Students who want to improve their business careers often look for programs that offer the best value MBA degrees in terms of time and cost. Forbes contributor Eric Jackson points out a variety of unforeseen benefits of earning an M.B.A., and the chief among those benefits is the ability to network with a variety of people who offer different perspectives and varying levels of expertise in the field of business. The following outline discusses schools that deliver a quality education without the hefty price tag. Best Value MBA Schools were selected for this list because they are accredited schools with affordable tuition.
Arizona State University
W. P. Carey School of Business
In 2013, Washington Monthly ranked Arizona State University 7th on its list of best national universities in the “Bang for the Buck” category, and the school’s vast array of awards and recognition further emphasizes its value to students looking for an affordable business graduate program. The W. P. Carey School of Business upholds Arizona State’s prestigious reputation by offering several M.B.A. programs that garner recognition from U.S. News and World Report: The online M.B.A. program ranks 2nd, the part-time M.B.A. ranks 18th and the full-time M.B.A. program ranks 27th in the nation. Students who pursue a master’s program here will be fully prepared to enter careers as leading business professionals.
MBA Program
Despite its reputation as one of the best value MBA degrees, Arizona State’s M.B.A. program doesn’t skimp when it comes to academic standards. The W. P. Carey School of Business takes education seriously and has devised a program that combines broad business topics with personalized, in-depth instruction. Students are encouraged to become team leaders and to interact fully with other graduate candidates in an environment that fosters creative team-building and an intimate, personal approach to business education. Within the general master’s in business administration, students can specialize in up to two additional concentrations including financial management and markets, strategic marketing, or supply chain management. Arizona State believes in a totally customizable approach to graduate business programs and allows students to choose a schedule and curriculum that reflects their personal aspirations. The school also offers an executive M.B.A. program for experienced business leaders. M.B.A. programs are offered on a full-time, part-time or online basis.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
Graduate Programs
McCord Hall
450 E. Lemon Street
Tempe, AZ 85287-4906
480-965-3332
wpcareymasters@asu.edu
Website
Tuition: $10,002 In-state and $23,654 Out-of-state
Grand Canyon University
Ken Blanchard College of Business
Founded as a private Christian school in 1949, Grand Canyon University strives to prepare students to challenge themselves academically while finding a purpose as it relates to their faith. The Ken Blanchard College of Business maintains this mission by offering a comprehensive Master of Business Administration program that helps graduates find career opportunities during and after the program. Hoping to instill a sense of leadership based on the Christian doctrine, the school offers several options when it comes to affordable graduate business programs, and students have the option to customize their degrees based on individual need and personal career goals.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration program offered by Grand Canyon University’s Ken Blanchard College of Business enables students to hone their skills as professional leaders while gaining real-world experience through in-depth coursework and quality faculty instruction. Courses cover a broad range of business topics relevant to today’s international business exchange including finance principles, operations management and quantitative methods. The program requires 34 credits as long as students meet certain prerequisite requirements, and most students can complete the degree in 18 months; without prerequisites, the program requires 46 credits. If students wish to specialize in a particular business emphasis, then they can take eight additional credits to specialize in one of the following six subjects: Strategic Human Resource Management, Marketing, Leadership, Health Systems Management, Finance, or Accounting. For working professionals, Grand Canyon University’s graduate business program offers great flexibility as students can pursue the degree during the day, once per week in the evening or online.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Contact
P.O. Box 11097
Phoenix, AZ 85061
602-639-7205
kbcob@gcu.edu
Website
Tuition: $18,600 for all students
University of Arizona
Eller College of Management
Founded in 1885, the University of Arizona boasts a large undergraduate enrollment and the distinction of being one of the most affordable public colleges for students looking into the best value MBA degrees. The University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management was founded in 1913 and ranks 71st on Businessweek’s list of undergraduate business schools, and its graduate programs offer students ample opportunity to develop their careers. Students who pursue an M.B.A. degree at the University of Arizona will receive an education based on the business school’s model of “innovation, application, and communication” along with classes designed around modern problem solving skills and effective management techniques.
Master of Business Administration
When it comes to graduate business programs, the Eller College of Management offers a distinguished program that emphasizes strong leadership values combined with a practical approach to management. Students who study here will gain access to highly educated and experienced faculty who serve as liaisons between the academic world and the modern business world, and the skills they learn will help them succeed in today’s economy. The program typically demands two years of study and covers courses relevant to an effective leader such as business strategy, operations management and a team-based business field project under the direction of faculty members. Eller also expects students to participate in an internship program during the summer break between the first and second years. For students who already have a job or who need greater scheduling flexibility, the school offers its M.B.A. program in a traditional, evening, online or executive format that enables students to customize their graduate business degree program.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
1401 E. University Blvd.
Administration 316
Tucson, AZ 85721
520-621-3471
mba_admissions@eller.arizona.edu
Website
Tuition: $10,391 in-state and $27,073 out-of-state
Northern Arizona University
W. A. Franke College of Business
Northern Arizona University was founded in 1899 as a public institution that has since grown to an annual undergraduate population of more than 21,000 students. For students researching affordable graduate school programs, the university’s W.A. Franke College of Business ranks 104th in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Business Schools category and offers a diverse range of academic options. The Master of Business Administration offered by the school enables students to develop into well-educated and competent leaders who gain a strong understanding of modern business topics while developing an interest in various sub-topics within the field such as accounting and management techniques.
Master of Business Administration
Unlike a lot of graduate business programs, the Master of Business Administration program developed by the W. A. Franke College of Business is specifically designed for professionals without much work experience or undergraduates looking to enhance their marketability in the business world. In fact, students with an undergraduate degree in accounting can complete the M.B.A. program at North Arizona University to satisfy the 150-hour CPA requirement. The program fosters a sense of team building and partnership in order to encourage students to develop strong networking and leadership skills that may be applicable in today’s business environment. Students are expected to complete a total of 30 credit hours for the graduate degree to be designated as 21 credit hours of business core classes and nine hours of electives. Business courses cover topics such as systems orientation, professional development, and managing people. Students without a business background or relevant undergraduate degree may need to meet certain prerequisites.
Accreditation
The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Contact
601 South Knoles Drive
P.O. Box 4103
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4103
928-523-2109
registrar@nau.edu
Website
Tuition: $10,023 in-state and $21,117 out-of-state
Is a master’s in business really important in today’s economy? The answer depends on a professional’s goals. Most companies look for employees who have varied experience and can enhance a company’s overall objective, and M.B.A. graduates typically offer more experience than those with an undergraduate degree. When deciding on the right path to take, students should check out the aforementioned schools as representatives of some of the best value MBA degrees in the country.
For more information on earning a MBA degree, please see The 20 Most Affordable Top-Ranked Business Schools and MBA Programs.