Best Online Masters Degree Programs
Get detailed information about best online Masters degree programs in and their tuition, accreditation, career prospects, scholarships, admission details and much more
Online Masters Degree
A master's degree is the next level of education past a bachelor's degree. You usually pursue a master's degree related to the subject you earned your bachelor's in.
A master's degree in your hand proves that you have in-depth knowledge about a specific subject. This can increase the chances of you getting a job in a higher post right from the beginning of your career.
You can study for a master's degree using either the traditional on-campus method or by non-traditional methods such as a distance, part-time, or online education program.
A master's degree can be acquired in almost any subject, such as physics, marketing, finance, engineering, and psychology.
Some master's degrees don't require that you earn a bachelor's degree in the subject first. However, you'll need to have a bachelor's degree before starting the course of study. For example, to earn a Master in Business Administration (MBA), you can have a bachelor's degree in any subject.
Many master's degree programs let you specialize even further in a subject.
For example, a master's degree in physics has general concentrations like Computational Physics, General Physics, and Material Science. It provides research opportunities also in various areas of science.
A master's degree in marketing has specialized concentrations like International Business, Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Marketing Management, etc.
A master's degree in engineering has specialized concentrations in Mechanical, Information Science, Electronics, Civil, etc.
Benefits of earning a master's degree
There are many reasons to consider pursuing a master's degree.
A master's degree program will give you the opportunity to continue your studies or return to school for additional learning. You'll gain even more knowledge about a subject, and you can make use of that knowledge in the future.
A master's degree will also make you more competitive in the job market.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs that require a master's degree increased by 18% between 2012 and 2022. Even if you don't want a job that requires a degree beyond a bachelor's degree, more education won't hurt your chances.
Jobs that require higher levels of education also tend to pay more, so entering an online graduate program and earning a graduate degree can increase your income.
Earning a master's degree will also give you a valuable network.
Many programs, especially MBA programs, focus on helping you meet people and teaching you how to form connections. You can leverage your network down the road to find more job opportunities or to help your business grow.
Master's degree requirements
While the precise requirements to earn a master's degree will depend on the program you choose, there are a few relatively consistent requirements across schools.
The primary requirement is that you must already have an undergraduate degree. You usually can't skip earning a bachelor's degree and go straight for a master's.
However, some schools offer combined programs that let you earn a bachelor's degree and a master's degree at the same time or work toward a master's while finishing your bachelor's degree.
Most schools will also make you take a standardized test like the GRE. You'll have to submit your GRE score with your application.
Once you get into a graduate program, you have to complete a certain number of credit hours to earn your degree.
For example, Northeastern University requires that students complete 30 credit hours of work and a thesis while maintaining a 3.0 GPA to earn a degree.
Harvard Extension School, Harvard University's online master's degree program, requires that students complete twelve classes (48 credit hours), including a thesis, to earn a degree.
Typically, a master's program only requires that you take courses related to your field of study. You usually don't have to take core courses as you did to earn an undergraduate degree.
Best-paying master's degrees
One of the top reasons to enter a master's program is to improve your job prospects and increase your income.
Selecting an online degree program is particularly common for students who want to increase their income as they can keep their current job while pursuing a degree. Once an online student completes their online courses, they can start working toward a promotion or look for a new job.
Prospective students that want to increase their income through online learning might want to consider these degree programs:
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is one of the most popular and best-paying master's programs. An MBA program readies you for a management role in many different businesses.
Depending on your interests and previous education, you can use an MBA to find a role managing different aspects of a company, such as a computer science, IT, marketing, or sales team.
It may seem like you will miss out on networking and other things if you choose an online MBA program, but many schools find ways to offer a similar experience both online and in person.
The average median starting pay for a new MBA graduate is $115,000.
Master of Science in Nursing
If you're working in healthcare but don't want the time and expense of becoming a doctor, earning a Master of Science in Nursing is another way to advance your career.
Students often work toward becoming nurse anesthetists, who can assist with anesthesiology, or nurse practitioners, who can take on some of the duties typically reserved for doctors.
Students can expect to earn over $115,800 per year, depending on the specialization they choose.
Master of Engineering Management
A Master of Engineering Management prepares you for more advanced and difficult engineering projects.
For example, students may graduate into a role as an architectural and engineering manager, running a team that's responsible for designing and erecting buildings.
Students can expect to earn $144,830 per year after graduating with this degree.
Master of Science in Finance
If you're working in the world of finance, higher education can help you land higher-paying roles and give you more credibility.
Depending on your interests, this degree can prepare you to work as a manager at an investment firm or to work directly with clients as a financial advisor. You may choose to earn additional certifications to help you draw more clients.
You can also find an accounting program that will prepare you for higher-level roles as an accountant.
Depending on the role you choose, you can expect to earn up to $129,890 per year after earning this degree.
Online vs. in-person master's degrees
An online program has many advantages over in-person master's degree programs, but you might worry about missing out on some essential aspects of in-person learning.
While it's true that it can be hard to replicate the classroom experience online, the flexibility and cost-savings offered by an online master's program are significant.
Harvard, one of the top universities in the world, is a great example of this.
The tuition for a single year of study at the Harvard Graduate School of Education is $51,904. This is before other costs such as room and board and transportation.
At the Harvard Extension School, online learners must complete twelve courses to earn their degree. Each course costs $2,900 for a total cost of $34,800. The entire degree from Harvard's online program costs less than a single year of study for the in-person program.
Students in an online program also can avoid costs such as room and board in a dormitory.
Often, they can keep their jobs and study part-time, which means they won't lose income, making the effective cost of an online degree program even lower.
Online programs have other advantages to consider.
Often, an online graduate student will have the flexibility to watch lectures when they have the time, rather than having to stick to a set schedule.
Because many people pursue a master's degree after they've already started a career, this additional flexibility can be a major benefit of online programs.
Conclusion
A master's degree is a great way to make yourself more marketable to employers and increase your income.
If you're thinking about working toward a master's degree, consider an online degree program. They're often cheaper and more flexible than in-person classes while providing the same benefits.
If you're considering an online degree program and want to know how to pay for it, check out The College Monk's list of the best student loans.
Masters Degrees in Business Management
Master of Arts
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Business Management Accreditation: ACBSP
Avg Credits: 33
Avg Tuition: $ 18,645
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,674
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $9,109
Graduation Rate: 51%
Specializations Offered: Leadership , Communications
Total Programs in Business Management (2)
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Colorado State University (CSU)
Fort Collins, Colorado
Business Management Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 32
Avg Tuition: $ 19,936
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,580
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $5,717
Graduation Rate: 67%
Specializations Offered: Leadership
Total Programs in Business Management (1)
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American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia
Business Management Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 12,513
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,546
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $825
Graduation Rate: 36%
Specializations Offered: Entrepreneurship , Logistics
Total Programs in Business Management (4)
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California Coast University (CCU)
Santa Ana, California
Business Management Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 39
Avg Tuition: $ 8,970
Specializations Offered: Organizational Leadership
Total Programs in Business Management (1)
Request InfoMasters Degrees in Education
Master of Arts
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Education Accreditation: NCATE
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 20,340
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,674
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $9,109
Graduation Rate: 51%
Specializations Offered: Teaching
Total Programs in Education (2)
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Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Education Accreditation: NCATE
Avg Credits: 46
Avg Tuition: $ 26,450
Graduation Rate: 11%
Specializations Offered: Teaching
Total Programs in Education (1)
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University of Phoenix
Tempe, Arizona
Education Accreditation: NCATE
Avg Credits: 39
Avg Tuition: $ 20,970
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,558
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $458
Graduation Rate: 16%
Specializations Offered: Educational Administration , Higher Education +3 more
Total Programs in Education (6)
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Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Phoenix, Arizona
Education Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 32
Avg Tuition: $ 16,480
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,666
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $8,227
Graduation Rate: 43%
Specializations Offered: Autism Education
Total Programs in Education (1)
Request InfoMasters Degrees in Health Science
Master of Arts
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland
Health Science Accreditation: CEPH
Avg Credits: 48
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,680
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $37,115
Graduation Rate: 92%
Specializations Offered: Public Health
Total Programs in Health Science (1)
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University of Southern California (USC)
Los Angeles, California
Health Science Accreditation: Request Info
Profit Type: Private Not-For-Profit
Avg Tuition: $ 26,724
Avg Federal grant awarded: $5,385
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $31,116
Graduation Rate: 92%
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Total Programs in Health Science (1)
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Union Institute and University
Cincinnati, Ohio
Health Science Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 26,928
Specializations Offered: Health and Wellness
Total Programs in Health Science (1)
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Edinboro University
Edinboro, Pennsylvania
Health Science Accreditation: ASHA
Avg Credits: 54
Avg Tuition: $ 41,774
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,376
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $3,436
Graduation Rate: 44%
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Total Programs in Health Science (1)
Request InfoMasters Degrees in Nursing
Master of Arts
Webster University
St. Louis, Missouri
Nursing Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 28,080
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,712
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $14,187
Graduation Rate: 59%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Nursing (1)
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Nursing Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 15,332
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,362
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $3,959
Graduation Rate: 45%
Specializations Offered: Public Health
Total Programs in Nursing (1)
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Concordia University Chicago (CU)
River Forest, Illinois
Nursing Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 33
Avg Tuition: Request Info
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,663
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $15,395
Graduation Rate: 48%
Also See: Programs & Tuitions
Total Programs in Nursing (1)
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Nursing Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 18,000
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,650
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $5,513
Graduation Rate: 43%
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Total Programs in Nursing (1)
Request InfoMasters Degrees in Criminal Justice
Master of Arts
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia
Criminal Justice Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 12,600
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,546
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $825
Graduation Rate: 36%
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Total Programs in Criminal Justice (1)
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Waldorf University
Forest city, Iowa
Criminal Justice Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 13,140
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,511
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $12,750
Graduation Rate: 23%
Specializations Offered: Organizational Leadership
Total Programs in Criminal Justice (1)
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Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois
Criminal Justice Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 36
Avg Tuition: $ 20,700
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,633
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $13,761
Graduation Rate: 62%
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Total Programs in Criminal Justice (1)
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Criminal Justice Accreditation: Request Info
Avg Credits: 32
Avg Tuition: $ 18,113
Avg Federal grant awarded: $4,834
Avg Institutional grant awarded: $7,797
Graduation Rate: 76%
Specializations Offered: Security Management
Total Programs in Criminal Justice (2)
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