Most Affordable Online Emergency Management Degrees

The Cheapest Online Bachelor’s in Emergency Management

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You can make a difference the next time disaster strikes with one of the most affordable online bachelor’s in emergency management degrees. 

Emergency management specialists have the knowledge and experience needed to organize and carry out rescue or relief operations. They’re the ones in charge of making sure that emergency efforts are carried out properly and successfully. It’s a stressful job, but one of the most rewarding and necessary for modern society.

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is a Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degree?

A bachelor’s in emergency management degree equips you with the knowledge necessary to come up with plans and carry them out when an emergency occurs. The degrees use real-life emergency case studies to train graduates for every possibility. 

In a nutshell, these degrees train emergency leaders to create action plans, handle multiple teams of dozens or sometimes hundreds of individuals, and coordinate efforts with other managers to save as many people as possible when a disaster happens. Some degrees allow for specialization in certain types of emergencies or for certain teams, like paramedics or firefighters.

How Much Can You Earn with a Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degree?

Those with bachelor’s degrees in emergency management usually become emergency management directors. This leads to an average salary of around $74,000 per year, although the highest 10% of these professionals make over $140,000 per year. Earnings depend on the area in which the emergency manager works; metropolitan areas usually lead to larger salaries, since these managers work longer hours and care for more people. 

These professions are set to grow by about 5% over the next ten years, which is about average for all jobs.

What Is Required for a Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degree?

With a strong high school degree, most of these bachelor’s programs are attainable. However, those with associate’s degrees in the same field will find an easier time being accepted into a four year program. You’ll also have an easier time being admitted to a program if you have some work experience in a volunteer or professional context.

The programs that lead to these degrees are interdisciplinary, incorporating classes with subjects like:

  • Communications
  • History
  • Economics
  • Disaster relief
  • Sociology
  • Management

In addition, many programs will incorporate a hands-on element that requires online students to get practical experience from a facility near where they live.

What Are the Best Bachelor’s in Emergency Management Degrees?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

Now let’s check out the most affordable online bachelor’s in emergency management!

Post University

Post University

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours
  • Three concentrations available
  • $40 application fee
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

80%

Acceptance Rate

63%

Programs Offered Online

17

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

8%

Post University offers a degree that doubles in both emergency management and homeland security, affording you a wide variety of potential career positions after graduation. It’s also an ideal stepping stone to a graduate degree in public administration. The class schedule is entirely asynchronous, but there are internship options for those with the ability to bend their working requirements somewhat.

Bellevue University

Bellevue University

Quick Facts

  • 127 credit hours
  • Cohort system
  • $50 application fee
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

72%

Programs Offered Online

51

Median Debt

$23,727

Programs in Department

4

Popularity at School

6%

Bellevue offers an emergency and disaster management degree with a curriculum that draws its information from faculty with real-world experience. Students will study real-world cases, so they are prepared to manage emergencies upon graduation. The interdisciplinary curriculum touches on communications, federal and state law, and many other subjects.

American Public University System

American Public University System

Quick Facts

  • $0 application fee
  • 8-week courses
  • 120 credit hours
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

73%

Programs Offered Online

45

Median Debt

$25,478

Programs in Department

7

Popularity at School

18%

American Public University System’s degree in emergency and disaster management provides with a practical education for a wide spectrum of careers after graduation. It focuses on teaching an in-depth understanding of various foundational topics, such as hazard identification, risk assessment, and much more. Most of the faculty are certified in various emergency management positions.

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours
  • Six concentrations available
  • $50 application fee
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Acceptance Rate

77%

Programs Offered Online

7

Median Debt

$17,566

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

8%

University of Alaska Fairbanks’ program delivers first-hand, real-world experience in conjunction with its completely online learning environment. This results in a program that creates  graduates who are immediately ready for leadership positions, while being flexible enough for students to continue working during their studies. The in-person experience does not necessarily need to be completed in Alaska, given the distance for many students. 

Arkansas Tech University

Quick Facts

  • 120 credit hours
  • Some work experience counts for practicum
  • $25 application fee
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

77%

Acceptance Rate

95%

Programs Offered Online

6

Median Debt

$24,407

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

6%

Arkansas Tech provides a BS in Emergency Management that culminates in a capstone course that combines your theoretical knowledge with practical experience. It also requires 12 credits of internship or practical experience. Other than this, the program is entirely asynchronous to benefit students with busy schedules.

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.