Best Affordable Online MBAs (No GMAT Required) of 2026

Why We Chose It: This program stands out as the only one on this list offering an AI-related specialization.

Florida International University's online MBA program is the only one on this list to offer a specialization in generative artificial intelligence (AI) for businesses. This concentration track can help students learn how to utilize this emerging technology to improve business operations, analyze data, and inform strategic decisions.

The required courses — "Artificial Intelligence Strategy" and "Generative AI for Business" — cover prompt engineering and how to use AI tools to generate text, code, and multimedia content to gain a competitive advantage. They also address the technology’s principles, ethics, and potential organizational impact.

Besides the AI specialization, FIU offers 10 other concentration options, including finance, leadership, real estate, and data analytics. You can even earn more than one specialization, though it comes with an extra fee. FIU doesn’t disclose the additional cost and recommends discussing your goals with an advisor to determine before enrolling in a second specialization.

What We Like About FIU

• FIU includes one specialization in the program’s total cost of $42,000, and students can add a second for an additional fee.
• You can choose to finish the program in 18, 21, or 33 months, depending on how many classes you want to take per semester.
• FIU offers a one-time $5,000 scholarship for online MBA students who meet certain criteria.

What We Don't Like

• FIU's online MBA is not eligible for the school’s installment payment plan, which breaks tuition and fees across three or four smaller payments. 
• Some courses require synchronous sessions, meaning students must tune in for live Zoom meetings at specific times. 

Why We Chose It: This program has the lowest tuition rate among the ones featured on this list.

Southeastern Louisiana University’s online MBA costs around $533 per credit hour — about $16,000 for the full 30-credit program — making it the most affordable option on our list. 

The next cheapest option is the University of South Florida, which charges $750 per credit hour for core, elective, and capstone courses. All other schools listed charge more than $1,000 per credit. 

Southeastern’s affordability is even more striking compared to the national average for a two-year MBA program, which is approximately $62,600.

Beyond its price point, this program stands out for its science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) focus. Offered through a partnership between the Southeastern’s College of Business and the College of Science and Technology, it explores how technology influences business decisions. Alongside traditional business coursework, you’ll take classes related to cybersecurity and software project management.

What We Like About Southeastern

• Students can complete this program in just one year because it uses eight-week course sessions instead of the traditional 16-week format.
• Southeastern offers five start dates: August, October, January, March, and May. Most colleges usually offer only two.
• Unlike many other MBA programs, this one doesn’t ask for a certain number of years of work experience to apply.

What We Don't Like

• Students can’t transfer more than six credit hours. Other schools, like the University of Wisconsin, accept nine transfer credits. 
• Students can’t choose their preferred electives; electives are already set based on the STEM concentration.

Why We Chose It: UH’s online MBA program has over 15 certification tracks to choose from, allowing you to customize the degree to different career options.

Online MBA students at the University of Houston can customize their degree by choosing from 17 certificates across five fields: energy, finance, supply chain management, leadership, and marketing and entrepreneurship. The only program that comes close is Florida International University, which offers 11 specialization options. 

To complete a specialization track, students take 1-3 required courses and then select from a list of recommended electives to reach 9-12 credits. For example, the human resource management certificate includes one required course and lets students choose the remaining credits from the listed electives. Others, like the healthcare leadership certificate, have no required courses, giving students complete freedom to choose classes.

Overall, UH’s online MBA is the most customizable program available, giving students the flexibility to tailor their degree to their career goals.

What We Like About UH

• UH’s specialization certificates are also open to MBA alumni, allowing graduates to return and earn additional certificates after completing their degree.
• The Rockwell Career Center, housed within UH’s Bauer College of Business, offers career coaches, resume reviews, networking events, and other resources specifically for business students.

What We Don't Like

• UH requires GMAT scores, but applicants may request a waiver based on academic or professional experience — though approval is not guaranteed.

Why We Chose It: USF’s program is the only one on this list that features a fully asynchronous format.

The online MBA program from the University of South Florida is completely self-paced. Students don’t have to log in for live classes at a specific time. Instead, they can study whenever it fits their schedule, as long as they meet deadlines. Other programs on this list, by comparison, combine synchronous and asynchronous coursework — that is, live classes plus self-guided assignments.

USF's flexibility also extends to its residency program — a common MBA requirement where students are expected to attend an in-person, multi-day learning event. USF, however, allows students to participate either in person or online. Over two days, the residency includes a CEO panel, a mini-case competition, and an ethics workshop.

What We Like About USF

• USF offers seven concentration options, including in finance, cybersecurity, data analytics, healthcare analytics, personal finance planning, the blue economy, and compliance, risk, and anti-money laundering. 
• You can sign up for one-week, in-person immersion electives, which give you the opportunity to network.
• Online students can get asynchronous writing help by submitting drafts to editors and receiving feedback on their work.

What We Don't Like

• Applicants must submit the GMAT unless they have a 3.5 or higher GPA, three years of experience, or an active professional license.
• An asynchronous program offers maximum flexibility, though students who prefer real-time interaction may find it less engaging than programs with live sessions.

Why We Chose It: Students who didn’t major in business can enter this program without completing additional prerequisite coursework.

Some MBA programs require students to take additional prerequisite courses if they don’t have a business background. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh doesn't require students to have a bachelor’s in business, making it a solid option for students coming from other fields. In fact, in 2022, approximately 63% of the school’s MBA students didn’t have a business background.

At UWO, all students — regardless of their undergraduate major — complete the same 36-credit program. This credit total is slightly higher than most MBA programs, which typically require 30-33 credits. The additional credits come from five introductory courses that cover essential business topics, such as financial reporting, managerial economics, and business communications. These classes may be familiar for business majors, but they provide an introduction for students who are new to the field.

Non-business majors can be admitted if they have two or more years of professional work experience, which includes internships, military service, and experience in a family business. Students are also eligible for admission if they hold a graduate degree from an accredited university.

What We Like About UWO

• UWO accepts a maximum of nine transfer credits. Other schools accept fewer.
• The program offers five concentration tracks: data modeling and visualization, healthcare management, human resource management, leadership, and project management.

What We Don't Like

• You need an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 over 80 credits or 2.90 in the last half of your coursework or two or more years of professional experience. Otherwise, you must have a 3.5 or higher GPA from a business program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, along with a recommendation letter, or a graduate degree.
• Classes are typically offered on rotation between in person and online format. So some courses may not be available online each semester.