Best MBA in Nonprofit Management Degree Programs of 2023
Nonprofit organizations address the most challenging issues of our society, including social problems, humanitarian crises, the environment, hunger, domestic violence, animal cruelty, and immigration. Individuals who pursue an MBA degree in Nonprofit Management are dedicated to making these organizations run as efficiently and effectively as possible so that they can achieve their missions and make a real difference in the world.
Why This Matters
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THERE ARE 1M+ CHARITIES IN THE U.S., EMPLOYING 12M+ PEOPLE
There are nearly limitless opportunities for employment with charities and nonprofit organizations in the United States and across the globe.
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THE FIELD IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 17% IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the nonprofit and community service fields are expected to grow by approximately 17% in the next ten years, adding an estimated 29,800 new jobs.
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EARN 18% MORE PER YEAR WITH A MASTER’S DEGREE
Individuals who take the time to pursue a Master’s degree are generally rewarded with salaries that are 18% higher than their peers who have Bachelor’s degrees.
Our Research
The list we have compiled includes universities and colleges that offer MBA degree programs in Nonprofit Management out of their Schools of Business, Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Colleges of Professional Studies. Areas of concentration include Nonprofit Management, Leadership, and Philanthropic Endeavors. They include both online and in-person programs as well as hybrid programs that combine the two.
To ensure the high quality of the education being offered at each of the schools on our list, we have only included accredited schools. Accreditation is integral to the reputation and validation of a graduate degree program. It is bestowed upon each school by whichever of several regional agencies is associated with its geographic location. A school’s accreditation is a guarantee that a curriculum has achieved a basic standard of excellence and that what it is teaching is both relevant and accurate.
We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.
- 63 hours to write this article
- 176 universities and colleges we assessed
- 398 education programs we compared
The Top 39 MBA in Nonprofit Management Degree Programs
What You Should Know About This Degree
While many people assume that earning a Master’s in Business Administration qualifies a graduate for a position in either a for-profit or nonprofit organization, management of nonprofits has its own unique challenges and requires specific skills and knowledge. Because a nonprofit operates for the purpose of furthering a mission rather than making money, its focus is far different, and so are its methods of raising revenue, ensuring sustainability, and creating and managing budgets. An MBA in Nonprofit Management program addresses all of these elements.
Those who choose to pursue an MBA in Nonprofit management are generally driven by their commitment to the greater good rather than to financial rewards. Additionally, those who are tasked with operating and managing nonprofit organizations depend upon volunteers both as donors and as volunteer workers. Unpaid services require a different style of management, and optimizing this invaluable human asset represents a significant portion of the MBA in Nonprofit Management curriculum.
Every MBA in Nonprofit Management program should be accredited by one of several regional accrediting agencies in order to ensure that you are receiving a high-quality education from a highly respected academic institution.
Though certificate programs for Nonprofit Management do exist, these are generally offered as supplementary to baccalaureate degrees. They offer insights and additional, focused education for those who may have graduated with an undergraduate degree in business who would like to make themselves more attractive to a nonprofit employer or those who are already working for a nonprofit who are seeking a deeper level of understanding of their role.
By pursuing your MBA in Nonprofit Management rather than a post-undergraduate certificate program, you put yourself in a position to apply for job titles including Program Manager, Director of Development, Operations Manager, Executive Director, or Director of Operations for nonprofit organizations.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching MBA for Nonprofit Management programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Programs that offer an MBA in Nonprofit Management are seeking highly motivated students who have already demonstrated their interest in working for nonprofit organizations. To be eligible, you should already have earned a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0. You will be expected to take the standardized GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) and have earned a minimum of 600 for most programs. You will additionally need to submit a resume showing a minimum of two years of experience working in business, preferably in a nonprofit environment, as well as a personal statement expressing why you are interested in studying in this area and letters of recommendation.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? If you are already working and would like to continue to do so while pursuing your MBA in Nonprofit Management, you can choose from both full-time and part-time in-person programs, online programs, and programs that represent a hybrid of the two. The online classes are offered both synchronously and asynchronously. If you need to be able to study independent of a rigid school schedule, make sure that you choose an online program that allows you to study based on your own availability.
The GMAT exams are offered on a set schedule according to region, and you must register for the exam that you want to take in advance. In order to make sure that you can meet all of the deadlines required by the programs you choose to apply to, make sure to mark all important dates on your calendar and get all paperwork in ahead of time if possible.
An MBA in Nonprofit Management program can be costly. Though you can save money by attending school online or choosing a public school in your own state, expenses can still add up quickly. The minimum cost with the expense of textbooks, a laptop, and other fees is likely to reach $60,000 per year. To help pay for your education, you should research scholarships, federal and private student loans, tuition reimbursement benefits from your employer, and available fellowships or teaching assistant positions.