Although the pandemic continues to distance itself from our memory, Online MBAs remain a popular option for business students. According to research carried out by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAT), 23% of business school applicants favor online or hybrid study—up from 16% in 2019.
Given the increased interest in online study in recent years, there is now a growing range of affordable Online MBA programs that'll give you a business education without breaking the bank. But do lower fees mean poorer quality?
Many affordable programs carry accreditation from industry bodies such as AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS. That's a solid stamp of approval, and a guarantee that you're paying for a quality business school degree.
Here are 10 accredited Online MBA programs that will cost you less than $30k.
10) The Open University ($27,060)
This triple-accredited MBA is offered by the Open University, a highly-regarded UK university which deals exclusively in online courses. It was ranked 60th in the world in the QS Online MBA Ranking 2024 and is one of the most flexible programs on this list, with students able to complete their MBA anywhere between two and seven years.
The program is predominantly online, but does include three compulsory in-person residential schools. Modules include Creating and Sustaining Value, Managing in a Changing World, and Finance for Strategic Decision-Making.
9) University of Bradford School of Management ($26,700)
©BradfordManagementUniversity / via Facebook
This school is triple accredited by AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS, a gold standard as far as accredited Online MBA programs go.
The course can be completed part-time in two to three years. Core modules include Competitiveness through Technology and Innovation, Leadership for Transformational Change, Digital Marketing, Branding and Strategy, and Accounting and Economics for Decision Making.
You can also choose to take electives in Corporate Finance and Crowdfunding, Marketing Communications, and Diversity, Scale and Development.
8) Oxford Brookes Business School ($26,170)
The Oxford Brookes Online MBA is a 30-month, flexible part-time program. It came 26th in the 2024 QS Online MBA Rankings. You’re eligible to apply with a minimum of three years of professional experience, a good degree (or GPA equivalent), and two written references. Students in this program are a little more experienced than other cohorts—the average student usually has 13 years of professional work experience.
Core modules include Innovation, Creativity, and Enterprise, Global Strategy under Uncertainty, and Accounting for Decision making. You can also choose to take electives in a diverse range of courses including Strategic Corporate Finance, Business in Emerging Markets, Beyond Marketing, and Digital Transformation & Leadership.
At the final stage of the MBA, you’ll be asked to complete your capstone project in the form of a dissertation, an individual consultancy project, a group consultancy project, or a business start-up plan.
The school's MBA is accredited by both the AMBA and European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
7) University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ($25,490)
This AACSB-accredited Online MBA has 13 concentrations and over 50 electives. Concentrations include Accounting and Cybersecurity Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and Data Security.
To be eligible, you either need to have four or more years of professional work experience or two or more years of work experience with a 3.0 GPA.
6) University of Aberdeen Business School ($22,865)
The University of Aberdeen’s Online MBA is accredited by EQUIS and is the top-ranked online UK MBA in the global QS ranking. It takes 24 months to complete, with start dates in September and January.
The program comprises 10 compulsory modules together with one optional course in either Corporate Finance, Fintech and Big Data, Social and Sustainable Markets, Consumer Behaviour, or Digital Marketing.
5) Oklahoma State University Spears School of Business ($21,490)
Ranked as the 11th best Online MBA in America by U.S. News and accredited by the AACSB, the program at Oklahoma State University is arguably the most prestigious in this list. In the U.S. News ranking it scores particularly highly on student excellence, which measures how selective a school is in admitting applicants.
The program is also highly flexible, with students able to fit classes around their work commitments. The average time to complete the degree is 2.5 to 3 years. For many students, this MBA may well represent the perfect blend of value and teaching quality.
4) Fayetteville State University ($21,050)
This AACSB-accredited, distance learning program can be completed in as little as 12 months, but you can take up to 72 months if you want. It consists of 27 credit hours and nine to 12 elective credit hours. The program is even cheaper if you’re studying in-state, at $8,950.
You can also choose between concentrations in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Healthcare Management, International Business, Management, Marketing, Project Management, and Supply Chain Management.
To be eligible to apply, you will need a minimum GMAT score of 400 and a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher. The average age of candidates is 35 years old, with 45% of students women.
3) Ball State University: Miller ($16,162)
©Ball State University Miller College of Business / via Facebook
Indiana's Miller College of Business is among the accredited Online MBA programs with a stamp of approval from AACSB.
This distance learning MBA allows students to customize their degree by choosing one of eight concentrations in topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Healthcare Administration, Finance, or Healthcare Administration.
Some courses are offered in asynchronous format, so you can undertake weekly assignments and deadlines at your own pace.
2) Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ($15,210)
The online MBA at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is one of the most affordable MBAs in this list, costing just over $15,000 in tuition. However, that doesn’t take anything away from the quality of the program. It has been accredited by the AACSB and is ranked among the best Online MBA programs in America by U.S. News.
What’s more, students can also complete the program in as little as 12 months—making it one of the best value Online MBAs in this list.
1) Georgia Southwestern State University ($9,500)
Another of the accredited Online MBA programs stamped by AACSB, Georgia Southwestern State University's two-year, distance learning MBA provides a broad base of business knowledge in finance, ethics, international business, management, and marketing.
The curriculum includes core courses in Managerial Economics, Organizational Theory & Behaviour, Strategic Management, and International Business Practice.
Applications open three times per year, in June, November, and April.
This article was first published in December 2021 and last updated in September 2025.
RECAPTHA :
10
97
95
84
