Becoming an effective business leader often starts with an online organizational leadership degree.
Studying organizational leadership can help prepare you to motivate teams, spearhead change and plan for the future in business, nonprofit and government settings.
Management is a growing field, so this degree choice may lead to ample career opportunities.
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Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Founded in 1885, Arizona State University in Tempe offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to its more than 90,000 enrolled students across 17 colleges. U.S. News & World Report has ranked ASU in first place among the Most Innovative Schools in America four years in a row.
Arizona State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Located in idyllic to Longmeadow, Massachusetts, Bay Path University is a private university dating back to 1897. The school’s nearly 3,300 enrolled students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across more than 30 majors and degree options.
While Bay Path offers all-women bachelor’s degree programs, students can enroll in co-educational master’s degree programs.
Bay Path University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Situated in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Bethel University is an evangelical Christian school with a student enrollment of more than 6,500. Bethel offers more than 100 majors for students to pursue across its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Bethel’s degrees are offered across four separate schools. The school’s history dates back to 1871.
Bethel University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Founded in 1922, Bluefield College is a Baptist liberal arts college located in Bluefield, Virginia. Students can pursue a total of 22 majors across Bluefield’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Bluefield offers a very personal, focused educational experience to its student body consisting of just over 900 students annually.
Bluefield College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Founded in 1878, Brenau University is a private university based in Gainesville, Georgia. Brenau enrolls more 3,500 students across its more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs spread across four colleges. The school has been a pioneer in offering online degrees ever since it launched a fully virtual degree program in 2002.
Brenau University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
California Baptist University in Riverside, California, offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to a student population of just over 11,000 students. The school was founded in 1950 in affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. Among Cal Baptist’s list of notable alumni is Rick Warren.
California Baptist University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
Carson–Newman University is a private liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Founded in 1851 with an affiliation with the Southern Baptist Church, Carson-Newman currently enrolls about 2,500 students per year across 90 different academic programs. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Carson-Newman University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Founded in 1884, Central Christian College of Kansas offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees across several areas of study. The school is associated with the Free Methodist Church. In addition to opportunities to pursue relevant and robust areas of study, Central Christian students can join more than 18 sports teams.
Central Christian College of Kansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Colorado State University is a public research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. Rated among the R1: Doctoral Universities for very high research activity, CSU offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs covering nearly 200 topics of study.
CSU was founded in 1870. The school’s list of distinguished graduates include Pulitzer Prize winners, astronauts, multiple high-profile CEOs, and two former governors of Colorado.
Colorado State is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.
Creighton University is a private Jesuit university located in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1878, the school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across 10 schools. Creighton enrolls nearly 9,000 students annually. Roughly 28 percent of all students are enrolled in the university’s college of arts and sciences.
Creighton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Duquesne University is a Catholic University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1911 by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. More than 9,300 students are enrolled across Duquesne’s nine schools offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in 189 academic programs. Duquesne is an NCAA Division school.
Duquesne University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Founded in 1925, Eastern University is a private Christian university in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. More than 3,300 students are enrolled across Eastern’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
Eastern’s main St. Davids campus houses the Mazie Hall African American History Room and the Edison Room house. In addition, the school offers regional campus and online study programs.
Eastern University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Fort Hays State University is a public university located Hays, Kansas, that was founded in 1902. Nearly 15,000 students are enrolled across FHSU’s five colleges. Students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across 31 departments and nearly 100 majors.
Fort Hays State University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Founded in 1919, John Brown University boasts an annual enrollment of 2,613 students representing 41 states and 50 countries. JBU is a liberal arts college located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. In addition to 41 undergraduate majors, students can also pursue a number of master’s programs both on campus and online.
John Brown University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and School.
Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic university with a Lasallian affiliation located in Romeoville, Illinois. Lewis offers more than 100 options for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Founded in 1932, the school’s annual enrollment stands at roughly 6,800 students.
The university offers a number of accelerated programs for working adults across its six schools.
Lewis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Founded in 1872 by thee Society of the Sacred Heart, Maryville University presently enrolls roughly 6,414 students annually. Students can pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across Maryville’s six schools and colleges.
While the school offers a number of fully online degree options, many students study at the school’s beautiful main campus in Town and Country, Missouri.
The Maryville University of Saint Louis is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is Christian liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Ohio, with an annual enrollment of just over 2,200. Founded in 1968, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs is dozens of concentrations spread across o six schools.
Along with a robust on-campus life in Knox County, MVNU offers a variety of satellite and virtual learning options.
MVNU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
New York University is a private research university in New York City with a history dating back to 1831. Nearly 52,000 students enroll annually across NYU’s 25 schools. The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The list of notable NYU graduates includes countless Nobel Laureates, Academy Award winners, Tony winners, Rhodes Scholars, MacArthur Fellows, and Pulitzer Prize winners.
New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Ohio Christian University is a private Christian college located in Circleville, Ohio, that was founded in 1947. Undergraduate and graduate degrees are available across a variety of majors for OCU’s more than 3,300 enrolled students. OCU is the alma mater of famed leadership coach John C. Maxwell.
Ohio Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Launched in 1998, Penn State World Campus is the online campus of Pennsylvania State University. Nearly 14,700 students enroll annually to pursue bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across a variety of majors.
Each program utilizes technology to bring many of Penn State’s most respected academic majors available to students across the globe without limitations.
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Founded in 1909, Rogers State University is a public university in Claremore, Oklahoma. RSU’s current annual enrollment tops 4,300. Students can pursue 13 disciplines for bachelor’s degrees, 17 disciplines for bachelor’s degrees, and several options for master’s degrees. Both on-campus and online instruction are available for many RSU programs.
Rogers State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, is a private liberal arts university with an annual enrollment totaling 7,000. Founded in 1935, the school is divided between six colleges offering dozens of degree options for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies. Southeastern offers many of its degree programs fully online.
The well-respected Forum at SEU has hosted a list of speakers that includes George W. Bush, Jack Welch, TD Jakes, Ben Carson, Colin L. Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Dave Ramsey.
SEU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College.
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with more than 3,000 on-campus students and over 90,000 online students. It is considered as one of the fastest-growing universities in the country.
Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
A majority online university, Thomas Edison State University enrolls more than 10,000 students annually. Thomas Edison is a public university based in Trenton, New Jersey, with an emphasis on self-directed learning. Associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees are offered in more than 100 areas of study across five schools.
The New York Times refers to Thomas Edison State University the “college that paved the way for adults.”
Thomas Edison State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Toccoa Falls College is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Toccoa Falls, Georgia. Established in 1907, the college has an annual enrollment topping 1,600. A total of 35 undergraduate and graduate majors are offered within Toccoa Falls College’s four schools.
The Toccoa Falls campus famously hosts one of the tallest waterfalls in North America.
Toccoa Falls College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Cincinnati, a public research institution in Ohio, boasts over 45,000 students. Renowned for pioneering online education, UC offers a rich array of over 100 online programs across diverse fields, supported by nationally recognized faculty. It is committed to providing a world-class, inclusive educational experience through flexible, innovative learning opportunities.
The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Massachusetts Global is a private university based in Irvine, California. In addition to a virtual presence, the UMass Global network includes more than 25 campuses throughout California and Washington. UMass Global students can choose from more than 50 degree options across five schools.
Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs are offered to a student population of over 20,000. Branded as a military-friendly school by both G.I. Jobs Magazine and Military.com, UMass Global offers special rates for military members. The school was founded in 1958.
The University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission.
The University of Southern Maine is a public university with campuses spread across Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston. A member of the University of Maine System, USM houses the Edmund Muskie School of Public Service, the Bio Sciences Research Institute, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
More than 7,800 students enroll annually across USM’s hundreds of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
The University of Southern Maine is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Valdosta State University is a public university located in Valdosta, Georgia. Established in 1906, VSU currently enrolls more than 11,200 students annually across its more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
Students from all 50 states are represented within VSU’s student population. In 2008, the school earned the distinction of being crowed “TitleTown, USA” by ESPN.
Valdosta State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Founded in 1903, Waldorf University is a private college located in Forest City, Iowa. Considered a school with an emphasis in liberal arts, Waldorf offers a range of bachelor’s and master’s options for its more than 4,500 enrolled students. The school is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Waldorf University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
You may be a natural-born leader. People may have been commenting on your leadership skills and putting you in charge of things since the time you were young. Now may be the time to develop those skills in an organizational leadership college program.
Perhaps you’ve never considered leadership to be one of your top skills. Even still, you may be passionate about helping employees and organizations fulfill their potential. With that interest as your foundation, you may be able to grow into a strong leader, and an online leadership degree can help you become the type of team manager that employers are looking for.
When you earn a leadership degree online, you can study business principles that can help you navigate office settings. Your coursework may include classes in business law, finance and marketing.
Other classes may survey group dynamics and organizational structures. This may include classes on leadership styles, change management, interpersonal communication and group decision-making. You ay also learn to settle conflicts, motivate employees and cultivate team members’ strengths.
This degree sometimes leads to a career in organizational development. It might be your job to identify weaknesses in your organization’s structure and formulate plans to improve those areas. You might start out as a specialist or a manager, and you might eventually become the director of the organizational development department.
It’s also common for people with this degree to work in human resources. Your job might focus on hiring new team members, training employees or settling conflicts. Some human resources experts specialize in labor relations.
Organizational leadership jobs are common in the business world, but other sectors need experienced leaders as well. You might also put your talents to use for nonprofit agencies, government departments, healthcare facilities or educational institutions.
At some point after graduation, you might want to go back to school for an online master’s degree in organizational leadership. Options include a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master of Management. Or if you want to go one step above a masters, consider getting your PhD in Leadership online or on-campus.
Organizational leadership students usually have their sights set on becoming leaders of businesses or other institutions. They may have the goal of earning a title with “manager,” “team leader” or “director” in the title, and they know that this course of study can help them achieve it.
If those goals sound familiar to you, then this may be the degree path for you. Your time in school can help you learn what it takes to lead organizations to success, and it can also help you explore this field’s many opportunities. By the time you graduate, you may have a good idea of what career path you’d like to pursue.
For example, you might want to enter the business sector. In a small company or a large corporation, you might get your start as an administrative assistant or an office manager. You might also work as a human resources specialist.
As you gain experience, you might be given more responsibility. Businesses often hire organizational leadership graduates as project managers, human resources directors and production managers.
Operations is a common department for organizational leadership students to pursue. As an operations specialist or a director, you might be responsible for making sure that your company’s daily activities run smoothly and that your teams work efficiently.
You don’t have to stick to the business world. Other institutions, such as school districts, universities, hospitals, community groups and government agencies, hire for similar positions. You could also consider becoming a director of development for a nonprofit organization.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some careers in the organizational leadership field include:
Careers | Annual Median Salary |
Human Resources Manager | $121,220 |
Training and Development Manager | $115,640 |
Industrial Production Manager | $108,790 |
General and Operations Manager | $103,650 |
Administrative Services Manager | $98,890 |
Management Analyst | $87,660 |
Project Management Specialist | $77,420 |
Social and Community Service Manager | $69,600 |
Human Resources Specialist | $63,490 |
Training and Development Specialist | $62,700 |
Jobs for organizational leadership graduates are expected to grow over the next several years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that management positions will increase at a 5% rate through the next ten years.
Many schools allow you to pick a concentration for your organizational leadership major and take several classes related to that area of the field. Some possible concentrations include:
Graduating with a degree specialization may help you stand out as a candidate for jobs that particularly interest you.
An internet search for “online leadership degree” will pull up a long list of schools that offer organizational leadership programs. How can you figure out which of these colleges will provide the best leadership education?
When choosing a program for organizational leadership, you may want to consider factors like:
Keep in mind that many schools offer strong programs. Rather than finding the single-best college out there, make your choice based on which one will best suit your needs and preferences.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership typically requires about 120 credits. Course lists for these programs include general education, business, and management classes. Here are some common courses that you may find in your program:
Each school sets its own curriculum requirements, so your class list may not include all of the above courses.
Getting into college is the first step toward earning a degree. An admissions committee will review your application packet to decide whether you are a good fit for their program.
Your application materials may include:
Some schools may also request resumes, standardized test scores, an application fee and an interview.
Any school can say that it does a good job of educating students, but just saying that doesn’t make it true. It would mean a lot more coming from an outside organization. That’s what regional accreditors do.
There are seven regional accreditors in the U.S. They include the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). A full list of organizations is available from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Studying at an accredited college can be useful if you want to transfer credits elsewhere or attend grad school, including a doctorate in organizational leadership. Your degree will also likely mean more to employers if it comes from an accredited institution.
Surrounding yourself with other professionals who encourage and challenge you can help you grow as a leader. Joining an industry organization can give you opportunities to meet such people, engage with them online, read their writings or learn from them in classes.
Membership benefits and fees vary among groups, so you may want to compare a few organizations to see which is best for you.
You may qualify for financial assistance to help with the cost of your online leadership degree.
To get started with grants and loans, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The information on that form will determine whether you qualify assistance from federal programs. The results may also help you secure financial aid from your state.
Many students qualify for government loans. These allow you to defer your tuition payments, but you’ll have to return the money down the road. You’ll have to pay interest too, but government loans usually have lower interest rates than private ones.
If you have significant financial need, you may receive grants as well. Grants offer free money that doesn’t need to be repaid.
Scholarships are another source of free tuition money, but you have to apply and win. These programs are often administered by private groups, such as corporations, community clubs and industry organizations.
The field of organizational leadership focuses on providing guidance and direction for teams and organizations. Earning an education in this area can help equip you to work as a leader in businesses and other group settings.
One important topic you’ll likely study is change management. You may discuss how change can lead to growth and to guide teams through transition periods. Your classes can also help you develop skills for navigating team dynamics and group interactions.
Yes, a leadership degree can lead to many professional opportunities. All organizations need capable, confident leaders at the helm. Earning a degree in leadership can help you demonstrate that you have the knowledge and abilities to oversee organizations and help them grow.
Leadership and management skills are in demand by employers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs related to management have a projected growth rate of 5% for the next 10 years.
Yes, both on-campus and online degrees can be useful during a job search. Employers are likely to care more about whether your college was accredited than the format in which you took your classes. In fact, your diploma probably won’t specify that you took classes online.
Besides, earning a degree online shows drive and initiative. It demonstrates that you cared enough about your future to fit college classes into your busy life.
Yes, an organizational leadership program is designed to train you to be a strong leader who helps teams and businesses achieve their full potential. This may help you get a job as a manager, a team leader or a director of a department or an organization.
Organizational leadership studies often focus on interpersonal and team dynamics. They can help you learn how to motivate employees, equip them with continual training and foster an attitude of teamwork.
Students usually need to earn 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. Those credits are usually divided over eight semesters, which may take you about four years to complete.
Online leadership degree programs often use an accelerated schedule for their courses. Students in these programs take classes year-round in order to finish their degrees more quickly. If you come into a program with transfer credits, you may be able to graduate sooner.
Online undergraduate programs often cost between $200 and $700 per credit hour. You’ll probably need to complete about 120 credit hours for graduation. You may find some of the lowest costs at public universities.
The best rates may be at schools in your own state, but some online schools offer in-state tuition to all enrollees, regardless of residence. Also, remember that grants, loans and scholarships can help make an expensive school more affordable.
The average salary of a bachelor’s degree holder is $77,920 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics), but your earnings will vary based on the job you do and how much experience you have.
For example, the average pay for a human resources specialist is $63,490 annually. By gaining experience in that position, you may be able to work your way toward a job as a human resources manager. That’s a job with an average annual salary of $121,220.
Yes, a degree in organizational leadership is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting 5% job growth in management occupations over the next 10 years. Those in the organizational leadership field often work as business leaders and managers. Common careers in this field include training and development specialist, project management specialist, administrative services manager, and human resources manager.
Leadership is a skill that’s needed in many sectors of the workforce. Whether you want a job in business, public administration or nonprofit work, the lessons that you learn in your organizational leadership classes will likely apply.
Students in organizational leadership programs often take a core set of business classes, just like in a business degree program. You can expect that part of your curriculum to address marketing, business law and finance.
Other classes for this degree will focus on the topics of leadership and employee development. Your studies may cover human resources, change management, communication and industrial psychology. The program may also address ways to grow and develop as a leader.
Leadership is a valuable skill that can help you find a job and rise to the top of an organization. Whether or not you have strong natural leadership abilities, a college program in organizational leadership can help you cultivate the skills needed for succeeding as a manager.
An online leadership degree program can help you learn how to motivate people, communicate vision, handle transitions, make decisions and encourage diverse groups to work as united teams.
If you want to become a leader who makes a positive difference for organizations and communities, apply to colleges where you can earn a leadership degree online.
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