Best Online Organizational Leadership Programs

A bachelor’s in organizational leadership prepares students for lucrative management-level careers helping organizations operate more successfully. Prospective students can look for stand-alone organizational leadership bachelor’s programs or pursue a business degree with a concentration in organizational leadership.

Program length varies, but a typical organizational leadership bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete. However, online students in accelerated programs can graduate faster. Some of the best online colleges offer bachelor’s in organizational leadership degrees.

Program cost varies depending on many factors, including the type of school (public or private) and a student’s residency status (in state or out of state). Tuition for an online bachelor’s in organizational leadership ranges widely, but often costs $200-$500 per credit.

As of April 2024, PayScale reported that the average annual salary for professionals with a BS in organizational leadership was about $73,000. Potential earnings vary by position, level of experience, industry, and location.

Below, learn what to expect from an online bachelor’s in organizational leadership program, including typical classes, admission criteria, and how to find the right program.

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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Colleges offer in-person and online bachelor’s in organizational leadership programs. Learners may find pros and cons to both learning formats, and the right choice varies by individual. Distance education programs can provide greater flexibility and convenience and may allow students to work full time while earning their degree.

Organizational leadership professionals need strong communication, problem-solving, management, and strategic leadership skills. Excellent general business knowledge, interpersonal skills, and creativity can also lead to success.

A typical bachelor’s in organizational leadership requires about 120 credits and takes around four years of full-time study to complete. Students may graduate more quickly from some accelerated online bachelor’s programs, especially if they can transfer in previously earned college credits.

Most bachelor’s in organizational leadership programs require general education, major, and elective credits. Typical core classes include organizational development and change, communication strategies for leaders, assessment in organizations, and social conflict and negotiation. Students may also need to complete a capstone, practicum, and/or internship.

Organizational leadership programs sometimes offer specializations that let students zoom in on a more narrow area of the field. Potential concentrations include human resources management, finance, and project management.

This core course helps students develop foundational knowledge related to designing, implementing, and analyzing interventions for developing organizations. Participants learn strategies for leading change in nonprofit and for-profit groups.

Future leaders learn to use practical communication strategies in the workplace. The course covers tools and methods for solving communication problems.

This core class examines the theories and practices of social conflict and negotiation in organizations. Learners find ways to minimize conflict and encourage productive interactions in the workplace.

Taken in the final semester, this capstone course synthesizes the most important knowledge and skills covered in the program. Students apply classroom learning to real-world problems in organizational leadership.

Learners explore how to effectively use assessments in organizations. They learn to use tools to collect data and solve problems.

Organizational leadership is a subdiscipline of business — the most popular college major. A bachelor’s in organizational leadership can prepare students for high-paying management careers in various growing fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for management occupations was $116,880 as of May 2023.

The BLS projects a faster than average job growth rate for management occupations between 2023 and 2033. The agency attributes this growth to the creation of new organizations and the growth of existing ones.

Because it is a versatile business degree, nearly any type of organization can benefit from hiring skilled organizational leadership professionals. Potential fields for graduates who earn an online bachelor’s in organizational leadership include general business, human resources management, sales, and industrial production.

Training and development managers oversee training and development programs for employees at an organization. Typical job tasks include developing budgets, managing staff, creating programs, and assessing the effectiveness of training and development programs. Training and development managers work with instructional designers, instructors, and program developers.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $125,040

Management analysts, sometimes called management consultants, assess organizations and find ways to improve their profitability and efficiency. They need at least a bachelor’s degree, but some employers prefer applicants with an MBA. Earning a certified management consultant credential from the Institute of Management Consultants can also expand career opportunities.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $99,410

Sales managers oversee sales activities and teams. Common job tasks include creating budgets, investigating sales statistics, developing training workshops for sales staff, and projecting sales. Sales managers usually need 1-5 years of sales experience and a bachelor’s degree. Strong communication, leadership, customer service, and analytical skills can also contribute to success.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $135,160

Human resources managers work in every industry, overseeing the administrative activities of their organizations. They plan and coordinate employee benefit programs, advise managers on human resources issues, and mediate employee disputes. Human resources managers also take charge of the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring process for their organizations.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $136,350

Industrial production managers oversee daily activities at manufacturing plants. They hire and train employees, solve production problems, improve production processes, and ensure that workers follow safety rules.

Some companies may prefer industrial production managers with a graduate degree in business or industrial production. Earning a professional certification from the Association for Supply Chain Management can improve career prospects in this role.

Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $116,970

Organizational leadership professionals can expand their salary and career opportunities by continuing their education beyond a bachelor’s degree. The versatility of this degree makes it suitable preparation for graduate programs in business, management, and related disciplines.

Some bachelor’s degree-holders go on to pursue an advanced degree or certificate in organizational leadership. Others opt to earn an MBA or focus on another subdiscipline of business. The specific type of higher education a student should consider pursuing varies depending on their career goals and work experience.

Organizational leadership professionals can also continue learning about the field by earning professional certifications that demonstrate skills and knowledge to prospective employers.

A bachelor’s in organizational leadership can help graduates qualify for lucrative careers in management. However, it requires time, money, and hard work. Determine the projected return on investment (ROI) of your bachelor’s in organizational leadership by comparing your expected salary after graduation with the cost of earning your degree.

To calculate the true cost of an online degree, consider tuition, living and travel expenses, and the price of books and supplies. Attending a less expensive college and taking a higher-paying job after graduation improves your ROI.

Earning a bachelor’s in organizational leadership also offers less tangible benefits like access to networking opportunities and career services. Each person needs to decide for themselves if earning a degree is worth it to them.

Potential occupations for graduates who earn a bachelor’s in organizational leadership include human resources manager, training and development manager, management analyst, and sales manager. Other possibilities include industrial production manager, project manager, marketing manager, and nonprofit administrator.

The examples above are just a sampling of potential jobs, and not all organizational leadership graduates will qualify for all of these positions. Other factors that may impact what you can do with your bachelor’s degree include your level of experience, industry, specialization, and location.

An undergraduate program in organizational leadership also prepares students to earn a graduate degree in business or a related field.

The BLS projects much faster than average growth for management jobs between 2023 and 2033. This would represent the creation of more than 1.2 million new jobs.

Some management careers are projected to grow faster or slower than others. For example, the BLS projects 29% growth for medical and health services managers but just 3% growth for industrial production managers.

Graduates with a bachelor’s in organizational leadership can earn excellent salaries. However, typical wages vary significantly due to factors like a worker’s occupation, industry, level of experience, and location.

PayScale reports that people with an organizational leadership BS made an average annual salary of $73,000, as of April 2024. Graduates who gain some work experience may qualify for management jobs across many industries. According to the BLS, these workers earned a median annual salary of $116,880, as of May 2023.

Earning a bachelor’s in organizational leadership can help students qualify for jobs that earn significantly more than the median annual salary in the U.S. In fact, the BLS reports that management positions make the highest wages of any major occupational group.

Some of the highest-paying jobs for workers with a bachelor’s in organizational leadership degree include sales manager (median salary of $135,160), human resources manager ($136,350), and training and development managers ($125,040).

Other top-earning careers open to graduates with this degree include top executive ($103,840), industrial production manager ($116,970), and medical and health services manager ($110,680).