Top 15 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership Degrees 2014
In the business world, many professionals are seeking affordable online Master’s in Organizational Leadership degrees in order to be prepared and qualified to lead in today’s fast-paced and internationally-focused business world.
Today’s global business culture requires that leaders have strong organizational and leadership skills, as well as a knowledge of business and professional ethics, multiculturalism, financial management and technology.
Many online Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degrees offer specializations or concentrations in organizational leadership, organizational development and organizational behavior. Other programs offer online Master of Science degrees in leadership or management. Most of these organizational leadership graduate degree programs expect students to be involved in the professional world so many universities have developed evening, weekend and flexible online options so that professionals can continue their careers while pursuing a graduate degree.
Ranking Methodology
The following 15 universities offer the most affordable online master’s degrees in organizational leadership. Our editors compiled this list in the following way:
- The schools on this list were all ranked in the top 100 by the U.S. News and World Report rankings of the top online MBA programs.
- After identifying which of those Top 100 schools specifically offer an online Master’s in Organizational Leadership degree, or something comparable, the average in-state graduate school tuition rate from each of those schools was found using the Department of Education’s College Navigator program.
- Finally, the programs were sorted from the highest tuition to the lowest, with the 15 lowest appearing on this list.
Ranking Top 15 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership Degrees
#15. Norwich University: Online MBA with Concentration in Organizational Leadership
Online MBA with Concentration in Organizational Leadership
Norwich University’s online graduate school program offers a Master of Business Administration program with accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. The program’s alumni have secured positions in organizations such as the American Red Cross, JPMorgan Case and Co. and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Norwich University Online offers start dates in March, June, September and December. There is also a required one-week on-campus residency at the end of the program. The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security has designated Norwich’s online program as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 58
Tuition: $16,168
__________________________________
#14. Quinnipiac University: Hamden, CT
School of Business
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Quinnipiac University’s Master of Science in Organizational Leadership is offered completely online. The organizational leadership master’s degree is fully accredited by AACSB International, with only 5% of business schools in the world earning this accreditation. Students in this degree program can choose from one of four tracks, including human resource leadership, health care management, public service/nonprofit leadership and strategic leadership.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 9
Tuition: $16,110
__________________________________
#13. Upper Iowa University: Fayette, IA
Online Graduate School
Online MBA with Organizational Development Emphasis
Upper Iowa University offers an online MBA program with no on-campus residency requirement. Students may specialize in one of six areas of concentration, including quality management, accounting, organizational development, corporate financial management, human resources management and global business. A similar degree program is also available at the university’s Fayette campus, Quad Cities Center and Waterloo Center.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 99
Tuition: $15,696
__________________________________
#12. Saint Joseph’s University: Philadelphia, PA
Haub School of Business
Managing Human Capital Online M.S.
The online graduate school of Saint Joseph’s University offers a Master of Science in Managing Human Capital degree program that focuses on human resources education. The program is accredited by AACSB International and endorsed by the Society of Human Resources Management. The Princeton Review ranked the Haub Business School as one of the best business schools in the nation, while the Aspen Institute calls the Haub school one of the top 100 business schools in the world. Business Week ranked the school 57th out of 1,500 business schools, while Business Week recruiters ranked the school as 18th.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 57
Tuition: $13,740
__________________________________
#11. University of Texas at Dallas: Dallas, Texas
Naveen Jindal School of Management
Online MBA Leadership in Organizations
The University of Texas at Dallas offers a Master of Business Administration with a Leadership in Organizations specialization. The university offers five options to help meet the needs of busy professionals: full-time day and evening cohort program, a self-paced evening professional MBA Flex program, a evening cohort Professional MBA program, a self-paced online Professional MBA program and a hybrid online and classroom Executive Education program. Completion time varies considerably, from 16 months for the full-time cohort program to 72 months for the flex and online programs.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 4
Tuition: $11,940
__________________________________
#10. Central Michigan University: Mount Pleasant, MI
College of Graduate Studies’ Global Campus
Online Master of Science in Administration with Leadership Concentration
Central Michigan University offers both a face-to-face and an online Master of Science in Administration degree. There are nine concentrations in this program, including acquisitions administration, engineering management, general administration, health services administration, human resources administration, information resource management, international administration, leadership, philanthropy and fundraising, public administration and research administration.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 17
Tuition: $11,904
__________________________________
#9. Brenau University: Gainesville, Georgia
College of Business & Mass Communication’s School of Business Administration
Online MS Organizational Leadership
Online International Business MBA with International Organizational Behavior Concentration
Brenau University’s College of Business and Mass Communication offers both an MBA in International Business with an International Organizational Behavior Concentration and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership. Both programs can be completed face-to-face using a traditional classroom-based model of delivery or completed entirely online. The degree program completed on campus has a start date of August of each year, whereas the online program can be started at any time during the year. Brenau University states that most students choose the online option, but international students and those who prefer a more hands-on approach choose the campus-based program. While Brenau began as an all-female college and still maintains a women’s-only campus, regional branches are co-educational and both men and women are permitted to enroll in online courses.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 95
Tuition: $10,368
__________________________________
#8. Colorado State University—Global Campus
Global Campus Business School
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Colorado State University’s Global Campus offers online bachelor’s and graduate degree programs, including a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. Colorado State’s online business school is a candidate for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Get Educated has named the program as a Best Buy while SuperScholar ranks the program as 1st on their list of Best Online Colleges. The program offers 16 specializations in a variety of fields, from accounting to criminal justice leadership, business intelligence and strategic innovation. Its bachelor’s in human resources degree is highlighted on our list of Top 25 Best Affordable Bachelor’s in Human Resources Degree Programs 2014.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 82
Tuition: $9,000
__________________________________
#7. Granite State College: Concord, NH
Business School
Online Master’s Degree in Leadership
Granite State College offers a Master of Science in Leadership degree program. This program can be completed on campus or completely online. The MSL program is 30 credits and students can choose between the business or project management track. Granite State College is part of the University System of New Hampshire, which also includes Keen State College, Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire at Durham and Manchester. The college attracts non-traditional students with an average age of 34 years old, while traditional students make up only a quarter of the college’s student body.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 73
Tuition: $7,875
__________________________________
#6. Campbellsville University: Campbellsville, Kentucky
School of Business and Economics
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Cambellsville University’s School of Business and Economics offers an affordable Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL). This program can be completed online or at the Lousiville Education Center’s campus. Students can start in either January or July and many students complete the program in under a year by taking two classes per eight-week session.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 79
Tuition: $7,650
__________________________________
#5. Post University: Waterbury, CT
Malcolm Baldrige School of Business
Online MBA Degree Program Leadership Concentration
The Malcolm Baldrige School of Business at Post University offers a MBA degree in Leadership that can be completed entirely online. The courses are highly interactive with regular contact and feedback from professors and operate using six eight-week modules each year. Students can choose from concentrations, including corporate innovation, finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, project management and marketing.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 91
Tuition: $6,675
__________________________________
#4. Southeast Missouri State University: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Office of Graduate Business Studies
Online Master of Science in Organizational Management
Southeast Missouri State University’s Office of Graduate Business Studies offers a Master of Science in Organizational Management (MsOM). This program allows all students to receive in-state tuition rates, regardless of where they reside. The program is accredited by AACSB. For those who do not have an undergraduate degree in business, all prerequisite courses are also offered online.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 87
Tuition: $5,983
__________________________________
#3. University of Houston—Clear Lake: Houston, TX
School of Business
MBA Leadership Concentration – Online
The University of Houston at Clear Lake offers Houston’s only AACSB International accredited online MBA program. GetEducated.Com also ranks the program as one of the Top Ten Best Buys. Students completing the online program can choose between an environmental management, finance, management of technology and human resource management specializations. The University of Houston at Clear Lake attracts a diverse student body, including a female population of 64%, 10% international students and 36% minority students. The online program is even more diverse with many of the students being non-traditional students residing outside of Texas.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 91
Tuition: $5,616
__________________________________
#2. University of South Dakota: Sioux Falls, SD
MSA Department
Online Master of Science in Administration Organizational Leadership Specialization
At the University of South Dakota, students can pursue a cheap Master of Science in Administration with an Organizational Leadership specialization. The university offers both a campus-based and online program, meeting the needs of busy professionals across the country. The online MS in Administration program caters to mid-career professionals that desire leadership roles in government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private sector corporations.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 27
Tuition: $4,723
__________________________________
#1. Fort Hays State University: Hays, KS
College of Business and Entrepreneurship
Online MBA Leadership Studies Concentration
At Fort Hays State University, the MBA with a Leadership Studies concentration is offered entirely online. Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. While the College of Business and Entrepreneurship is aligned with AACSB standards, the university chose to pursue accreditation through EQUIS, a competitive international business accreditation in Brussels, Belgium due to the program’s strong international focus. Students are required to take 24 semester credit hours, and those entering the accredited online Master’s in Organizational Leadership degree without an undergraduate business degree must take an additional 12 credit hours of prerequisite courses.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank: 64
Tuition: $2,913
__________________________________
Honorable Mention
#20. Pepperdine University: Los Angeles, CA
Graziadio School of Business and Management
Online MBA With Leadership and Managing Organizational Change Concentration
Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management offers several specializations for students in the online MBA program. The Leadership and Managing Organizational Change concentration is designed to help foster an entrepreneurial spirit, develop a strong sense of business ethics and create businessmen and businesswomen that appreciate a global perspective. The program typically takes around two years to complete and can be completed entirely online. Pepperdine University has earned regional accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Graziadio School is accredited by the Advance Collegiate School of Business. Though certainly not the cheapest Master’s in Organizational Leadership on the list, it is certainly worthy of inclusion as the Graziadio School has earned several accolades, including being named a Recruiters’ Top Pick for business schools by The Wall Street Journal.
U.S. News MBA Degree Programs Rank : 73
Tuition: $31,920
__________________________________
Notable Campus-Based Master’s in Organizational Leadership Degrees
While our editors were researching the best and most affordable online Master’s in Organizational Development degrees, they discovered some traditional Master’s in Leadership degrees that they couldn’t ignore. Following are four notable Master’s in Organizational Leadership Degrees that are available in the traditional, on-campus format.
University of San Francisco: San Francisco, CA
School of Management
Master of Science in Organization Development
The University of San Francisco’s Master of Science in Organization Development program is a campus-based program that is designed for busy professionals. Classes are scheduled for evenings and weekends and students can typically complete their degree in under two years. The University of San Francisco has been named as one of California’s Colleges of Distinction due to it’s hands-on approach and faculty rankings. In addition, Washington Monthly named the university as one of the United State’s top 50 universities. The American Institute for Economic Research also ranked San Francisco as the nation’s best college town, especially in the areas of research capacity and entrepreneurial activity.
Tuition: $20,340
__________________________________
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey:New Brunswick and Newark, NJ
Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick
MBA in Strategy & Leadership
Rutgers University’s business school offers a traditional classroom-based MBA in Strategy and Leadership degree program for those interested in managing and leading organizations. Students can choose from either the strategy or leadership track, depending on their career aspirations. Rutgers specializes in research with an extensive business library, a small business development center, and research centers specializing in management development, regulated industries, supply chain management, ethical leadership, operations research, financial institutions, technology management, supply chain disruption, financial services and urban entrepreneurship. The U.S. News and World Report ranked the business school as 10th in the nation for awarding 10 or more degrees to Fortune-500 CEOs. It is also in the top 4 out of 600 universities around the world in the CFA Institute Research Challenge.
Tuition: $15,024
__________________________________
University of North Texas: Denton, TX
College of Business
MBA–Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management
At the University of North Texas, an MBA in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management is offered by the College of Business. This affordable graduate organizational leadership degree is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and is one of the top 20 largest business schools in the United States. It is also recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management. This traditional campus-based program includes seminars, specialization courses and networking opportunities in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Tuition: $5,242
__________________________________
Columbus State University: Columbus, Georgia
D. Abbott Turner College of Business
Human Resources: Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (M.S.O.L.)
The Columbus State University’s D. Abbott Turner College of Business offers a Human Resources track of the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership degree program. All courses in this cheap graduate organizational leadership degree are completed on campus in the evenings. Full–time students can complete the program in four semesters, while part–time students can earn their degrees in two years. The program is fully accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Tuition: $4,980
__________________________________
With student loan debt rates rising quickly, many graduate students are concerned with being able to afford their master’s degree. These top programs offer a mixture of online and traditional campus-based programs and all offer affordable master’s degrees in organizational leadership or development.
Additional Resource: Top 10 Best Online Master’s in Human Resources Management Degrees (MSHR) 2014
For more information on this and related degree areas, see Master’s in Human Resources degree homepage.
