100 Most Affordable MBA Programs from $7,048 to $18,071.
AACSB Accredited Campus Programs
$13,833
Average Tuition – 100 Most Affordable
$66,475
Average Starting Salary – 100 Most Affordable
463
Average GMAT Score – 100 Most Affordable
255%
Average ROI – 100 Most Affordable
The cost of earning an MBA differs wildly depending on the program you chose. Earning an MBA from the lowest-cost campus program in the U.S., The University of Rhode Island, will set you back only $7,048.00 if you live in-state. At this price, earning an advanced degree is an exceptional investment for your career. And when you take into consideration that the Graduate ROI from this MBA program is 524.26% with an average starting salary of $73,900, it is the kind of program find that we like to point out to our prospective b-student users.
You might think the most expensive program in our list of the 100 most affordable AACSB MBA program would be considerably higher. However, you may be surprised to know that there is only an $11,000 different between the two. This leave plenty of room to find low cost gems with high high starting graduate salaries and high starting ROI.
A degree from the most expensive AACSB accredited MBA program in our list of the 100 most affordable AACSB MBA programs is from University of Arkansas at Little Rock and will cost you a mere $18,071. And when you take into consideration that the Graduate ROI from this MBA program is 175.14% with an average starting salary of $63,300, you are getting an exceptional value.
You will find many unknown gems that provide excellent accredited business education with tremendous value.
Starting salaries for the most affordable MBA program ranges between $35,850 from Elizabeth City State University to $107,327 from North Carolina A&T State University.
Graduate ROI from the most affordable MBA programs ranges from 133.81% from Francis Marion University to the astounding high of 566.59% from Tennessee State University
More well known and maybe prestigious MBA programs did not make our list of the 100 most affordable MBA programs. For instance, a degree from nation’s most expensive campus MBA program at Cornell University, will set you back $219,688.00. Cornell University has an Graduate ROI of 35% and an average starting salary of $155,048.
100 Most Affordable Campus MBA Programs
| Rank | University | In State Tuition | Avg. Starting Salary | ROI | State | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Rhode Island | $7,048 | $73,900 | 524.26% | RI | No |
| 2 | California State University, Bakersfield | $7,176 | $78,600 | 547.66% | CA | Yes |
| 3 | Indiana University Northwest | $7,458 | $75,000 | 502.82% | IN | Yes |
| 3 | Indiana University South Bend | $7,458 | $60,300 | 404.26% | IN | Yes |
| 4 | Indiana University Southeast | $7,458 | $64,650 | 433.43% | IN | Yes |
| 6 | McNeese State University | $8,879 | $47,550 | 267.77% | LA | Yes |
| 7 | Columbus State University | $9,087 | $74,000 | 407.18% | GA | Yes |
| 8 | Savannah State University | $9,180 | $75,976 | 413.81% | GA | Yes |
| 9 | Southern Utah University | $9,212 | $53,800 | 292.01% | UT | Yes |
| 10 | Cal Poly Humboldt | $9,294 | $91,900 | 494.40% | CA | No |
| 11 | Tennessee State University | $9,452 | $107,108 | 566.59% | TN | Yes |
| 12 | Sonoma State University | $9,494 | $86,300 | 454.50% | CA | No |
| 13 | Georgia Southern University | $9,824 | $70,200 | 357.29% | GA | Yes |
| 14 | University of Idaho | $9,912 | $76,650 | 386.65% | ID | Yes |
| 15 | New Mexico State University | $10,314 | $73,500 | 356.31% | NM | Yes |
| 16 | Augusta University | $10,590 | $62,800 | 296.51% | GA | Yes |
| 17 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | $10,800 | $54,300 | 251.39% | LA | Yes |
| 18 | Northern Arizona University | $11,004 | $68,100 | 309.43% | AZ | Yes |
| 19 | University of Houston-Victoria | $11,030 | $75,500 | 342.25% | TX | Yes |
| 20 | University of Central Arkansas | $11,239 | $53,700 | 238.90% | AR | Yes |
| 21 | San Francisco State University | $11,362 | $76,600 | 337.09% | CA | No |
| 22 | Stephen F. Austin State University | $11,630 | $65,950 | 283.53% | TX | Yes |
| 22 | Elizabeth City State University MBA | $11,630 | $35,850 | 154.13% | NC | No |
| 24 | North Carolina Central University | $11,978 | $48,300 | 201.62% | NC | Yes |
| 25 | California State University, East Bay | $12,036 | $76,600 | 318.21% | CA | Yes |
| 26 | Mississippi State University | $12,294 | $91,600 | 372.54% | MS | Yes |
| 27 | State University of New York at Geneseo | $12,295 | $56,850 | 231.19% | NY | No |
| 28 | Purdue University Calumet | $12,350 | $87,100 | 352.63% | IN | Yes |
| 29 | University of West Florida | $12,460 | $57,200 | 229.53% | FL | Yes |
| 30 | Western Kentucky University | $12,600 | $62,000 | 246.03% | KY | Yes |
| 31 | Central Connecticut State University | $12,848 | $85,000 | 330.79% | CT | No |
| 32 | Missouri Western State University | $12,893 | $51,750 | 200.69% | MO | Yes |
| 33 | Henderson State University | $13,040 | $59,500 | 228.14% | AR | Yes |
| 34 | State University of New York College at Plattsburgh | $13,121 | $55,350 | 210.92% | NY | No |
| 35 | Southeastern Louisiana University | $13,245 | $47,900 | 180.82% | LA | Yes |
| 36 | The University of Texas of the Permian Basin | $13,252 | $77,000 | 290.52% | TX | Yes |
| 37 | East Tennessee State University | $13,280 | $52,400 | 197.29% | TN | Yes |
| 38 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | $13,293 | $73,150 | 275.14% | NE | Yes |
| 39 | Idaho State University | $13,392 | $69,600 | 259.86% | ID | Yes |
| 40 | Florida Gulf Coast University | $13,428 | $59,700 | 222.30% | FL | Yes |
| 41 | Indiana University Kokomo | $13,563 | $66,900 | 246.63% | IN | No |
| 42 | Pittsburg State University | $13,785 | $52,600 | 190.79% | KS | Yes |
| 43 | Governors State University | $13,788 | $73,900 | 267.99% | IL | Yes |
| 43 | Southern Arkansas University | $13,788 | $74,000 | 268.35% | AR | Yes |
| 45 | Southeast Missouri State University | $13,804 | $59,400 | 215.16% | MO | Yes |
| 46 | Arkansas Tech University | $13,909 | $44,250 | 159.07% | AR | Yes |
| 47 | Arkansas State University | $13,935 | $62,200 | 223.18% | AR | Yes |
| 48 | North Carolina A&T State University | $13,938 | $107,327 | 385.02% | NC | Yes |
| 49 | Utah Valley University | $13,956 | $75,700 | 271.21% | UT | Yes |
| 49 | Fayetteville State University | $13,956 | $54,300 | 194.54% | NC | Yes |
| 51 | Western Carolina University | $13,967 | $44,100 | 157.87% | NC | Yes |
| 52 | Black Hills State University | $14,114 | $52,650 | 186.52% | SD | Yes |
| 53 | Midwestern State University | $14,174 | $52,872 | 186.51% | TX | Yes |
| 54 | University of South Carolina Upstate | $14,224 | $74,302 | 261.19% | SC | Yes |
| 55 | University of Montana | $14,260 | $89,000 | 312.06% | MT | Yes |
| 56 | University of South Alabama | $14,400 | $49,200 | 170.83% | AL | Yes |
| 56 | Truman State University | $14,400 | $58,200 | 202.08% | MO | No |
| 58 | University of Illinois at Springfield | $14,833 | $68,300 | 230.23% | IL | Yes |
| 59 | University of South Dakota | $14,892 | $47,553 | 159.66% | SD | Yes |
| 60 | University of South Florida | $14,955 | $55,714 | 186.27% | FL | Yes |
| 61 | Jackson State University | $15,000 | $55,900 | 186.33% | MS | Yes |
| 62 | Missouri State University | $15,108 | $62,400 | 206.51% | MO | Yes |
| 63 | University of West Georgia | $15,125 | $59,800 | 197.69% | GA | Yes |
| 64 | Western Illinois University | $15,231 | $67,800 | 222.57% | IL | Yes |
| 65 | Eastern Illinois University | $15,255 | $60,200 | 197.31% | IL | Yes |
| 66 | Texas Southern University | $15,316 | $57,900 | 189.02% | TX | Yes |
| 67 | University of Wisconsin-Parkside | $15,327 | $63,450 | 206.99% | WI | Yes |
| 68 | Jacksonville State University | $15,408 | $95,570 | 310.13% | AL | Yes |
| 69 | Delaware State University | $15,625 | $46,300 | 148.16% | DE | Yes |
| 70 | Francis Marion University | $15,918 | $42,600 | 133.81% | SC | Yes |
| 71 | Radford University | $15,984 | $91,600 | 286.54% | VA | Yes |
| 72 | Lamar University | $16,000 | $63,600 | 198.75% | TX | Yes |
| 73 | Kansas State University | $16,049 | $77,550 | 241.60% | KS | Yes |
| 74 | Morgan State University | $16,095 | $80,000 | 248.52% | MD | Yes |
| 75 | University of Montevallo | $16,140 | $61,950 | 191.91% | AL | Yes |
| 76 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | $16,200 | $75,000 | 231.48% | AL | Yes |
| 77 | State University of New York at Oswego | $16,232 | $62,400 | 192.21% | NY | Yes |
| 78 | Lander University | $16,350 | $50,700 | 155.05% | SC | Yes |
| 79 | Murray State University | $16,455 | $90,419 | 274.75% | KY | Yes |
| 80 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | $16,488 | $72,600 | 220.16% | MO | Yes |
| 81 | Louisiana Tech University | $16,518 | $46,771 | 141.58% | LA | Yes |
| 82 | Fort Lewis College | $16,714 | $50,400 | 150.77% | CO | No |
| 83 | Frostburg State University | $16,740 | $83,700 | 250.00% | MD | Yes |
| 84 | Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne | $16,756 | $77,400 | 230.96% | IN | Yes |
| 85 | Central Washington University | $16,841 | $58,050 | 172.35% | WA | No |
| 86 | Clayton State University | $17,000 | $57,800 | 170.00% | GA | Yes |
| 86 | University of South Florida St. Petersburg | $17,000 | $72,500 | 213.24% | FL | Yes |
| 88 | University of Southern Mississippi | $17,131 | $62,300 | 181.83% | MS | Yes |
| 89 | Alabama A&M University | $17,313 | $48,200 | 139.20% | AL | No |
| 90 | Appalachian State University | $17,463 | $63,285 | 181.20% | NC | Yes |
| 91 | Binghamton University | $17,469 | $75,142 | 215.07% | NY | No |
| 92 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | $17,493 | $89,200 | 254.96% | NE | Yes |
| 93 | University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | $17,578 | $88,625 | 252.09% | MA | Yes |
| 94 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $17,745 | $65,600 | 184.84% | TX | Yes |
| 95 | University of North Florida | $17,767 | $62,014 | 174.52% | FL | Yes |
| 96 | Grand Canyon University | $17,800 | $88,400 | 248.31% | AZ | Yes |
| 97 | University of North Alabama | $17,820 | $60,000 | 168.35% | AL | Yes |
| 98 | The University of Akron | $17,872 | $61,400 | 171.78% | OH | Yes |
| 99 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | $17,997 | $60,000 | 166.69% | TX | Yes |
| 100 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | $18,071 | $63,300 | 175.14% | AR | Yes |
If you notice any errors in the MBA program database, please contact us.
State-by-State List of Most Affordable MBA Programs
With such a wide range in price, there’s a degree program out there that will fit everyone’s budget. The average in-state tuition cost for an MBA program is $43,475.55. Use that as a starting point as you consider your options.
The table below shows the high, low and average tuition you’ll pay for an MBA degree depending on whether you qualify for in-state tuition at a public university, pay out-of-state tuition, or pay out-of-country tuition. As you navigate the data, keep in mind the following questions. Are you looking for the lowest cost program that meets your needs? Or a program that includes every bell and whistle on offer? Also, keep in mind that price is an important decision-making criteria when choosing where you’d like to study business, but not the only one.
Average MBA Tuition Cost in Each State
- New Hampshire - $103,312
- District of Columbia - $83,309
- Massachusetts - $74,395
- Oregon - $61,583
- New York - $61,321
- California - $59,093
- Pennsylvania - $54,581
- Connecticut - $51,233
- New Jersey - $51,100
- Maryland - $50,582
- Illinois - $48,710
- Washington - $48,319
- Ohio - $47,833
- Virginia - $45,876
- Michigan - $45,734
- Minnesota - $44,597
- Tennessee - $44,060
- Arizona - $40,003
- Colorado - $38,995
- Texas - $37,995
- North Carolina - $37,844
- Florida - $37,711
- Utah - $36,682
- Wisconsin - $33,557
- Louisiana - $33,470
- Indiana - $32,023
- Missouri - $31,909
- Vermont - $31,878
- Georgia - $31,430
- Rhode Island - $29,922
- Delaware - $27,790
- Oklahoma - $27,566
- Wyoming - $26,460
- Iowa - $25,779
- Kentucky - $25,407
- South Carolina - $25,244
- Montana - $24,913
- West Virginia - $21,722
- Alaska - $21,467
- Nebraska - $21,340
- Hawaii - $21,288
- Mississippi - $21,282
- North Dakota - $21,022
- Alabama - $21,005
- Nevada - $20,392
- Maine - $19,935
- Kansas - $19,893
- New Mexico - $18,520
- Arkansas - $17,073
- Idaho - $15,079
- South Dakota - $14,503
Most Affordable MBA Programs Offered on-Campus
The table below list the ten most expensive U.S. MBA programs by their total tuition cost and the ten least expensive. What’s the difference in the education you’ll receive if you pay $100,000 or more in tuition for an MBA versus the $43,475.55 average or less? The University of Washington at Tacoma’s Milgard School of Business – ranking as the 10th least expensive business program in the U.S., is accredited by the AACSB. The University of Michigan’s Ross School, the 10th most expensive MBA program, is accredited by the same board. In that sense, the programs both pursue excellence and continuous improvement in their degree programs.
Differences are more subtle. U of M totes alumni living in 103 countries across the globe, 244 companies recruiting on campus, 5,168 jobs posted for their students to apply for, and their faculty’s high ranking for research. Consider what most important to you in this degree—low price or some of these benefits that with a more expensive school.
25 Most Affordable MBA Programs Offered on-Campus
- The University of Rhode Island - $7,048.00
- California State University, Bakersfield - $7,176.00
- Indiana University Northwest - $7,458.00
- Indiana University Southeast - $7,458.00
- Indiana University South Bend - $7,458.00
- McNeese State University - $8,879.00
- University of Central Oklahoma - $9,068.00
- Columbus State University - $9,087.00
- University of the District of Columbia - $9,156.00
- Savannah State University - $9,180.00
- Southern Utah University - $9,212.00
- Cal Poly Humboldt - $9,294.00
- Tennessee State University - $9,452.00
- Sonoma State University - $9,494.00
- Georgia Southern University - $9,824.00
- University of Idaho - $9,912.00
- New Mexico State University - $10,314.00
- Augusta University - $10,590.00
- University of Louisiana at Monroe - $10,800.00
- Northern Arizona University - $11,004.00
- University of Houston-Victoria - $11,030.00
- University of Central Arkansas - $11,239.00
- San Francisco State University - $11,362.00
- Brooklyn College of the City University of New York - $11,521.00
- Elizabeth City State University MBA - $11,630.00
25 Least Affordable MBA Programs Offered on-Campus
- Cornell University - $219,688.00
- Columbia University - $180,258.00
- University of Pennsylvania - $179,852.00
- The University of Chicago - $167,393.00
- Stanford University - $165,591.00
- Dartmouth College - $165,442.00
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology - $164,000.00
- Northwestern University - $162,030.00
- New York University - $160,130.00
- Duke University - $157,546.00
- University of Southern California - $154,339.00
- Yale University - $153,540.00
- Emory University - $151,689.00
- University of Virginia-Darden - $151,200.00
- Harvard University - $149,820.00
- Carnegie Mellon University - $147,456.00
- University of California, Los Angeles - $142,142.00
- University of California, Berkeley - $139,628.00
- Rice University - $139,081.00
- The University of Michigan - $137,056.00
- Miami University - $136,342.00
- Washington University in St. Louis - $134,020.00
- Johns Hopkins University - $133,000.00
- Vanderbilt University - $131,000.00
- Georgetown University - $124,814.00
Affordable MBA Programs
Considering an Online MBA Option
With more than 327 online MBA degrees offered, you can find a program and concentration that fits your needs and work full time while earning your MBA. Many online MBA programs have reasonable tuition costs. The average online degree costs $34,054, a couple thousand dollars less than the average campus program. If an online program allows you to continue to work full time and pursue your degree, that saves one of the biggest costs you’d otherwise face—lost wages.
An online MBA program may offer an additional advantage—a concentration not available at an in-state MBA program near you. To learn more about tuition for online MBA programs, see our online MBA programs ranked by tuition.
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At MBAGuide you are teaming up with MBA graduates, managers, professors, MBA students, data modelers, designers and other professionals to learn from experts about business careers, degree programs and salaries. Our staff of MBA professionals has written this article and it has been reviewed by an MBA graduate and editor on our staff.
