An online degree can cost as little as $3,000 – or over $100,000. More than 12,000 online degrees and certificates – and no two charge the same tuition. Our affordability rankings reveal who offers the best – and worst – buys in online degrees.
Enrolled in an online degree program? Alumni of an online college? Visit your college or degree program in our directory and "grade" – rate and rank – its performance. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life ratings of thousands of online college programs.
Not all online colleges rate the same in the eyes of the public or potential employers. How does the public rate your online degree? Do they rank it high – or rate it low? Help rate and rank all the choices. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life reputation of thousands of online colleges.
"Anybody who's thinking of enrolling in an online degree ... take a good look at GetEducated.com . Go ... get a free download of a detailed guide ."
Searching for an Online MBA?: "Several websites can help .. first, GetEducated.com offers free rankings of distance-learning MBA programs."
"Beware diploma mills... Go to GetEducated.com and ask the Diploma Mill Police."
"For a distance MBA you can pay from $6,000 to $120,000. To get the most bang for your buck ... check out GetEducated.com"
GetEducated.com – "a great source for weeding out phonies" (among online colleges).
"Thanks much for your wonderful site! I've recommended it to my students and entered a program I found at GetEducated.com." --Charles Balch, MBA, Ph.D. --Professor, Arizona Western College
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst | January 19, 2009
Question:
I’m looking for an online MBA (Master of Business Administration). I’ve found several that fit my budget but none of these are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta Gary, IN Answer:
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is a voluntary, non-governmental accrediting agency that oversees the standardization of collegiate schools of business and accounting nationwide. The AACSB has served as the academic watchdog of university business programs since 1916. Because of its longevity, many venerable Ivy League business schools are accredited by the AACSB. Stanford University, Yale University and Duke University, for example, all operate AACSB accredited business schools. (Of these, Duke University offers a distance-learning, low-residency MBA.)
Among academics and corporate headhunters, the AACSB is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation.
Only about 30 percent of business schools in the USA carry AACSB accreditation.
Who Needs the AACSB?
If your career goal is to become faculty at a business school, definitely consider an AACSB-accredited MBA or business degree.
Outside of academia, this specialized accreditation is less crucial—unless you intend to compete at the executive level, especially in the Fortune 500 arena.
Recently, Intel Corporation made news by announcing that its corporate tuition program will only reimburse for business degrees earned at AACSB-accredited degree programs, regardless of whether the degree is delivered face-to-face or online.
A business degree or MBA emblazoned with the AACSB brand will be extremely valuable in opening doors in any competitive corporate environment.
AACSB Business School Accreditation? Optional
Universities do not need AACSB business school accreditation to offer the MBA or any other advanced business program, whether online or on-campus.
According to GetEducated.com’s National Survey of Online MBAs, the majority of regionally-accredited universities that offer distance MBAs—more than 70 percent—do not follow the standards of the AACSB.
AACSB approval is not an absolute guarantee of quality. In fact, if an online business school has not pledged to follow AACSB standards it may gain the ability to offer a more innovative program of study.
Some online business schools shun AACSB accreditation because they seek the flexibility to develop more real-life curriculum, as well as the flexibility to admit an older, more career-savvy body of adult learners.
Of the 168 online business schools tracked by GetEducated.com’s National Survey of Online MBAs, 62 of these (37 percent) hold AACSB accreditation. The other 63 percent (106) do not.
Average cost of a regionally accredited distance MBA, on the other hand, is only $20,500.
That’s a whopping savings of $11,700.
If your budget is tight, skipping AACSB accreditation on your online MBA can save you a bundle.
Forgo AACSB – Gain Easier Admission
If you’re looking for easy admission to business school, don’t look to AACSB-accredited options. AACSB-accredited business schools almost always maintain higher admission standards than their counterparts.
Most require the GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) for admission. They typically also require a higher undergraduate GPA. Many require applicants to hold formal bachelor's degrees in business administration.
When to Consider an AACSB-Accredited Online Business Degree
Five most likely reasons you’d be willing to pay more for the AACSB mark on your online business degree:
You’re competing in an aggressive career field in an urban environment—for example, becoming a Wall Street broker in Manhattan
Academic prestige is very important to you
You intend to join the faculty of a business college
Your corporate tuition plan will only pay for an AACSB-accredited business degree
You don’t mind taking the GRE or GMAT—and are confident you can score above average on both
Five most likely reasons you’d be willing to forgo AACSB accreditation on your online business degree:
Money is tight
You’re not competing in an aggressive career field in an urban environment
Academic prestige is not all that important to you
You don’t intend to join the faculty of a business school
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA...
I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to be a high school math teacher, but my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. Do I need a new degree in education? Will an online bachelor’s in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher?
—Willis, Houston, Texas
If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree in education years ago and you now want to teach in the public schools, don’t fret. Every state maintains what are termed “alternative teacher certification” programs...
I’m considering earning my MBA online because there are no colleges nearby. But I’m skeptical about online education. Can you cite any objective research that “proves” that online MBAs are as good as the old-fashioned classroom?
—Tammy, Wyoming
The answer: YES. Online education has been scientifically shown to be as effective—if not more so—than the old-time classroom lecture....
Northcentral University, an innovator in 100% online higher education, offers an outstanding academic program in Business & Technology Management, Education and Psychology with no required residencies. Northcentral faculty mentors bring excellent academic credentials and professional backgrounds to mentor career relevant, real-world courses one-on-one, entirely online and regionally accredited. Monthly course starts, 12-week terms, affordable tuition, 24/7 library access and unparalleled dissertation support make Northcentral a superb choice to earn your doctorate. Independent Learning. Individual Attention.
CTU Online brings innovative, career-relevant degrees completely online, so students can learn anywhere, any time, on any computer with Internet-access. Degrees are offered in Business and IT at the Bachelor's and Master's levels. Students can earn multiple CTU Academic Certificates in each degree program without taking additional classes or adding tuition cost. Colorado Technical University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
For active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and military families.
More than half of military students use online education. What do you need to know to find schools that best fit your needs? How can you find the best financial aid and scholarship package at your online school? Answers are here.
Job and Career Opportunities in Online and Distance Education
Online and distance schools need teachers.
The field of online education is growing and so is the need for teachers who can teach online. Check out our regularly updated list of online job opportunities, post your job availability, and visit our Online Resource Center, with tips, advice and free downloads for online educators.
Facts from GetEducated's National Survey of Online MBAs. Who offers the cheapest online MBA? Do you need an AACSB-accredited distance MBA? Online MBA rankings and ratings. Everything you need to know to compare 390 accredited online MBAs from 168 online business schools.
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN 
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA... 
