Tuition-Free Master's Degrees Online in Utah 2027

Although fully free online master's degrees are not available, students seeking an affordable degree path can significantly reduce costs through various financial aid options. Federal and state aid, scholarships from higher education institutions, and other funding sources can cover a portion of tuition costs for eligible students. However, it is important to note that additional costs beyond tuition may apply.

Even though there aren't any truly free master's degrees online in the U.S., it doesn't mean you can't graduate without taking out student loans. If you'd like to obtain a free master's degree online, make sure to research the most cost-effective options for your field.

You may find great opportunities to attend graduate school with tuition-free online master's degree programs after securing a generous financial aid package of scholarships, grants, and other award resources. Here's how online learners can do this while going to school remotely in Utah.

Can I Get a Master's Degree Online for Free in Utah?

While there aren't any accredited institutions that offer a 100% free degree, some colleges offer more affordable programs than others. You're welcome to explore some of the tuition-free online colleges in Utah, but even those institutions charge other non-tuition fees.

Even the University of the People (UoPeople), an accredited online school known for its tuition-free programs, charges assessment fees for each course. So, if you want to find the closest thing to a free master’s degree online, consider the strategies and universities outlined below.

How To Make Your Online Master's Degree Affordable

These are the top strategies you can use to get an advanced degree and have the convenience of 100% online courses. After using these practical ways to save on tuition costs, all you have to do is find schools that accommodate these cost-cutting measures.

• Find schools that advertise financial aid: Almost every university website mentions financial aid. It’s well worth your time to research this to see what school-specific scholarships and grants universities provide.
• Capitalize of military veteran status: Veterans and active-duty service members can use benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and military Tuition Assistance to cover graduate tuition, including for online programs. Many schools also offer scholarships specifically for military-affiliated students.
• Focus on in-state universities: It’s usually cheaper to enroll at a public university in your home state, since out-of-state graduate students can pay hundreds of dollars more per credit hour. However, some Utah schools charge online graduate students the same rate regardless of where they live, so check before ruling out an out-of-state program.
• Identify private scholarships: Some of the best funding opportunities come from private organizations and nonprofit groups. Some private donors award scholarships based on grades and academic achievement, whereas others give generously to low-income students or working professionals.
• Get help from your employer: Many businesses help pay for their employees’ education through tuition assistance or reimbursement programs. Benefits vary widely: some employers cover a portion of tuition, while others pay the full cost of a degree related to your job.
• Apply for federal grants: Once you’ve selected a degree program, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Graduate students aren’t eligible for Pell Grants, but the FAFSA gives you access to federal student loans, and many school and state aid programs require it. You’ll need your school’s six-digit federal school code. There are many accredited online colleges that accept FAFSA in Utah.

Low-Cost Online Master's Programs

It's also important to choose carefully from the cheapest online graduate schools in Utah. The following universities charge lower tuition rates while still providing a solid, hands-on graduate education.

1. Utah Tech University

Utah Tech University gives students the option to pursue low-cost master’s degrees either fully online or through HyFlex programs that combine on-campus courses with live virtual instruction. It has three fully online degrees in healthcare administration, nursing education and leadership, and sport management. It also offers HyFlex master’s degrees in software development, user experience design, and technical writing and digital rhetoric.

Tuition is low for in-state residents, and out-of-state students should consider this option too, since Utah Tech’s online-only programs charge the same per-credit rate regardless of residency.

• Average in-state tuition: $378–$554 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $399–$554 per credit hour for online-only programs
• Financial aid: Graduate students can find internal and external scholarships through Scholarship Universe, a scholarship-matching platform Utah Tech licenses for its students. Utah residents in eligible online programs may also qualify for the state’s Adult Learner Grant.
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

2. Utah State University

Utah State University (USU) offers more than 20 online master’s degrees in fields like aerospace engineering, business administration, public health nutrition, and education. The online Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences costs $490 per credit hour, and Utah residents in eligible online programs may qualify for the state’s Adult Learner Grant. Note that USU adds a $15 per-credit fee to all online courses.

USU also helps students plan their budgets with free financial coaching through its Student Money Management Center.

• Average in-state tuition: $964.97 for the first credit hour, then about $350 per additional credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $546 per credit hour for online students
• Financial aid: Some online master’s degrees charge a set rate regardless of residency, ranging from $490 per credit hour (Instructional Technology & Learning Sciences) to $1,079 per credit hour (Master of Human Resources).
• Accreditation: NWCCU

3. Southern Utah University

Southern Utah University offers a wide range of online graduate programs, including an MBA with emphases in high-demand fields like business analytics, cybersecurity, and healthcare administration. Students can finish the MBA in as few as 12 months for $521 per credit hour. Southern Utah’s online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity with Information Assurance costs $509 per credit hour and takes about a year to complete. Its online Master of Education (MEd) is even more affordable at $372 per credit hour.

• Average in-state tuition: $372–$521 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $372–$521 per credit hour
• Financial aid: Southern Utah devotes a website section to ''Graduate Aid,'' featuring housing scholarships, tuition waivers, and assistantships.New online graduate students can apply for SUU’s Let’s GO Scholarship, and many graduate programs offer tuition waivers, with an annual application deadline of May 31. Utah residents in eligible online programs may also qualify for the state’s Adult Learner Grant.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

4. Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University charges different tuition rates depending on the selected program. The online Master of Business Administration (MBA) costs more than other degrees ($785 per credit hour for Utah residents), but you can still offset it with financial aid.

Utah Valley also offers lower-cost online master’s degrees in public administration, applied artificial intelligence, and engineering and technology management, each for $497 per credit hour. Better yet for out-of-state learners, most of UVU’s fully online graduate programs charge nonresidents the same rate as Utah residents.

• Average in-state tuition: $346–$785 per credit hour
• Average out-of-state tuition: $434–$1,642 per credit hour (most fully online programs charge in-state rates)
• Financial aid: Graduate students can apply for UVU scholarships and a limited number of competitive tuition waivers. Students should note that UVU’s fully online programs don’t participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

5. Western Governors University

Western Governors University has a large offering of online degree programs in subjects like business administration, information technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and computer science. It offers many scholarships, including:

• Sage Scholarship
• Learn Where You Live Scholarship
• Active Duty Scholarship

The university charges only slightly more for graduate degrees than for undergraduate enrollment. Students pay a flat rate per six-month term rather than per credit hour, and they’re free to complete as many courses as they can each term.

• Average in-state tuition: $4,125–$6,955 per six-month term, depending on the program (about $8,856 per year on average)
• Average out-of-state tuition: $4,125–$6,955 per six-month term, depending on the program (about $8,856 per year on average)
• Financial aid: The Learn Where You Live Scholarship is available to students who live in rural areas of the U.S., and the Active Duty Scholarship helps cover the gap between military Tuition Assistance and WGU’s tuition. Utah residents may also qualify for the state’s Adult Learner Grant.
• Accreditation: NWCCU

Other Tuition-Free Online Colleges in the U.S.

If you’re open to schools outside Utah, a few accredited online institutions skip tuition entirely and charge only fees. These programs still aren’t completely free, but the total cost can be well below what you’d pay at most public universities.

University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is a nonprofit online university that doesn’t charge tuition. Instead, students pay an assessment fee for each course they complete. Graduate students can choose from a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), or a Master of Education (MEd). Because you pay course by course, you can spread costs out over the length of your program rather than paying a large bill each term.

• Assessment fees: $490 per course for the MBA and MSIT; $440 per course for the MEd
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university.

For this list, we focused on Utah-based public and nonprofit universities that offer master’s degrees students can complete online. Because no accredited school offers a completely free master’s degree, we looked for the programs that come closest through low tuition rates or strong funding opportunities. We weighed the following factors:

• Accreditation: Every school on our list holds institutional accreditation, so employers and other colleges will recognize your degree and credits.
• Affordability and financial aid: We compared each school’s current graduate tuition for online students, including whether out-of-state learners pay reduced rates. We also considered scholarships, tuition waivers, and state aid such as Utah’s Adult Learner Grant.
• Online availability: We prioritized schools with master’s programs that can be completed fully online or through live virtual classes, without regular trips to campus.
• Student outcomes: We considered graduation rates and post-graduation earnings data where available.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Paying for an online master’s degree can raise plenty of questions, especially as federal aid rules and school tuition policies change. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

Did Federal Student Loan Rules for Graduate Students Change in 2026?

Yes. As of July 1, 2026, the federal Grad PLUS loan program is no longer available to new borrowers. New master’s students can still take out Direct Unsubsidized Loans, but those are capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 in total. Students who borrowed for their current program before July 1, 2026, may continue under the old rules for a limited time. These changes make scholarships, grants, and low-tuition programs even more important.

Can Out-of-State Students Pay In-State Tuition for Online Master’s Programs in Utah?

At many Utah schools, yes. Utah Tech University and Southern Utah University charge the same per-credit rate for their online graduate programs regardless of residency. Utah Valley University charges nonresidents in-state rates for most of its fully online graduate programs. Utah State University offers a discounted per-credit rate for out-of-state online students, and Western Governors University charges the same flat rate per term no matter where you live.

What Is Utah’s Adult Learner Grant?

The Adult Learner Grant is a state program that helps adult students pay for eligible online degrees in high-demand fields. To qualify, you generally need to be a Utah resident, complete the FAFSA, and show financial need. Funding priority goes to students from rural areas and low-income households. Participating schools include Southern Utah University, Utah State University, Utah Tech University, and Western Governors University. Eligible programs change each year, so check with your school’s financial aid office.

Are Tuition-Free Online Master’s Degrees Accredited?

Some are, but not all. University of the People, for example, is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Before enrolling in any low-cost or tuition-free program, confirm its accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). An unaccredited degree may not be recognized by employers, and it can keep you from qualifying for federal financial aid.

Explore Affordable Online Master's Degrees

You can learn more about affordable online master's degrees by utilizing our other helpful resources. Now is your time to improve your chances on the job market with high-paying, in-demand credentials, which you can get by attending graduate school online.