10 Cheapest Online Master's Degrees in New York 2025

In the hustle and bustle of New York, one thing that can help you stand out is a master's degree. A master's degree can help you land jobs in educational leadership, nursing education, social work, and more. Unfortunately, sometimes advanced degrees can be expensive.

The good news is, several schools across the U.S. offer cheap master's degree online that still provide a quality education. Keep reading to discover the affordable online master's programs in New York State.

10 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs in New York

Although the cost of living can be pretty high in certain parts of New York, tuition costs, especially through public schools, are surprisingly affordable. Below, we've highlighted some of the top cheap online master's degrees in New York.

1. CUNY School of Professional Studies

The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies is a public university in New York City. It offers over a dozen online master's degrees in fields such as:

• business management
• data science
• museum studies
• nursing

In-state tuition for graduate programs at CUNY SPS is $470 per credit hour, with a cap of $5,545 per semester. Out-of-state students studying solely through online courses pay $565 per credit, with no semester cap.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470
• Financial aid: The school accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

2. Lehman College

At Lehman College, students can choose from numerous online master's degrees. Areas of study include business, computer science, nutrition, and organizational leadership.

Lehman College, located in the Bronx in NYC, is a public school in the CUNY system. It charges $470 per credit hour to in-state students and $855 to out-of-state students. In-state students have a semester cap of $5,545.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470
• Financial aid: It accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

3. CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy offers online Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees and Master of Science (MS) degrees in public health fields. CUNY SPH is located in Harlem in NYC.

The MS degrees are $470 per credit hour with a cap of $5,545 per semester for in-state residents, and $565 for non-resident online students. The MPH programs are $620 per credit hour with a semester cap of $7,365 for New York residents, and $745 for non-resident online students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $545
• Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA and private financial aid, and it also offers institutional aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE, Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

4. John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Eight online master's degrees are available at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Areas of study include not just criminal justice, but areas like emergency management, human rights, and public administration.

John Jay, a CUNY school, is the only liberal arts college with a focus on criminal justice and forensics. Tuition rates here are the same as other CUNY schools: $470 per credit hour with a maximum of $5,545 per semester for in-state residents, and $565 per credit for non-residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470
• Financial aid: This school accepts FAFSA, provides institutional scholarships, and it accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

5. Brooklyn College

Brooklyn College is a public CUNY school in Brooklyn NYC. It offers four online master's degrees:

• Master of Science in accounting
• Master of Science in business administration
• Master of Arts in community health
• Master of Science in early childhood education

Tuition for in-state graduate students is $470 per credit hour with a semester maximum of $5,545 per credit hour. Non-residents have a tuition rate of $855.

• Average cost per credit hour: $470
• Financial aid: This college accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

6. SUNY Brockport

Students at SUNY Brockport can choose from nearly 20 online master's degree programs. Areas of study include business, education, English, and healthcare.

SUNY Brockport, located in Brockport, NY, is part of the public State University of New York (SUNY) system. In-state students pay $471 per credit hour with a full-time rate of $5,655 per semester, while out-of-state students pay $565 per credit or $6,785 per semester. The exception is the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, which is $635 per credit hour for residents and $762 per credit for out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $471
• Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

7. Empire State University

Empire State University offers more than a dozen master's degrees online in fields like business, cybersecurity, education, and social sciences. The university is a public SUNY school located in Saratoga Springs, NY, and is geared toward adult learners.

Like SUNY Brockport, tuition for in-state residents at SUNY Empire is $471 per credit hour or $5,655 per semester, while out-of-state students enrolled in online learning pay $565 per credit hour or $6,785 per semester. The MBA is once again the exception, at $635 per credit hour for residents and $762 for online non-residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $471
• Financial aid: This school accepts the FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

8. Stony Brook University

Multiple online master's degrees are available at Stony Brook University. Areas of study include business administration, information technology, liberal studies, and nursing.

SBU, a public SUNY university, is located in Stony Brook, NY. In-state tuition is the standard $471 per credit hour for in-state students; however, out-of-state students pay much more, at $1,097 per credit hour. The MBA costs $635 per credit for New York residents and $1,120 for out-of-state residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $471
• Financial aid: The university accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and also accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

9. SUNY Oswego

SUNY Oswego is a public SUNY university in Oswego, NY. It offers ten online master's degrees in fields like business, education, healthcare administration, and health informatics.

Tuition for in-state residents is $471 per credit hour or $5,655 per full-time semester, while out-of-state online students pay a rate of $565 or $6,780 per semester. The MBA costs $635 per credit hour for residents and $762 for non-residents.

• Average cost per credit hour: $471
• Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

10. SUNY Potsdam

Through SUNY Potsdam, students can choose from several online education programs. Master's degrees are available in areas of study like management, public health, special education, and teaching.

SUNY Potsdam is a public college located in Potsdam, NY. Like the other SUNY schools, tuition is $471 per credit hour or $5,655 per semester for in-state students and $565 per credit hour or $6,785 per semester for out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $471
• Financial aid: This school accepts FAFSA, provides institutional scholarships, and it accepts private financial aid.
• Accreditation:MSCHE

How We Rank Schools

To choose the affordable online master's programs listed above, we focused on:

• Location: We specifically focused on schools located in New York.
• Accreditation: All schools listed hold regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
• Affordability: Once we found accredited New York schools offering online graduate degrees, we looked at which ones were more affordable.
• Program options: There are over a dozen SUNY schools with the same tuition rate, so we focused on the ones offering the most online master's degree options

FAQs About Cheap Online Master's Programs in New York

Numerous affordable online master's degrees are available in New York. Below, we'll answer some frequently asked questions about these programs.

How Much Does an Online Master's Degree Cost in New York?

In-state students pursuing a master's degree at a public school in New York will likely pay about $470 per credit hour. The exception is for MBAs; as some of the highest-paying master's degrees, they often have higher tuition rates, as noted above.

Private schools in New York can vary quite a bit in tuition rates. Some are still highly affordable, such as Touro University, which offers most of its online master's degrees at $500 per credit hour. However, many are far more expensive. Syracuse University, for example, charges nearly $2,000 per credit hour, while New York University charges more than that amount.

Other things that can affect your costs include whether you study full-time or part-time and whether you take any graduate credits during your bachelor's degree program.

Is There Financial Aid for Online Master's Programs in New York?

Financial aid is available for online master's programs. All students should start by filling out the FAFSA to see what they qualify for.

FAFSA typically covers undergraduate degrees but doesn't always cover grad programs. However, many schools offer institutional scholarships or work-study opportunities to help students pay for their education. Additionally, you may be able to find private scholarships to help you cover your costs.

Are Online Master's Degrees Cheaper Than In-Person Programs?

In many cases, online programs are less expensive than on-campus programs. This is especially true for out-of-state students. At many CUNY and SUNY schools, online out-of-state students pay a far lower tuition rate than those studying in person.

How Long Does an Online Master's Program Take?

On average, online master's degrees take about two years to complete. However, some schools offer accelerated options that take closer to one year, while others offer part-time options.

The amount of time it takes you to complete your program will depend on a few factors. These include whether you choose a full-time or part-time option, what program you select, and if you take any graduate credits in your undergraduate program.

Find an Online Master's Degree

Start your journey toward furthering your education by exploring the cheap online master's degrees featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual graduate schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.