The independent, trusted guide to online education for over 26 years!

The 59 Most Affordable Online MBA Operations Management Programs

Rankings of online MBA operations management programsGraduates with online MBA operations management degrees are the top choice of employers in operations and logistics today. While adhering to the needs of consumers, operations and supply chain managers also understand the interconnectedness of trade, cost, and demand. MBA programs will provide students with the foundational industry knowledge to carry out these leadership roles. Specializing in operations management opens opportunities with career-centric studies, often customizable to fit professional goals.

Many positions are available in this field, including operations research analysis, a position with an average annual salary of $86,200. Large-scale organization is a profitable, professional career with a projected growth of 25% over next ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By earning an online MBA operations management degree, there is a higher chance of procuring the position best suited to individual talents and interests. But with such a high demand for these positions, there comes an onslaught of college programs offering different quality degrees at a wide range of prices.

GetEducated has surveyed 90 regionally accredited schools offering 97 online MBA operations management programs. The following “Best Buy” list reveals the most affordable options in the United States, providing links to high quality education at a community college price. Take the time to become an informed consumer before subscribing to the next chapter in your career.v

ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide

Average Cost (In-state): ~$30,300
Least Expensive: Fayetteville State University ~$9,772.01
Most Expensive: Syracuse University ~$93,636

Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are 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 MBA operations management program. The online operations and supply chain management degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

Most Affordable Online MBA Operations Management

RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
Fayetteville State University
(NC)
$9,772.01
$22,876.01
In-State
Out-of-State
2
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
(NC)
$11,025.15
$30,328.35
In-State
Out-of-State
3
Albany State University
(GA)
$11,060.00
All Students
4
Fitchburg State University
(MA)
$12,510.00
All Students
5
Southern Arkansas University
(AR)
$13,274.00
$18,752.00
In-State
Out-of-State
6
Clayton State University
(GA)
$13,933.00
All Students
7
North Carolina A & T State University
(NC)
$14,180.24
$36,068.24
In-State
Out-of-State
8
Western Illinois University
(IL)
$14,787.30
All Students
9
Quincy University
(IL)
$15,200.00
All Students
10
University of Illinois at Springfield
(IL)
$15,415.50
All Students
11
Wayne State College
(NE)
$15,746.40
All Students
12
University of West Florida
(FL)
$16,434.00
All Students
13
Doane University
(NE)
$16,580.00
All Students
14
University of South Dakota
(SD)
$16,936.20
All Students
15
Spring Hill College
(AL)
$16,950.00
$8,250.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
16
University of North Texas
(TX)
$17,327.20
$19,026.76
In-State
Out-of-State
17
Ball State University
(IN)
$17,720.00
$24,815.00
In-State
Out-of-State
18
Campbellsville University
(KY)
$17,844.00
All Students
19
Bowling Green State University
(OH)
$17,850.00
$18,180.00
In-State
Out-of-State
20
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
(OH)
$17,928.00
All Students
21
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
(WI)
$18,000.00
All Students
22
University of North Carolina-Wilmington
(NC)
$18,113.40
$45,771.48
In-State
Out-of-State
23
Governors State University
(IL)
$18,396.00
All Students
24
Lindenwood University
(MO)
$18,440.00
All Students
25
Southern New Hampshire University
(NH)
$18,960.00
$14,250.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
26
Lincoln Memorial University
(TN)
$19,320.00
All Students
27
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(NC)
$19,377.80
$29,815.80
In-State
Out-of-State
28
Charleston Southern University
(SC)
$19,615.00
All Students
29
Carson-Newman University
(TN)
$19,800.00
All Students
30
Southern University and A & M College
(LA)
$19,931.00
All Students
31
Friends University
(KS)
$21,978.00
All Students
32
Cedarville University
(OH)
$22,428.00
All Students
33
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
(PA)
$22,536.00
$23,328.00
In-State
Out-of-State
34
Metropolitan State University
(MN)
$22,542.72
All Students
35
Bellevue University
(NE)
$23,060.00
All Students
36
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
(WI)
$23,472.00
All Students
37
National University (School Merged)
Master of Business Administration / Supply Chain Management IACBE,14
(CA)
$23,868.00
All Students
38
Friends University
(KS)
$23,976.00
All Students
39
Westcliff University
(CA)
$24,400.00
All Students
40
Union University
(TN)
$24,444.00
All Students
41
Lakeland University
(WI)
$24,732.00
All Students
42
Anderson University - SC
(SC)
$25,075.00
All Students
43
Saint Leo University
(FL)
$25,260.00
All Students
44
Delaware Valley University
(PA)
$26,118.00
All Students
45
Abilene Christian University
(TX)
$26,352.00
All Students
46
Lebanon Valley College
(PA)
$26,496.00
All Students
47
Liberty University
(VA)
$26,770.00
$12,475.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
48
University of New Haven
(CT)
$26,848.00
All Students
49
Ashland University
(OH)
$27,000.00
All Students
50
Central Michigan University
(MI)
$27,050.00
$25,250.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
51
Ferris State University
(MI)
$27,222.00
All Students
52
Bethel University - MN
(MN)
$27,300.00
All Students
53
University of Michigan-Flint
(MI)
$28,405.25
$35,170.25
In-State
Out-of-State
54
Champlain College
(VT)
$28,770.00
$14,478.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
55
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
(CO)
$28,780.00
$33,968.00
In-State
Out-of-State
56
Fontbonne University (School Closing)
Master of Business Administration / Supply Chain Management ACBSP,14
(MO)
$28,800.00
All Students
57
University of St Francis
(IL)
$29,348.00
All Students
58
Johnson & Wales University
(RI)
$29,412.00
All Students
59
University of Hartford
(CT)
$29,424.00
All Students
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
Old Dominion University
(VA)
$30,413.00
$32,305.00
In-State
Out-of-State
University of La Verne
(CA)
$30,520.00
All Students
Norwich University
(VT)
$30,738.00
All Students
Texas Wesleyan University
(TX)
$31,080.00
All Students
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
(NE)
$31,200.00
All Students
DeSales University
(PA)
$31,800.00
All Students
Florida Atlantic University
(FL)
$32,000.00
All Students
Chatham University
Master of Business Administration / Supply Chain Management IACBE,14
(PA)
$32,760.00
All Students
University of La Verne
(CA)
$33,280.00
All Students
Endicott College
(MA)
$34,486.00
All Students
Florida Southern College
(FL)
$34,555.00
All Students
University of Scranton
(PA)
$34,740.00
All Students
Monroe College
(NY)
$35,048.00
All Students
Berkeley College
(NJ)
$35,740.00
All Students
The University of Texas at Dallas
(TX)
$35,918.00
$64,939.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Ohio University
(OH)
$36,120.00
$36,785.00
In-State
Out-of-State
Moravian College
(PA)
$36,288.00
All Students
Kettering University
(MI)
$38,520.00
All Students
Nova Southeastern University
(FL)
$38,952.00
All Students
Oregon State University
(OR)
$39,410.00
All Students
Lehigh University
(PA)
$44,055.00
All Students
University of Dallas
(TX)
$49,010.00
All Students
Baylor University
(TX)
$51,864.00
All Students
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
(IL)
$56,160.00
All Students
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(MA)
$57,960.00
All Students
Pennsylvania State University
(PA)
$59,328.00
All Students
Purdue University
(IN)
$61,324.80
$63,324.48
In-State
Out-of-State
Temple University
(PA)
$62,561.00
All Students
Auburn University
(AL)
$62,790.00
All Students
Indiana University Online
(IN)
$78,246.00
All Students
Northeastern University
(MA)
$82,000.00
All Students
University of Maryland-College Park
(MD)
$91,746.00
All Students
Syracuse University
(NY)
$93,636.00
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 MBA operations management programs. 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 MBA degrees 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 an MBA 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 an MBA 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 MBA operations management for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.

Career Guide: Online MBA Operations Management

Operations management is, essentially, the practice of getting the most from a group’s resources. This can mean getting the best results from team members, or leveraging technology to the greatest benefit. It can mean cost reduction efforts or using equipment in a way that maximizes profits.

It’s the practice of creating the highest level of efficiency within an organization.

Operations management is complex and difficult to describe, even for people who work in the profession. “Operations” basically means the daily activities of a business, the day-to-day work that creates value for the company. Managing these operations becomes complex, so companies need experts who can monitor and revise their daily functions.

It’s important to note that operations management involves all aspects of a company, which is why it’s so appealing as an education. While human resources, marketing, and accounting all pretty much stay in their little corner, operations management encompasses them all and can revise, adjust, or overhaul any of them.

Note: A Great Place for Military Veterans
It’s worth noting that operations management is a good education for people with military experience. The military, no matter the branch, thrives on efficiency, so people who are are active or retired members often transition seamlessly into an education and career in operations management.

What to Expect from an MBA in Operations Management

An online MBA operations management degree will include two sections. The first is your core MBA classes. These courses include a variety of topics that are important to all management and business careers, such as marketing, accounting, leadership practices, and important laws that impact the business world. Classes could fall under topics like strategic management, human behavior in organizations, managerial finance, and business analytics.

The other section of your degree will be focused specifically on operations management. These are the classes where you learn to improve efficiencies, reduce time spent on tasks, and get the most from each and every resource. Classes will depend on the specific online MBA operations management program, but you can expect courses in supply chain management, project management, and how to identify inefficient aspects of an organization.

Once complete, you’ll be prepared for numerous careers, and you’ll have important and useful skills that can apply to virtually any industry.

Potential Careers for Operations Management Experts

Operations Research Analyst

  • Salary: $86,200
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: None

These research analysts help businesses and organizations identify and solve complex problems. They collect data, gather input, and examine information to help a company reach the best possible solution. Using advanced mathematical and analytical knowledge, they help groups make better decisions.

This career has two obvious advantages. First is the simple fact that the pay will be excellent. The median salary in May of 2020 was over $86,000, but if you work your way into the top echelon of this career, your earnings could be even larger. According to the BLS, the top 10% in this profession earn over $144,000 annually. Also, the expected growth should be excellent. Between 2020 and 2030, this career is expected to grow by 25%, adding over 25,000 total jobs. This growth will be driven by an increase in awareness for operations management and how it can improve companies of all sizes.

Facilities Manager

  • Salary: $98,890
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience: Under 5 years

A facilities manager provides oversight for buildings, campuses, grounds, equipment, and materials, assisting in maintenance and planning for large organizations. Their work may includes the management of renovation projects or guiding changes to a facility to increase worker efficiency.

High-quality facilities managers are well paid. The top 10% earn over $169,000 a year, making them some of the best-paid professionals in the country. With an expected job growth of 9%, this is expected to be a profitable and stable career.

Requirements to Work in These Careers

There are no legally-mandated requirements for working in these careers. However, you may enhance your career through voluntary certification.

It can be hard to determine which certification is best, but there are many organizations that have certificates that apply to your chosen field. A facilities manager, for example, could complete training through the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), a group that offers a variety of certifications.

Graduates who plan to work in management and leadership will likely need experience. Most companies require their department managers to have around five years of professional experience, in addition to their education, to be hired. With an online MBA operations management degree, however, this requirement could be reduced.