This post features the top online MBA programs with free certifications (or at least very low-cost).
Online MBA programs have surged in popularity, even before the pandemic. Between 2016–17 and 2020–21, accredited U.S. schools offering fully online MBAs jumped from 284 to 526—an 85% increase, according to AACSB.
What’s driving this growing demand?
Featured Programs
- Flexibility: Many people can’t afford to pause their careers for school. Online MBAs let you study on your schedule—nights, weekends, during lunch breaks—without relocating or leaving your job.
- Affordability: Traditional MBA programs often cost $60,000 to $100,000+. Online options can be significantly cheaper, especially with tuition-free or low-cost programs.
- Career Upskilling: Professionals are looking for ways to sharpen their skills and stand out, especially in competitive job markets.
An MBA alone is strong, but one that includes industry certifications is even better. They offer real proof that you’ve mastered specific in‑demand skills, with zero additional fees.
Why do online MBA programs with free certifications matter? Because they:
- Stretch your tuition further: Earning certificates without extra costs adds value.
- Boost your job market appeal: Employers love seeing concrete skills like project management, analytics, or cloud credentials.
- Build real expertise: You graduate not just with theoretical business knowledge, but practical, career‑ready abilities.
What Are Free Certifications in an MBA Program?
The number of online MBA programs with free certifications is up and rising. A lot of colleges and universities are realizing that the degree alone often becomes insufficient for their students to compete in the field, especially those who want to enter rapidly evolving industries like technology, finance, and digital marketing.
Free and/or low-cost certifications that are embedded in an online MBA’s curriculum are there for several strategic and value-driven reasons:
Increased Program Attractiveness
Offering free certifications makes the MBA more appealing to prospective students. Certifications from platforms like Google, Coursera, IBM, or HubSpot can:
- Boost resumes
- Signal practical, job-ready skills
- Add perceived value without adding tuition costs
Related Articles:
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- Will Free Online Certifications Help Me Get a Better Job?
Enhancing the Employability of Graduates
MBA programs are judged by graduate outcomes, especially job placement and salary. Certifications in:
- Data analytics
- Digital marketing
- Project management (e.g., PMP, Agile)
- Financial modeling
…help students be more competitive in the job market.
Partnerships with EdTech Platforms
Some universities have deals with platforms like:
- Coursera
- edX
- LinkedIn Learning
- Google Career Certificates
These partnerships often include bulk or free access to certificate programs, which schools can bundle into their MBA offerings at low or no cost.
Bridging Skill Gaps
MBA students often come from diverse backgrounds. Free certifications help:
- Standardize technical proficiency
- Prepare students for specialized electives
Real-World, Stackable Skills
Certifications provide modular learning aligned with industry needs, unlike traditional academia. For example:
- A “Digital Marketing” cert may be more job-relevant than a theory-heavy marketing class
- A “Google Data Analytics” cert shows hands-on ability to employers
There are a few common certifications found in some of the country’s best online MBA programs, including:
- Six Sigma (Green Belt/Yellow Belt) – process improvement.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) or CAPM – globally recognized PM credentials.
- Google Analytics / Digital Marketing – web analytics, digital advertising.
- AWS Cloud Foundations – cloud computing basics.
- Industry badges / micro‑credentials in areas like AI, data science, and digital leadership.
These certifications are integrated into the curriculum in two ways:
- Built directly into coursework: some MBA programs structure key courses (e.g., project management class) to prepare students for CAPM/PMP or Six Sigma certification and often reimburse the exam fee.
- Optional but bundled free add‑ons: others let you take additional microcourses or digital badge tracks with no extra charge.
Why Choose an Online MBA with Free Certifications?
Pursuing low-cost/free professional certifications with MBA programs offers a unique blend of academic depth and practical relevance. Here’s how:
- Extra Value for Your Tuition: If you pay for an MBA, getting several certifications included is like getting multiple mini‑courses for free. You save hundreds of dollars in exam fees and gain more credentials in the same learning time.
- A Stronger Job Application: Employers often use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes. Certifications like CAPM/PMP, Six Sigma, or AWS are keywords, and earning them says you don’t just understand theory; you can actually deliver.
- Broader Skills Without Extra Cost: Instead of paying $300–$600 per cert exam, you get targeted learning in analytics, marketing, project management, AI, cloud basics, plus your MBA. All within one program, no surprise costs.
Top 8 Best Online MBA Programs with Free Certifications
Here are the top eight online MBA programs with free certifications in 2025:
1. Quantic School of Business and Technology (Smartly MBA)
- Cost: Just $950/month for a 15-month MBA or EMBA, often partially or fully covered by employer reimbursement or scholarships.
- Included certifications: While not branded Six Sigma or AWS, the program grants interactive, app‑based business micro‑credentials and “digital badges” inside active learning modules. These count as recognized mini‑certs in modern firms.
- Accreditation: Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
- Financial aid/scholarships: Tuition is free, no application fees.
- Notable features:
- Mobile‑first interactive lessons, social peer learning, and cohort‑based.
- Finish in 9 months. Career support and employer access included.
2. University of the People (UoPeople) MBA
- Cost: Tuition‑free; only pays small fees for application and assessment (approx $2,000 total)
- Included certifications: UoPeople doesn’t bundle industry certs like PMP directly, but you get free access to MOOC‑style courses and tuition-free certifications from Coursera or edX that you can audit. You can pay to add verification certificates (usually $30–100). Currently available certifications are in Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Accounting.
- Accreditation: WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and DEAC accredited
- Financial aid/scholarships: Extremely low-cost structure plus some fee waivers for low‑income students.
- Notable features:
- Global peer community, flexible part‑time pacing.
- Focused on access and affordability for underserved students.
3. Herzing University Online MBA
- Cost: $11,680 (average tuition)
- Included certifications: Includes project management courses which prepare for CAPM and/or PMP, and SHRM‑CP / SHRM‑SCP certifications. Herzing reimburses exam fees for up to 3 certifications upon completion.
- Accreditation: HLC (Higher Learning Commission )
- Financial aid/scholarships: Standard federal aid, Pell grants, institutional aid.
- Notable features:
- No GMAT/GRE required.
- Strong alignment with career goals in HR, project management, and business analytics.
4. AGTU – MBA in Business and AI Online
- Cost: $387.34 per month; it’s one of the top-ranked affordable online MBA degrees.
- Included certifications: Up to 10 professional micro certifications per year, from partner universities (e.g., Harvard, UC Berkeley) and industry certs such as AWS and CompTIA, fully covered
- Accreditation: Fully licensed by the Florida State Education Commission for distance learning
- Financial aid/scholarships: Included in tuition; no hidden cert fees.
- Notable features:
- Strong emphasis on AI, digital entrepreneurship, operations, and project management.
- Flexible learning and professional development focus.
5. University of Cincinnati – Online MBA
- Cost: $12,556.00 (resident); $12,706.00 (non-resident)
- Included certifications: Specializations double as grad certificates (e.g., AI in Business, Digital Marketing, Healthcare Finance).
- Accreditation: AACSB-accredited.
- Financial aid/scholarships: Federal aid and institutional support are available.
- Notable features:
- Flexible scheduling with 12+ electives to customize your path.
- Career-focused tracks in AI, marketing, finance, healthcare, and analytics.
6. University of Maryland – Online MBA
- Cost: $1,733 per credit
- Included certifications: Optional grad certificates (e.g., Technology Management); access to global consulting projects and entrepreneurship support.
- Accreditation: AACSB-accredited.
- Financial aid/scholarships: Federal aid and institutional support are available.
- Notable features:
- STEM-designated, high-rigor curriculum taught by global faculty.
- Career resources include global learning, startup support, and a D.C.-based tech certificate.
7. Bay Path University – Online MBA + Certification
- Cost: $855 per credit
- Certifications: Earn an MBA plus 1 of 10 certification tracks (e.g., AI, Cybersecurity, Quality Systems, HR, Nonprofit); option to stack multiple certs.
- Accreditation: NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education)
- Financial aid/scholarships: Federal aid and institutional support are available.
- Notable features:
- 100% online with 8-week courses; optional hybrid Zoom sessions.
- One of the most cost-effective MBA programs with a strong professional network and real-world faculty expertise.
8. University of Massachusetts Global – Online MBA with Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Cost: $799 for course + exam bundle; no additional materials needed.
- Included Certifications: Prepares you for the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification exam by MindEdge.
- Accreditation: CEUs awarded (3.8 Continuing Education Units) upon successful completion.
- Financial aid/scholarships: Not specified.
- Notable features:
- Includes two 50-question practice exams and a 100-question timed certification exam.
- Designed for busy professionals seeking process improvement and operational excellence skills.
How Free Certifications Improve Career Opportunities
Certifications certainly increase the value of online MBA programs, and here’s how:
Dual credential MBA programs help you build real, practical skills that employers actually care about. For example, if you get a project management certification, you’re showing you can handle tough projects. A data analytics credential? That tells people you know how to make sense of big data and use it to make smart business calls.
Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market
Jobs are competitive, and having extra credentials can make you stand out from the pack. It shows you’re serious about your career and willing to put in the work to get better.
Open More Doors
Some jobs won’t even consider you without certain certifications, and cybersecurity is a big one. If you add certificates like CompTIA Security+ or CISSP to your MBA, you’ll have way more options and access to jobs that might have been off-limits before.
Make More Money
The numbers don’t lie. People with certifications usually get paid more. For example, IT professionals with certifications tend to earn around 15% more, and project managers with PMP certifications usually pull in a higher paycheck than those without.
Tips for Choosing the Right Online MBA
- Make sure it’s accredited. This one’s super important. You want to go for an MBA with free courses recognized by legit agencies like AACSB, regional accreditors, or the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). That way, your degree actually means something to employers and won’t come back to bite you later.
- Check what certifications come with it. Not all online MBAs throw in free certifications, so don’t assume it’s automatic. Look closely at what’s included, if you have to pay extra for exam fees, and if those certificates help with the kind of jobs you want.
- Know the real cost upfront. Sometimes a program looks cheap, but then you find out you have to pay for every little certificate or exam. Add it all up before you commit, so there are no surprises.
- Ask about scholarships and discounts. Most schools offer some form of financial aid or payment plan. Ask about it, especially if you’re worried about cost.
- Think about how flexible it is. If you’re working full-time, you’ll want a program that lets you study when it fits your schedule. Some offer live Zoom classes, while others are entirely self-paced.
- See what kind of services they offer. Some MBA programs with included certifications give you solid job support, like resume reviews, networking events, or connections with employers. These services can make a big difference when you’re job hunting.
Final Thoughts: Double the Value for Your Education Dollar
Combining an MBA with relevant certifications, especially when you get them for free, dramatically increases your return on investment. You graduate not just with business strategy and leadership theory, but verifiable skills in project management, analytics, cloud, digital transformation, or AI.
That means:
- Faster career transitions, since employers recognize the skills immediately.
- Higher salary negotiations, because you bring more to the table.
- Greater flexibility, as you’re qualified across multiple domains.
By choosing smartly, you get twice the credentials for half the investment.