Best Online MBA Programs

This ranking of the top 20 best online deals in MBAs was compiled according to the system described below. Tuition, enrollment, and student to faculty ratio figures come from the National Center for Education Statistics, a part of the US government. Any per credit hour or per semester tuition figure quoted in the body of the school review is courtesy of that school’s website. It may reflect a discount for distance education.

Ranking Methodology for the Best Online MBA Programs

Tuition Points

Featured Programs

Under $17,000—1 point
Under $15,000—2 points
Under $13,000—3 points
Under $11,000—4 points
Under $9,000—5 points
Under $7,000—6 points
Under $5,000—7 points
Under $3,000—8 points

Student to Faculty Ratio Points

Above 35-1 point
Above 30-2 point
Above 25-3 points
Above 20-4 points
Above 15-5 points
Above 10-6 points

National Recognition

Top 40-1 point
Top 30-2 points
Top 20-3 points
Top 10-4 points
Top 5-5 points

Bonus for special tuition discount for online students

Has special online discount for tuition-3 points
Online students charged standard tuition-0 points

#20 – University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska

Online MBA Programs

Website
Points: 8
Enrollment: 25,897
Tuition: $20,412
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a land grant school that was established in 1869. The student/ faculty ratio is 21:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s’ a 48 credit hour program. It includes coursework in organizational behavior and supply chain management. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $630 per credit hour, regardless of residency. They are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

#19 – University of Colorado at Denver

Denver, Colorado

Online MBA Programs

Website
Points: 9
Enrollment: 23,960
Tuition: $22,374
The University of Colorado at Denver was established in 1912. It has a student/faculty ratio of 15:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 48 credit hour program which has 20 different specializations available. The University of Colorado at Denver charges an out of state graduate online tuition rate of $675 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

#18 – Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, Texas

Online MBA Programs

Website
Points: 10
Enrollment: 20,477
Tuition: $12,483
Sam Houston State University’s school mascot is the Sammy the Bearkat. It has a student/faculty ratio of 21:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 36 credit hour program including coursework in financial management and statistical analysis. Sam Houston State University charges an online, non-resident, graduate tuition rate of $1,168.25 per credit hour. They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#17 – University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

Online MBA Programs

Website
Points: 11
Enrollment: 23,610
Tuition: $21,912
The University of Mississippi is the flagship public research institution of the Hospitality State. The student/faculty ratio is 18:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 36 credit hour program including coursework in leadership and financial analysis. The University of Mississippi offers an online graduate tuition rate of $700 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#16 – University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Online MBA

Website
Points: 11
Enrollment: 14,648
Tuition: $19,184
The University of North Dakota was established in 1883. It has a student/faculty ratio of 21:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 43 credit hour program that has an available concentration in international business. The University of North Dakota offers an online graduate tuition rate of $382,89 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#15 – University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, Nevada

Online MBA

Website
Points: 11
Enrollment: 21,353
Tuition: $18,662
The University of Nevada-Reno is the only land-grant institution in the Silver State. It has a student/ faculty ratio of 21:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 36 credit hour program including coursework in personal branding and economics of the firm. The University of Nevada Reno offers an online graduate tuition rate of $5,000 per semester, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

#14 – Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, Mississippi

Online MBA

Website
Points: 12
Enrollment: 21,622
Tuition: $20,900
Mississippi State University is a land-grant and space-grant school whose mascot is Bully the Bulldog. The student/faculty ratio is 20:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30 credit hour program including coursework in corporate finance and dispute resolution. Mississippi State University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $342 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#13 – Georgia College and State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Online MBA

Website
Points: 12
Enrollment: 6,915
Tuition: $18,486
Georgia College and State University was established in 1889. The school mascot is the Bobcat. The student/faculty ratio is 17:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30 credit hour program including coursework in managerial finance and strategic marketing. Georgia College and State University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $700 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#12 – Fresno State University

Fresno, California

Online MBA

Website
Points: 12
Enrollment: 24,405
Tuition: $15,666
Fresno State University is part of the California State University system. It has a student/faculty ratio of 24:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 36 credit hour program including coursework in managerial economics and decision sciences. Fresno State University offers an online, graduate, out of state tuition rate of $4,881.50 per semester. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and University Commission.

#11 – University of North Texas

Denton, Texas

Master of Business Administration Online

Website
Points: 12
Enrollment: 38,145
Tuition: $12,794
The University of North Texas began life as a teacher’s college in 1890. It has a student/faculty ratio of 26:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 36 credit hour program that has two available concentrations: organizational behavior and human resource management and strategic management. The University of North Texas offers an online, graduate, non resident tuition rate of $642.79 per credit hour. They are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#10 – University of Central Arkansas

Conway, Arkansas

Master of Business Administration Online

Website
Points: 12
Enrollment: 11,487
Tuition: $9,188
The University of Central Arkansas’ motto is “Go here. Go anywhere.” It has a student/faculty ratio of 17:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s credit hour program which has four specializations available:

international business
information management
healthcare administration
finance

The University of Central Arkansas charges an out of state online graduate tuition rate of $709.41 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

#9 – Missouri State University

Springfield, Missouri

Online MBA

Website
Points: 14
Enrollment: 23,538
Tuition: $9,324
Missouri State University was founded in 1905 as a teachers’ college. It has a student/faculty ratio of 22:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 33 credit hour program including coursework in financial management and organization strategy. Missouri State University offers an online, graduate tuition rate of $285 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

#8 – University of the Cumberlands

Williamsburg, Kentucky

Online MBA

Website
Points: 14
Enrollment: 7,652
Tuition: $5,670
The University of the Cumberlands was established in 1889. It’s affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. It has a student/faculty ratio of 17:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30-45 credit hour program with an optional 15 credit hour accounting certification. The University of the Cumberlands offers an online graduate tuition rate of $315 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#7 – University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

Master of Business Administration Online

Website
Points: 15
Enrollment: 12,366
Tuition: $12,978
The University of Wyoming is a land grant school that was founded in 1886. It has a student/faculty ratio of 14:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30 credit hour program including coursework in financial accounting and marketing analysis. The University of Wyoming offers an online, graduate, out of state tuition rate of $750 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges

#6 – Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Online MBA

Website
Points: 15
Enrollment: 14,658
Tuition: $9,676
Fort Hays State University was established in 1902. It has a student/faculty ratio of 16:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 34 credit hour program with eleven concentrations available online:

general
digital marketing
finance
health and human performance/sports management
health care management
human resource management
information assurance
international business
leadership studies
management information systems
marketing
tourism and hospitality management

Fort Hays State University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $400 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#5 – Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, Arkansas

MBA Online

Website
Points: 15
Enrollment: 14,085
Tuition: $9,252
Arkansas State University is the flagship institution of the five-school Arkansas State University System. It has a student/faculty ratio of 18:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 33 credit hour program that has two available concentrations: supply chain management and finance. Arkansas State University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $610 per credit hour for this program, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

#4 – Union University

Jackson, Tennessee

MBA Online

Website
Points: 15
Enrollment: 3,466
Tuition: $6,870
Union University is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and relates to the Southern Baptist Convention. The school was established in 1823. It has a student/faculty ratio of 9:1. The school offers an online master of business administration that has four available concentrations:

accounting
human resource management
leadership
marketing

Union University charges an online, graduate tuition rate of $575 per credit hour. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

#3 – Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

MBA Online

Website
Points: 16
Enrollment: 10,373
Tuition: $11,651
Western Illinois University was founded in 1899 as a teacher’s college. It has a student/faculty ratio of 15:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 33-54 credit hour program including coursework in corporate financial reporting and economics for managers. Western Illinois University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $323.64 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

#2 – University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, Texas

MBA Online

Website
Points: 16
Enrollment: 6,673
Tuition: $5,496
The University of Texas Permian Basin was established in 1973. It has a student/faculty ratio of 20:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30-36 credit hour program including coursework in accounting analysis and marketing management. The University of Texas Permian Basin offers an online graduate tuition rate of $270.07 per credit hour, regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

#1 – Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

MBA Online

Website
Points: 17
Enrollment: 6,763
Tuition: $3,186
Fitchburg State University was established in 1894, and the school colors are green and gold. It has a student/faculty ratio of 14:1. The school offers an online master of business administration. It’s a 30 credit hour program including coursework in management information systems and corporate finance. Fitchburg State University offers an online graduate tuition rate of $417 per credit hour regardless of residency. The school is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

By Jennifer W. Eisenberg

This concludes our coverage of the best online MBA programs.

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