Graduates 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
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 University | (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 University | (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.