Rankings / MBA
Most Affordable MBA Programs
- 18
- Schools
- $60,282
- Avg. Earnings
- 64%
- Avg. Graduation
- $11,233
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,450
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $50,220 at the low end to $81,698 at the top. That 1.6× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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The University of Texas at El Paso offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $50,923 against $5,868 in annual tuition, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is The University of Texas at El Paso, at $5,868 annually in tuition.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Florida graduates 91% of its students, well above the 64% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor CUNY Bernard M Baruch College: graduates owe only 0.15× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to Florida Gulf Coast University ($54,560 earnings), not the highest earner, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ($81,698). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. The University of Texas at El Paso ($5,868/yr) and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($18,669/yr) produce graduates earning $50,923 and $75,971 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $12,801 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, The University of Texas at El Paso outperforms Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: similar career earnings at a much lower tuition.
The Takeaway
The programs that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with The University of Texas at El Paso and University of Florida. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $57K within a decade, and management analyst roles are projected to grow 10%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-06-15
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
- National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation.
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Florida Gulf Coast University #1 overall | $54,560 ▼ -9% vs avg | $12,568 | 57% | 86 |
| 2 Florida Atlantic University #2 overall | $56,746 ▼ -6% vs avg | $8,752 | 63% | 86 |
| 3 University of North Florida #3 overall | $56,343 ▼ -7% vs avg | $10,154 | 69% | 85 |
| $68,726 ▲ +14% vs avg | $13,936 | 89% | 85 | |
| $52,279 ▼ -13% vs avg | $11,864 | 61% | 85 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Affordable MBA Programs
This analysis ranks 18 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $60,282 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 64% and an average net price of $11,233.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — Net Price: $3,033 | Graduation Rate: 72%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Florida — 91% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — Median alumni earnings: $81,698
Our Analysis Found
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Management Education Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about leadership and management education?
$56,545
Median earnings (10yr)
62%
Median graduation rate
$10,495
Median net price
2.8%
Avg. mobility rate
Management education makes a blunt promise: pay now, earn more later. Top-tier programs keep that promise through network effects and placement outcomes. Many others raise earnings barely enough to cover their cost. The spread in outcomes across programs is wider here than in almost any other discipline.
Across the 18 programs on this list, graduates earn a median of $56,545 ten years after they first enrolled, about $8,545 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 62%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $10,495 a year, with about $18,250 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 33% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 2.8%.
In management education, network effects amplify everything. Graduates earn a median of $56,545 ten years after enrollment, and Florida Gulf Coast University leads the field. The gap between the top and the middle is wide enough that school selection may be the most consequential financial decision in this category.
The podium
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Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Florida Gulf Coast University lands at #1 with a 86/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (68/100). Graduates earn a median $54,560 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,568 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Florida Atlantic University lands at #2 with a 86/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (69/100). Graduates earn a median $56,746 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,752 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of North Florida lands at #3 with a 85/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (70/100). Graduates earn a median $56,343 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,154 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of Georgia lands at #4 with a 85/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (73/100). Graduates earn a median $68,726 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,936 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Louisiana Tech University lands at #5 with a 85/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $52,279 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,864 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
University of Florida lands at #6 with a 84/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (76/100). Graduates earn a median $71,588 a decade after enrolling, 19% above this list's average, and net price runs $6,541 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
The University of Texas at El Paso lands at #7 with a 84/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $50,923 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,403 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Rhode Island College lands at #8 with a 84/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (67/100). Graduates earn a median $56,318 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,478 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Northern Kentucky University lands at #9 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $50,220 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,191 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Ferris State University lands at #10 with a 83/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (62/100). Graduates earn a median $54,735 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,624 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
The University of Texas Permian Basin lands at #11 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (65/100). Graduates earn a median $56,073 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,723 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Mississippi lands at #12 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (77/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (66/100). Graduates earn a median $50,994 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,314 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College lands at #13 with a 82/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (73/100). Graduates earn a median $75,971 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $3,033 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Blacksburg, VA · 55% accepted · $24,953 net
Why it ranks #14
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University lands at #14 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $81,698 a decade after enrolling, 36% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,953 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Brigham Young University lands at #15 with a 82/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (75/100). Graduates earn a median $75,790 a decade after enrolling, 26% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,564 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
San Antonio, TX · 87% accepted · $10,836 net
Why it ranks #16
The University of Texas at San Antonio lands at #16 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $57,131 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,836 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
University of South Florida lands at #17 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (66/100). Graduates earn a median $57,743 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,812 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Kean University lands at #18 with a 81/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (56/100). Graduates earn a median $57,237 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,447 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 18 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Top states on this list
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Management Analysts and related roles — a field with $99,410 median pay and 10% projected growth.
See the Management Analyst career guide →When considering an MBA, affordability often weighs heavily on the decision. For many students, the prospect of balancing tuition costs with potential earnings is a primary concern. The average cost of an MBA program can range drastically, making it essential to find options that offer a solid return on investment.
The schools on this list represent some of the most affordable MBA programs, ranked by their net price and the earnings graduates can expect. Key metrics like graduation rates and debt levels also play a role in assessing these programs. For students weighing their options, understanding these data points can help in making an informed choice.
Take CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, for example. Baruch leads with an impressive $75,971 in average earnings and a 72% graduation rate — well ahead of the more affordable programs further down this list, where earnings and graduation rates tend to trail. These differences highlight the range of outcomes available, even among affordable options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 18 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 2.8%. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College leads the group at 12.9%, with The University of Texas at El Paso (6.8%) and Kean University (3.4%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 10.3% of students start in the bottom income quintile. The University of Texas at El Paso leads at 28%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 25.8% across this list. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University posts the highest success rate at 47.5%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.56 against a national benchmark of 1.0. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College reaches 1.79, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
Looking closely at the data, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College stands out. Baruch graduates earn an average of $75,971 with a 72% graduation rate — strong outcomes paired with one of the lowest net prices on this list. Many of the more affordable programs here trade some earning power and completion for that lower cost, underscoring the potential impact of program quality on financial outcomes.
As you sift through the rankings, consider your own priorities. It’s crucial to weigh factors like location, program fit, and financial situation against these affordability metrics. If you value a strong alumni network and career support, schools with higher graduation rates may be more appealing even if they come with a slightly higher price tag.
This data reveals a significant truth: a well-chosen MBA can be a path to financial stability. For one family, choosing a program with a lower net price but higher earning potential could mean the difference between managing student debt comfortably and struggling to make ends meet. Making an informed decision now can have lasting implications on your future.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Most Affordable MBA Programs: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Affordable MBA Programs ranking? +
Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Affordable MBA Programs ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $54,560 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 57% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which program has the highest graduate earnings? +
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $81,698 ten years after enrollment, well above the $60,282 average across the 18 ranked programs with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which program offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, The University of Texas at El Paso leads: graduates earn a median $50,923 against tuition of about $5,868 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Florida has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 91%, compared with a 64% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does an MBA cost at these schools? +
Across the 16 programs with verified tuition, annual MBA tuition averages $11,439, ranging from about $5,868 a year at The University of Texas at El Paso to $18,669 at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. These are tuition figures pulled from official program pages (in-state where the school is public), not estimated net price.
How is the Most Affordable MBA Programs ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 18 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
U.S. News & World Report. Best Business Schools MBA Rankings. Used for MBA program validation. →
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