With a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership (ORL), you can equip yourself for a management role in either a for-profit company or nonprofit organization.
An ORL degree will instill fundamental leadership concepts to enable you to hire and supervise employees, establish the organization's continuous growth, and effect positive organizational change.
You'll study strategies for communication, motivation and morale-building as well as business ethics, organizational behavior, strategic decision-making, and training and development.
Keep reading to learn about where you can earn an affordable organizational leadership degree online.
The Top Affordable Organizational Leadership Degrees Online
For this list, we scoured accredited university degree programs to find ones that could provide you with an entire four-year college education in organizational leadership for less than about $35,000 in total tuition.
Many of the schools we feature have an affordable organizational leadership degree online with tuition that comes in well below that mark. Also, remember that if you already have transfer credits or an associate degree, you may be able to cut that price in half.
1. Arizona State University
At Arizona State, you can earn an online Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership for $7317 per year, regardless of what state you live in. That adds up to only $29,268 for a full degree.
As an added bonus, ASU also offers the opportunity to enroll in an accelerated master's program. If accepted into the program, you could earn a master's degree in as little as one year after completing your bachelor's degree.
2. Fort Hays State University
A public university in Kansas, Fort Hays State provides you the choice between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership online.
These degree programs prepare students to effectively drive organizational change for modern organizations and corporations.
The per-credit-hour tuition rate of $242.76, your total degree could cost you as little as $29,131, no matter whether you are an in-state or out-of-state student.
3. John Brown University
Based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, the Christian school John Brown University offers a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership for a tuition of $315 per credit hour, which would result in a total of $37,800 for a full four-year degree.
JBU is also home to a "4+1 = MBA" accelerated master's program, which allows you to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in organizational leadership in only five years.
4. South Texas College
South Texas College takes a slightly different twist on the ORL degree by offering a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in organizational leadership online.
At a tuition of $160-170 per credit hour for Texas residents and $250 for nonresidents, you could earn an entire four-year degree for between $20,400 and $30,000.
5. Southwestern Oklahoma State University
The Everett Dobson School of Business and Technology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University hosts a degree completion program for a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership, all online, as part of its "Reach Higher FlexFinish" initiative.
This accelerated program is only for applicants over age 21 who can transfer at least 60 hours of college credit. The Reach Higher tuition is $284 per credit hour, regardless of your state of residency, making this two-year program's total cost around $17,040.
6. Thomas Edison State University
At the New Jersey-based Thomas Edison State University, you could earn a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership. The ORL program for adult learners is the first of its kind in New Jersey.
The ORL program builds on a liberal arts foundation, focusing on business topics and leadership skills necessary for the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors.
Tuition is assessed as either a full-time flat rate of $3,319 per semester in-state (or $4,299 for out-of-state residents) or on a per-credit basis of $419 to $545.
At the flat rate, the total four-year program cost would be $26,552 for New Jersey students or $34,392 for nonresidents. Military students would pay a rate of $250 per credit, for a four-year total of $30,000.
7. University of Arkansas Fort Smith
The Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership (BSOL) degree, offered through the College of Business and Industry at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, is an adult degree completion program (ADCP).
Applicants should be working professionals already holding a relevant associate degree. The pre-program requirements are 75 credit hours, while the ORL program adds 45 credit hours.
Tuition and mandatory fees are $281 per credit hour for residents of Arkansas and bordering states. Nonresidents pay $567 per credit. The total cost for the 45 program hours would be $12, 645 at the in-state rate and $25,515 for out-of-state.
8. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Located in Belton, Texas, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is home to an online Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in organizational leadership with a unique structure.
The degree, with a focus on Management and Leadership Assessments, is designed around competencies instead of courses. Called the "My Way" program, the online degree program allows students to work at their own pace.
Applicants need to transfer in at least 12 credit hours or have at least four years of full-time work experience.
Rather than paying per credit, students pay in six-month blocks of $3,250 (in optional installments of $542 per month) for as long as it takes them to complete their coursework.
The total program cost could be as little as $22,750, making this an extremely affordable organizational leadership degree online.
9. University System of George eMajor
Another unique ORL program is the online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership taught collaboratively by the 23 member institutions in the University System of Georgia.
Students enroll through one of the member universities, which include Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, Valdosta State University, University of West Georgia, and 19 other Georgia state universities.
Students can choose from among four concentrations:
- healthcare administration
- office administration and technology
- public service
- social justice
Tuition is only $199 per credit hour, bringing the cost of the total four-year program to as little as $23,880, regardless of where the student resides.
10. Waldorf University
From Waldorf University's base in Forest City, Iowa, the school offers you a choice between an online Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership. What's more, it provides a unique array of concentrations.
Concentrations include:
- diversity and inclusion
- global leadership
- health care management
- leadership communication
- occupational safety and health
The total estimated program cost for a four-year degree is $37,800, which averages to $315 per credit hour.
What Is the Average Cost of an Online Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership?
While bachelor's programs in organizational leadership can cost up to $175,000 for an elite four-year degree program, the average tends to be somewhere around $50,000 for a four-year degree.
That's why the programs we found and listed above are so worthy of a second look. You could obtain an entirely online degree at Georgia's state universities, for example, for less than $24,000.
How To Finance an Online Organizational Leadership Degree
First, find an affordable organizational leadership degree online that meets all your needs and interests. Next, establish a relationship with a financial aid officer at that school to find out what kinds of discounts, scholarships, grants, or loans you might qualify for.
Be sure to complete the federal FAFSA financial aid application form by the deadline, and also look into other sources of assistance such as employee tuition reimbursements or tuition waivers based on your age, military service, residency, or other factors.
Benefits of an Organizational Leadership Degree
A bachelor's degree in organizational leadership will provide you the potential for hiring or promotion in whatever industry you desire. It can launch your career in management and make you a valuable asset to any organization.
Start Your Organizational Leadership Degree Online Today
Reach out to the admissions offices of some of the schools we listed above to get started with an affordable organizational leadership degree online today.
