
• administrative strategy,
• and organizational behavior & analysis.

UNT’s affordable online master’s in business management can be completed in only 14 months.

University of Colorado (Denver)

Prominent Program Features:

The University of Colorado (Denver) offers an affordable online Master’s Degree in Business Management with a tuition rate of $9,074 annually.

Adult learners can specialize in sustainability in the marketplace, including a specialty in fraud examination. Classes are taught by on-campus university professors and include subjects such as:

• the legal and ethical environment for business,
• team leadership,
• and data analysis for managers.

The University of Colorado is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Minot State University

Prominent Program Features:

Located in North Dakota, Minot State University charges only $8,112.60 annually for its Master of Science in Management online degree. Students complete courses in:

• international business,
• international management,
• strategic marketing,
• and management information systems, each with a strong emphasis on research.

It costs a low rate of $455.49 per credit hour. It is a Higher Learning Commission-accredited school, with evening classes one to two times per week.

The Don L. Barber Memorial Scholarship and Luther Hanson & Diann Witham Hanson Scholarship are available for those interested in obtaining financial aid for their online Master’s in Management at MSU.

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Prominent Program Features:

With a modest net tuition of only $7,338, Texas A&M University-Commerce offers a comprehensive online Master of Science in Management degree.

The degree requires 30 to 42 hours of coursework and tackles interactive and digital marketing, consumer and buyer behavior analytics, product innovation, and supply chains, among other basic electives. Applicants can choose to complete a long-range schedule, pick a degree plan, or choose a course catalog to graduate with a master’s in Marketing.

Texas A&M is a well-praised school with scholarships being published by Harvard Business Review journals. It also offers scholarships such as the Donny David Doster Memorial Endowment and the Evelyn & David Lancaster Scholarship Fund.

The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools in Business (AACSB).

University of Houston

Prominent Program Features:

The University of Houston, a SACS-accredited and AACSB-accredited university, offers an online Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resource Management.

With an annual tuition cost of $9,902, the courses include:

• basic business management,
• problem-solving,
• and human resource processes.

Hailed for its top-quality degrees in entrepreneurship, the University of Houston has more than 50,000 students enrolled in both the main campus and online programs.

Bellevue University

Prominent Program Features:

A top-rated non-profit university based in Nebraska, Bellevue University offers a Master of Project Management online program with an average annual tuition of $1,833 and a cost per credit hour of $630.

Course samples include:

• small business operation,
• portfolio development,
• and internet marketing.

Students are provided with the necessary skills in management to meet leadership challenges through their hands-on mentorship. Students can opt for online business concentrations in:

• project management,
• entrepreneurship,
• executive coaching,
• and human resource management. 

Bellevue University is a member of the National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) and a military-friendly institution.

Amberton University

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Garland, Texas, Amberton University provides a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis on Management courses. The 36-semester-hour credit program is one of the cheapest at just $6,360 yearly or $900 per course.

Online classes, which are taught by Amberton’s campus instructors, cover:

• management fundamentals,
• decision-making ethics,
• statistical analysis,
• managerial accounting,
• finance and theory,
• and application of research methods.

Fifteen semester hours of Advanced Business is a prerequisite for the MBA in Management at Amberton. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Colorado State University – Global

Prominent Program Features:

Colorado State University-Global offers an affordable Master’s of Science in Management online degree that prepares students for leadership roles in the field.

Quality courses cover:

• business ethics,
• finance,
• economics,
• international commerce,
• strategic planning,
• and research analysis.

CSU-Global online graduate students pay a low-rate fixed cost of $500 per credit or $9,000 annual tuition, calculated at 18 units per year. CSU-Global is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

Touro University Worldwide

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Los Alamitos, California, Touro University Worldwide offers an affordable $500 per credit online tuition fee annually for their online Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration.  

TUW adult learners can also seek assistance through the school’s financial aid options to cover out-of-pocket costs and finish their online business degree in as little as 12 months. Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Ohio, Mount Vernon Nazarene University also offers an online Master’s Degree in Business Administration program. The online curriculum consists of:

• Graduate Business core subjects
• Finance,
• Human Resource Management,
• Human and Social Services Leadership,
• Ministry Leadership and Organizational Management.

The cost per credit hour for online graduate degrees at Mount Vernon Nazarene University is $498. The school and its learning programs are recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.

Purdue University Global

Prominent Program Features:

Headquartered in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University Global offers an online Master of Science in Management and Leadership degree program for an affordable $485 per credit hour.

Degree concentrations include:

• healthcare management,
• human resources,
• information technology,
• leadership,
• organizational design and development,
• and project management. With subjects that include:
  • economics of travel and tours,
  • strategic revenue management,
  • hospitality business law,
  • and risk management

The courses, which impart sound management and organizational principles to adult learners, are taught by on-campus Purdue University professors. Purdue is a consistently top-ranked school in the country.

American Public University

Prominent Program Features:

The American Public University is an Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs-accredited school offering an affordable online Master of Arts in Management. The cost per credit hour of APU’s online graduate programs is $325 and $250 for students with military affiliation.

The curriculum follows the standards set by the Society for Human Resource Management with concentrations in Strategic Consulting and Organizational Leadership, among others. Courses include:

• investment management,
• cost estimate,
• and compliance management

These courses will equip students to become forerunners in innovative and organizational transformation in large-scale corporations, government offices, the military, and nonprofit organizations.

Southeast Missouri State University

Prominent Program Features:

Southeast Missouri State University provides a low-cost online Master of Science in Management degree specializing in Organizational Management. With an annual online program tuition of $11,566, this MS is ideal for managers seeking skills advancement.

Sample courses include:

• organizational behavior in practice,
• international management,
• and liability risks in products and services.

The cost per credit hour for Missouri residents is $409.50 and $702.50 for those out-of-state. Because of the quality online business degrees that it offers, Southeast Missouri State University consistently makes it to several rankings of the best online graduate schools in the country.

University of Alabama

Prominent Program Features:

The University of Alabama offers a comprehensive online Master’s in Management program with a specialization in Global Business Management.

The course requires 30 credits for completion, with enriching topics such as:

• managerial economics,
• global marketing management,
• and foundations of financial management.

The annual tuition is $10,780. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges.

Florida International University

Prominent Program Features:

A SACSCOC-accredited school, Florida International University offers the online Master’s in Human Resource Management degree program for a modest tuition rate of $40,670 yearly.

This affordable online master’s degree, which can be completed as early as one year, enriches students with courses that allow them to thrive in a stressful and tough corporate environment such as conflict management and high-involvement resource management.

Mississippi College

Prominent Program Features:

Located in the city of Clinton, Mississippi College offers an online Master’s in Business Administration program Management Information Systems concentration.

Focusing on data analysis, research, and information security, the online MBA with MIS Concentration program is designed to equip students with technical skills for lucrative careers in the field. The credit hour cost is $695 per 12-18 credits.

University of Scranton

Prominent Program Features:

Based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the University of Scranton offers an affordable $11,630 tuition or $965 cost per credit hour for its online Master’s in Business Administration – Operations Management.

This online graduate degree is designed for working students seeking advanced learning and skills in this field through courses in:

• quality management,
• business forecasting models,
• and supply change management.  

The University of Scranton is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Tarleton State University

Prominent Program Features:

Tarleton State University’s College of Business Administration offers an affordable online Master of Science in Human Resources Management.

This online master’s degree level training is designed to harness graduates’ skills in managing stressful HR scenarios. Students will learn various skills ranging from labor relations to organization efficiency through classes like:

• strategic human resources,
• talent management,
• and workforce planning.

In-state base tuition is $1,327.81 for three credit hours; out-of-state tuition is $2,126.11.

Brandman University

Prominent Program Features:

Brandman University offers an affordable online Master’s in Business Administration concentrating on e-Business Strategic Management with a yearly average tuition of $11,880 at $695 cost per credit hour.

The course can be studied in a hybrid format. Subjects tackled include:

• marketing management,
• financial reporting and analysis,
• data analysis of decision-making,
• and leading organizational change.

Ranked as a top regional institution, Brandman University is a Western Association of Schools and Colleges-accredited school.

University of Maryland Global Campus

Prominent Program Features:

An affordable online Management Master’s Degree with Financial Management Specialization is one of the top degree programs offered at the University of Maryland Global Campus in Largo, Maryland.

This program enables adult learners to gain specialized skills in:

• business management and financial decision-making,
• online courses cover financial operations,
• costs and risk management,
• investment evaluations,
• financial analysis,
• and strategic decision-making.

As a standard graduate program, the 36-credit degree costs $524 per credit. The University of Maryland Global Campus has been regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Indiana University – Bloomington

Prominent Program Features:

Indiana University-Bloomington, through the Kelley School of Business, offers an affordable online Master of Science in Strategic Management program. This online master’s in management degree is a self-paced course that can be completed in as early as 15 months for an annual tuition of $27,113.

The program puts a strong emphasis on problem-solving in challenging business settings through comprehensive and tactical subjects such as:

• competitive analysis,
• strategic thinking,
• operations management,
• and digital technology.

Founded in 1820, Indiana University-Bloomington is among the world’s oldest public universities. It is a Higher Learning Commission-accredited school.

Michigan State University

Prominent Program Features:

Michigan State University is a well-praised school with a credit hour cost of $1,130 for its online Master of Science in Management, Strategy and Leadership program.

This degree can be obtained in 20 months, offering exemplary training through a comprehensive array of courses such as:

• ethical organization,
• diversity management,
• and corporate strategy

These courses will equip students with skills to advance their careers. Michigan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Strayer University

Prominent Program Features:

Strayer University in Herndon, Virginia offers an online Master of Management with a concentration in Marketing Management program.

The online degree enhances adult students’ skills in:

• forming effective teams,
• developing management competencies,
• strategizing products and prices,
• market research,
• advertising,
• communications,
• distributing products,
• and managing web-based business operations.

The tuition rate is $2,490 for the program. Other concentrations include Leadership, Project Management, and Marketing Management.

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Are financial aid options available for online Master’s degree programs in Business Management?

Yes. In fact, most of the schools mentioned above offer financial aid. For starters, to qualify for college, state, or federal graduate school financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form to attain scholarships. State and federal grants and loans include Perkins Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Grad PLUS Loans.

Naturally, as the cost of your Master’s degree in Business Management program will be one of your greatest concerns, you should apply for every grant or scholarship opportunity you may qualify for. Please keep in mind that some supplemental help options will require you to keep your grades up to their specific standards to continue the aid.

In addition to State and Federal Aid, discounts are often provided for those who are actively serving our country or have in the past through the military. Also, you may want to consider locating a Business Management Master’s degree program that participates in Work-Study programs.

Your school will connect you with employers who will pay you to work while you gain valuable work experience in your chosen field. This type of program will pay you at least minimum wage according to your state’s regulations and you can then use your earnings to help curb tuition costs.

Don’t let the cost of a Master’s degree program in Business Management deter you from achieving your dream career. Remember, where there’s a will, there’s a way. You just need to research all of your options to find an online degree program to fit your needs.

What are the general requirements for admission to Master’s degree programs in Business Management?

To obtain a master’s degree, applicants are required to have previously earned a bachelor’s degree. Depending on your online Master of Business Management degree program, you may be required to show proof of at least three years or more of professional work experience.

You will be required to submit a formal application for graduate school admission. In addition, you should expect to submit your GMAT or GRE scores; however, this requirement may be waived depending on your GPA.

Other stipulations may apply, such as the submission of references from your employer or previous professors. You may also be required to write an essay outlining your academic and career goals, as well as your expectations from earning your online Master’s degree program in Business Management.

Please keep in mind that you should definitely pay attention to your school’s admission requests when applying to graduate school. Each school has different requirements and your attention to detail could make the difference in getting into the school you prefer or not. Occasionally, graduate degree programs have limited admissions availability, so be sure to meet requested deadlines as well, for it will increase your chances of being accepted. 

Will completing an online Master’s degree program in Business Management make me more employable in the field?

Employers value professionals who have earned their online Master’s degree in Business Management, without a doubt. Typically, earning this impressive degree will catapult your career to a whole other level. Up until now, you might have been in an entry to mid-level job placement in the field of business; however, with a Master of Business Management degree under your belt, you will be eligible for management and leadership positions.

Will employers appreciate your efforts? You can bet that they will. Through an online Master’s degree program in Business Management, you will learn the skills needed to help you succeed in your career as a Manager within any application. This often includes leadership in the fields of Human resources, financial matters, as well as facilities management, plus much more.

In addition to making you an asset to one’s company, you can expect a substantial pay raise as well. Also, earning a graduate degree displays your commitment to hard work, time management, critical thinking, and communication skills, as well as your overall dedication to the field of business in general. As business-related personnel rarely have a master’s degree, you will have the upper hand in employment opportunities with your online Master of Business Management degree, therefore, making you more employable in the field.

What are the advantages of an online distance learning Master’s in Business Management degree format?

Online distance learning Master’s in Business Management degrees are often more affordable when compared to traditional higher education programs. In addition, they provide the following:

• Convenience: An online distance learning Master’s in Business Management degree is more convenient for many working professionals, as it enables them to pursue their studies while working a full-time job.
• Accessibility: Online distance learning programs are accessible to anyone with a computer, which significantly increases your access to educational programs. Furthermore, distance learning programs provide access to educational material when and where you need it.
• Variety: With an online Master’s in Business Management, you can choose from a variety of different areas of specialization to create an individualized academic plan that is tailored to your professional goals.
• Flexibility: With an online distance learning Master’s in Business Management, you can often complete your coursework on your own schedule. Additionally, you can take several courses at once and progress through them at your own pace.

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