One school charged only $201 per credit during 2024-2025 for out-of-state MBA students, according to U.S. News data
An online MBA degree doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Some online programs offer part-time students the chance to earn an MBA for only a few hundred dollars per credit. According to data reported to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average cost among the 10 most affordable online MBA options for out-of-state students is $292 per credit hour. Here are the 10 ranked public and private online MBA programs that charged the least per credit for part-time, out-of-state students during the 2024-2025 school year, organized by total cost.
10. Florida Gulf Coast University
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $291
Number of credits needed to graduate: 33
Total cost for out-of-state students: $12,322
Rank: 182 (tie)
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 71%
The Florida Gulf Coast online MBA can be completed in one year and offers six start dates throughout the year. Elective course offerings include big data analytics and data mining, business intelligence and visualization tools, and global organization issues.
9. Sam Houston State University (TX)
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $320
Number of credits needed to graduate: 36
Total cost for out-of-state students: $11,529
Rank: 100 (tie)
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 58%
The online MBA program at Sam Houston State University in Texas offers multiple concentrations, including economics, finance, human resource management, project management and supply chain management. Students can enroll in the fall, spring or summer.
8. Northeastern State University (OK)
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $292
Number of credits needed to graduate: 36
Total cost for out-of-state students: $10,512
Rank: 272-355
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 65%
Founded in 1846 as the Cherokee Female Seminary, Northeastern State claims to be Oklahoma’s oldest institution of higher learning. Elective course offerings in the MBA program include business analytics, long-term care and Native American enterprise.
7. University of North Georgia
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $311
Number of credits needed to graduate: 32
Total cost for out-of-state students: $9,952
Rank: 212 (tie)
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): Not provided
The University of North Georgia was established in 2013 after North Georgia College & State University merged with Gainesville State College. The online MBA program launched in 2022. Students can also pursue an integrated graduate certificate in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship and innovation, technology leadership, or compliance and ethics, using those courses as MBA electives.
6. Lamar University (TX)
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $331
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $9,930
Rank: 272-355
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): Not provided
The online MBA program at Lamar University in Texas can be completed in as little as 12 months and concentrations include construction project management, health care administration, management information systems and criminal justice management.
5. Eastern University (PA)
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $300
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $9,900
Rank: 272-355
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): Not provided
The online MBA at Eastern University in Pennsylvania is a self-paced program designed to be completed in 10 months. Originally founded as a seminary in 1925, the school offers an MBA and a master’s of divinity dual degree in management as well as an MBA in organizational management.
4. Arkansas Tech University
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $314
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $9,420
Rank: 172 (tie)
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 63%
Arkansas Tech University offers three fully online MBA tracks: general business, a business data analytics concentration and a digital marketing concentration. Elective courses include big data strategies, advanced analytics, strategic social media marketing and consumer insights.
3. Fitchburg State University (MA)
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $284
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $8,250
Rank: 272-355
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 68%
Students enrolled in the online MBA program at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts can pay by the course and choose from several concentrations, including business analytics management, marketing, health care management and supply chain management.
2. University of Texas Permian Basin
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $275
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $8,246
Rank: 150 (tie)
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 75%
The online MBA program at the University of Texas Permian Basin can be completed in one year. Students take core classes such as accounting analysis and organizational behavior and can choose from 20 electives, including energy law, fraud examination and forensic accounting, and global supply chain management.
1. Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi
Part-time, out-of-state tuition per credit: $201
Number of credits needed to graduate: 30
Total cost for out-of-state students: $6,016
Rank: 272-355
Three-year graduation rate (2020-2021 entering class): 61%
Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi offers online MBA degrees in business analytics, finance, health care administration, international business, accounting and management. Programs last from 12 to 20 months, according to the school’s website.