Top 5 Online Master's in Nonprofit Management
Updated April 6, 2023 · 2 Min Read
Online Master's in Nonprofit Management
Can I make money working for a nonprofit? This may be a questions students may have when pursing a nonprofit degree. Managing a nonprofit can be rewarding work, but you'll need the right credentials. Most of these leadership positions require a bachelor's degree at a minimum, and increasingly, a graduate credential is required. But you can do more with a master's degree. These degrees are becoming more accessible though, thanks to advancements in web-based instruction. In this ranking, we explore the 35 top online master's degrees in nonprofit management.
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Tuition Points:
- Under $30,000—1 point
- Under $25,000—2 points
- Under $20,000—3 points
- Under $15,000—4 points
- Under $10,000—5 points
- Under $5,000—6 points
U.S. News & World Report’s Ranking
- Top 10—6 points
- Top 25—5 points
- Top 50—4 points
- Top 75 –3 points
- Top 100—2 points
- Top 200—1 point
Customization Options
• Format Customizations (e.g. Hybrid/Online, Full-time/Part-Time, Accelerated, Degree Completion, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option
• Content Customizations (e.g. Concentrations, Specializations, Areas of Emphasis, Dual Degree Options, etc.)—1 Point Per Customization Option (5-Point Cap)
Wow Factor
• 1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
Featured Online Schools
Ranking the Best Online Master's in Nonprofit Management Programs
To identify the top 35 master's in nonprofit management online programs, our editors examined over 50 programs of this type. To gather information for our methodology, we consulted College Navigator for tuition data and U.S. News & World Report for information regarding national rankings. After applying the methodology (outlined above), we rated and ranked the schools, using affordability to break any and all ties. The results are recorded below in our interpretation of the 35 top online master's degree programs in nonprofit management.
The 36-semester hour nonprofit management master’s online program from North Park University is offered in both a fully online and blended format. The curriculum for the program is comprehensive and features sample courses such as Nonprofit Board Governance and Volunteer Management, Measuring Outcomes and Assessments, Nonprofit Financial Management, and Nonprofit Marketing Analysis and Consumer Behavior, for example. Students must also complete five elective courses. In addition to the online master’s nonprofit management degree program, a Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential is also available as are 16 different nonprofit/business graduate certificates.
The online nonprofit management master’s degree program from Marywood University is a 30-credit hour program offered through the school’s College of Professional Studies. The curriculum for the program emphasizes administrative theory and practice and features core public administration courses such as Principles of Public Administration, Public Budgeting and Finance, Human Resource Management, and Public Policy Analysis. Students will also take courses in the nonprofit management concentration, including Fundraising and Grant Writing in Nonprofit Organizations, Law and Public Affairs, and Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector. Marywood’s online master’s nonprofit management students can choose to take classes on a part-time or full-time basis.
Arizona State University offers a 33-credit hour online master’s in nonprofit management program from its College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The curriculum for the program is comprehensive and features course titles such as Financial and Resource Management, Grant Writing in Nonprofit Organizations, Social Entrepreneurship, and The Nonprofit Sector. An integrative seminar is also required as a capstone class. Graduates of this master’s in nonprofit management online program go on to work in nonprofit organization management, program development, fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer management.
The nonprofit management online master’s program from Villanova University prepares students for senior positions in the field. The 36-credit hour program consists of core courses such as Leadership Ethics, Public Administration Theory, Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations, and Applied Data Analysis. Elective offerings include Effective City Management, Managing Public Networks, and Urban Politics and Government. Online nonprofit management master’s students must also pass a comprehensive examination prior to graduation. A graduate certificate in nonprofit management is also available.
The 39-credit hour online master’s in nonprofit management program from Texas A&M University- College Station’s Bush School of Government and Public Service is an Executive Master of Public Service and Administration with a nonprofit management track. Required courses include Economic Analysis, Program Evaluation in Public and Nonprofit Organizations, and Quantitative Methods in Public Management. Courses required for the nonprofit management track include Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector, Management and Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, and Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations. A culminating applied capstone project is also required. This nonprofit management master’s online program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).
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