Most Affordable Online Master's in Management and Leadership

Updated November 16, 2022

Earning a master's in management can increase job opportunities. We list the most affordable program options here.

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Obtain one of the most popular degrees with a master's in management and leadership

While a master of business administration (MBA) remains one of the most popular degrees for launching and accelerating business careers, earning an online master's degree in management and leadership opens many of the same doors as a traditional MBA. Graduates studying leadership and management learn about strategic thinking, organizational communication, and the dynamics of organizational change — all of which help businesses and employees streamline their work while increasing an organization's overall well-being and efficiency. Students in these programs may also learn about topics such as intercultural communication and emotional intelligence at the same time they are developing competency in core business subjects such as business analytics, accounting, and research methods. Often including a capstone, master's degrees in management and leadership cultivate practical skills as well as the theoretical knowledge professionals need to manage complex projects and resources. Below, you'll find our ranking of the top master's programs in management and leadership.

Top 15 Cheap Online Master's in Management and Leadership Degree Program Ranking for 2021

  1. Western Governors University
    Location

    Salt Lake City, UT

    WGU's master of science in management and leadership prepares you to take advantage of high-level career opportunities. Offered fully online, this cheap online master's in management focuses on four areas of core competency: management, leadership, business acumen, and strategy. Eighty-five percent of graduates finish in 9-24 months. Students can take courses in ethical leadership, data-driven decision making, and management communication. Outside of the core areas of learning, students must complete a capstone. Various alumni support options are also available.

  2. Concordia University
    Location

    Chicago, IL

    Offered in a blended or online format, Concordia University's master's in leadership and management helps students balance business acumen with social and communication skills. Consisting of 36 credits, students in this cheap online master's in management can take courses in applied moral and ethical leadership, financial management for leaders, and project and quality management. The master's is offered through the College of Business and Technology and emphasizes the synthesis of leadership and management with research and reflection.

  3. Liberty University
    Location

    Lynchburg, VA

    Liberty's master's in executive leadership online program strengthens your critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities through scenarios and assignments that are rooted in practical business challenges. This 30-credit, cheap online master's in management is intended for professionals without a formal business degree and students transitioning from a business-related bachelor's program. Over the course of two years, students can take classes in nonprofit management, conflict resolution, and corporate responsibility. Graduates can go on to become business development excecutives, business owners, and organizational managers.

  4. Azusa Pacific University
    Location

    Azusa, CA

    Azusa Pacific offers a master's in leadership program rooted in Christian values, though the program's interdisciplinary nature makes it an ideal choice for developing practical and theory-driven leadership abilities. Consisting of 36 credits, students in this cheap online master's in management program focus on three areas of study: executive leadership, leadership development, and sport management. The program is available fully online and is administered either full or part time in separate eight-week terms. Courses are available in organizational behavior, cornerstones of Christian leadership, and research methods and design.

  5. Belhaven University
    Location

    Jackson, MS

    Belhaven's fully online master of science in leadership consists of 36 credits in areas designed to enhance the careers of business managers and executives. The program is intended to develop student comprehension of social, political, economic, and legal forces that affect decision making within organizations. Belhaven, a Christian institution based in Mississippi, has several executive development learning objectives, including developing "servant leadership" using Christ as a model of service. The curriculum consists of classes in ethical problems in business, leading high performance teams, and the legal environment of business.

  6. Webster University
    Location

    St. Louis, MO

    Offered entirely online or in a hybrid format, Webster's master's in management and leadership can be completed in as little as 18 months. You can customize the degree by focusing on cybersecurity, health administration, project management, or organizational development. Ninety-two percent of graduates found full-time employment, and students can take classes in integrates studies in management, managerial leadership, and basic finance for managers. Graduates will be capable of explaining the important concepts and analytic techniques used in businesses and organizations.

  7. Walden University
    Location

    Minneapolis, MN

    Walden offers an online MS in leadership with several specialization options: a general option, executive leadership, integrated communication skills for leaders, leader development, and a self-designed program. Earning a cheap online master's in management gives you the skills to become a competent and ethical leader. Aside from the core program, students have the option of pursuing a graduate-level certificate or an accelerated path to a doctorate. The general program consists of 30 total semester credits, including an integrative capstone. Core courses cover subjects such as dynamic leadership, initiating and managing change, and managing business partner relationships.

  8. Montreat College
    Location

    Montreat, NC

    Offered fully online and at Montreat's Asheville and Charlotte campuses, the master of science in management teaches students to develop critical thinking and strategic planning skills with a Christ-centered worldview. Offered through the School of Adult and Graduate Studies, students in this cheap online master's in management program can take courses in human capital management, advanced entrepreneurship and the intrapreneurial spirit, and effective communication. For admission, students need to submit an essay that demonstrates management and leadership potential.

  9. CUNY School of Professional Studies
    Location

    New York City, NY

    Students enrolled in CUNY's fully online MS in business management and leadership learn to become innovators, decision-makers, and influencers across a number of businesses and organizations. The program focuses on case studies and organizational models that help students understand diversity, consumer trust, and sustainability. Consisting of 30 credits, students can take classes in accounting for business decisions, quantitative decision making, and knowledge and information systems. A capstone also explores topics such as global virtual enterprise and global strategic management.

  10. Strayer University
    Location

    Herndon, VA

    Students at Strayer University can earn a cheap online master's in management through a concentration in leadership, which gives them the skills to bring about organizational change. Consisting of 12 courses, the program is desigend so that students can help organizations and businesses operate in a diverse, dynamic, and global business environment. Students can take courses in managing organizational change, leadership strategies, and women in leadership. Other concentrations available for the master's in management include project management and marketing management.

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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Sources:
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Top Universities QS World Rankings
U.S. News & World Report
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