Most Affordable Online Schools for Business Degrees

Business is a wide-ranging field that guarantees any number of successful careers for those who have the gumption to go after them. If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in business or following your intuition into the corporate sphere, it’s important to start by selecting a solid, reputable school. Below we’ve compiled a list of some of the most affordable online schools for business in the U.S. If you’re looking into a career in the field of business, it wouldn’t hurt to look into these widely-renowned virtual programs either.

Methodology

All schools considered for these rankings

• Are regionally or nationally accredited
• Offer at least one fully online business degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
• Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.

Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in July of 2020.

2020 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Business Degrees

Cheapest Online Colleges for Business Degrees

1. Georgia Military College

Average net price: $7,544

School type: Military College
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 100%

Located in the city of Milledgeville, Georgia, this military college is designed to help students build a foundation of knowledge to help develop the skills they’ll need in the business world. Not only is this school ideal for military-member students, but it also offers a wide range of degree programs. One of these is its well-renowned business degree, which costs an average of $7,544 in total. In the online system, you can pursue an associate’s or even a BAS in business administration or management. These courses involve organizational leadership practice, information systems, marketing, and much more.

GMC is accredited by the SACS COC and features an acceptance rate of 100%. That being said, the school only graduates about 37% of its students, which is something to keep in mind when considering enrollment. Those who do graduate from GMC earn an average of $24,300 in initial income. Business graduates go on to pursue careers in product marketing, corporate finance, financial analysis, and much more.

2. Western Governors University

Average net price: $7,785

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: SCBSP
Acceptance Rate: 100%

Western Governors University features five online business degrees in Human Resource Management, Accounting, Marketing, IT Management, and Business Management. For an online business degree, the average total cost is $7,785. WGU ranks #4 among the best value colleges in Utah and features an acceptance rate of 100%, showing just how committed it is to transforming higher education for the better.

Students pursuing bachelor’s in business degrees at this school are able to become proficient in finance management, global business, managerial accounting, and much more. With its SCBSP accreditation, WGU prides itself on providing a competency-based education, and as a nonprofit, online university, WGU certainly sticks to its slogan: We do education differently.

3. University of Northern Carolina at Pembroke

Average net price: $9,888

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 80.7%

The University of Northern Carolina at Pembroke, otherwise known as UNCP, features a business degree online that can be completed in as few as twelve months. For anyone looking for a high-quality online business degree program, the average $9,888 price is well worth it. UNCP is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College.

UNCP business graduates are able to succeed in practically any field of business because the online programs are taught by the same professors that teach on campus, meaning you won’t have to sacrifice any of your education by working online. This college features an 80.7% acceptance rate, with an average ACT score for admittance ranging between 17 and 21. It also has a graduation rate of 37.8%. Overall, the University of Northern Carolina at Pembroke is one of the best choices to be considered for your business education.

4. Clayton State University

Average net price: $10,037

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 41.8%

Clayton State University is the #2 most affordable online college for business degrees, which is extremely impressive. That said, the average cost of its business degree is on the more costly side at an average of $10,037. For education of such high quality, however, it is well worth it for many. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and, with an acceptance rate of only 41.8%, is very selective when it comes to the students it admits.

Clayton State’s online business degree offers a rigorous curriculum that prioritizes mastery in the fields of financial and managerial accounting, performance/quality management, global business, and much more. Their BBA is a 120-credit-hour program and can be completed entirely online. Plus, with the plentiful chances to pursue internships, attend networking events, and engage in specialized business research, this degree program is relatively unmatched.

5. Eastern New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Average net price: $10,338

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 60.4%

Eastern New Mexico State University offers a phenomenal business degree online, with several different emphasis areas that allow students the customization they want. As far as tuition costs go, the average net price for this university’s business degree is $10,338. With a 60.4% acceptance rate, the school graduates around 35% of its students. They also hold accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, or HLC.

The online bachelor of business administration equips students with the skills they need to become experts in marketing, general business, and applied economics. Whether you’re interested in being an entrepreneur, a marketing specialist, or a finance specialist, the online program can get you where you want to go. Utilizing web interfaces like Blackboard, Mediasite, and Collaborate, students get to experience the feeling of attending college in person while doing so from the comfort of their own personal computers.

6. Dickinson State University

Average net price: $10,817

School type: 4-Year University
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 48.7%

Dickinson State University ranks #5 among Best Value Colleges in North Carolina, which is impressive. It offers four different bachelors of business degrees, including accounting, administration, finance, and human resource management at an average price of $10,817. It only accepts 48.7% of applicants, with the average admitted ACT scores ranging between 27 and 31. DSU is also accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Schools.

As far as business degree programs go, DSU’s are rigorous and demand a lot from their students. For example, a cumulative GPA of 2.25 is required in order to graduate. That being said, with a 10:1 student to teacher ratio, the education students receive at this university is phenomenal at preparing them for real-world business situations. Within the online BBA program, students master management practices, international business financial models, business ethics, and much more.

7. Georgia Southwestern State University

Average net price: $10,904

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 67.5%

Georgia Southwestern State University offers several online bachelors of business degrees in the areas of management, accounting, and human resource management. These courses foster skills in globalized business, corporate ethics, managerial accounting, and much more. The university accepts 67.5% of applicants, all of whom score an average ACT score between 18 and 22. With an enrollment of only 1,674 undergraduate students, the school is relatively small. However, GSW works with several 2-year state colleges to offer collaborative programs that open marketing opportunities to each and every student.

Georgia Southwestern State holds accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. On average, 29% of students graduate and earn an average starting salary of $29,400. Ultimately, in your search for the perfect online business degree, Georgia Southwestern has a lot to offer and should definitely be a top contender.

8. Columbia Southern University

Average net price: $10,951

School type: Online Only
School Accreditation: DEAC
Acceptance Rate: 100%

Columbia Southern University has prided itself on having upstanding online programs for over 20 years! Their business degree, which costs an average of $10,951, prioritizes students’ needs and ultimately creates highly employable graduates. This university features a 100% acceptance rate and enrolls around 8,397 students annually. It’s also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and operates completely online with no in-person classes.

Columbia Southern graduates about 24% of students who go on to earn an average starting salary of about $51,900, which proves just how valuable a Columbia education is. Anyone searching for a comprehensive online business degree is guaranteed to find that at Columbia. Overall, these online courses are the ideal preparatory measures for entry-level business positions and further participation in the business world.

9. Columbus State University

Average net price: $11,361

School type: 4-year University
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 56%

Columbus State University is located in Columbus, Georgia, and ranks #17 among the best value colleges in the state. On average, a business degree from this university costs $11,361. The most popular business degree offered is the general business (BBA) degree, which prepares students for careers in management, advisory positions, and more. Columbus State accepts 56% of applicants and graduates around 37% of students. Those graduates go on to earn average starting salaries of approximately $28,600 annually. The school also holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Columbus State’s BBA is a broad degree and therefore offers a broad choice of careers. A degree of flexibility, general business prepares students for careers in entrepreneurial positions, small business management, and even corporate-level careers.

10. Minot State University

Average net price: $11,635

School type: Online Only
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 50%

Minot State University, otherwise known as MSU, is located in Minot, North Dakota, and offers an online applied business degree through which students can specialize in information technology or business administration. This degree prepares individuals for careers in the global business sphere while educating them on the importance of business ethics, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, and much more. On average, an MSU business degree costs around $11,635 in total. The school operates completely online, featuring no in-class options, and ranks #27 among the best online colleges in America. (Considering there are a total of 147 online colleges in the US, that’s a pretty impressive feat!)

Minot State accepts around 50% of applicants and boasts a fairly high graduation rate of 46%. On average, graduates earn starting annual salaries of around $36,900, which is something to keep in mind when considering this school. With accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, there’s no question that an MSU education is top-of-the-line.