Nonprofit organizations make up more than 10% of all private sector businesses in the United States, though nonprofits are technically not true “businesses.” What is a nonprofit exactly? It’s defined as a legal entity where people come together to do something for the common good. Nonprofits are the heart and soul of the American enterprise. As the name implies, a nonprofit does not raise revenue to make a profit as a business does. Instead, nonprofits raise funds for the purpose of using them for a specific cause, and as such are filed as 501(c) tax-exempt to the United States Government. Nonprofit staff members still have salaries and accomplish essential tasks; what makes nonprofits different is that they have to use and report all of their revenue each year for operational costs and charitable purposes.
There are several kinds of nonprofit entities. Some are foundations that grant money for a noble cause, some are religious organizations that share similar beneficial beliefs, and others are entities dedicated to helping those in need for whatever purpose it may be. If you are passionate about helping others and making a difference in the world, a career in nonprofit management can be very rewarding. There are plenty of nonprofits out there that could use your help!
Nonprofits are a special type of industry that serves in just about every skillful field imaginable. Some have charitable food services, some foster the performing and fine arts, and some are educational parks and museums. The list goes on. An online bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management is useful for students with working schedules and busy lives. If an online school does not have a nonprofit management bachelor’s degree, that’s perfectly fine. Students can easily attain a solid nonprofit career in socially responsible leadership with a well-rounded bachelor’s degree such as in liberal arts, psychology, business administration, communication, and humanities.
Best 19 Universities With an Online Bachelor’s in Nonprofit Management
1. Montana State University-Northern – BA in Liberal Studies, Quaternity Emphasis (40 points)
Montana State University takes home the number one prize for its exceptional quality in value for its online educational experience, and its acceptance rate meets the ideal 100%. While MSU does not have a nonprofit management degree per se, the school provides a unique degree option instead – a BA in Liberal Studies with a Quaternity Emphasis. This well-rounded liberal arts education focuses on four main points in the student’s learning experience: sensation, intuition, thinking, and feeling. This diverse degree can be carried over into several areas of management in the nonprofit field.
- Tuition & Fees: $5,955
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
2. University of Maryland Global Campus – Online BA in Humanities (37 points)
Formerly known as UMUC, the Global Campus at the University of Maryland takes charge of the ever-growing online degree sector for students across the globe. Their online BA in Humanities focuses on the betterment of people’s lives from local communities to the international level for a better world to live in. Nonprofit business professionals will appreciate UMGC’s curriculum that has garnered great recognition, including the U.S. News and World Report.
- Tuition & Fees: $7,560
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
3. Bellevue University – BS Online Management Degree (36 points)
Bellevue takes pride in providing high-quality education that is affordable and accessible to all students. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, the university was recently placed in the honor roll for the Great Colleges to Work for in 2020 from The Chronicle of Higher Education. The military-friendly school offers discounts to active military and their spouses. Bellevue has a BS in Management available completely online for aspiring nonprofit professionals, and a Master of Public Administration online as well.
- Tuition & Fees: $7,851
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
4. Columbia College Psychology and Sociology Department, Columbia, Missouri – BS in Human Services (30 points)
For more than 160 years, Columbia College has served the needs and empowered women students, and they continue the tradition to this day. Now, the college had a multitude of campuses nationwide from its base in Columbia Missouri, and it also provides online programs at the convenience of students everywhere. Its BS in Human Services is offered completely online and can equip students with the skills to operate and facilitate volunteer cooperation and organization, a vital skill for the success of any nonprofit entity.
- Tuition & Fees: $24,320
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
4. University of Alaska Fairbanks – Bachelor of Applied Management (30 points)
Far in the Arctic North lies the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where students experience world-class education like no other. One of only two schools in the United States granted with the Space Land grant, UAF has a degree program for just about anything imaginable. And the best part is that students don’t even have to leave their living room to learn them! UAF’s innovative online Bachelor program of Applied Management prepares students for a thriving managerial career in nonprofit, marketing, retail, and more. The tuition and fees are also of great value.
- Tuition & Fees: $7,176
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
6. Eastern Kentucky University, College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences – Online BA in Communication Studies (29 points)
Want a nonprofit degree with the most flexibility possible? EKU’s BA in Communication Studies is not only taught online, the curriculum itself can be applied in many professional situations. Students with the degree can gain valuable insight for essential nonprofit roles such as financial advisors, event coordinators, mission directors, human resource managers, directors of development, and more.
- Tuition & Fees: $9,876
- Acceptance Rate: 94%
7. Oregon State University College of Business – BA in Management, Nonprofit Management Certificate (27 points)
Oregon State University’s BA in Management is a flexible alternative to navigating a career in nonprofit management. The school provides a variety of courses available on campus and online. In addition to a Nonprofit Management Certificate, the school has a PRIME intern program that gives students the opportunity to learn the inner workings of a nonprofit business.
- Tuition & Fees: $11,858
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
8. Penn State World Campus – BA in Letters, Arts, and Sciences (24 points)
Penn State World Campus’ letters, arts, and sciences program is a multidisciplinary, student-designed major that allows you to take the lead in the development of your individual program of study. You will work with an academic adviser to design a program that creates a level of intellectual depth in an area of study that is unique to your interests, but also aligns with the theoretical foundation for a liberal arts education. Your degree program will be developed around four academic principles — communication skills, critical analysis, research, and theory and application.
- Tuition: $590/$632 per credit
- Undergraduate acceptance rate: 78%
9. Colorado Christian University – BS in Management (22 points)
This military-focused university in Colorado has a variety of quality online programs to choose from, including the versatile BS in Management. This degree prepares students for management in a variety of fields including nonprofit management, human resource, marketing, and real estate. The school boasts an open admissions policy.
- Tuition & Fees: $34,750
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
10. Minot State University – BS in Management (21 points)
Minot State University is a hidden gem tucked away in the North Dakota state. Its BS degree in Management is offered completely online in its growing list, helping students to manage future organizations in nonprofit, government, finance, health, and education from any area ranging in a department to an entire region. Who knew big things could come from such places? Minot State did, and they do it well.
- Tuition & Fees: $7,896
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
11. University of Central Florida, College of Community Innovation and Education – BA / BS in Nonprofit Management (20 points)
UCF’s Bachelor’s in Nonprofit Management teaches everything students need to know about managing a nonprofit organization for the public good. The major is teachable in both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science formats depending on the learning preferences and needs of the student. Though the acceptance rates were lower the past year, the feasibility for admissions and graduation at UCF are easier to achieve than many schools, as students will need a grade C or higher and a 2.5 GPA or more to pass the program.
- Tuition & Fees: $6,368
- Acceptance Rate: 44%
12. Lakeland University – BA, Psychology (18 points)
While there aren’t many, Lakeland University offers an interesting portfolio of online degree options for students interested in the nonprofit sector. Their BA in Psychology focuses on the study of human behavior and the brain, a useful skill for a variety of businesses dealing with services and people. It also opens the door to a diverse range of industry options for the nonprofit business professional in the case of flexibility, such as marketing, social work, law, and entrepreneurship.
- Tuition & Fees: $30,771
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
12. Huntington University – BS in Not-for-Profit Leadership (18 points)
Touted as the top Christian school in Indiana, Huntington University features an online bachelor’s specifically tailored for the nonprofit industry. Students will learn how to administer public policy for a 501c(3) organization, along with facilitating grants, fundraising campaigns, volunteer recruiting, and other essential functions for a nonprofit organization of any kind.
- Tuition & Fees: $26,846
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
14. Saint Leo University – Online BA in Human Services (17 points)
Saint Leo’s resilience and remarkable adaptivity have forged a strong online program repertoire for students from around the world. Based on the ancient ethical principles taught by Saint Benedict, the school lays a foundation for students that are relevant to solving the problems of today. Graduates will be empowered to make a difference in their own nonprofit sectors today with their online BA in Human Services while having the flexibility to work in other public service fields as needed.
- Tuition & Fees: $24,640
- Acceptance Rate: 72%
15. Toccoa Falls College – BS in Nonprofit Business Administration (16 points)
Toccoa Falls College is an affordable, private, nonprofit, Christian liberal arts institution located in northeast Georgia. Online and residentially, our school’s mission is to cultivate a uniquely Christian learning community that integrates the pursuit of truth with godly character to produce graduates prepared both personally and professionally for service. The college is an affiliate college of the Christian Missionary and Alliance denomination and has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1983. The Nonprofit Business Administration major is an online degree in the growing nonprofit sector of the world economy. Students will gain knowledge and experience to prepare to lead effective and creative nonprofit organizations in a growing number of social services, government, non-government, and faith-based organizations. This degree program produces marketplace professionals with business knowledge and skills for service in nonprofit organizations by integrating the pursuit of truth with Godly character.
- Online Tuition: $4,385 per semester
- Acceptance Rate: 60%
16. Our Lady of the Lake University – Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) (13 points)
This Catholic university based in San Antonio, Texas is well known for its practical educational programs that are relevant in today’s working environment. For working in the nonprofit and public service sectors, they offer a social work degree at the bachelor level that’s completely online. Students who wish to further their education remotely can earn an MS in Nonprofit Management online as well, which is rated one of the best higher education nonprofit programs in the whole country.
- Tuition & Fees: $29,926
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
17. Belhaven University – Bachelor’s in Business Administration (10 points)
Located in Jackson, Mississippi, Belhaven University delivers online degrees such as the Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a faith-based and ethical worldview. Students who value compassion and helping others can appreciate this degree in their pursuit of quality advancement in managing nonprofits.
- Tuition & Fees: $27,025
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
18. Upper Iowa University – Online BA in Human Services (7 points)
UIU’s online degree in Human Services touts impressive results for its graduate students, with a 96.3% employment rate within one year after graduating. The degree not only satisfies a nonprofit career but also is geared toward social work, one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. With this degree, students can stay ahead and be ready for gainful employment in the future.
- Tuition & Fees: $32,945
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
19. LeTourneau University School of Business – BBA of Business Management / Nonprofit Management (6 points)
The BBAs of Nonprofit Management and Business Management provide a strong foundation for LeTourneau University’s students. In a world where business is driven by money, you can make a difference no matter where you work with the combined applications of nonprofit expertise and Christian principles. With the right education in tow, students are empowered to impact their communities with change for the better.
- Tuition & Fees: $32,490
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
Our Ranking Methodology
All tuition rates are combined with fee averages and calculated by in-state rates per school. An academic year is defined by two semesters at Best Value Schools. The data in the rankings was gathered from Google Search and each school’s website. The tuition & fees and acceptance rate data are sourced by the specific school campus rather than the parent school, where applicable. Tuition & fees were scored first for each school followed by the acceptance rate, and the two category scores were combined to get the final rankings shown above.
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