Cheapest Online Business Administration Degrees of 2025
You don’t need to go into debt to get a business degree. Check out this guide to learn more about the cheapest online business degrees available.
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2025At a Glance: BestColleges’ Top Affordable Online Business Administration Programs
- #1: California State University, Fullerton — Our top school offers a degree completion program, accelerated options, and a unique professional business concentration.
- #2: Florida International University — FIU’s highly customizable online bachelor of business administration (BBA) program comes at an affordable in-state tuition rate with plenty of financial aid opportunities.
- #3: Florida Atlantic University — FAU’s online BBA is affordable for in-state students and offers six concentrations for students to choose from.
An affordable online business degree can help you in more ways than just lower tuition costs. Some highly-paid professionals, like management analysts and operations specialties managers, graduated from business administration programs.
Beyond affordability and strong career prospects, online business administration degrees can provide a solid educational foundation that’s equivalent to traditional, in-person learning. In fact, our 2024 Online Education Trends Report found that over 80% of online business students and graduates think online programs are equal to or better than learning on campus.
Learn more about the cheapest online business degrees available and how they can help advance your career.
Cheapest Online Business Administration Degrees
We use trusted sources like Peterson’s Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
1. California State University, Fullerton
$5,742
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$7,176
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$17,622
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$16,680
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Online Enrollment: 58%
- Institution Type: Public
Why CSUF Online Made Our List
The CSUF bachelor of arts in business administration program’s tuition rate combined with good student outcomes land it at the top of our list. However, that comes with a catch. The online program from the business school, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), is offered as a degree completion program. So you’ll need previous college credits to apply.
Why Attend CSUF Online
- Affordability: CSUF charges $1,500 tuition per class, or $500 per unit, for its online business administration program.
- Built for Working Professionals: The online degree completion program has built-in scheduling flexibility, meaning you won’t have to pause your career to get your degree.
- Accelerated Options Available: The CSUF business administration degree is meant to be completed in three years, but you can finish faster with the school’s accelerated options.
Know Before You Go
- Degree Completion Program: This program is a degree completion program, meaning it’s meant for students with past college experience.
- College Credits Required: You’ll need at least 60 previous college credits to apply. That’s about two years of coursework.
- Minimum GPA Requirement: You’ll need at least a 2.5 GPA in your previous college coursework to apply.
2. Florida International University
$6,168
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$911
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$18,566
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$2,003
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Online Enrollment: 67%
- Institution Type: Public
Why FIU Online Made Our List
FIU’s online BBA is the top full bachelor’s degree program on our list, and for good reason. The AACSB-accredited business school boasts affordable tuition. It also offers a highly customizable online BBA with majors in high-demand areas like supply chain management and finance.
Why Attend FIU Online
- Affordability: FIU’s in-state tuition for its online BBA is $236 per credit hour. For out-of-state students, it’s $649 per credit hour.
- Abundant Financial Aid: FIU’s financial aid office awards more than $180 million in financial aid yearly.
- Multiple Concentrations Available: FIU offers concentrations in finance, management, supply chain management, and other high-demand areas as part of its online BBA programs.
Know Before You Go
- Start Year-Round: The school offers spring, summer, and fall start dates, so you can start your degree around your schedule.
- Personalized Coaching: Every online student at FIU is paired with a student success coach.
3. Florida Atlantic University
$6,099
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$5,467
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$21,655
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$16,695
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Online Enrollment: 68%
- Institution Type: Public
Why FAU Online Made Our List
FAU’s online BBA offers a highly personalized and customizable online degree program for working adults. The AACSB-accredited business school offers a host of specialization options, including in niche fields like hospitality management. It also can be an affordable option for in-state students.
Why Attend FAU Online
- Online Advisor: All online FAU students are paired with an online advisor who can help with scheduling and career planning.
- Six Concentrations Available: FAU offers concentrations in accounting, business economics, tourism, and more.
- Affordability: FAU’s online BBA is $263 per credit for Florida residents, although that figure is a higher $782 per credit for nonresidents.
Know Before You Go
- Optional Live Courses: FAU’s flexibility extends to the way you experience class. FAU uses Lecture Capture Video Streaming (LCVS), meaning you can watch lectures live when they’re recorded or treat it as an asynchronous course later.
- Same Faculty as an In-Person Degree: You’ll be taught by the same FAU faculty who teach in-person courses.
- Option to Graduate In Person: You’ll be invited to walk across the stage at graduation if you finish the FAU degree.
4. Lamar University
$6,228
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$6,471
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$16,020
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$13,815
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Online Enrollment: 81%
- Institution Type: Public
Why Lamar Online Made Our List
Lamar University’s BBA in management is another strong option for working professionals who want to put their past credits to use. The AACSB-accredited school allows students to transfer a high number of previous college credits toward the degree. The school also offers numerous specializations.
Why Attend Lamar Online
- Organizational Behavior Instruction: Lamar includes organizational behavior and critical thinking instruction in its core BBA curriculum, meaning you’ll learn high-demand soft skills as part of the program.
- Numerous Concentrations Available: Lamar offers numerous majors within its BBA program, including general business, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, management, management information systems, and marketing.
- Affordable Tuition: Tuition is $314 per credit hour for the degree. If you transfer the maximum number of credits, you might be able to earn the degree for less than $10,000.
Know Before You Go
- Transfer Credits Accepted: You can transfer up to 90 of the 120 credits required for the degree.
- Fewer electives: Lamar University offers only three credit hours of business electives and 15 credits of outside electives as part of the degree.
- Test-Optional: You don’t need to submit an ACT or SAT score for admission.
5. University of Illinois Springfield
$9,645
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$8,858
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$19,410
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$16,408
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Online Enrollment: 83%
- Institution Type: Public
Why UIS Online Made Our List
The University of Illinois Springfield’s online BBA has a strong focus on ethics and human skills. Those skill sets will be important to employers amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). That doesn’t mean the AACSB-accredited business school skimps on the technical side of education. Analytics instruction is built into the degree, and you’ll be required to complete an internship to graduate.
Why Attend UIS Online
- Many Concentration Options: UIS’ BBA concentrations include economics, human resources, and management, as well as a “comprehensive” concentration.
- Comprehensive Concentration: The UIS comprehensive concentration is unique in its customizability. You’ll choose courses in finance, management, marketing, and operations management based on your interests.
- Analytics Focus: Business analytics is included in the UIS core curriculum.
Know Before You Go
- Internship Required: All UIS BBA students need to complete an internship to get the degree, although in “exceptional cases” you can petition the college to take an additional Engaged Citizenship Common Experience(ECCE) course instead.
- Engaged Citizenship Common Experience: You’ll be required to take at least 10 hours of ECCE coursework to graduate. That focuses on the social responsibility in communities and ethical decision-making.
6. University of Illinois Chicago
$11,178
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$11,870
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$26,200
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$24,738
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Online Enrollment: 72%
- Institution Type: Public
Why UIC Online Made Our List
The University of Illinois Chicago’s online BBA is another degree tailored to working professionals who have previous college experience. You’ll need an associate degree or 60 transferable hours in order to qualify for the degree. Once you meet those requirements, UIC offers an affordable and customizable AACSB-accredited BBA program.
Why Attend UIC Online
- Numerous Electives: UIC includes 19 credit hours of electives in its BBA program.
- Earnings Outcomes: The average starting salary for a UIC BBA graduate is $73,000.
- High Employment: UIC reports 89% of online BBA students were employed within six months of graduation.
Know Before You Go
- Credit Requirement: You’ll need to have completed at least 60 credit hours toward a bachelor degree to qualify.
- More Costly Than Similar Schools: At $412 per credit hour, the BBA from UIC is on the more expensive side of our list.
- Community College Pipeline: An associate degree from an Illinois community college fulfills the degree’s general education requirements.
7. San Diego State University
$5,742
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$7,176
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$17,622
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$19,140
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 34%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Online Enrollment: 56%
- Institution Type: Public
Why SDSU Global Campus Made Our List
SDSU’s online BBA is another degree completion program tailored to working professionals and business owners. The self-paced, AACSB-accredited program focuses on topics like digital marketing and international business while also incorporating trends like AI into its curriculum. All of that comes in a flexible, asynchronous format.
Why Attend SDSU Global Campus
- Finish in Two Years: Since it’s a degree completion program, you can finish it in as little as two years.
- Asynchronous: Courses are offered in an asynchronous format, meaning you can work toward your degree around your schedule.
- Built for Working Professionals: SDSU’s scheduling flexibility is part of its focus on working professionals.
Know Before You Go
- Degree Completion Program: You’ll need at least 60 transferable semester credits to apply.
- More Costly Than Similar Programs: SDSU’s online BBA is $599 per unit, or $30,549 in total.
8. Murray State University
$9,708
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$9,144
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$14,742
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$9,144
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Online Enrollment: 49%
- Institution Type: Public
Why Murray State Online Made Our List
Murray State University is unique on this list in that its online business administration degree is a 2+2 program, meaning it’s tied in with a community college system. All lower-level courses are taught through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS), and the upper-level, statistics-focused courses are taught at the AACSB-accredited Murray State business school.
Why Attend Murray State Online
- Murray State Degree: While you’ll start off through the KCTCS, the bachelor’s degree you’ll earn will be from Murray State.
- Statistics Focus: You’ll get instruction in business statistics throughout your degree, as well as management information systems.
- International Business Instruction: You’ll be required to take an elective course in international business as part of the curriculum.
Know Before You Go
- Associate Degree Gateway: You’ll earn an associate degree from the Kentucky Community and Technical College System as part of the degree pathway.
- Multiple Institutions: You’ll start off your degree in the KCTCS before moving to Murray State, but all classes will be online at both institutions.
- Numerous Electives: Murray State offers dozens of high-level courses as electives. The degree is highly customizable, and upper-level business electives consist of 21 credit hours of the coursework.
9. University of North Carolina at Greensboro
$4,422
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$5,219
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$19,582
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$18,937
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Online Enrollment: 69%
- Institution Type: Public
Why UNCG Online Made Our List
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro puts an emphasis on real-world experience in its online BBA program. You’ll take an experiential learning course that can help you land an internship. It’s also highly customizable, allowing students to tailor their study to fit their industry of choice during the AACSB-accredited program.
Why Attend UNCG Online
- Human Resources Option: UNCG allows you to specialize in human resources, an area that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects to see fast growth over the next decade.
- Versatile Business Studies Concentration: The online business studies concentration from UNCG is highly flexible and can be tailored to fit your personal career goals.
- Experiential Learning Course: UNCG offers an experiential learning course that can help students land internships.
Know Before You Go
- Graduate Certificates Available: UNCG offers a host of online business certificates that can complement your degree, including in high-demand areas like generative AI, information technology development, and supply chain management.
- Pre-Admission Courses: You’ll need to take courses on the foundations of business, ethics, and the economy before being admitted into the full degree program.
10. Wayne State College
$5,760
Undergrad Tuition,
In-State
$4,185
Grad Tuition,
In-State
$5,760
Undergrad Tuition,
Out-of-State
$8,370
Grad Tuition,
Out-of-State
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 73%
- Online Enrollment: 42%
- Institution Type: Public
Why WSC Online Made Our List
Wayne State College offers three online management degrees under its business administration umbrella: business management, human resource management, and supply chain management. Wayne State’s program is $316 per credit hour.
Why Attend WSC Online
- Three Degree Options Available: You can pursue a general business management degree if you want a broad business focus, or hone your skills further in supply chain or human resource management.
- Deeply Specialized: Depending on the degree option you’ll select, you’ll pursue 21 credits, or seven courses, diving deep into your field.
- High-Demand Curriculum: You’ll learn about analytics, information systems, and management science as part of the curriculum.
Know Before You Go
- Accredited by IACBE: Wayne State College is the sole college on our list without AACSB accreditation. The program is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), a respected accrediting body.
- Many Transfer Options Available: Wayne State accepts students from institutions accredited by the six regional accreditors, as well as others.
- Foundational Courses: You’ll need to take seven foundational business courses for full admission to the program.
Why You Should Get a Degree in Business Administration
- Develop Leadership Skills: A bachelor’s in business administration helps you develop the leadership skills mid- and senior-level managers need to lead teams and organizations.
- Explore Different Career Paths: A bachelor’s degree in business administration opens up many career paths in different fields, such as finance, marketing, and human resources.
- Advance Your Education: A business administration degree can lead to an MBA or other specialized master’s programs, opening doors to high-level management and executive roles and increasing your earning potential.
- Become an Entrepreneur: Some graduates leverage the knowledge they gain to launch their own businesses.
Benefits of Getting a Business Administration Degree Online
- According to our 2024 Online Education Trends Report, over 95% of online college students recommend online education to potential degree-seekers.
- Over 50% of full-time online learners work full or part time while in school.
- Over half of students report their online business degree features a career-aligned curriculum and provides opportunities to network with potential employers.
- Nearly 95% of learners pursuing an online degree in business administration feel confident their education will result in a positive return on investment.
How to Choose the Best Business Administration Program for You
When comparing the cheapest online business degrees, you should consider more than cost. Program length and accreditation should also impact your decision.
Dr. Angélica S. Gutiérrez, an associate professor of management at Loyola Marymount University, also recommends thinking about your career goals and finding a business program that offers courses in that area.
“If you are interested in AI, for example, then it will be important to research and select a business program that will provide a solid foundation in areas such as data analytics, computer science, and mathematics,” she says.
How Much Does a Bachelor’s in Business Administration Cost?
Business Bachelor’s Degree, 2019-2020
Online
$$10,476 Avg. Tuition & Fees
$5,928 Avg. Net Price
In-Person
$16,921 Avg. Tuition & Fees
$9,231 Avg. Net Price
Based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), you can save just over 30% on tuition and fees by studying online. This substantial savings could lower or even eliminate the need for student loans.
Also, keep in mind that you may save even more money beyond tuition and fees if you enroll in an online program. Online students don’t have to pay for on-campus housing, transportation to campus, or meal plans, for example.
Find Financial Aid for Your Degree
How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Administration Degree?
Typical # of Credits
120 Credits
Typical Program Length
4 Years
Like other bachelor’s degrees, online business degrees require about 120 credits to complete. However, make sure to check program websites while researching for the latest information on credit requirements.
You can graduate sooner if you took transfer credits from previous college experience, study during summer, or receive credit for work experience.
Accreditation for a Business Administration Degree
Top bachelor of business administration programs usually hold programmatic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
This organization grants accreditation to programs with a rigorous, career-aligned curriculum. To determine this, examiners review programs based on factors such as faculty resources, teaching effectiveness, and scholarship impact.
Besides programmatic accreditation, institutional accreditation should also guide your college search. Degrees from schools lacking proper accreditation may not be considered valid by employers and graduate programs.
Ask an Expert: How Important Is Accreditation for Business Administration Programs?
“Accreditation is very important and it is a factor that prospective students need to consider in selecting a degree program. It signals that the programs have met quality standards. Some employers will recognize only degrees from accredited programs.”
―Angélica S. Gutiérrez, Associate Professor at Loyola Marymount University
What Can You Do With a Business Administration Degree?
You can explore many well-paying careers with a degree in business administration.
As of May 2024, the BLS reports that business professionals earn a median salary of $80,920. However, keep in mind that some professions may require more than a bachelor’s degree or years of practical experience to earn top salaries.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analyst | $101,190 | Improve companies’ efficiency by interviewing employees, analyzing company finances, and recommending new systems and processes |
| Human Resources Manager | $140,030 | Develops benefits programs, oversees recruitment and retention, and coordinates activities with senior company managers |
| Administrative Services and Facilities Manager | $106,880 | Helps an employer develop policies promoting efficiency, safety, and organization |
| Sales Manager | $138,060 | Sets goals for the sales teams, develops training programs for new employees, and writes reports for senior managers |
| Operations Research Analyst | $91,290 | Uses their background in business and mathematics to help senior managers identify and fix problems |
Learn More About Business Administration Jobs
Is a Business Administration Degree Worth It?
A business administration degree can equip you with essential business skills, including management, finance, marketing, and operations. This knowledge can be applied in various industries, making it a popular choice for students seeking flexible career paths.
Additionally, a bachelor’s degree in business administration can prepare you for many well-paying jobs. The National Association of Colleges and Employers reports that the average starting salary for business graduates in 2023 exceeded $66,000.
Education Beyond a Bachelor’s Degree
Bachelor’s in business administration graduates can continue their education by enrolling in a master of business administration (MBA) program. MBA programs provide advanced business knowledge, leadership skills, and networking opportunities that can further your career advancement.
As an MBA graduate, you can work in many fields, including the healthcare, nonprofit, or education sectors, depending on your specialization and professional background.
If grad school doesn’t appeal to you, pursuing a graduate certificate can be a strategic alternative. Graduate certificates require less time (and money) than a master’s degree and allow you to quickly upskill or specialize in a particular area. They are a flexible option for professionals looking to enhance their qualifications and stay competitive in the job market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Administration Degrees
A business administration degree provides students with a broad understanding of business principles and practices. Business administration programs offer an interdisciplinary curriculum with coursework in economics, finance, marketing, and human resources. You can use your well-rounded education to pursue an entry-level position in business or start your own business.
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