How much do the best Online MBA programs cost?

The annually published US News & World Report Online MBA Program ranking showcases 377 business schools in 2026, reflecting the widespread availability of Online MBA programs in the US.

Online MBAs tend to cost less than full-time MBAs, and students can study without alongside their jobs without forfeiting their salaries. Here, we look at how much the best Online MBA programs in the US cost today.

What are the best Online MBA programs?

There were a few slight changes in the Online MBA programs listed among the best by US News this year, although the top 10 schools largely remained consistent.

In 2026, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business retained its position at the top of the ranking for the fifth consecutive year, while Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business regained second place from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, which placed third this year.

University of Washington Foster School of Business and the University of Florida Warrington Graduate School of Business ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

This year's most significant change was for the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business—it dropped four positions, from sixth to a tied tenth position. As in previous years, multiple schools end up with tied positions on the ranking, including the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, which are in tied sixth place.

Unlike other MBA rankings, US News does not survey students or graduates to compile its list. Instead, the US News Online MBA ranking is based on scores in five categories: student engagement, faculty credentials and training, reputation among other business schools, student excellence, and services and technologies.

How much do the best Online MBA programs in the US cost?

The average cost of an Online MBA at one of the best schools in the US is $89,927. This makes an Online MBA considerably cheaper than a full-time MBA at a top-ranked school.

However, costs among the top five Online MBA programs vary considerably. The University of Florida Warrington offers an affordable course at $59,882, while at Tepper School of Business, Online MBA students pay $147,648—the most expensive Online MBA in the top ten.

Students wishing to study at the number one Online MBA in the US at Kelley School of Business will pay just under $100k for the program, while at UW Foster, tuition totals $102k.

More affordable options are available within the top ten, including The University of Kansas School of Business, where the total program cost is $37,590. Similarly, tuition at Spears School of Business totals just $18,315. The fact that these schools are ranked among the best in the US suggests that price is not indicative of quality when it comes to Online MBAs.

While most programs in the top ten have a flat tuition fee for both in-state and out-of-state students, this isn’t the case for all. At the Jindal School of Management, in-state (Texas resident) students pay $58,198, compared to $95,697 for out-of-state students—a cost difference almost equal to the entire tuition fee at the University of Kansas.

How to choose an affordable Online MBA program

An Online MBA may work out cheaper on average than a full-time program, but there’s still considerable variation in cost at the world’s top schools. The most affordable programs in this year’s US News ranking were Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Business School at $15,868 and the University of Texas Permian Basin College of Business at $12,096.

When choosing a program, students should consider career progress in terms of salary achieved and salary increase after the program; the strength of the faculty’s teaching and research; and the quality and diversity of the cohort.

Cheaper tuition fees may increase the degree’s return on investment, which can be calculated by taking the average salary achieved by graduates and deducting the tuition fee. This, of course, will stack up over time.

While the pandemic initially elevated Online MBAs to new heights, they remain a viable option for students looking for flexibility and more manageable funding options. If you want a cheaper, more flexible MBA experience, an Online MBA could be your best option.

This article was first published in January 2020 and updated in August 2026.