Top 10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs

According to the Financial Times, the UK’s University of Bradford School of Management is the highest ranked institution when it comes to value for money, calculated using alumni’s salary increase, fees and other costs. The school’s MBA by Distance Learning is ranked tenth overall, and Bradford is one of relatively few institutions to hold triple crown accreditations from the Equis, AMBA and AACSB  awarding bodies. 

This UK institution is highly rated by the FT when it comes to value for money. The course’s cost is not the cheapest, but this is matched by the astronomical salary that alumni achieve after three years: $204,799. The Warwick Distance Learning MBA program is also ranked as the world’s best Online MBA by the FT in 2020 — for the third year in a row. 

The 12-month Online MBA from the UF Warrington College of Business in Florida is not only cheap but fast, speeding up the return on investment in the degree. It is for those who have an undergraduate degree in business and have graduated in the past seven years. There is also a two-year option for students without an academic background in business. But they will certainly finish the MBA with one. 

The Isenberg Online MBA is a double-threat: highly regarded and one of the world’s cheapest Online MBA programs. An online course, students can also take some courses on campus if they wish. The program is popular: there are more than 1,200 students enrolled currently, which will translate into a large and global alumni network. What is more, many students have more than 10 years of work experience. They raise the quality of group discussion and peer learning.  

In the north of England, Durham University Business School runs a solid Online MBA program. It takes two years of studying part-time to achieve the credential, so students can apply what they learn directly into the workplace. Participants can also come to Durham to study and personalize the curriculum to their personal tastes and professional aspirations. Optional modules are available in entrepreneurship, business analytics and management consulting. 

Milan’s MIP puts on the two-year International Flex MBA that is digitally delivered and was designed by a whole host of top companies including Microsoft and Vodafone. The course has core MBA modules in strategy, accounting and the like but its real focus is on digital transformation and features guest lectures from leaders managing digital companies like Amazon. 

The Online MBA at this renowned school is reasonably priced, but there are also scholarships available that further curb the cost of study. The course is uber flexible, with modules offered in short eight-week terms. Students can also blend online study with in-person instruction if they wish. The return on investment is high: the average starting salary is $109,018. 

This institution is ranked highly by US News and its Online MBA focuses on technology and innovation. The alumni network is massive, with more than 500,000 members in the wider university alumni community. Purdue also produces many Fortune 500 chief executives. The program itself seeks to help students develop the analytical, technical and problem-solving skills they need to reach the upper echelons of business management. 

The MBA@UNC earns a place on this list for offering excellent employment outcomes and at a reasonable, though not hugely low price. US news ranked the online MBA the top in America in 2020. The Princeton Review put the degree at number two. The course has four start dates (January, April, July and October), providing students with great flexibility. Students enjoy a 24% average salary increase on graduation. 

Among the top-25 or so ranked institutions by US News, AACSB-accredited Mississippi State University is one of the most affordable. The 30-hour Online MBA is flexible as well, since it allows students to study at their own pace and on their own terms. The school is also waiving GMAT and GRE requirements, making it easier to apply for the Online MBA.