10 Most Affordable Master’s in Non-Profit Management Online in 2021

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Updated June 24, 2021

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An online Master's in Non-Profit Management is an incredible opportunity for anyone who is looking to work in the non-profit sector. The degree, which enables professionals to hold mid-to senior levels of management within the field, has always been in demand. Now with the introduction of online programs, the degree has evolved to serve the needs of pre-service and working professionals alike.

Professionals will find that an online program is more flexible and affordable than traditional programs. Along with providing programs that can be accelerated or taken at a leisurely pace, these programs also provide alternatives to capstone projects which can make it easier for a professional to complete. Online programs are also more affordable than traditional programs and since they can be completed while working full-time, these programs make more sense for working adults.

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These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master’s or PhD programs.

Most Affordable Master's in Non-Profit Management Online in 2021

  1. Louisiana State University at Shreveport
    Location

    Shreveport, LA

    Tuition

    $6788

    For a cheap non-profit management master's, students can't do better than Louisiana State University at Shreveport. The school confers the online Master of Science in Non-profit Administration that is a professional degree for working adults already in the nonprofit sector. This is a 100 percent online degree that can be completed in as little as two years with full-time study; courses are taught asynchronously and delivered in an eight-week term format. This program was designed to help non-profit professionals learn and apply the leadership principles they will need in order to become valuable leaders in the industry. Students can expect to complete 27 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam for graduation. Sample courses include Development of Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organizations, Non-Profit Administration Research Methods, and Non-Profit Governance and Decision Making.

  2. Post University
    Location

    Waterbury, CT

    Tuition

    $7500

    One of the most comprehensive online Master's in Non-profit Management available is from Post University. The Master of Science in Counseling and Human Services, Non-Profit Management Specialization, is an incredible opportunity for the non-profit professional. This is a multidisciplinary program that encompasses a variety of different fields and skills in order to prepare students for positions as non-profit managers within the United States and all over the world. Students will find that the coursework found in this specialization focuses on human problems and building up non-profit networks and organizations. This is a 100 percent online program that delivers asynchronous courses on eight-week and 10-week schedules. This program requires 36 credit hours of coursework, a field practicum, a research project, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Human Resource Management, Human Service Management and Information Technology, and Financial Management of Non-Profit Organizations.

  3. Lindenwood University
    Location

    Saint Charles, MO

    Tuition

    $8010

    Lindenwood University offers the master of arts in non-profit administration 100 percent online that was designed and is taught by industry professionals who currently work in the non-profit sector in the St. Louis area. Courses are available both on campus and online, with online courses being delivered both as synchronous and asynchronous courses and in an eight-week format; this makes it possible to complete all the necessary requirements within 18 months of full-time study. Students will learn everything from grant writing to fundraising to strategic management, all within a curriculum designed to be applied to their current careers while they are studying for their graduate degree. Students will be expected to complete 37 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Research Project in Non-Profit Administration, Program and Organizational Evaluation, and Non-Profit Budgeting and Financial Management.

  4. University of Houston
    Location

    Houston, TX

    Tuition

    $8118

    Professionals will want to check out the University of Houston for a great online Master's in Non-profit Management (MANPM). This school confers the MANPM, a multidisciplinary degree that is created for professionals of all backgrounds and work experience levels. It is primarily built to instill the necessary skills need for management positions in a non-profit organization, such as evaluation and strategic planning. The program is fully conferred online through asynchronous courses with the exception of the internship, which students will be able to complete in their area of residence. This program also requires 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam for graduation. Sample courses include Ethical and Legal Dimensions of Communication, Strategic Planning in the Non-Profit Sector, and Leadership in Non-Profit Organizations.

  5. University of Maryland University College
    Location

    Adelphi, MD

    Tuition

    $8244

    The University of Maryland University College is one of the few schools to provide an online Master's in Non-profit Management that prepares students for industry certification right after graduation. This 100 percent online degree enables students to earn the Certified Associate Executive certification, a prestigious distinction in the non-profit sector. The degree is delivered through asynchronous and synchronous formats and can be completed in as little as two years with full-time study. Online courses are also taught by industry scholars and professionals, ensuring that students are learning from people with real-world experience in the field. This degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone course, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Fundamentals of Association Management, Non-Profit and Association Law and Governance, and Process and Outcome Evaluation for Non-Profit Organizations.

  6. Concordia University Nebraska
    Location

    Seward, NE

    Tuition

    $9395

    Professionals interested in a non-profit management master's online degree need look no further than Concordia University Nebraska. The Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Management was built on sound theories and concepts while also introducing a faith-based approach to the field. This is a fully online cohort program that is delivered asynchronously and in an eight-week term format. The curriculum was designed by industry professionals and taught by professors who have experience working in the field, meaning that students are given an updated and current education at CUNE. This program requires 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Ethical and Legal Environment of Business, Leadership and Organizational Behavior, and Non-Profit Management.

  7. Hope International University
    Location

    Fullerton, CA

    Tuition

    $9990

    Hope International University confers an online Master's in Non-profit Management that is built on research, theory, and practice. This degree is built for both working and pre-service professionals who are interested in gaining a graduate degree in business that specializes in the non-profit sector. This is a fully online program that delivers asynchronous and synchronous courses in the traditional term format. It is built to provide students with the necessary advanced understanding of how business and non-profit organizations are combined in order to make a difference in the world. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Contemporary Issues for Non-Profit Management, Human Resource Management, and Strategic Management and Planning.

  8. Texas A&M University
    Location

    Killeen, TX

    Tuition

    $10200

    The Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA) delivered by Texas A&M University is one of the best options for a Master's in Non-profit Management online degree. This program offers an emphasis in non-profit management that is built to teach students how to become ethical leaders in the nonprofit field. This is a hybrid program; a total of two weeks of residency are required by every student. This degree is conferred online through asynchronous and synchronous courses and can be completed in as little as two years with full-time study. Students who take the non-profit management track will also be eligible to receive a graduate certificate in the specialization before they have graduated. The EMPSA does have require a capstone project which will students pair with government agencies or a non-profit organization. This degree requires 39 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses from the track include Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations, Social Welfare and Health Policy, and Legal Environment of Non-Profit Management.

  9. University of Central Florida
    Location

    Orlando, FL

    Tuition

    $11783

    The University of Central Florida confers an online Master's in Non-Profit Management that will be a perfect fit for students who are interested in serving in public service leadership roles. This is a degree that is conferred entirely online as a cohort program and can be completed in less than two years with full-time study. It is also possible to earn a dual Master of Public Administration and Master of Nonprofit Management online. The program has a strong focus on the professional principles that make up the field, including stewardship, inclusiveness, and competence. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Volunteerism in Non-Profit Management, Ethics and Governance in Non-Profit Management, and Human Resource Management.

Our Methodology, Explained

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are My Career Options for an Online Master's in Non-Profit Management Degree?

A professional who earns an online Master's in Non-profit Management is open to mid-to-senior level positions within any non-profit organization or agency. This can include anything from manager to supervisor to director to CEO; it should be noted that most executive-level positions are reserved for people with at least ten years of experience in the field.

Most professionals tend to stick with manager positions, but it's also possible to become an academic, a researcher, a grant writer, or a fundraiser. These are freelance positions that give professionals more freedom but can also be competitive, so it's up to what a student wants to accomplish in their career.

It should also be noted that professionals can also work in the business field with their level of experience in the non-profit sector. From human resource managers to business liaisons, there is always something that a non-profit professional can do in the private sector. Some professionals may even choose to become freelance writers, authors, or entrepreneurs; the world is open to these brilliant professional men and women, and they can work in both the private and public sector in which ever way they see fit.

How Much Can You Earn in This Field?

How much a professional can earn in the field of non-profit management has as much to do with the type of degree they get as the type of job offer they accept. This means that some types of degrees in non-profit management are more valuable than others. However, at this time, the median salary in the field overall is $63,530 a year in America.

Professionals who earned a Master's in Science or Art in Non-profit Management make about this salary, regardless of their job title, whether it be manager, director, or supervisor, especially at the beginning of the career. Those who have earned a Masters in Business Administration, however, make around $15,000 more a year for the same positions, averaging about $79,000 a year when compared to their counterparts.

It's also important to remember that job salaries vary on how big a non-profit organization is in terms of employers and influence. The larger the organization, the higher the wages, especially for management positions. Professionals who work for community organizations that are localized to one area make roughly half to 60 percent less than those who have managed to become managers in top-tier international non-profit organizations.

What are the Various Disciplines of Non-profit Management?

Non-profit management is at the intersection of business, economics, communication, law, politics, finance, research, leadership, strategic management, and sociology. It is a multidisciplinary field that, depending on what specialty a professional chooses to pursue, may encompass all the previously stated disciplines and more. In fact, the number of disciplines that touch the non-profit sector are hard to calculate simply because they are too many to name.

For instance, a non-profit manager who works to find a cure for AIDS works with healthcare, medicine, psychology, sociology, law, politics, and more. A manager who works to help ease the global refugee crisis may work more in conflict resolution, human trafficking, humanitarian law, and more. Still another manager who works to further the cause of adoption may face social work, social justice, human services, and other disciplines.

Non-profit management touches nearly every sector because for every sector that exists, so too does an ethical approach to it. From business to technology, healthcare to humanitarian crises, non-profits work to build a better world for all people. This means that their disciplines may be disparate from each other, but at the end of the day, all non-profit managers are serving the greater good: humanity.

Non-profit management continues to be a fulfilling field for professionals. Combining a career with unique opportunities with service to a community or a cause is something that most people strive for and can be found in abundance in this sector. With an online Master's in Non-profit Management in hand, professionals will find that their morals and their career can go hand-in-hand.

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Programs.

This concludes our ranking of the Top Ten Most Affordable Non-Profit Management Online degrees.

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