If you are ready to move into executive or managerial roles in supply chain management, consider the benefits of an online master’s in logistics from an accredited college. This is a great move for anyone with a bachelor’s to associate’s degree and some years of work experience in the field. Management careers overall pull above-average salaries than the national average, and operations and logistics management is no exception. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top ten percent of earners in this sector earn a median annual salary of over $122,000. Not to mention, the job market will be ripe for picking over the next ten years, with a projected rate of growth at 30%, says the BLS. But even with great prospects like this, the price of a master’s degree can be an intimidating start for the aspiring student.
Looking for a master’s in operations management online that offers affordable programs? GetEducated’s rankings reveal all of the programs that cost less than the national average so that you, the consumer, can make the most informed decision. With more than a $40,000 difference between the most affordable and most expensive programs, it pays to Get Educated before enrolling!
GetEducated compared 41 online master’s in logistics from 37 regionally accredited schools to create this ‘Best Buy’ list. Our rankings reveal the most affordable options in the United States—19 master’s in operations management online programs for under $29,900.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$29,900
Least Expensive: University of Arkansas ~$10,616.40
Most Expensive: University of Southern California ~$62,927
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 logistics. The online operations management 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 Logistics
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | University of Arkansas | (AR) | $10,616.40 | All Students |
2 | Athens State University | (AL) | $12,130.00 | All Students |
3 | Clayton State University | (GA) | $12,778.00 | All Students |
4 |  American Public University System | (WV) | $14,450.00 $9,350.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
5 | Georgia College & State University | (GA) | $14,690.00 | All Students |
6 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | (WI) | $14,959.04 $30,027.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | The University of Alabama | (AL) | $15,700.00 | All Students |
8 | University of Southern Mississippi | (MS) | $15,963.60 | All Students |
9 | Old Dominion University | (VA) | $17,474.00 $18,794.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | (NE) | $19,500.00 | All Students |
11 | Charleston Southern University | (SC) | $19,615.00 | All Students |
12 | North Dakota State University | (ND) | $20,243.10 | All Students |
13 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | (WI) | $21,640.00 | All Students |
14 | Embry Riddle Aeronautical University | (FL) | $22,440.00 $18,840.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
15 | Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $23,310.00 $20,979.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
16 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | (AL) | $23,790.00 | All Students |
17 | Central Connecticut State University | (CT) | $23,822.00 $24,284.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | Fontbonne University (School Closing) Master of Science in Supply Chain Management ACBSP,14 | (MO) | $24,000.00 | All Students |
19 | Florida Institute of Technology | (FL) | $25,641.00 $23,076.90 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Purdue University | (IN) | $33,078.00 $34,578.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Pennsylvania State University | (PA) | $33,630.00 | All Students | |
Portland State University | (OR) | $33,965.00 $40,310.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Maine Maritime Academy | (ME) | $34,120.00 | All Students | |
University of Colorado Boulder | (CO) | $34,749.00 $48,642.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Clarkson University | (NY) | $35,520.00 | All Students | |
 University of Denver | (CO) | $35,904.00 | All Students | |
Kettering University | (MI) | $37,520.00 | All Students | |
Marquette University | (WI) | $37,820.00 | All Students | |
Boston University | (MA) | $37,925.00 | All Students | |
Kettering University | (MI) | $38,120.00 | All Students | |
Rutgers University | (NJ) | $38,840.00 | All Students | |
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | (TN) | $39,390.00 | All Students | |
University of Washington | (WA) | $42,791.00 | All Students | |
Georgetown University | (DC) | $48,939.00 | All Students | |
Syracuse University | (NY) | $52,020.00 | All Students | |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute | (MA) | $53,130.00 | All Students | |
Loyola University Chicago | (IL) | $56,050.00 | All Students | |
University of San Diego | (CA) | $56,340.00 | All Students | |
University of Southern California | (CA) | $62,927.00 | 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
PMI GAC Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter 2021 review of regionally accredited online master’s in logistics. 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 logistics and operations management 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 logistics 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 Logistics & Operations Management
If you are working in manufacturing, transportation, or warehousing, and want to boost your career, an online master’s in logistics could be an excellent choice. Regardless of your current career, if you have a degree in business, manufacturing, or engineering, these degrees could help you launch a high-demand, high-paying job.
What to Expect from an Online Master’s in Logistics / Operation Management
These degrees often deal with two concepts that are similar to each other and deeply intertwined. Yet they are different. The first is “logistics.” This is the overall process of managing resources in the most efficient manner. It deals with how things are bought and sold, stored, shipped, and used. The terms is particularly common in areas that deal with physical goods, such as retail and manufacturing.
The other term is “supply chain.” A supply chain is the interconnected system that moves items from initial production to final use. The chain includes all points at which a product or material is moved from one point to another, moving through the chain until it arrives at the final user. A supply chain might start with raw materials, then move to production, storage, distribution, retail, then the final consumer. This is, of course, an extremely simplified example; most supply chains feature dozens, if not hundreds, of links.
During an education in logistics and operations management, you’ll learn skills that help you increase efficiencies and reduce cost. Because the concepts of logistics and supply chains are so vast, the classes might include transportation management, distribution systems, supply chain modeling, and global trade.
Some classes will be theoretical and conceptual in nature, and might include economic decision-making theories and logistic leadership. Others will be more technical, and could include applications and software that are used in logistics and operational management.
Careers after an Education in Logistics & Operations
With a master’s in operations management online, you’ll be prepared for a variety of fast-paced careers that call for a quick, nimble, yet decisive mind. In these careers, you’ll have to process information quickly and make the right choice for your company or group. Fortunately, you’ll have an education that has prepared your for the daily challenges of these rigorous yet rewarding positions…
Logisticians
- Salary: $76,270
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: None
These professionals are responsible for analyzing and coordinating a supply chain, making this possibly the most direct position for anyone who has completed an online master’s in logistics. Logisticians will be responsible for directing the transportation of materials and products, developing business relationships, and proposing strategies that minimize cost and reduce the time needed to transport items.
While the pay for this career is strong (the top 10% can expect earnings over $122,000), the job growth is even more impressive. Between 2020 and 2030, this career is expected to grow by 30%; the expected national average, by comparison, is 8%. The career will add roughly 56,000 jobs, so there should be plenty of opportunities for experts who understand logistics and the global supply chain.
Industrial Production Managers
- Salary: $108,790
- Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Experience: Over five years
These experienced and skilled professionals oversee a manufacturing plant’s daily operations, helping the company to stay as productive as possible at all times. They make a wide range of broad-level decisions, which can include how to best use a plant’s staff, how to organize production points, and what changes to implement in order to increase efficiencies. Daily tasks may include analyzing production data, writing reports and overseeing production.
Many production managers have engineering degrees, but business is also a common education. An online master’s in logistics will give you the skills to deal with all the details that go into the manufacturing process, from ordering materials to shipping final products.
Licensing & Certification Requirements
To work in these careers, you likely won’t need government-required licensing. However, there are numerous certifications, all voluntary, that can provide a significant boost to your career. The supply chain is constantly changing, so you need to stay up-to-date on the latest concepts, practices, and technologies being used to increase efficiency.
To stay at the forefront of this ever-changing industry, logistics experts should seek certification through groups like the Association for Supply Chain Management or the International Society of Logistics (SOLE). These groups provide consistent support and education, as well as testing, so you can stay at the cutting edge of supply chain and logistics management.
Other possible certifications include the Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM). This is a certification for production managers and other experts in manufacturing.