The 12-Month $12K MBA

Flexible enough for a full-time career. Affordable enough to make sense. NLU's MBA is built for professionals who are already juggling a lot — and ready for more.

  • No GMAT Required
  • Online or Hybrid
  • Multiple Start Dates
  • IACBE Accredited

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Why Choose NLU?

1:1 Mentorship
A Mentor in Your Corner

Every NLU MBA student is matched with a 1:1 business mentor from Chicago's professional community.

$12,000*
Industry-Leading Affordability

Complete your entire MBA for one of the lowest tuition rates of any accredited program in the country.

50%
Earn More. Lead More.

MBA graduates earn 50% more than peers with only an undergraduate degree, on average.

100%
Complete Flexibility

Online or hybrid options designed for working adults — study on your schedule, without pausing your career.

No GMAT
No Test Required

Skip the standardized test. We evaluate the whole applicant — your experience, goals, and potential.

Get Started Today

Program at a Glance

How long?
12 Months
Complete your entire MBA in as little as one year
How much?
$12,000*
Total program cost — one of the lowest rates of any accredited MBA
Curriculum?
10 Courses
Business, finance, strategy, leadership, marketing & more
Outcome?
$121,324
Average salary + bonus for MBA graduates — 50% more than peers without an MBA**

What You'll Learn

  • Leadership styles that inspire teams and cultivate creative, inclusive collaboration
  • Real-world problem-solving through hands-on projects and experiential learning
  • Finance, accounting, marketing, and change management — applied to real decisions
  • Strategic thinking, analytical skills, oral presentation, and professional writing

Full Course List

Gateway Courses
Explores ethical, inclusive, and strengths-based leadership grounded in emotional intelligence and communication. Students assess their own leadership styles and develop skills to build collaborative, high-performing teams.
Reviews graduate academic writing and introduces applied research methods for professional programs. Emphasizes research-driven decision-making, problem-solving, and communicating findings clearly.
Core Courses
Introduces design thinking applied to identifying business opportunities. Students collaborate to tackle real business challenges — gathering stakeholder insights, defining problems, ideating solutions, and prototyping.
Examines microeconomic and macroeconomic principles applied to business decisions — covering scarcity, resource allocation, and strategic management across differing competitive environments.
Addresses the strategic management of assets and liabilities to maximize organizational value. Topics include time value of money, investment criteria, risk analysis, cost of capital, and financial performance measurement.
Covers cost data analysis for planning and control, inventory management, cost-volume-profit analysis, revenue and profitability analysis, and quality control — applied to real financial reports and data.
Provides foundational marketing knowledge and practical skills. Covers behavioral economics, storytelling, consumer research, product development, pricing strategies, and integrated marketing communications.
Examines how managers leverage technology and information to enhance organizational performance. Students develop competency in planning, managing, and implementing technology initiatives across industries.
Explores how HR management connects operational activities to organizational vision and goals. Covers systems theory, organizational development consultation, and change intervention strategies.
Capstone
Capstone course applying a general manager's perspective to strategic situations across diverse organizations. Students analyze market environments and create comprehensive strategic plans, synthesizing all prior coursework.

Next start: July 6, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
  • Professional work experience recommended
  • No GMAT or GRE required
  • Complete online application
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Verified NLU MBA Student Review

"My academic experience in the MBA program at National Louis University has been both enriching and transformative. The program has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of key business principles, including finance, marketing, and leadership."

Verified NLU MBA Student Review
Military Scholarship

NLU offers Yellow Ribbon funding and dedicated support for military-affiliated students and veterans pursuing graduate degrees.

Career Acceleration

Every NLU MBA student is matched with a 1:1 business mentor from Chicago's professional community. Not a networking list — an actual person in your corner.

Flexible Scheduling

Asynchronous coursework means you set your study hours — no live class sessions required, ever.

IACBE Accredited

NLU's business programs carry IACBE accreditation — recognized by employers as a mark of academic rigor.

Where Will Your MBA Take You?

$121,324
Average salary + bonus for MBA graduates (U.S. News, 2025)**
Management Consultant
Marketing Director
Financial Analyst
Operations Manager
Healthcare Administrator
Entrepreneur / Founder

An NLU MBA opens doors across industries and functions — from Fortune 500 companies to entrepreneurial ventures. Our graduates lead teams, launch businesses, and climb the ranks faster than their peers.

Get Started Now

Just 3 steps to your Master's

  1. Request Information

    Fill out the short form on this page. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions.

  2. Talk to an Advisor

    A 15-minute conversation. Ask anything about the program, start dates, financing, your specific situation. We'll be honest with you.

  3. Start Your MBA

    Begin your program on July 6, 2026. You're one decision away from a degree that changes everything.

Get Started

Accreditation

IACBE Accredited SHRM Academically Aligned

Take the First Step

No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions and guide your next move.

Take the First Step
  • No GMAT Required
  • IACBE Accredited
  • 100% Online
  • Finish in 12 Months

*$12,000 approximate total tuition for the 100% online MBA program at current per-credit-hour rates. The low residency MBA program is approximately $16,500. Tuition is subject to change. See program details for full tuition information.

**Average base salary plus bonus for 2024 MBA graduates. Source: U.S. News & World Report (2025), based on data from 133 ranked full-time programs.