It’s not a surprise that graduates with an online master’s in organizational leadership are in high demand at elite companies across the country. A great team dynamic can make or break an organization, and with an online MAOL degree, doors can start to open in virtually any industry. These programs are typically interdisciplinary, and students can seek out professional development in areas from management and consulting to administration or human resources. Training and development managers make a median annual salary of $115,640, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An organizational leadership degree online leads to top executive roles, roles which are opening up more and more as the previous generation of leaders retires.
The BLS projects average to above average rates of growth in every field organizational leadership is applicable. But while demand usually equals a handsome salary, it still pays to compare your options as the most expensive online master’s in organizational leadership costs six times more than the most affordable!
GetEducated compared 186 organizational leadership master’s degree programs from 158 regionally accredited online schools to create this Best Buy ranking. Our rankings reveal the most affordable programs in the United States—89 options for an online master’s in organizational leadership for under $23,200.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$23,200
Least Expensive: Fort Hays State University ~$8,956.50
Most Expensive: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology ~$52,065
Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There’s no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online master’s in organizational leadership. The online organizational leadership degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $8,956.50 | All Students |
2 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | (OK) | $10,140.00 | All Students |
3 | Cameron University | (OK) | $10,560.00 $14,025.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Clayton State University | (GA) | $12,778.00 | All Students |
5 | Marshall University | (WV) | $12,780.00 | All Students |
6 | Mercyhurst University | (PA) | $12,990.00 | All Students |
7 | Columbus State University | (GA) | $13,064.00 $40,316.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Angelo State University | (TX) | $13,126.50 $25,366.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | University of the Virgin Islands | () | $13,896.00 $26,460.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Columbia International University | (SC) | $14,150.00 | All Students |
11 | Drury University | (MO) | $14,235.00 | All Students |
12 | Columbia College - SC | (SC) | $14,400.00 | All Students |
13 | Clarks Summit University | (PA) | $14,425.00 | All Students |
14 | Hannibal-LaGrange University | (MO) | $14,450.00 | All Students |
15 | Oral Roberts University | (OK) | $14,596.00 | All Students |
16 | CUNY Lehman College | (NY) | $14,628.40 | All Students |
17 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $14,700.00 $11,025.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
18 | Lincoln Christian University (School Closing) Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership 14 | (IL) | $14,720.00 | All Students |
19 | Waldorf University | (IA) | $14,920.00 $11,680.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
20 | Grace Christian University | (MI) | $15,100.00 $9,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
21 | Trevecca Nazarene University | (TN) | $15,279.00 | All Students |
22 | York College | (NE) | $15,300.00 | All Students |
23 | Black Hills State University | (SD) | $15,371.40 | All Students |
24 | College of Saint Mary | (NE) | $15,450.00 | All Students |
25 | Indiana Institute of Technology | (IN) | $15,525.00 | All Students |
26 |  Concordia University - Chicago | (IL) | $15,675.00 | All Students |
27 | University of Jamestown | (ND) | $15,768.00 | All Students |
28 | Barclay College | (KS) | $15,960.00 | All Students |
29 | William Woods University | (MO) | $16,000.00 | All Students |
30 | University of Charleston | (WV) | $16,300.00 | All Students |
31 | Granite State College (part of University of New Hampshire) Master of Science in Leadership 14 | (NH) | $16,480.00 $18,040.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
32 | Buena Vista University | (IA) | $16,560.00 | All Students |
33 | Anderson University - SC | (SC) | $16,650.00 | All Students |
34 | University of Valley Forge | (PA) | $16,673.00 | All Students |
35 | Lindenwood University | (MO) | $16,775.00 | All Students |
36 | Montreat College | (NC) | $16,900.00 | All Students |
37 | Trine University | (IN) | $17,250.00 | All Students |
38 | University of Southern Maine | (ME) | $17,772.00 $21,192.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
39 | Austin Peay State University | (TN) | $17,782.50 $24,652.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
40 | Bethel University - IN | (IN) | $17,840.00 | All Students |
41 | University of Northwestern St. Paul | (MN) | $17,964.00 | All Students |
42 | Murray State University | (KY) | $17,970.00 | All Students |
43 | John Brown University | (AR) | $18,000.00 | All Students |
43 | William Penn University | (IA) | $18,000.00 | All Students |
43 | Colorado State University-Global Campus | (CO) | $18,000.00 | All Students |
46 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $18,046.00 $8,350.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
47 | Los Angeles Pacific University | (CA) | $18,075.00 $16,275.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
48 | Vermont State University | (VT) | $18,150.00 | All Students |
49 | Mid-America Christian University | (OK) | $18,540.00 | All Students |
50 | Jessup University | (CA) | $18,720.00 | All Students |
51 | Charter Oak State College | (CT) | $18,885.00 $19,761.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
52 | University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | (IN) | $18,900.00 | All Students |
53 | Harding University | (AR) | $18,955.00 | All Students |
54 | Southeastern University | (FL) | $19,320.00 | All Students |
55 | Grand View University | (IA) | $19,490.00 | All Students |
56 | Life Pacific College | (CA) | $19,505.00 | All Students |
57 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | (OK) | $19,805.00 | All Students |
58 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | (TX) | $20,060.00 | All Students |
59 | Neumann University | (PA) | $20,285.00 | All Students |
60 | University of Mobile | (AL) | $20,360.00 | All Students |
61 | Ohio Christian University | (OH) | $20,440.00 $10,360.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
62 | California Baptist University | (CA) | $20,460.00 | All Students |
63 | Palm Beach Atlantic University | (FL) | $20,632.00 | All Students |
64 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | (IN) | $20,825.00 | All Students |
65 | Concordia University Irvine | (CA) | $20,876.00 | All Students |
66 | Western Kentucky University | (KY) | $21,210.00 | All Students |
67 | Crown College | (MN) | $21,280.00 | All Students |
68 | Saint Ambrose University | (IA) | $21,360.00 | All Students |
69 | Eastern Mennonite University | (VA) | $21,475.00 | All Students |
70 | North Central University | (MN) | $21,520.00 | All Students |
71 | Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $21,565.00 | All Students |
72 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | (WI) | $21,640.00 | All Students |
73 | Point Loma Nazarene University | (CA) | $21,720.00 | All Students |
74 | Messiah University | (PA) | $21,750.00 | All Students |
75 | University of Mary | (ND) | $21,808.00 | All Students |
76 | Lewis University | (IL) | $21,880.00 | All Students |
77 | Bushnell University | (OR) | $21,960.00 | All Students |
78 | LeTourneau University | (TX) | $22,025.00 | All Students |
79 | Belhaven University | (MS) | $22,100.00 $14,540.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
80 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | (NC) | $22,110.00 | All Students |
81 | Union Institute & University (Status pending: not enrolling new students) Master of Science in Organizational Leadership 14 | (OH) | $22,150.00 | All Students |
82 | Cornerstone University | (MI) | $22,200.00 | All Students |
83 | Ottawa University | (KS) | $22,212.00 | All Students |
84 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | (FL) | $22,440.00 $18,840.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
85 | Lasell University | (MA) | $22,536.00 | All Students |
86 |  Southern New Hampshire University | (NH) | $22,722.00 $17,070.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
87 | San Diego Christian College | (CA) | $23,020.00 | All Students |
88 | Bellevue University | (NE) | $23,060.00 | All Students |
89 | Claremont Lincoln University | (CA) | $23,100.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $23,220.00 | All Students | |
Juniata College | (PA) | $23,250.00 | All Students | |
Geneva College | (PA) | $23,328.00 | All Students | |
Point Park University | (PA) | $23,400.00 | All Students | |
University of Colorado Boulder | (CO) | $23,467.20 $25,567.20 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Thomas More College | (KY) | $23,640.00 | All Students | |
Azusa Pacific University | (CA) | $23,650.00 | All Students | |
Nichols College | (MA) | $23,850.00 | All Students | |
Champlain College | (VT) | $24,000.00 $12,090.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Fontbonne University (School Closing) Master of Management & Leadership ACBSP,14 | (MO) | $24,000.00 | All Students | |
Rosemont College | (PA) | $24,105.00 | All Students | |
Central Penn College | (PA) | $24,161.00 | All Students | |
 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | (MN) | $24,300.00 $21,870.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Massachusetts Global | (CA) | $24,480.00 $14,400.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Pfeiffer University | (NC) | $24,575.00 | All Students | |
Dominican University - New York | (NY) | $24,645.00 | All Students | |
Baker University | (KS) | $24,717.00 | All Students | |
Northwood University | (MI) | $24,830.00 | All Students | |
Olivet Nazarene University | (IL) | $24,840.00 | All Students | |
Regent University | (VA) | $24,875.00 $10,850.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Elizabethtown College | (PA) | $25,020.00 | All Students | |
Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $25,257.00 | All Students | |
Siena Heights University | (MI) | $25,556.00 | All Students | |
Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $25,641.00 $23,076.90 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Citadel Military College of South Carolina | (SC) | $25,680.00 | All Students | |
Belhaven University | (MS) | $25,760.00 $16,940.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Fresno Pacific University | (CA) | $25,800.00 | All Students | |
St. Bonaventure University | (NY) | $25,905.00 | All Students | |
Southwestern College - Kansas | (KS) | $26,400.00 $20,280.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Gratz College | (PA) | $26,433.00 | All Students | |
Roger Williams University | (RI) | $26,871.00 | All Students | |
University of Oklahoma | (OK) | $26,994.00 | All Students | |
Alliance University Master of Science in Organizational Leadership 14 | (NY) | $27,045.00 | All Students | |
Madonna University | (MI) | $27,400.00 | All Students | |
Norwich University | (VT) | $27,534.00 | All Students | |
 Brenau University | (GA) | $28,020.00 | All Students | |
Peirce College | (PA) | $28,267.00 | All Students | |
North Central College | (IL) | $28,404.00 | All Students | |
Western New England University | (MA) | $28,500.00 | All Students | |
Medaille College (School Closed) Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership IACBE,14 | (NY) | $28,500.00 $27,082.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Amridge University | (AL) | $28,700.00 | All Students | |
Robert Morris University | (PA) | $29,100.00 | All Students | |
Lipscomb University | (TN) | $29,667.00 | All Students | |
Regis University | (CO) | $29,740.00 | All Students | |
National University | (CA) | $29,750.00 | All Students | |
Gonzaga University | (WA) | $30,000.00 $27,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of La Verne | (CA) | $30,520.00 | All Students | |
Rider University | (NJ) | $30,650.00 | All Students | |
Bay Path University | (MA) | $30,960.00 | All Students | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $31,350.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $31,550.00 | All Students | |
Bethune-Cookman University | (FL) | $31,850.00 $9,750.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Duquesne University | (PA) | $32,100.00 | All Students | |
University of Providence | (MT) | $32,436.00 | All Students | |
Mercy College | (NY) | $32,761.00 | All Students | |
Quinnipiac University | (CT) | $33,000.00 | All Students | |
Golden Gate University | (CA) | $33,140.00 $14,690.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Adler University | (IL) | $33,280.00 | All Students | |
Manhattan College | (NY) | $33,480.00 | All Students | |
Northeastern University | (MA) | $35,325.00 | All Students | |
University of Denver | (CO) | $35,904.00 | All Students | |
Creighton University | (NE) | $36,108.00 | All Students | |
Roberts Wesleyan University | (NY) | $36,698.00 | All Students | |
Thomas Jefferson University | (PA) | $38,952.00 | All Students | |
Pacific Oaks College | (CA) | $40,485.00 | All Students | |
North Park University | (IL) | $43,890.00 | All Students | |
California Institute of Integral Studies | (CA) | $44,256.00 | All Students | |
St. Edward's University | (TX) | $49,400.00 | All Students | |
The Chicago School | (TX) | $52,065.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
AACSB AACSB International
IACBE International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
ACBSP Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited online master’s in organizational leadership. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online master degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for organizational leadership may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online master’s in organizational leadership for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
Whether you want to move up the ranks with your current employer, or want to shift industries entirely, an online master’s in organizational leadership could be the right choice. Building your knowledge for the best leadership practices, these degrees make you a better manager and a more attractive job candidate.
What to Expect from a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership
During these master’s programs, you’ll learn a variety of skills. You’ll learn how to articulate an organizations’s overall vision, then how to execute on this vision. You’ll learn to guide strategic planning efforts and promote problem solving among an entire team. You’ll have an understanding for group performance and motivation, as well as leadership that encourages group and individual improvement. All of these skills will make you a better leader for the companies that hire you, as well as the people you lead.
Master’s programs often have strong entry requirements. Of course, you’ll have to have a bachelor’s degree in a related topic, such as business, communication, or leadership. Simply completing a degree may not be enough; most programs have GPA requirements, usually around 3.0 or better to gain enrollment. Even with the GPA, you’ll likely need letters of recommendation or a statement of goals.
When you gain entry into one of these programs, you’ll take a variety of courses that prepare you for a leadership career. Classes will vary by school, but you can expect discussions and learning that are both theoretical and technical in nature. Classes may fall under titles such as leadership theory, strategic management, and crisis communication. Many of the courses are focused specifically on team success, and could include leading through change, group culture development, and team development.
Some of the classes will be technical or scientific in nature, possibly including math, statistics, and legal concepts. Courses could include accounting basics, public financing, or legal issues that impact businesses and organizations.
Once complete, these courses will prepare you for some of the most exciting jobs in leadership and management.
Possible Careers After an Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership
Human Resources Manager
- Salary: $121,220
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: Over five years
As a human resources manager, you’ll be responsible for managing the hiring and employment process of an organization. For large groups and companies, this often means heading an HR department and leading other human resource professionals. However, it’s not uncommon for human resource managers to perform almost all of the HR duties, including interviews, benefits management, and even training.
Although a bachelor’s degree is the minimal requirement for most of these jobs, an online master’s in organizational leadership will make you a more attractive job candidate and could increase your salary. Many employers prefer managers to have a masters’s degrees, and the top 10% in HR management earn over $208,000.
Training & Development Manager
- Salary: $115,640
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: Over five years
A training and development manager helps an employer create an effective, efficient work staff. While they may not be involved in the hiring process (although some are), they will provide oversight for training and development once an employee is hired. This often includes assessing an employee’s training needs, reviewing the training progress, and teaching methods and practices to new and experienced team members.
A master’s degree in organizational leadership will prepare you for this career, but you may need education or training in teaching methods and skills development. This will help you improve work performance, which is a benefit for both the organization and the employee!
Requirements for Working in Leadership Careers
To work in leadership, organization, and administration, you rarely need licensing. While this is not a requirement for your career, you could boost your earnings and job potential by completing voluntary certification. This can include general management, organization, and leadership certifications, or certifications that are specific to your industry or department. There are, for example, certifications in human resource administration or manufacturing management. These build on your online master’s in organizational leadership and make you more attractive to employers.
Human resource managers, as an example, could benefit from certification through the Society for Human Resource Management, HR Certification Institute, or the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. These groups offer certifications that make you a more knowledgable and capable HR professional.
A master’s degree is a high level of education, shaping you into an expert in your chosen field. But for management and leadership jobs, you’ll need experience. Most management positions require at least five years of experience before you can be hired as a manager or leader in the company.