Tuition-Free Master's Degrees Online in Florida 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.

Pursuing a master's degree is an excellent way to advance your career. Many Florida colleges and universities offer a variety of online graduate degree programs, from computer science to healthcare to business administration. Here, we discuss various strategies for keeping your education costs low and highlight a few Florida graduate programs offered online.

If you're searching for a tuition-free online master's degree, read on to learn strategies to achieve a low-cost degree in Florida.

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

Despite the appeal of a free master's degree online, there is no such thing as an entirely zero-cost degree. Accredited colleges and universities charge some combination of tuition and fees. The only tuition-free online college is University of the People (UoPeople). Please note that while tuition at UoPeople is $0, there are other costs involved (like application and assessment fees).

While a truly 100% free master's degree online may not exist, there are many ways you can keep costs as low as possible, including grants, tuition scholarships, and employer-sponsored tuition assistance.

How To Make Your Online Master's Degree Affordable

There is a variety of strategies you can employ to earn your degree at a very affordable rate. These may be used alone or in conjunction: the more you utilize, the lower your overall education costs. Here are a few great places to start:

• Federal student aid: For graduate students, federal student aid comes mainly in the form of Direct Unsubsidized Loans, along with work-study and a limited number of grants. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the best way to determine your eligibility for financial assistance. Note that as of July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers, and most graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in federal loans.
• Military service: Leveraging military service is an excellent way to keep tuition costs low. Many schools offer military discounts on tuition rates; tuition assistance is also available directly from specific branches of the military.
• Grants and/or scholarships: Grants and scholarships are forms of financial aid that do not need to be repaid. Generally speaking, grants are need-based, while scholarships are merit-based, awarded by individual organizations or the school itself.
• Graduate fellowships: Fellowships are similar in spirit to grants and scholarships, in that the money does not need to be repaid; however, fellowships are specific to graduate degrees and the focus of study.
• Employer tuition assistance: Some companies help employees continue their education by reimbursing part of their tuition or covering costs like books, supplies, and other expenses.

Low-Cost Online Master's Programs

The following schools offer some of the most affordable online master's degrees in Florida. We highlight examples of low-cost online master's degree programs and outline each school's general tuition costs and the forms of financial aid available to graduate students. Rates shown are per-credit tuition and fees for the most recent year published and may not include program-specific or distance learning fees.

1. University of Central Florida (UCF)

The University of Central Florida offers more than 30 fully online master's degrees for working professionals. Examples of UCF's online master's degree programs include criminal justice, healthcare systems engineering, and nonprofit management. By completing their master's degrees online, graduate students at UCF save $42.33 per credit hour compared with those attending classes in person.

Average in-state tuition: About $327 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: About $1,234 per credit (some programs, such as the online MSW, have special rates)

Financial aid: The University of Central Florida accepts the FAFSA, and online students can apply for scholarships offered by the university and its individual colleges and departments.

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

Located in Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University has more than 20 different online master's degree programs, including business administration and data science and analytics. Several of its online graduate programs have earned recognition in U.S. News & World Report's Best Online Programs rankings. One major way to keep tuition costs low is to qualify as an in-state resident.

Average in-state tuition: About $372 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: About $1,125 per credit

Financial aid: Completing the FAFSA determines eligibility for need-based aid, such as federal loans and, for eligible students, grants. FAU also offers a broad range of scholarships.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. University of West Florida (UWF)

The online degree programs at the University of West Florida are flexible and competitively priced. Students can choose from online master's degree options like cybersecurity and computer science, both of which charge a flat $425 per credit hour regardless of residency. Out-of-state students in many other online graduate programs can apply for a 90% waiver of non-resident tuition, which brings their costs much closer to in-state rates.

Average in-state tuition: About $386 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: About $1,144 per credit (about $494 with UWF's 90% online waiver; Alabama residents pay about $491 per credit)

Financial aid: UWF encourages its students to complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for grants, loans, and scholarships. Active-duty service members who live or are stationed outside Florida receive a full waiver of non-resident tuition and fees.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Florida State University (FSU)

Florida State University serves thousands of students both through its on-campus classes and its online programs. FSU has affordable online master's degree programs, including entrepreneurship, social work, business administration, and criminology. FSU is one of the many accredited online colleges that accept FAFSA in Florida.

Average in-state tuition: About $444 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: About $1,243 per credit

Financial aid: Students can complete the FAFSA to qualify for grants, scholarships, and loans. FSU also offers institutional grants and scholarships to online graduate students.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Florida International University (FIU)

If you've earned your bachelor's degree and are looking for an affordable master's degree online, Florida International University is worth considering. FIU offers a wide range of online graduate programs, from cybersecurity and information technology to degrees in the social sciences. Keep in mind that many of FIU's online master's programs, particularly in business, are market-rate programs with their own pricing. Students can lower their costs by applying for FIU Online scholarships for graduate students.

Average in-state tuition: About $456 per credit (state-funded programs)

Average out-of-state tuition: About $1,002 per credit (state-funded programs; market-rate programs vary)

Financial aid: Students may apply for FAFSA to qualify for federal and state assistance. They may also apply for scholarships, such as the FIU Online Distance Learning Scholarship.Students can complete the FAFSA to qualify for federal and state assistance. They may also apply for scholarships such as the FIU Online Academic Merit Scholarship, a $2,000 award for new students in eligible online graduate programs.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

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

Truly tuition-free online master's programs are rare. Most "free" options are fully funded on-campus programs, or tuition-free programs that still charge other fees. For students who want a fully online, tuition-free path, one accredited university stands out. It's based outside Florida but open to Florida residents.

University of the People

University of the People (UoPeople) is a nonprofit online university that doesn't charge tuition. Instead, students pay a one-time $60 application fee and an assessment fee for each course they complete. UoPeople offers three online master's degrees: a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Advanced Teaching. Assessment fees are $490 per course for the 12-course MBA and MSIT programs, for an estimated total of $5,940. They are $440 per course for the 13-course M.Ed., for an estimated total of $5,780. Course materials are provided at no cost, and scholarships are available for students who can't afford the fees. UoPeople is accredited by the 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.

Because no accredited school offers a completely free master's degree, we focus on Florida schools that keep total costs low through affordable per-credit rates, tuition waivers, and strong financial aid. We prioritize published tuition and fees for fully online graduate programs and note when individual programs charge different rates. When ranking schools, we consider the following factors:

• Accreditation: Every school on our list holds institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This helps ensure that degrees are widely recognized by employers and that students are eligible for federal financial aid.
• Affordability and financial aid: We compare per-credit tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students. We also consider tuition waivers, flat-rate online programs, and scholarships available to online graduate students.
• Online availability: We look for schools with multiple master's degrees that can be completed fully online, giving working professionals flexibility across a range of fields.
• Student outcomes: We review graduation rates, student loan repayment data, and post-graduation earnings to make sure an affordable program is also a worthwhile investment.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Online Master's Degrees in Florida

Still weighing your options? Here are answers to common questions about paying for an online master's degree in Florida.

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

Costs vary by school, program, and residency. At the public universities on our list, Florida residents typically pay between about $327 and $456 per credit hour in tuition and fees. Since many master's programs require 30 to 36 credits, in-state students can often complete a degree for roughly $10,000 to $16,000 in tuition and fees before financial aid. Out-of-state rates are usually much higher, and some programs charge special or market rates.

Can Out-of-State Students Get Lower Tuition for Online Master's Programs in Florida?

Yes, at some schools. The University of West Florida offers out-of-state students in many of its online graduate programs a 90% waiver of non-resident tuition. Some programs, including UWF's online master's degrees in computer science and cybersecurity, charge the same flat rate regardless of where students live. UWF also offers a reduced tuition rate to Alabama residents.

Is an Online Master's Degree Cheaper Than an On-Campus Degree?

Often, yes. For example, UCF Online graduate students save $42.33 per credit hour compared with on-campus master's students, because online students don't pay certain campus-based fees. However, many schools charge a distance learning fee for online courses, so compare total tuition and fees rather than base tuition alone.

How Did Federal Student Loans for Graduate Students Change in 2026?

As of July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program is no longer available to new borrowers. Graduate students who begin borrowing after that date can generally take out up to $20,500 per year in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a $100,000 aggregate limit for graduate study. This makes choosing a low-cost program, along with applying for scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition assistance, more important than ever.

Is University of the People Accredited?

Yes. University of the People is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). It was also previously accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), but it voluntarily ended that relationship on December 31, 2025, and is now solely accredited by WSCUC.

Find an Affordable Online Master's Degree

While there is no online master's degree option that is completely cost-free, there is a multitude of affordable options for Florida residents and beyond. Explore more education opportunities here on Learn.org and connect with one of our featured schools to get started on your advanced degree journey.