Most Affordable Online MBA Programs (ACBSP-Accredited)

It wasn't that long ago that you'd have had to relocate to Saint Charles, MO if you wanted to attend Lindenwood University. Today, thanks to online education, Lindenwood can—and gladly will—come to you. Image from Pexels

Tom Meltzer July 10, 2020

The AACSB is the biggest name in MBA accreditation, but it's not the only one. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) also accredits many fine programs. Here's a list of the ACBSP-accredited programs that charge under $600 per credit.

In this course, participants learn core principles, concepts, and methods of continuous improvement and explore the history of continuous improvement efforts. In a series of lectures, Master Black Belt in Six Sigma Shane Wentz, Ph.D., enables learners to enhance, optimize, and stabilize business processes and to augment quality control through varied methodologies. Participants gain the skills and knowledge to reimagine internal processes, engage in advanced problem-solving, and empower employees. The course covers high-level foundational principles of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC processes before diving deep into Lean Six Sigma methods. Learners will analyze the tools of process mapping, Kaizen (a continuous improvement method/tool deemed a prerequisite for Lean transformation success), Lean (a continuous improvement philosophy that emphasizes streamlined workflows and reducing waste), and the process improvement methodology driving DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

Entrepreneurs fostering new ventures outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley face significant challenges. These markets are unlike Silicon Valley, and they will likely remain so. That doesn't mean they can't nurture and sustain new businesses. In transitioning markets that lack abundant private sector financing, creative approaches from government officials, donors, and business leaders can fill the void to support entrepreneurial activity. Northeast Ohio (where Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University are located) has become a laboratory for such innovative solutions. During our time together in this course, we will explore some of these creative approaches to promoting regional entrepreneurship. Northeast Ohio has seen a massive infusion of government and donor resources for over ten years. In that time, Northeast Ohio has promoted regional development (including job creation and follow-on funding) through alternative methods of financing startups. It has not been easy. The region has made progress, but it remains to be seen whether it has struck upon an enduring formula. A dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem takes many years, even decades, to develop. Government policymakers and donors typically seek quicker returns on their support programs, which makes long-term support for entrepreneurship challenging. This course includes case studies and first-person testimonials from entrepreneurs who have launched products and services ranging from medical devices to LED lights to whiskey. You will learn how these entrepreneurs discovered and procured resources from various programs and intermediary organizations. You will hear from business people still in the process of developing their companies as well as those whose ventures have flourished. Our focus will extend beyond Cleveland to selected markets around the world, including Greece, Vietnam, Tunisia, Argentina, Rwanda and China. You will learn about international incentives and other supports available to developing startups and small businesses across the globe. This course examines how different communities around the world approach implementing strategies and methods to support businesses. I will ask you to reflect on how to apply the principles we learn to growing entrepreneurship where you live. The social interactive features of the online platform will enable students from around the world to share ideas and learn from one another. Most MOOCs rebroadcast professors’ lectures; this course is different. Don’t expect to see me standing in front of the camera, talking and lecturing every module. Instead, the lectures will be relatively short in length. They have more of the feel of an engaging documentary than a static classroom setting. ## __What type of person takes the *Beyond Silicon Valley* course?__ - Active and aspiring businesspeople in communities looking to initiate new startup ecosystems or bolster existing ones - Current and prospective entrepreneurs who want to learn about funding sources, risk management, and the lifecycle of startups - Professionals who work in government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, philanthropic institutions, and various private funds that fund startups - Anyone curious about how to create and grow startup ecosystems outside the major tech hubs - The principles Beyond Silicon Valley teaches have been drawn from and applied to startups worldwide, from small villages to megalopolises. You'll study success stories spanning the globe from Vietnam to Kosovo to Botswana. ## __What will you learn in *Beyond Silicon Valley*?__ - How and where startups can find funding to get their businesses off the ground - What role government can play in encouraging startups and a healthy startup ecosystem - How anchor institutions such as universities and healthcare systems participate in startup ecosystems - How nongovernmental organizations support startups - How to raise funds from venture capitalists, angel investors, and accelerators - How to navigate challenging periods in the startup lifecycle - The importance of mentoring in successful startups

Article continues here

So, you want a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. You're not quite sure you're ready to quit your job and enroll full-time, however. Or, perhaps you don't want to relocate, and all your local options are either too expensive or lack options you require.

Fortunately, you live in the age of online education. It wasn't that long ago that you'd have had to relocate to Saint Charles, MO if you wanted to attend Lindenwood University. Today, thanks to online education, Lindenwood can—and gladly will—come to you.

The explosion of online MBA degree offerings has created some pretty good bargains for astute shoppers. There are approximately 165 online MBA programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the primary MBA accreditation agency in the US, that charge less than $600 per credit. There aren't nearly so many accredited by the ACBSP, but there are quite a few. We list them below. (By the way, you should also take a look at our list of affordable AACSB-accredited MBA programs.)

Where possible, the table below lists each program's 2020-21 per-credit-hour (/ch) tuition cost, since most online students attend part-time and pay by the credit. Some schools use a sliding scale to set tuition rates; in such instances, we calculated the per credit cost for 6 credits per term, the most common course load for online students. In some instances, the schools provide only full-program (/pgm) cost; those are indicated accordingly. Most online MBA programs require between 36 and 64 credits to graduate; executive MBAs can sometimes be completed with as few as 30 credits.

The table below lists tuition rates only; non-tuition fees, which can be substantial, are omitted. Visit each program's website to determine what the actual cost to you will be. Remember also that shopping for schools is just like shopping for a car; you don't necessarily have to pay the sticker price if you're a good negotiator.

Most Affordable Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degrees (ACBSP-Accredited)

School	Tuition (in-state)	Tuition (nonresident)
Angelo State University	$239/ch	$645/ch
Bethel University	$465/ch	$465/ch
California University of Pennsylvania	$516/ch	$554/ch
Delta State University	$506/ch	$506/ch
Hardin-Simmons University	$495/ch	$495/ch
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global	$559/ch	$559/ch
Lindenwood University	$525/ch	$525/ch
Methodist University	$500/ch	$500/ch
Metropolitan State University	$548/ch	$548/ch
Northeastern State University	$12,500/pgm	$12,500/pgm
Park University	$597/ch	$597/ch
Southern Oregon University	$430/ch	$430/ch
Southwestern Oklahoma State University	$299/ch	$577/ch
Texas Woman's University	$17,000/pgm	$17,000/pgm
University of West Alabama	$429/ch	$429/ch
Universidad Ana G. Mendez	$350/ch	$350/ch
Western Governors University	$12,540/pgm	$12,540/pgm
Western New Mexico University	$288/ch	$341/ch