Ten Cheap MBA Programs – Schools + Program Overviews

If you accept the notion that you haven’t got the grades or the hundred grand to go to a top tier business school, there are other ways to pursue a career in management. The state university b-schools can be a bargain, but that’s a relative term. Many of them aren’t cheap either, especially after the impact of public education budget cuts over the last five years. Our list of bargain MBA programs incorporates schools that have what it takes to get ahead at the management level. That includes a curriculum that is strong in the math and IT essentials; an infrastructure that has mastered the art of online education; and a cost that won’t put you in debt for the first ten years of your upcoming career.

1. Ashford University (**Highly Recommended) is one of the established online universities with a large number of graduate programs available to distance learning students and to those on their Iowa campus. The online MBA has thirteen areas of specialization leading to careers in a variety of areas; among the options are Business Economics, Public Administration, Global Management, Entrepreneurship, Organizational Leadership, and eight additional choices. Tuition for the Ashford MBA is $20,448.
2. Baker College Online (**Highly Recommended) offers an online MBA program with areas of specialization that include Accounting, Business Intelligence, Finance, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, Information Management, Leadership, and Marketing. The cost for the current academic year is $460 per quarter credit, and the curriculum for the degrees generally run to 53 credits. Tuition is $19,080. Additional fees are minimal.
3. Argosy University is a well known online school that also operates campuses in thirteen states. The MBA program available through their online division offers areas of concentration in Corporate Compliance, Finance, Healthcare Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Public Administration, and Sustainable Management. Tuition for the degree is $23,580; there is a scattering of additional fees.
4. Brenau University, an established school based in Gainesville, GA, has an online MBA program that was launched in recent years and has carried the school into the distance learning sphere. The online MBA at Brenau is available with specializations in Accounting, Healthcare Management, Insurance Management, and Project Management as well as a general degree program. Tuition cost is $19,760.
5. Southern New Hampshire University was founded in the state’s biggest city, Manchester, and has since moved into adjacent states and online. Their MBA program offered online has fifteen areas of concentration from which to choose, too numerous to list here; however some of the more interesting options include MBA in Forensic Accounting, and the MBA in Social Media Marketing. Tuition for this 36 credit program is $23,049.
6. Strayer University has campuses all over the southeastern portion of the country and thousands of online students as well. The online MBA offers nine areas of concentration: Hospitality Management, International Business, Human Resources, Acquisition, Finance, Health Services, Accounting, MIS, and seven others. Tuition for the online degree is $26,100.
7. Tiffin University is a small accredited institution in Tiffin, OH that has chosen to expand its campus by going online. The MBA program they have developed for distance learning has seven areas of concentration from which to choose: Finance, General Management, Human Resources Management, Healthcare Administration, International Business, Leadership, Marketing, and Sports Management. The cost for the entire 36 credit degree is $25,200.
8. Central Michigan University has joined the ranks of distance educators with several programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The MBA is offered online with specialization options in Value Driven Organization, Logistics Management, and an IT heavy concentration in SAP. The tuition for these degrees is $22,270, although there are some additional charges for two of the SAP courses. There is, however, a military tuition rate available to active members, veterans and spouses, which brings the MBA tuition down to an incredible $9,520.
9. Ellis University offers an online MBA degree with eleven areas of specialization. The core curriculum with electives is thirty six credits. The areas of concentration include E-Commerce, Health Care Administration, Information Systems Management, Risk Management, Healthcare Management, and six others. The tuition cost is $24,660.
10. University of North Alabama tops our list of bargain MBA programs. The oldest state school in Alabama with a business school accredited by the ACBSP. The online MBA is available with concentrations in Information Systems, International Business, Healthcare Management, Finance, and a Professional concentration that allows the student to focus on alternative interests such as marketing or management. Tuition for the program is $11,952.