The Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs of 2026

The cheapest online finance degree programs clear two bars at once: a confirmed online option, and a published tuition low enough to change the math. Of the 405 finance programs we analyzed nationwide, 68 carry a confirmed distance-education option, about 17% of the field. This ranking orders the 25 of those with the lowest in-state tuition that still clear an accreditation and completion floor.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the lowest at $4,422 a year in-state, graduating 56% of its students. In-state tuition across the ranked online programs runs $4,422 to $11,378 a year. Field median pay is $100,910 per BLS, the same benchmark whether the degree was earned online or on campus.
One thing to check before comparing: many online programs bill every student a flat per-credit rate regardless of where they live. That can beat an out-of-state price while losing to a local public's resident rate, so the order below is a starting point rather than your personal price. The cost section works through it.
Key Takeaways on the Best Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the lowest-priced accredited online option here at $4,422/year in-state.
- In-state tuition across the ranked online programs spans $4,422 to $11,378 per year.
- 68 of the 405 finance programs analyzed offer a confirmed online option, about 17% of the field.
- Even at the low end of price, the ranked online programs graduate 56% of students on average.
- Online here means a confirmed distance-education option in the federal data, not a marketing claim.
- Field median pay is $100,910 (BLS), identical across accredited programs regardless of tuition or delivery format.
We analyzed 405 accredited finance programs reported to IPEDS, then ranked the 25 online options with the lowest in-state tuition among programs that clear an accreditation and completion floor. No school pays for inclusion.
The 25 Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, NC · online option | Public | $4,422 | 56% | 89% | 72.2 |
| 2 | East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · online option | Public | $4,452 | 63% | 89% | 76.4 |
| 3 | Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · online option | Public | $4,488 | 42% | 99% | 59.4 |
| 4 | Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS · online option | Public | $4,704 | 48% | 90% | 65.4 |
| 5 | Florida International UniversityMiami, FL · online option | Public | $4,721 | 74% | 55% | 86.3 |
| 6 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville, MO · online option | Public | $6,713 | 54% | 86% | 67.5 |
| 7 | Thomas Edison State UniversityTrenton, NJ · online option | Public | $6,838 | NR | NR | 72.8 |
| 8 | SUNY Polytechnic InstituteUtica, NY · online option | Public | $7,070 | 55% | 81% | 71.4 |
| 9 | SUNY College of Technology at CantonCanton, NY · online option | Public | $7,070 | 38% | 92% | 59.7 |
| 10 | Dickinson State UniversityDickinson, ND · online option | Public | $7,470 | 51% | 37% | 76.8 |
| 11 | Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · online option | Public | $7,488 | 55% | 82% | 70.1 |
| 12 | University of Maryland Global CampusAdelphi, MD · online option | Public | $7,776 | 33% | NR | 72.1 |
| 13 | University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · online option | Public | $7,896 | 71% | 74% | 84.9 |
| 14 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA · online option | Public | $8,038 | 69% | 73% | 88.1 |
| 15 | University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · online option | Public | $8,250 | 67% | 87% | 79.1 |
| 16 | Metropolitan State UniversitySaint Paul, MN · online option | Public | $8,571 | 44% | 99% | 63.8 |
| 17 | Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MN · online option | Public | $8,811 | 40% | 95% | 64.1 |
| 18 | Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN · online option | Public | $8,948 | 62% | 85% | 74.5 |
| 19 | University of IowaIowa City, IA · online option | Public | $9,286 | 75% | 84% | 84.8 |
| 20 | Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · online option | Public | $9,662 | 45% | 71% | 70.1 |
| 21 | University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL · online option | Public | $10,200 | 55% | 87% | 66.2 |
| 22 | Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL · online option | Public | $10,440 | 55% | 78% | 72.0 |
| 23 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaSt. Cloud, MN · online option | For-profit | $10,595 | 53% | NR | 68.0 |
| 24 | Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · online option | Public | $11,016 | 82% | 46% | 93.0 |
| 25 | Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · online option | Public | $11,378 | 61% | 90% | 74.6 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Lowest-Cost Online Finance Degree Programs, Compared
In-state tuition for the 10 most affordable programs. Shorter bars cost less; the resident rate is what state schools charge in-state students.
The Top Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs, School by School
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 56%
- Admit rate
- 89%
- In-state
- $4,422
- Out-of-state
- $20,773
At $4,422 a year in-state, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 72.2 Hakia Score on a 56% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 72.2, #1 of 25
- 56% graduation rate
- $4,422 in-state vs $20,773 out-of-state
- Lowest in-state tuition here
Based in Greensboro, NC, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #1 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 72.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 73.3 group average. The program graduates 56% of its students, above the 56% average across the ranked schools. University of North Carolina at Greensboro admits 89% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, University of North Carolina at Greensboro charges $4,422 a year in-state, roughly 5x the $20,773 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $17,688 in tuition for residents, against $83,092 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 63%
- Admit rate
- 89%
- In-state
- $4,452
- Out-of-state
- $20,729
At $4,452 a year in-state, East Carolina University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 76.4 Hakia Score on a 63% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 76.4, #2 of 25
- 63% graduation rate
- $4,452 in-state vs $20,729 out-of-state
- Online option available
Based in Greenville, NC, East Carolina University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #2 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 76.4 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 63% of its students, above the 56% average across the ranked schools. East Carolina University admits 89% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 82%.
On cost, East Carolina University charges $4,452 a year in-state, roughly 5x the $20,729 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $17,808 in tuition for residents, against $82,916 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
Columbus State University
Columbus, GA · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 42%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state
- $4,488
- Out-of-state
- $16,200
At $4,488 a year in-state, Columbus State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 59.4 Hakia Score on a 42% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 59.4, #3 of 25
- 42% graduation rate
- $4,488 in-state vs $16,200 out-of-state
- Online option available
Columbus State University is a public institution in Columbus, GA. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #3 of the 25 analyzed here with a 59.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 42% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. Columbus State University admits 99% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 82%.
On cost, Columbus State University charges $4,488 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $16,200 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $17,952 in tuition for residents, against $64,800 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 90%
- In-state
- $4,704
- Out-of-state
- $16,522
At $4,704 a year in-state, Fort Hays State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 65.4 Hakia Score on a 48% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 65.4, #4 of 25
- 48% graduation rate
- $4,704 in-state vs $16,522 out-of-state
- Online option available
Fort Hays State University is a public institution in Hays, KS. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #4 of the 25 analyzed here with a 65.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs, 6.8 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. Fort Hays State University admits 90% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, Fort Hays State University charges $4,704 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $16,522 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $18,816 in tuition for residents, against $66,088 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Florida International University
Miami, FL · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 74%
- Admit rate
- 55%
- In-state
- $4,721
- Out-of-state
- $16,529
At $4,721 a year in-state, Florida International University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding an 86.3 Hakia Score on a 74% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 86.3, #5 of 25
- 74% graduation rate
- $4,721 in-state vs $16,529 out-of-state
- Online option available
Florida International University is a public institution in Miami, FL. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #5 of the 25 analyzed here with an 86.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 74% of its students, above the 56% average across the ranked schools. Florida International University admits 55% of applicants, more selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 82%.
On cost, Florida International University charges $4,721 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $16,529 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $18,884 in tuition for residents, against $66,116 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 86%
- In-state
- $6,713
- Out-of-state
- $13,426
At $6,713 a year in-state, Northwest Missouri State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 67.5 Hakia Score on a 54% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 67.5, #6 of 25
- 54% graduation rate
- $6,713 in-state vs $13,426 out-of-state
- Online option available
Based in Maryville, MO, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #6 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 67.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs, 4.7 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The program graduates 54% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. Northwest Missouri State University admits 86% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, Northwest Missouri State University charges $6,713 a year in-state, roughly 2.0x the $13,426 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $26,852 in tuition for residents, against $53,704 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton, NJ · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $6,838
- Out-of-state
- $8,856
At $6,838 a year in-state, Thomas Edison State University is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 72.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 72.8, #7 of 25
- $6,838 in-state vs $8,856 out-of-state
- Online option available
Thomas Edison State University is a public institution in Trenton, NJ. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #7 of the 25 analyzed here with a 72.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs. The university enrolls 7,544 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Thomas Edison State University charges $6,838 a year in-state, versus $8,856 for out-of-state students. Over four years that is about $27,352 in tuition for residents, against $35,424 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 15x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- In-state
- $7,070
- Out-of-state
- $19,660
At $7,070 a year in-state, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 71.4 Hakia Score on a 55% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 71.4, #8 of 25
- 55% graduation rate
- $7,070 in-state vs $19,660 out-of-state
- Online option available
Based in Utica, NY, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public institution. Its Bachelor's in Finance program lands at #8 of the 25 ranked here, earning a 71.4 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the top third of the 25 ranked programs, 0.8 points behind top-ranked University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The program graduates 55% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. SUNY Polytechnic Institute admits 81% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, SUNY Polytechnic Institute charges $7,070 a year in-state, roughly 2.8x the $19,660 out-of-state rate. Over four years that is about $28,280 in tuition for residents, against $78,640 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Canton, NY · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 38%
- Admit rate
- 92%
- In-state
- $7,070
- Out-of-state
- $14,097
At $7,070 a year in-state, SUNY College of Technology at Canton is among the more affordable bachelor's in finance programs ranked here, holding a 59.7 Hakia Score on a 38% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 59.7, #9 of 25
- 38% graduation rate
- $7,070 in-state vs $14,097 out-of-state
- Online option available
SUNY College of Technology at Canton is a public institution in Canton, NY. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #9 of the 25 analyzed here with a 59.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 73.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 38% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. SUNY College of Technology at Canton admits 92% of applicants, less selective than the 80% average for the group. That is more open than the 37% rate at Dickinson State University, the most selective program on this list.
On cost, SUNY College of Technology at Canton charges $7,070 a year in-state, versus $14,097 for out-of-state students. Over four years that is about $28,280 in tuition for residents, against $56,388 for non-residents. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Dickinson State University
Dickinson, ND · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 51%
- Admit rate
- 37%
- In-state
- $7,470
- Out-of-state
- $7,470
Dickinson State University ranks #10 of the 25 bachelor's in finance programs in this analysis, with a 76.8 Hakia Score and a 51% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 76.8, #10 of 25
- 51% graduation rate
- $7,470 tuition
- Most selective program here
Dickinson State University is a public institution in Dickinson, ND. Its Bachelor's in Finance program ranks #10 of the 25 analyzed here with a 76.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 73.3 group average, in the middle third of the 25 ranked programs. The program graduates 51% of its students, below the 56% average across the ranked schools. Dickinson State University admits 37% of applicants, more selective than the 80% average for the group. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 33% to 82%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,410 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Dickinson State University charges $7,470 a year in-state. Over four years that totals about $29,880 in tuition. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $4,422 at University of North Carolina at Greensboro to $11,378 at Northern Arizona University. Graduates step into a field with a $100,910 national median salary reported by the BLS. That median runs roughly 14x the program's annual in-state tuition. For prospective students, the draw here is genuine selectivity paired with an online option.
What the Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs Really Cost
In-state tuition across the ranked online programs runs $4,422 to $11,378 a year. That range is the in-state rate, which is what residents pay at a public school. Online students are often billed differently, on a flat per-credit tuition that applies wherever they live. Where that happens the resident discount disappears, and the cheapest program on this list may not be the cheapest one for you. Add fees and the number of credits required, then compare totals rather than headline rates.
Low Price, Real Accreditation
Price is the sort order on this page, not the entry requirement. Every program ranked is accredited and reports completion data to IPEDS, and anything below a real graduation floor is filtered out before price is considered. That filter earns its keep at the low end of the market, where unaccredited providers compete on tuition alone and leave graduates holding a credential employers and licensing boards do not recognize.
Cheapest Online vs. Best Online
This page sorts on price. To see the strongest online options instead, ranked on graduation rate, selectivity, and outcomes, our best online finance programs list uses the same pool ordered by Hakia Score. The most affordable finance programs ranking drops the online filter and includes campus programs, which is where the very lowest in-state prices tend to sit.
Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs by State
Prefer a state-by-state view? We rank Finance Programs in 19 states, each grounded in that state's real, accredited programs.
Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest online finance degree?
University of North Carolina at Greensboro has the lowest in-state tuition among accredited online options at $4,422 a year, followed by East Carolina University and Columbus State University. Confirm whether the school charges online students that resident rate or a flat per-credit rate.
Are cheap online finance degree programs accredited?
The ones ranked here are. Accreditation and a real completion rate are applied as filters before price, so an unaccredited program cannot reach this list by being inexpensive.
Does an online finance degree cost less than on campus?
Sometimes. A flat per-credit online rate usually beats out-of-state tuition and often loses to a local public's in-state rate. Online study also removes relocation costs and lets many students keep working, which moves the real cost of the degree more than the tuition line does.
Do online finance degree programs charge the in-state rate?
Not always. Some public schools extend the resident rate to every online student; others charge by residency exactly as they do on campus. Confirm it with the school before comparing two programs on this page.
How We Rank Cheapest Online Finance Degree Programs
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.