The Best 18 Most Affordable MBA Programs in Chicago in 2024

Benedictine University has been preparing students for business leadership for over 40 years with MBA programs both for working professionals and recent graduates. The MBA is available on-campus or online, full-time or flex, and with the option of a 4+1 MBA for students graduating with a Bachelor of Science or Business Administration. Students can choose concentrations in Accounting, Business Analytics, Health Administration, or Organizational Leadership.

Northeastern Illinois University offers an affordable MBA with program options both for executives and traditional students. Classes are available online, in-person, or hybrid. According to U.S. News and World Report, alumni of NEIU have the lowest student loan debt at graduation.

The University of St. Francis offers an MBA designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in business or a related field as well as two years of management experience or an appropriate business exam score. The program can be completed in 12 months online or on campus. Students can choose a concentration in Accounting, Data Analytics, Finance, Health Administration, Human Resource Management, Supply Chain Management, Management, or Training and Development. The curriculum places an emphasis on experiential learning and was recently redesigned to adapt to business trends.

Students can earn a one-year or two-year MBA from Concordia University Chicago online or on campus. Concordia offers the following specializations: Accounting, Chief School Business Official, Digital Marketing, Finance, Health Care Management, Leadership and Change Management, Project Management, and Sports Management

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University offers one-year, two-year, executive, and part-time MBA programs. Regardless of program, students benefit from a professional network at the best business school in Illinois, and the third-best in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report. Students can major in Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Strategy and Managing Organizations, or General Management.

• Credits required:  46.5 (Northwestern assigns credit in “units;” most classes are 1 unit.  The numbers listed here are for a credit equalling ⅓ unit.)

Aurora University offers three MBA programs that have an average class size of 17 students. The online program can be completed in one year full-time and uses free educational resources in place of textbooks for some courses. The full-time program takes one year and offers four specializations: business management, digital marketing, public administration, and sport management. The part-time evening program takes about two years and is taught in Aurora and Woodstock.

Judson University offers an accelerated MBA program that can be completed in 18 months. Students can specialize in Organizational Leadership or Not for Profit Administration and complete their degree with evening or online classes. Free daycare is available at the Rockford location.

Elmhurst University offers a part-time MBA and a full-time MBA, which can be completed in one year. Online options are available for both. Students can choose one of eleven specializations: Computer Information Technology, Data Science, Finance, General Management, Geography and GIS, Health Care Administration, Management of People, Managerial Leadership, Marketing and Consumer Insights, Project Management, or Supply Chain Management

Students can earn a general MBA or an MBA with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration or Entrepreneurship at National Louis University. Degrees are available fully online or through hybrid courses that meet once a month or once every two weeks.

Lewis University offers a flexible MBA program for both working professionals and traditional students. Courses are taught in eight-week sessions with meetings once a week from 6 to 10 p.m. Students can earn their MBA completely online. The program has a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. Concentrations are available in Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Informatics, Human Resources, Marketing, and Operations Management.

The Brennan School of Business at Dominican University prides itself on being a leading business school in Chicago and providing great value to graduates. The degree can be completed in 15 months with on-campus or hybrid classes. The program provides opportunities for a business practicum and study abroad programs. Students without a business background can take six foundational online courses for free.

Governors State University offers an MBA that can be completed in 18 months of full-time study. Students can complete their degree by taking online or hybrid courses. Concentrations are available in General Management and Supply Chain Management online or hybrid, and Business Analytics, Finance, and Leadership hybrid only

North Central College offers an online MBA that also gives students the opportunity to network with classmates and professionals face-to-face through professional development conferences. The program can be completed in 12 months if students enroll in two courses each eight-week term.

Roosevelt University offers an MBA program with flexible options for weekend and evening classes in downtown Chicago and Schaumburg. Students learn real-world applications of business skills through internships, small classes, and mentoring programs. Seventeen concentrations are available: Accounting, Accounting Forensics, Economics, Finance, Hospitality Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Integrated Marketing Communications, International Business, I/O Psychology, Management, Managing Nonprofit Organizations, Marketing, Public Administration/Health Services Administration, Real Estate, Social Entrepreneurship, and Training and Development.

The MBA program at SXU focuses on management and practical skills that lead to employability in Chicago’s key industries. Students can take courses in one or more of the following concentrations: Accounting Management, Digital Marketing, Financial Fraud Examination and Management, Forensic and Investigative Accounting, Healthcare Management, and Management. The degree is offered in a hybrid format (in-person and online).

North Park University offers an MBA with a focus on practical experience. The program can be completed in 21 months through online or in-person classes, or both. Alumni have landed careers at companies such as JPMorgan Chase and Pfizer. North Park also offers graduate certificates for MBA students, which can be completed through elective courses at no extra cost.

At the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, students can learn from the real-world experience of the MBA faculty. Eight specializations are available: General Management, Finance, Organizational Intelligence, Strategy, Healthcare, Marketing, Global Supply Chain, and Data Analytics

The top-ranked Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago offers four MBA programs. The STEM-related Next Generation MBA has an emphasis in data-driven decision making. The highly selective Baumhart Scholars MBA is for students who want to drive social impact in their careers. The Executive MBA has classes twice a month (online 25% of the time) and includes an international immersion trip. The Executive MBA in Healthcare Management, which requires seven years of industry experience to enroll, is the only healthcare MBA in Illinois.

• Tuition:  $1496 per credit ($92,064 total for the Executive MBA, $86,590 for the Healthcare MBA)