Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership online
Prepare for dynamic leadership roles in the nonprofit sector — and beyond — when you combine traditional business expertise with mission-driven practices.
Program Overview
See a snapshot of our online MBA in Nonprofit Leadership
Empower communities with ethical, purpose-centered businesses when you earn an online Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership from Murray State University. The nonprofit organization is a unique business structure driven by mission rather than profit. Nonprofit leadership studies complement traditional business education by providing access to intricacies required for work in the growing nonprofit sector.
The broad-based business core curriculum develops your skills in accounting, managerial economics, corporate finance, marketing and more. Our capstone course will strengthen your background in strategic management.
This program is designed for your success. That’s why we include free, prerequisite courses in accounting and economics, which can be completed concurrently with core coursework. Regardless of your undergraduate background, these prerequisites empower you with valuable insight in these key areas prior to learning more rigorous quantitative material.
The Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at Murray State University has been continuously accredited by AACSB International (AACSB) since 1981.
Among the Best in the South
Ranked #1 among the "Best Value Schools in the South" by U.S. News & World Report (2025)
Additional benefits of this online MBA nonprofit management program:
- Our students consistently score above average on ETS® Major Field Tests, reflecting preparedness and confidence in impacting businesses after graduation.
- Our faculty is dedicated to your success both in the program and in the workforce, providing personal attention, advisement and support.
- You will have access to the resources within the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development, which offers workshops, training and consulting services, and more for small business owners in western Kentucky.
- Our students consistently score above average on ETS® Major Field Tests, reflecting preparedness and confidence in impacting businesses after graduation.
- Our faculty is dedicated to your success both in the program and in the workforce, providing personal attention, advisement and support.
- You will have access to the resources within the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development, which offers workshops, training and consulting services, and more for small business owners in western Kentucky.
This program will prepare you for careers such as:
- Program Director
- Nonprofit CEO
- Executive Director
- Social Services Manager
- Fundraising Manager
- Program Director
- Nonprofit CEO
- Executive Director
- Social Services Manager
- Fundraising Manager
Also available
Tuition
Advance your career with a cost-effective degree
MBA online programs from Murray State University offer affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition. All fees are included in the total tuition.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA in Nonprofit Leadership | $581.50 | $1,744.50 | $17,445* |
*The tuition rate is subject to annual changes based on approval by the Murray State University Board of Regents and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Refer to Graduate Tuition Rates for more information on the cost of attendance for Murray State.
Calendar
Write down these important dates and deadlines
Murray State University online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
Now enrolling:
| Term | Start Date | Application Deadline | Document & Financial Aid Deadline | Priority Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 5/6/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/9/25 | 6/21/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer 2 | 6/22/25 | 6/16/25 | 6/17/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/20/25 | 8/1/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall 1 | 8/20/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/14/25 | 8/15/25 | 8/20/25 | 10/8/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall 2 | 10/14/25 | 10/6/25 | 10/7/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/13/25 | 12/5/25 | 7 weeks |
Admissions
Know the admission requirements for our MBA in Nonprofit Leadership online
At Murray State University, we’ve streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the MBA in Nonprofit Leadership online, including where to send your transcripts.
The requirements include:
For admission to this MBA online program, domestic students must meet one of the following sets of requirements:
- Master's degree in a relevant field or doctoral-level degree from an accredited institution OR
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with:
- 3.25 GPA, no work experience required
- 3.0 GPA and two years of full-time relevant work experience
- 2.75 – 2.99 GPA and four years of full-time relevant work experience
- Domestic applicants with a 2.74 or below GPA who have extensive work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee and may be required to submit additional documentation, including a GMAT or GRE score.
International students have additional admission requirements. Please see the Academic Bulletin and/or the International Admissions webpage for complete requirements.
Official transcripts, test scores and other documents should be sent from issuing institutions to:
Email address:
[email protected]
Mail address:
Graduate AdmissionsMurray State University
B2 Sparks Hall
Murray, KY 42071
Questions? Call 866-906-0541.
Courses
Read about our MBA in nonprofit management online coursework
For the MBA in Nonprofit Leadership online, you must complete 21 credit hours of core courses (including a capstone course) and nine credit hours of electives. You also must complete two free, self-paced prerequisite courses in accounting and economics, which should be taken concurrently with other core coursework in the program.
Learning Outcomes
- Possess a strong Business Analytics vocabulary.
- Utilize spreadsheet and data visualization software to organize, screen, and preprocess the data.
- Use descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive data analytics tools.
- Understand how and why Business Analytics techniques could be applied to assist business decision making.
- Gain a fundamental understanding of how to construct spreadsheet models for the purposes of conducting quantitative analysis of business problems.
- Demonstrate the ability to interpret analysis results, evaluate alternatives, and to apply basic sensitivity analysis in the support of a managerial decision maker.
Embedded into the curriculum are two free, prerequisite courses to fully prepare you for your graduate level courses. Designed to revitalize your skills and reinforce previous concepts, these prerequisites will strengthen your understanding of accounting and economics and can be taken simultaneously with your other program courses, but prior to ACC 604 and ECO 625. These mandatory courses are pass/fail with 80 percent being the minimum score to pass. Students with a business undergrad degree can be waived during the evaluation process.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of the comparative perspectives on the nonprofit sector, voluntary action, and philanthropy and their impact on global social, economic, and political issues and trends;
- Delineate the scope, significance, and diversity of the nonprofit sector and its sub-sectors, voluntary action, and philanthropy across civil society and among the nonprofit, government, and for-profit sectors; and
- Develop a working knowledge of the history and theories of the nonprofit sector, voluntary action, and philanthropy around the world, including (but not limited to) political, economic, religious, and socio-cultural perspectives.
- Scope, size, functions, and structure of the nonprofit sector, voluntary action, philanthropy, and civil society, globally;
- Cross-sector issues and trends, opportunities and challenges, and future projections; and
- History and theoretical foundations of the nonprofit sector, voluntary action, philanthropy, and civil society, along with the impact of a range of related political, economic, and socio-cultural perspectives.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain budgeting as a component of the planning process
- Discuss principles of accounting and reporting requirements
- Present key financial tools for informed decision-making
- Understand the principles of fund development and donor retention
- Present key investment strategies for nonprofits
Learning Outcomes
- Explain a mission-driven nonprofit and the role it plays in community development
- Explore common challenges faced by less advantaged communities
- Discuss ways collaborative efforts of the nonprofit sector can empower residents and promote community growth
- Apply community assessment tools
- Present a strategic plan for community development
Learning Outcomes
- Distinguish among different frameworks and approaches to social entrepreneurship, including social impact, enterprise, and venture applications.
- Understand a range of applications of social impact strategies to address critical social challenges and opportunities.
- Develop knowledge of and access to a range of networks and support systems that advance social entrepreneurship.
- Understand and apply the principles of social entrepreneurship in responding to the needs and opportunities of a nonprofit organization interested in incorporating related practices into their operations.
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