List of Cheap Online MBA Programs That Can Be Completed in Under 1 Year

[NotJoeBiden]

I see the MAOL being the only non-MBA on the list. Are there other non MBA programs that are cheap, online, and can be completed in under 1 year we can compile?

[bjcheung77]

I see the MAOL being the only non-MBA on the list. Are there other non MBA programs that are cheap, online, and can be completed in under 1 year we can compile?

This is a thread for the MBA options. You can review what's in the graduate section as there are a few listed already, WGU has the MSML, UMass Global also has the MAOL if you wanted a different institution than UMPI. There are various programs, especially the ones listed in the Competency Degree options page, most if not all can be done within the year (such as Purdue Global and Walden). Link: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Co...d_Programs

[profstudent]

Thanks for this amazing list!

[FireMedic_Philosopher]

Ultimately, stuck between UMass Lowell vs UIS (Springfield). Both could be done in 12 months, UMass Lowell is almost $20k, UIS is over $15k. Lowell MBA is ranked in Poets and Quants, whilst UIS is not. UIS curriculum seems to be better. Ultimately, what sounds better to most regular HR/recruiters: "Went to UMass" or "Went to U of Illinois"? Appreciate your input.

University of Illinois--Springfield is Unranked in Best Business Schools and No. 184 (tie) in Part-time MBA according to US News.
The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) is ranked #251-300 in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
UIC rose into the top 200 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2022
US News & World Report rankings:
   No. 1 public regional university in Illinois (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
   No. 6 public regional university in the Midwest (2024).

U.S. News & World Report, the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is ranked 159 out of 439 National Universities in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is ranked #751–800 globally by QS World University Rankings. It is also ranked:
#501–600 globally by Times Higher Education World University Rankings
#601–800 worldwide by ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)
#1136 in Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report
#159 out of 439 National Universities by U.S. News & World Report

I can say that UIS is part of the University of Illinois System... same as the campus in Champaign and the one in Chicago. The diploma will simply say U of I...
thought I'd mention that in case that sways your opinion.

Also, some of the classes will be taught by staff from Gies (the business school in Champaign, and they are nationally ranked.) 

For most of us in IL, UIS is simply a cheaper back door to a "U of I" parchment. YMMV

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Ultimately, stuck between UMass Lowell vs UIS (Springfield). Both could be done in 12 months, UMass Lowell is almost $20k, UIS is over $15k. Lowell MBA is ranked in Poets and Quants, whilst UIS is not. UIS curriculum seems to be better. Ultimately, what sounds better to most regular HR/recruiters: "Went to UMass" or "Went to U of Illinois"? Appreciate your input.

University of Illinois--Springfield is Unranked in Best Business Schools and No. 184 (tie) in Part-time MBA according to US News.
The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) is ranked #251-300 in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
UIC rose into the top 200 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2022
US News & World Report rankings:
   No. 1 public regional university in Illinois (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
   No. 6 public regional university in the Midwest (2024).

U.S. News & World Report, the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is ranked 159 out of 439 National Universities in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is ranked #751–800 globally by QS World University Rankings. It is also ranked:
#501–600 globally by Times Higher Education World University Rankings
#601–800 worldwide by ARWU (Shanghai Ranking)
#1136 in Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report
#159 out of 439 National Universities by U.S. News & World Report

I can say that UIS is part of the University of Illinois System... same as the campus in Champaign and the one in Chicago. The diploma will simply say U of I...
thought I'd mention that in case that sways your opinion.

Also, some of the classes will be taught by staff from Gies (the business school in Champaign, and they are nationally ranked.) 

For most of us in IL, UIS is simply a cheaper back door to a "U of I" parchment. YMMV

Also... not sure if something new has been introduced, but the online MBA used to be a 4-semester program. (so longer than just 12 months). Also, UIS uses traditional semesters, you cannot accelerate... unless they have added something I am unaware of.

[octoco]

I think one that should now be added to this list is the MBA from Columbia Southern University.  They are now a regionally accredited university and recently received ACBSP accreditation for the MBA program.  On top of this, a number of relatively recent posts from students on Reddit have stated that there are no proctors, only two 3-5 page papers per class, and you can finish in 4-5 months.  All of this for around $12,500 total.

Here is an example of what a student has recently said:

"I'm currently in the MBA LifePace program at Columbia Southern University (CSU). I started this week, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

I chose CSU because I wanted an online MBA program that didn't require competency-based model testing or proctors. I work full-time, so I didn't have the time or the flexibility to deal with those requirements and I have test anxiety. WGU and others are great but it's a bit of pressure to manage the testing situation for WGU.

At CSU, the new LifePace format was originally hated by everyone when it was rolled out this past April, but it's actually grown on most students. Each class has two deliverables that require extensive papers. There are also two lectures about 3-4 weeks apart, two online posts, and perhaps a journal or class assignment depending on the class. The lectures are likely due to the regulatory agency's heightened focus on for profits and their offerings of instructor/teacher support. The change in format was a decision made to ensure their accreditation (now regional) stays in good graces... imo

But as far as workload; That's it.

Really 2 assignments per class and if you write to the rubric; you are good!

A lot of ppl like the new format. Its the same for undergrad/grad and doctoral I am told.

Overall, I'm really happy with the CSU MBA LifePace program. It's a great option for working professionals who want to earn their MBA but don't want the anxiety of WGU or other competency based programs with intense proctors; etc.

you can accelerate as the classes start every 5 weeks- you can obtain your MBA in about 4-5 months as you only need 13 or so classes depending on your MBA specialization.

I hope this helps!"


And here is another different example:

"Not hard at all; I just finished in 4months but i took 4 classes each month. It is extremely do’able."

[Jonathan Whatley]

In July 2023 datby98 posted on the sister board that Columbia Southern University had "abandoned" its previous self-paced LifePace model in the MBA program in April, adopting a model it calls a new LifePace, but in datby98's view is "materially alike the traditional class under its veil, it is no longer a self-paced one."

Columbia Southern's page Online Learning Experience currently states:

• No Required Login Times
  
• Access Your Course 24/7
  
• Choose From 11 Start Dates Each Year
  
• Add Courses Anytime in Week 1
  
• Complete Your Course Early or Extend if Needed […]
  

Choose Your Course Load

• Associate and bachelor’s students may take 1-3 courses each term and up to 4 courses with advisor approval.
  
• Master’s students may take up to 1-2 courses each term and up to 3 courses with advisor approval.
  
• Doctoral students taking didactic courses may enroll in up to 2 courses or 3 courses with advisor approval each term.** ** Doctoral students who are within their research study/dissertation phase, may enroll in up to 2-3 courses depending upon how quickly they move through their milestones.

This has some more flexible and self-paced features than standard online course practices, but isn't in the tier of self-pacing of UMPI and WGU.

"Add Courses Anytime in Week 1" suggests that if you complete courses and want to add new courses in their place anytime after week 1, that may be difficult or impossible.

A maximum with advisor approval of 3 master's courses per term means their 12-course MBA will take a hard minimum 4 terms. From a quick look at their calendar, a term is 8 weeks with a 1-week break between each term. A four-term MBA would take about 36 weeks = 8.3 months. Completing 36 semester hours in 8.3 calendar months isn't very fast, comparatively.

[bjcheung77]

@octoco, Thanks for the info, if someone can complete the degree in about 8 months to 12 months, that's awesome. It fits the title of the thread, 1 year or under... For $12K or so and RA, I think it's one of a few options as it also has ACBSP. I guess if people who aren't going for WGU can select this or any other ACBSP or similarly priced AACSB program.

[David1477]

University of the Cumberlands also offers an online MBA (as well as a MS Finance) for $11,005 (IACBE accredited) https://www.ucumberlands.edu/academics/g...nistration

This one seems to not be in the list yet but might also be a good option for some people. Not sure how long the typical completion time is, though.

[Dawgenstein]

Purdue Unversity Global CBE MBA $1700 per term (someone reported doing Masters in IT 4 terms (6 weeks term) which is like 6 months)
https://www.purdueglobal.edu/degree-prog...ba-degree/

I spoke with an advisor of Purdue University Global today about their “fast track” Excel MBA program. I was told the program was not designed to be completed faster than 12 months. She struggled with my demand that we design an approach where I could finish in 6 months as a full-time online student. The best she could come up with was “you might be able to do it devoting 48 hours a week to it” but was more comfortable quoting me a 9 month plan. With all the gatekeeping they do it seems difficult to speed it up regardless of them calling it an “excelerated” program. They break up each course into 1-hour modules, which for most of them you have to write a paper (not take a test) to pass each module, and each paper requires 24-48 hours to be graded.

[bjcheung77]

Institutions give you an 'average' and what they think is an appropriate time frame that can be done... We do things differently here, as most students don't transfer the max into the degree program and try to finish the competency based education in a comfy yet timely manner. I think most of our members are students with more experience than the usual applicants to those programs, with this experience and prior knowledge, our members may complete assessments and assignments faster than the norm...