At a Glance: BestColleges' Top Affordable Online Finance Programs
#1: University of North Carolina at Greensboro — UNCG's online finance degree offers a highly affordable in-state tuition cost per credit.
#2: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities — UMN Online offers disability resources, technology help, and career counseling for online students.
#3: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — This online bachelor's in finance emphasizes financial strategic management.
If you're interested in studying finance but are worried about tuition prices, read on for our list of the top affordable online finance degrees.
These degree programs earned the highest scores based on our ranking system. We designed this methodology with insights gathered from student surveys, focusing on the factors that matter most to them, such as:
Affordability (30% of total score)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)
With this in mind, note that the programs in our list are not necessarily the cheapest you'll find. But our data indicates they deliver a strong balance of affordability and educational value.
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Best Affordable Online Finance Degrees
Why the Cheapest Online Finance Degree Program Isn't Always the Most Affordable
Enrolling in the cheapest online finance program you can find might seem like a smart money-saving move. However, low tuition doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the best value.
When tuition is unusually low, you may be sacrificing educational quality for easy cost cuts, and that can negatively impact your earning potential and career growth down the road.
It's also crucial to understand the difference between published tuition rates — a program's "sticker price" — and its net cost. Net cost represents the amount of money you need to spend out of pocket to attend a program. In the simplest terms, it's the program's tuition fees minus any financial aid you receive to lower those fees.
Check the table below, for example, for just how wide the gap between a program's published tuition rates and its out-of-pocket cost can be:
| Institution Name | Northwestern University | University of Missouri–St. Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Yearly Cost of Tuition | $87,804 | $32,289 |
| Avg. Net Tuition After Aid | $23,341 | $11,577 |
| Avg. Savings from Aid | ~73% | ~64% |
Benefits of Getting an Affordable Finance Degree Online
According to our 2025 Online Education Trends Report:
75% of online bachelor's students and program graduates say an online learning environment is equal to or better than learning on campus.
98% of surveyed students say they would encourage others to pursue online learning formats.
90% of polled students believe their online program has or will put them in a position to earn a positive return on their educational investment.
Online programs are generally more affordable — a factor that ranks as a top priority for 57% of poll respondents.
Curious what courses you'll take online? Check out our bachelor's degree in finance program guide
How Much Does a Bachelor's Degree in Finance Cost?
Bachelor's in Business, 2019-2020
Online
Avg. Tuition & Fees:$10,476
Avg. Net Price: $5,928
On-Campus
Avg. Tuition & Fees: $16,921
Avg. Net Price: $9,231
Source: NCES PowerStats
Program format has a significant impact on costs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), campus-based programs cost around 61% more than online ones. However, financial aid can lower the cost of attendance at similar rates, regardless of program format.
The average out-of-pocket cost of an on-campus finance program was about 45.5% less after financial aid, while online students paid 43.4% less. According to the NCES, around 84% of all undergraduate students received financial aid for the 2019-20 school year.
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What Is an Online Finance Degree's ROI?
Calculating the exact return on investment (ROI) for an online finance degree can be difficult. However, prevailing salary averages can help you estimate. To illustrate, let's compare the average starting salary of someone with a bachelor's in finance against the average cost of an online finance degree.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), graduates with a bachelor's degree in finance from the class of 2023 had an average starting salary of $72,230. This salary represents approximately 172% of the total cost of a four-year online program compared to the average tuition cost of an online finance degree (around $42,000 without financial aid).
With that in mind, remember that several other factors may impact your ROI. You may pursue a niche specialization or earn an in-demand professional certification, both of which could boost your earning potential.
In the end, striking the right balance between program affordability and academic quality positions you to increase your ROI over both the short and long term.
How to Save Money on Your Online Finance Degree
It makes sense to want to save as much money on a college degree. These strategies can help:
Apply for Financial Aid
Start at a Community College
Apply Existing Credits
Test Out of Lower‑Division Courses
Attend a "Free" Tuition School
Ask an Expert About Affordable Online Finance Degrees
You definitely want to prioritize institutions with regional accreditation first, since that ensures the school meets broad academic standards and allows things like transfer credits, access to federal aid, and smoother paths into grad school.
Beyond that, it is worth looking for specialized business accreditations such as AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE. These signal that the program is held to a professional standard that employers recognize and can make a difference for career opportunities down the line in both the public and private sectors.
