Southern Arkansas University’s Master’s of Business program was recently ranked third among the nation’s most affordable online business degrees by OnlineU.org, and is the only one in the top three that is AACSB Accredited.
SAU’s MBA has an approximate cost per year of $4,490 for in-state students, with out-of-state at $6,230. Classes can be taken online or in class. It is a 30-hour program that can be completed in two years.
“Our MBA is affordable, but when that affordability is combinedwith the great quality of the program, it produces a matchless value for our students,” said Dr. Lisa Toms, dean of the SAU College of Business.
Prospective students do not have to take Toms’ word for it as SAU’s College of Business has earned the coveted AACSB Accreditation. Less than five-percent of the world’s 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation. According to AACSB.edu, accredited schools have the highest quality faculty, relevant and challenging curriculum, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.
Toms said that the value of her MBA program has attracted students from New York, California, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, and from outside the U.S.
“One student from California told me that SAU’s out-of-state tuition was less than the in-state tuition he could find at local universities in his state,” said Toms.
Students in Bowie County Texas considering an online or in-class degree from SAU have the added incentive of having their out-of-state tuition fee waived. SAU is increasing its presence in Texarkana, and is hosting an Open House from 4-7 p.m. on December 16, 2013, at the Hampton Inn in Texarkana, Ark.
Along with SAU’s general business MBA, there is also an MBA with an Agri-Business emphasis that is a 33-hour program. In the fall of 2014, the SAU College of Business plans on adding an MBA with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management.
Toms said that the College’s 2+2 B.B.A. in Management is also available online. This program is for those who have earned an associate degree in business, or who have completed all or most of their freshman and sophomore years of college.
“We recently completed extensive research into the cost of attending different online colleges to enable students to find the most affordable online degrees. With the average price of college skyrocketing forcing many students to rely on student loans to fund their education, we were impressed with Southern Arkansas 
University’s ability to continue to offer online degrees in business at a reasonable price,” said Kimberly Wetter, head of marketing at SR Education Group, a Kirkland, Wash.-based company focused on creating authoritative online education and career-related resources.
To find out more about the SAU College of Business, visit www.SAUmag.edu/Business.
