Hey everyone! Diving into the world of online master’s programs in business while keeping a full-time job felt like walking a tightrope.
But hey, it’s possible, and I’m here to share how I managed to find programs that were both easy on the wallet and super flexible—without having to take a break from work.
Hopefully, my experiences can make your search a bit easier.
Requirement
I have a busy job and I need it to pay my bills. I am looking for a program that does not require me to quit my job or take a break from work. The program being online and flexible is crucial for me.
My requirements for a master’s degree in business are as follows:
- Online: I prefer an online program to maintain my current job.
- Affordable: I am looking for a program that is affordable and does not require a significant financial investment. I do not want to be burdened with student loans.
- Flexible: I need a program that is flexible and allows me to balance my work and study. It would be great if the program offers part-time options. I will also prefer competency-based programs, where I can progress at my own pace.
Optional requirements:
- Ranking: I would prefer a program with a good reputation and ranking. At least it should be on the QS World University Rankings or similar ranking. Being on a ranking may be useful for foreign job applications.
- Workload and difficulty: I am looking for a program that is not too demanding. I hope to find a program that requires less than 10 hours of study per week.
Based on these requirements, I have shortlisted the following programs. It took me a while to gather all the information, through various websites, forums, and personal emails. I am sharing my research here so that others in a similar situation can benefit from it. I hope this will save you some time.
UMPI
University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) is a significant player in the CBE (Competency-Based Education) field. They offer a lot of different undergraduate programs. They are open to credit transfer from Sophia and Study.com, which is a great plus to lower the cost.
UMPI is highly rated in the CBE community, beating out Western Governors University (WGU) and TESU (Thomas Edison State University) in recent years.
They even expanded their offerings to include graduate program as well - Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL). The program is fully online and offers a flexible schedule. The program is competency-based, which means I can progress at my own pace.
The tuition cost is $2,150 flat-rate tuition per session, with no course limit per session. If I can complete the program in three or four session, the total cost will be between $6450 to $8,600. The program is affordable and offers a good balance between work and study.
The program is affordable and offers a good balance between work and study.
The downside is that UMPI is not a high-ranking university. It is not listed in the QS World University Rankings 2025. If you need to use that ranking to justify your degree, UMPI may not be the best choice. I know some HR departments use the QS ranking to evaluate the degree.
The another downside is that MAOL from UMPI is very time-consuming. It is reported on Degreeforum.net that writing more than 100 pages of papers for each course milestone is common. This is a lot of work for a working professional.
To summarize, UMPI provides a CBE Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) for $2150 per 8-week term. Depending on the transfer of up to three undergraduate courses, students can complete this program in 4 to 12 months. This program is especially beneficial for those looking to enhance their leadership skills in organizational settings. Learn more about this program here.
UK route: Level 7 Diploma + MBA Top-up
The second method is to earn a Level 7 Diploma in Business or Management. Then, you can use the diploma to apply for an MBA top-up program at a UK university. This is an affordable option that allows you to earn a UK MBA degree without spending a fortune. The Diploma costs around £1,000 to £2,000, and the MBA top-up program costs around £4,000 to £6,000. This method is very flexible, since you can choose both the diploma and the top-up program from different institutions.
In this approach, I will finish 120 credits of a Level 7 Diploma in business or management. Then, I will apply for an MBA top-up program at a UK university. By doing this, only 60 credits are needed to complete the MBA - usually a project or a dissertation.
In the UK education system, a master degree is usually 180 credits. A Level 7 Diploma is 120 credits, and an MBA top-up program is 60 credits. If one chooses an 80 credits Level 7 Diploma, then the MBA top-up program will be 100 credits.
To fulfill my online requirement, I will look for a Level 7 Diploma in Business or Management from an online provider. Then, I will search for an online MBA top-up program from a UK university.
Here are the Level 7 Diploma providers I am considering:
- NCC Education
- OTHM
- ATHE
- BTC
- LRN
NCC Education
2024 Update: NCC does not offer direct online programs anymore. All programs have to be taken through their partner centers.
One combination of the diploma and top-up program is the Level 7 Diploma in Business Management (L7DBM) from NCC Education. The MBA top-up program will be one of the following universities:
- The University of Plymouth. QS World University Rankings 2025 is 661-670. The MBA top-up program fee is £5,000.
- Cardiff Metropolitan University. QS World University Rankings 2025 is not listed. The MBA top-up program fee is £3180.
- Leeds Beckett University. QS World University Rankings 2025 is 1001-1200. The MBA top-up program is a whopping £15,000. Totally not worth it.
The cost for the NCC Education L7DBM is around £1,000. Add that to the MBA top-up program fee.
Here are other UK universities that offer MBA top-up programs:
- University of Northampton. QS World University Rankings 2025 is 1001-1200. The MBA top-up program.
- University of Portsmouth. QS World University Rankings 2025 is 631-640. The MBA top-up program.
- University of Sunderland. QS World University Rankings 2025 is not listed. The MBA top-up program.
University of Plymouth
Taking account of the ranking and the cost, the University of Plymouth would be the best bet. The cost is reasonable and the ranking is good enough.
The top-up program also accept entry other than the NCC Education L7DBM.
Minimum 120 Level 7 credits or equivalent in a business or management subject. Examples of such qualifications include:
- a Diploma in Management Studies from a British University
- Edexcel Extended Diploma in Strategy Management
- Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma in Management and Leadership
- Postgraduate Diploma in Business and/or Management related studies
- NCC Education PG Diploma in Business Management
If the NCC Education L7DBM is too expensive, I can also consider other qualifications to enter the top-up program.
Time cost is also important. I will have to make sure that the Level 7 Diploma have to be recognized by the top-up program. I should check that even before entering the Level 7 Diploma program.
OTHM
Compared to NCC Education, OTHM has more programs options and more recognized universities for top-up. The flexibility will be higher.
The one that grabs my attention is the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. The cost is around £1,000. This is at a similar price point to NCC Education.
OTHM have a lot of programs that are recognized by UK universities to top-up. I have curated a table of the programs. The data source is from their University Progressions website.
| University | Program Type | Category | Link | QS 2025 Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia Ruskin University | MA Human Resource Management (top-up) | Business | Link | Not Listed |
| Arden University | MBA (top-up) | Business | Link | Not Listed |
| Aston University | MSc Professional Accounting & Finance (part-time) (top-up) | Business | Link | 423 |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | MBA Advanced Entry (top-up) | Business | Link | Not Listed |
| Northumbria University | Accounting and Finance MSc | Business | Link | 535 |
| Global Human Resource Management MSc | Business | Link | ||
| Global Logistics Operations and Supply Chain Management MSc | Business | Link | ||
| Strategic Leadership MSc | Business | Link | ||
| Business with Hospitality & Tourism Management MSc | Business | Link | ||
| International Hospitality and Tourism Management MSc | Hospitality | Link | ||
| University of Bolton | MBA (top-up) | Business | Link | Not Listed |
| University of Northampton | MSc in Accounting and Finance (top-up) | Business | Link | 1001-1200 |
| MA Human Resource Management (top-up) | Business | Link | ||
| Master of Business Administration (Executive) (top-up) (MBA) | Business | Link | ||
| University of Sunderland | Master of Business Administration (top-up) MBA | Business | Link | Not Listed |
| MSc Tourism and Hospitality (Dissertation Only) | Hospitality | Link | Not Listed | |
| University of the Highlands and Islands | MSc Tourism | Tourism | Link | Not Listed |
| MSc Applied Data Analytics | IT | Link | Not Listed | |
| MSc Web Technologies | IT | Link | Not Listed | |
| University of Chester | MA Educational Leadership | Education | Link | Not Listed |
ATHE
In the jargons of ATHE, the Level 7 Diploma (120 credits) is called Extended Diploma. The normal Level 7 Diploma only has 60 credits.
You should always go for the 120 credits, as it is the minimum requirement for an MBA top-up program. It also saves you time and money since the tuition fee per credit is way more expensive in the top-up program.
ATHE has a lot of programs that are recognized by UK universities to top-up. I have filtered out institutions that are not listed in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The data source is from their University Progressions website.
Ulster University (United Kingdom)
| Type | Programme | Total Credits Required | Total Qualifications Required | Progression From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s | MBA | 60 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management |
| Master’s | MBA | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management |
University of Portsmouth (United Kingdom)
| Type | Programme | Total Credits Required | Total Qualifications Required | Progression From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s | MA Business Management | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 6 Extended Diploma in Management |
| Master’s | MA Business Management | 60 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management |
| Master’s | MA Business Management | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management |
| Master’s | MA Business and Computer Studies | 30 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Certificate in Healthcare Management |
| Master’s | MA Business and Computer Studies | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Healthcare Management |
| Master’s | MSc Applied Computing | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (Software Engineering) |
| Master’s | MA Business Management | 10 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Award in Programme Leadership |
| Master’s | MSc/MA Professional Studies | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management |
| Master’s | MSc Applied Science | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (Application Development) |
| Master’s | MSc Engineering | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (Data Analytics) |
| Master’s | MSc Engineering and Management | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (Networking) |
| Master’s | MSc Engineering Project Management | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (Artificial Intelligence) |
| Master’s | MSc Maritime Studies | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management |
This table provides a detailed overview of various Master’s programs at the University of Portsmouth, outlining their credit requirements and progression from specific qualifications.
University of Westminster (United Kingdom)
| Type | Programme | Total Credits Required | Total Qualifications Required | Progression From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s | MBA | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 6 Extended Diploma in Management (with Merit profile) |
| Master’s | MSc/MA International Business and Management | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 6 Extended Diploma in Management (with Merit profile) |
| Master’s | MSc Cyber Security and Forensics | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (with Merit profile) |
| Master’s | MSc Data Science and Analytics | 120 | 1 | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing Technologies (with Merit profile) |
US Programs
The following are all US programs. They are highly regarded on Degreeforum.net and offer a variety of benefits, including affordability, flexibility, and accelerated completion times.
Western Governors University (WGU) offers a Competency-Based Education (CBE) MBA program accredited by ACBSP. Priced at $4755 per term, this program is notable for its efficiency; many students have reported completing it in just one term. This program is ideal for students who have a clear grasp of business concepts and can move through the material quickly without the constraints of a traditional semester timeline. More details can be found here.
Purdue University Global also offers a CBE MBA, which costs $2833 per 10-week term. Anecdotal evidence from Degreeforum.net suggests that motivated students can complete 27 modules in as little as 5 weeks, potentially finishing the entire program in 2 to 4 terms. This makes Purdue Global an attractive option for students looking to quickly advance their careers without a prolonged educational commitment. Details about the program are available here.
Walden University offers a CBE MBA accredited by ACBSP, with a total program cost of $13,000 and a duration of 12 months. This program is designed for professionals who are eager to develop advanced skills in business management and leadership. More information can be found here.
Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSU Shreveport) provides an AACSB-accredited MBA that can be completed in as little as 10 months for $12,474. This program is structured for quick completion, offering high-quality education in a condensed timeframe. Further details are available here.
Eastern University offers an ACBSP-accredited MBA for $9900, which can also be completed in 10 months. This program is suitable for students who are looking for an affordable, accredited, and fast-track option. Learn more here.
Missouri State University provides an AACSB-accredited MBA for $15,100, which can be completed full-time in as little as 12 months. This program is ideal for those seeking a reputable accreditation coupled with an accelerated path. More details can be found on their official website.
Amberton University offers a $9900 ACBSP-accredited MBA that can be completed in 10 months. This program is targeted at working professionals looking for an affordable and quick MBA option. Additional information is available here.
Harrisburg American University (HAU) offers an MBA for $3000, which can be completed over four semesters or 15 months. This program is one of the most economical options available, making it an excellent choice for students on a tight budget. Further details can be found here. ⚠ This $3K offer is only available for US residents and not open to international students.
My Decision
After evaluating the various programs based on my requirements, I have decided to pursue the Level 7 Diploma + MBA top-up route. Both NCC and OTHM is having similar price point.
Since the NCC does not offer direct online programs anymore, I will go with OTHM. The Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership is a good fit for my career goals. The cost is around £1,000, which is affordable.