The recent influx of accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership will come as no surprise to professionals in the field. The industry has been growing steadily for the last two decades and is aimed at ensuring that all workplaces are productive and happy. But now that employers are requiring professionals with advanced degrees, the need for online programs has skyrocketed.
Professionals in the organizational leadership field are no stranger to odd hours and time constraints. They are busy individuals who need an online degree that can fit around their other obligations. Accelerated online programs provide them with the ability to earn a master’s degree in their field without requiring them to study at a traditional campus as full-time students. This ranking will provide these professionals with all of the necessary information in order to make a decision on where they will earn their graduate degree.
Methodology
All of the research necessary for this ranking comes courtesy of the National Center for Education Statistics and its College Navigator database. The initial pool of 140 schools was created simply by searching for online Master’s in Organizational Leadership. From there, programs were reviewed for several factors, including accelerated track options, online program offerings, and total graduate program tuition. The final 20 schools are listed below and were chosen based on the program’s full tuition costs.
Ranking Low-Cost Accelerated Master’s in Organizational Leadership
20. Regis University
Denver, Colorado
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $26,550
Regis University delivers a one year Master’s in Organizational Leadership online program designed for self-motivated and ambitious students. This organizational leadership degree is offered 100 percent online and is perfect for professionals who are interested in moving into leadership roles within their sector. The curriculum focuses on management and leadership skills, providing students with the education they need to be effective team leaders.
Courses are offered asynchronously online and in eight-week sessions, making it possible for students who take two courses every term to complete the degree in less than one year. With courses focusing on critical thinking and communication skills and rounding out with a project based on teamwork, this degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a capstone course, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Strategic Leadership, strategic management, Delivering Organizational Excellence, and Business Intelligence and Analytics.
19. Norwich University
Northfield, Vermont
Online Master of Science in Leadership
Tuition: $25,344
Students at Norwich University can earn an affordable accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that features small class sizes and personalized support. There are four concentrations associated with this degree: Organizational Leadership, Human Resources Leadership, Leading Change Management Consulting, and Public Sector/Government/Military Leadership. This organizational leadership degree can be completed in as little as 18 months.
This a low residency degree program that differs from other degrees in that all courses are offered asynchronously or synchronously, one at a time. Taking one course every 11-week session will enable students to complete the degree in 18 months as part-time graduate candidates. At the end of the course of study, graduates will gather on campus for the program’s only residency: a week-long stay in Northfield that culminates with a graduation ceremony. Students will be expected to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project that includes a portfolio presentation, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Strategic Organizational Behavior, strategic management, Leading Change in Organizations, organizational development, human resources management, business management, and Leadership Fundamentals: Ethical Leadership and Value-Driven Organizations.
18. Robert Morris University
Moon, Pennsylvania
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $25,200
Robert Morris University delivers a one year online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is perfect for working professionals. This organizational leadership degree is offered 100 percent online with no residency requirements. Students will work through asynchronous and synchronous courses using the school’s learning management system, where they will also have access to online office hours, forums, and more. Terms are held in the traditional 16-week format and students who choose to study full-time will be able to complete this degree in one year.
Part-time students can graduate in as little as two years. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, an Organizational Leadership capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Research Methods of Organizational Leadership, organizational development, Group Dynamics and Interpersonal Relationships, and Gender and Race in Leadership.
17. Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $25,020
The affordable accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is available from Lewis University is perfect for self-motivated working professionals who are interested in completing a degree in two years or less. This organizational leadership degree comes with five concentrations, including Higher Education Student Services, Organizational Management, and Professional and Executive Coaching. The coursework available in this curriculum is based on real-world case studies, ensuring that students connect the theories and concepts taught in the classroom with actual issues that happen in the industry.
This is a 100 percent online program that does not require any campus residencies. Students will complete their coursework through asynchronous and synchronous sessions. This school follows the traditional 16-week term format, so full-time students can expect to complete all requirements within two years. This organizational leadership degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework, a research paper, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Psychology of Motivation, organizational development, Assessing Leadership Skills, and Workplace Research: Critical Thinking and Decision Making.
16. Western New England University
Springfield, Massachusetts
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $24,720
Western New England University offers students the chance to complete an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Students who take two courses per term can expect to complete the degree in as little as 15 months. This organizational leadership degree can be taken as a wholly online course of study or in a hybrid format; the choice is always left up to the student.
Courses are available as synchronous sessions one day a week throughout the 11-week term; students will need to participate in these live sessions in order to complete the degree. Students can expect to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, a research project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Methods of Organizational Research, organizational development, Foundations of Leadership Practice, and Ethical Leadership Practice.
15. Thomas Edison State University
Trenton, New Jersey
Online Master of Science in Management, Concentration in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $24,048
Students at Thomas Edison State University are conferred an affordable accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that can be completed in two years. This organizational leadership degree is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. There are three concentrations associated with this degree; they are Accounting, Project Management, and Organizational Leadership.
The curriculum is hosted entirely online and does not require campus residencies. Students will be met with asynchronous and synchronous courses that follow the 16-week term schedule. This degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework, a research paper, a management capstone project, and a comprehensive written exit exam. Sample courses include Economic Issues in Organizations, organizational development, organizational leadership programs, Global Management, and Leading Change in Complex Organizations.
14. Brandman University
Irvine, California
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $23,040
Brandman University confers an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is perfect for mid-service professionals interested in a cross-disciplinary program. The curriculum is delivered online through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous courses, team projects, and skills labs. The course of study follows the traditional 16-week academic format and can be completed in two years provided that a student studies full-time and takes advantage of summer courses.
The curriculum is split into four modules, each of which builds on the previous module in order to prepare students for senior-level management positions. Students will be expected to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, an integrative capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Foundations of Organizational Leadership, Leadership and Team Development, and Democracy, organizational leadership programs, Ethics, and Leadership.
13. Rosemont College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Online Master of Science in Strategic Leadership
Tuition: $22,770
Students at Rosemont College are met with the possibility of earning a 12 month online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is perfect for mid-level professionals. The school also confers a Graduate Certificate in Leadership Studies online as well. Students can choose between a wholly online or hybrid course of study. This degree’s curriculum is accelerated; all courses are delivered asynchronously and synchronously in seven-week terms.
Students who take two courses every term can complete this degree in less than one year, although most will study part-time and graduate within 18 months. This curriculum is completely directed; there are no free electives. Students can expect to complete 33 credit hours of coursework, a thesis project, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Economics in the Workplace, Leading Change for Innovation and Alignment, strategic planning, organizational leadership programs, and Globalization and Cultural Negotiation.
12. Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $22,572
Southern New Hampshire University provides students with a 15-month accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership. This is a 100 percent online program that provides students with the advanced knowledge necessary in order to move into senior leadership roles. The curriculum is delivered through asynchronous sessions that follow the 10-week term schedule. Part-time students who take two courses per term will be able to complete this degree in 15 months and there are five start dates per year.
This curriculum offers half of its coursework requirements as free electives, enabling students to choose subjects that are of interest to them and may be useful in their career. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, the Organizational Leadership Capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Strategic Human Resource Management, Responsible Corporate Leadership, strategic planning, and Human Behavior in Organizations.
11. St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $22,500
Students at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota can pursue an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that can be completed in as little as two years. This cohort degree is housed entirely online; students will take on asynchronous and synchronous courses through the school’s learning management system. They will even be able to take their degree on the go with them; this university provides iPads to every student so that they always have access to their education.
The curriculum is divided into six clusters, each of which corresponds to the skillset of a different category of leader. The program culminates with a capstone project that integrates all the previous clusters to form a new leader that is ready to graduate. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Social and Cultural Perspectives, Critical Thinking and Research, and Strategy and Innovation.
10. National University
San Diego, California
Online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $22,464
National University provides for an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is in demand from both employers and working professionals. This advanced professional degree combines soft skills, knowledge, and theory into a comprehensive curriculum that was built to create the new leaders of tomorrow. This degree is offered 100 percent online through the school’s course management system; courses are available in either the asynchronous or synchronous format.
Terms are held in the traditional 16-week format, meaning that full-time students can expect to complete this degree in two years; all students have up to six years to graduate. Students will be expected to complete 54 quarter credit units of coursework, a capstone project, a research paper, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include World View and Adult Development, Leading Change and Adaptation, and Developing Groups and Teams.
9. Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $21,450
Students at Regent University will be able to earn an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that will provide them with the opportunity to move into senior leadership roles in their industry. This particular degree comes with seven concentrations, including Servant Leadership, Human Resource Management, and Leadership Coaching and Mentoring. The curriculum is held wholly online with no campus residency requirements. Students will benefit from a strong course of study that focuses students on the core aspects of the field, including how research and communication skills are an important part of the leadership process.
The program is bolstered by asynchronous and synchronous courses delivered in 16-week terms. Students who choose to pursue a full-time plan of study will be able to complete this degree in two years; all candidates have six years to graduate. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework, a culminating experience, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Information Research and Resources, Foundations of Leadership: History, Theory, Application and Development, and Leadership Coaching: Activations.
8. Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $21,210
Western Kentucky University confers a master’s online in organizational leadership that is perfect for working professionals who are interested in moving into executive positions upon graduation. This program is offered entirely online or as a hybrid program; many free elective courses are not available online but are available on campus.
Students may transfer credits to the program as well, provided they receive department approval first. The curriculum is dispensed online through the school’s virtual portal; courses are offered asynchronously or synchronously and on the traditional 16-week sessions. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a Capstone in Leadership Studies, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Leadership in Global Contexts, Elements of Public Administrations, and Applied Research methods in Organizational Leadership.
7. Charleston Southern University
Charleston, South Carolina
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $20,625
Students interested in an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that is taught by a nationally renown faculty will find their perfect program at Charleston Southern University. This degree is conferred entirely online or as a hybrid program and makes uses of both the asynchronous and synchronous delivery formats. Students will find that the degree available online, as well as the required courses, are exactly the same; the same full-time faculty that teaches on campus teach online and there are no distinctions between an online or traditional degree.
Courses are held in 16-week sessions which makes it possible for full-time students to graduate in two years; part-time students can complete the degree in three years. Students can expect to complete 33 credit hours of coursework, the Leadership Dynamics and Decisions capstone course, and a comprehensive written and oral exit exam. Sample courses include Organizational Change and Transformation, Advanced Human Resource Management, and Business Ethics from a Christian Worldview.
6. University of Wisconsin at Platteville
Platteville, Wisconsin
Online Master of Science in Organizational Change Leadership
Tuition: $20,250
The University of Wisconsin at Platteville provides a pathway for students interested in pursuing an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership. This degree has been nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Students who are interested in the Graduate Certificate in Organizational Change Leadership will find it possible to earn that online as well. This degree program offers optional concentrations in Health Care, Human Resources, Project Management, and Safety Risk Control. This is a 100 percent online program that has no campus residency requirements.
Courses are delivered asynchronously or synchronously through the school’s learning management system and are held in 16-week sessions. Ambitious students can study full-time and complete the degree plan in two years; students have up to six years to graduate. This degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework; a student’s choice of a thesis, a bachelor’s degree, capstone project, or seminar research paper; and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Introduction to Organizational Change Leadership: Theory and Practice, Intercultural Change Leadership, and Strategic Thinking and Change.
5. California Baptist University
Riverside, California
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $18,210
The accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership at California Baptist University can be completed in one year, making it a great choice for working adults who need a flexible and fast program so they can advance in their careers. This degree is conferred 100 percent online and there is never any need to attend campus. Students will be able to access their courses through the school’s learning management system, which comes with mobile applications that can be downloaded to any smart device.
Courses are offered asynchronously and synchronously in eight-sessions; just by taking two courses per term, students will be able to complete their degree in one year. Students will be expected to complete 30 credit units of coursework, a bachelor’s degree, the Organizational Leadership Capstone Innovation Project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam for graduation. Sample courses include Leadership Across Cultures, Conflict Resolution and Negotiations, leadership development, and Foundations of Organizational Leadership.
4. Colorado State University
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $18,000
Colorado State University provides working professionals with the option to complete an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that can be completed in as little as two years. This degree can be earned concurrently with the Master of Science in Management for a dual degree program. This degree is perfect for students who are managers and are interested in moving into executive leadership roles in their industry. Students are treated to a wholly online program of study that features small class sizes, a nationally recognized faculty, and a learning management system that offers mobile applications for smart devices.
The program offers two tracks: Practitioner and Researcher; the difference between the tracks is the focus of the coursework and the types of skills taught. Both tracks have their coursework available asynchronously and synchronously in the 16-week term format. It is possible to complete this degree in two years if a student chooses to study full-time and during the summer term. Students can expect to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, an internship, a capstone course, and a comprehensive written and oral exit exam. Sample courses include Decision Theory in a Global Marketplace, Contemporary Business Writing and Communication, leadership development, organizational communication, and Organizational Leadership: Strategy and Execution.
3. Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Online Master in Management and Leadership
Tuition: $14,370
Students at Campbellsville University can pursue an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that can be completed in just one year if they study full-time. This degree is a 100 percent online offering that has no residency requirements and features small class sizes and professors with work experience in the field. Students will find that all courses are available through the school’s virtual portal and are delivered in either the asynchronous or synchronous format.
Courses are held in the eight-week format, making it possible for students to take two courses every term and complete the degree before the year ends. Students will be expected to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, the Management and Leadership Capstone course, and a comprehensive written exit exam. Sample courses include Negotiation and Conflict Management, organizational communication, Human Resource Management, and Managerial Communication.
2. Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa
Online Master in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $12,810
Grand View University offers an accelerated online master’s degree that provides students with a strong background in leadership theory and skills that will prepare them for senior leadership positions. This program was designed specifically for working adults who require advanced knowledge in order to move forward in their careers.
This degree offers asynchronous and synchronous courses in an eight-week format; students who take two courses every term will graduate within one year, but many students complete the degree in 21 months. There is an optional campus residency but it is possible to complete that seminar online. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, the leadership capstone seminar, and a comprehensive written and oral exit exam. Sample courses include Financial Management, organizational communication, Innovation and Change, and Leading Effective Teams.
1. University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Online Master of Arts in Communications, Specialization in Organizational Leadership
Tuition: $11,250
The University of Alabama provides students with an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership that can be completed in as little as 15 months. This is a 100 percent online degree that was designed for working professionals and caters to their needs; courses are delivered asynchronously and synchronously in eight-week sessions.
Students are accepted on a rolling basis and students who study full-time complete the degree in 15 months. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, a professional project, a capstone portfolio, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Gender and Political Communication, organizational communication, Conflict and Negotiation, and Relational Communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Affordable Accelerated Online Master’s in Organizational Leadership?
An accelerated Master’s in Organizational Leadership is a complementary degree, meaning that it strengthens a professional’s career prospects in their current line of work. It can lead to certifications and other qualifications in some cases; however, students are advised this program can be useful to individuals in all sectors and industries. Here is a sampling of the career options that become available to students after completing a degree in the field:
- Human Resources Manager
- School and Career Counselor
- Administrative Services Manager
- Postsecondary Education Administrator
- School Principal
- Psychologist
- Sales Manager
- C-Level Executive
- Training and Development Manager
- Instructional Coordinator
- Training and development managers
How Much Can You Earn in this Field?
The current median salary for this degree is $100,000, according to U.S. News and World Report. Professionals often earn higher salaries after they earn this degree because employers are looking mid-level and senior-level executives with a strong background in organizational leadership. It is possible to find even higher-paying jobs in the field but this may require additional qualifications in the form of certifications and endorsements.
What are the Various Disciplines of Organizational Leadership?
This is a social science discipline that relies heavily on psychology, anthropology, and sociology; in very specific terms, the field focuses on the psychology of human behavior in the workplace. The field is also informed by disciplines such as management, human resources, development, education, history, culture, and philosophy. Students will find that the field also has roots in every discipline but the ones they work with the most is borne out of their specialization.
The organizational leadership field has always been important for every sector; however, with advancements in the understanding of human behavior as well as technology, the field is becoming more mainstream. Professionals in the field are powerful allies for businesses, nonprofit organizations and even the government and this is only heightened when a graduate degree is earned.
Those interested in advancing to the highest positions available in the field are encouraged to seek out an accelerated online Master’s in Organizational Leadership; with so many options available, a professional is bound to find a program that fits their needs and won’t interfere with their career.
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