10 Cheapest Online Master's Degrees in Minnesota 2025

Minnesota is a top state for business, healthcare, and education, and as a result, many professionals in the state hold advanced degrees. Earning a master's degree can help you further your career and prepare you for professional licensure in certain fields.

While graduate degrees can be expensive, there are many cheap master's degrees online that allow students the flexibility to earn their degrees without going into deep debt. Keep reading to discover the affordable online master's programs in Minnesota.

10 Most Affordable Online Master's Programs in Minnesota

Several schools in Minnesota offer affordable online graduate programs to students. We've highlighted some of the cheap online master's degrees in Minnesota below.

1. Concordia University, St. Paul

Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP) is a private Christian institution in Saint Paul, MN. It offers a range of online degrees, including nearly 30 online master's programs.

Tuition varies by degree at CSP. Some of the least expensive options include:

• Master of Arts (MA) in education: $395 per credit
• Master of Arts in teaching: $440 per credit
• Master of Arts in criminal justice leadership: $475 per credit
• Master of Arts in human services: $475 per credit

The most expensive online master's degrees at CSP are around $600 per credit and include majors in business administration, computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology.

• Average cost per credit hour: $522.65
• Financial aid: accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. College of St. Scholastica

At the College of St. Scholastica (CSS), students can choose from seven different online master's degrees. Tuition varies by program, with some of the lowest-cost options being:

• Master of Education (MEd): $499 per credit
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in leadership and change: $610 per credit
• Master of Science (MS) in applied data analytics: $625 per credit
• Master of Healthcare Administration: $625 per credit

CSS, a private Catholic school, is located in Duluth, MN. It also offers online master's degrees in chemistry ($670 per credit), health information management ($680 per credit), and health informatics ($707 per credit).

• Average cost per credit hour: $630.86
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Winona State University

Winona State University (WSU) offers eight master's degrees to online graduate students in fields like education, leadership, and social sciences. WSU is a public university in Winona, MN.

Most online graduate degrees cost $501.91 per credit hour. The exceptions are the master's in healthcare leadership, which is $542.46 per credit, and the online Master of Social Work (MSW), which is $735.50 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $501.91
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

4. Southwest Minnesota State University

Online master's degrees at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) are available in areas of study like business administration, cybersecurity, education, and nursing. The MBA offers concentrations like healthcare administration and human resources, while the education degree offers specializations in areas like English and special education.

SMSU, located in Marshall, MN, is a public university. All online learning programs have a tuition rate of $518 per credit hour.

• Average cost per credit hour: $518
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Metropolitan State University

Metropolitan State University is a public institution in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. It offers an online MBA as well as online master's degrees in nonprofit leadership, public administration, and management information systems.

Tuition for these master's degrees as well as online graduate certificate programs is $523.85 per credit hour. There is no difference in tuition for in-state and out-of-state students.

• Average cost per credit hour: $523.85
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Bemidji State University

Through Bemidji State University, students can earn a few different online master's degrees. Areas of study include biology, business administration, special education, and teaching.

Bemidji State University, a public school, is located in Bemidji, MN. It charges a tuition rate of $530 per credit hour for all graduate degree programs.

• Average cost per credit hour: $530
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

7. Minnesota State University Moorhead

Minnesota State University Moorhead offers several online graduate degrees. The public university is based in Moorhead, MN.

Tuition varies by program. Some of the most affordable options include:

• Master of Science in athletic training: $533.71 per credit
• Master of Arts in criminal justice: $533.71 per credit
• Master of Science in special education: $533.71 per credit
• Master of Science in cybersecurity: $542 per credit

Other online majors include counseling, nursing, and social work. The most expensive option is an online MBA, with a tuition rate of $742.92 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $609.71
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

8. St. Cloud State University

Online programs at St. Cloud State University span multiple fields. Areas of study include business, education, engineering, and more.

St. Cloud State, located in St. Cloud, MN, is a public school. Most master's degrees have a tuition rate of $536.82 per credit hour, but there are a few exceptions: the Master of Engineering Management ($541 per credit), Master of Education ($558.15 per credit), and the Master of Business Administration ($620.54 per credit).

• Average cost per credit hour: $536.82
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

9. Hamline University

Hamline University is a private institution in St. Paul, MN. It offers a handful of different master's degrees through online education.

Different programs have different tuition rates at Hamline. These include:

• Master of Education: $570 per credit
• Master of Arts in literacy education: $570 per credit
• Master of Arts in natural science and environmental education: $570 per credit
• Master of Arts in teaching, with several specializations including elementary education and special education: $610 per credit

Other, more expensive options at the university include an MBA and a Master of Management and Leadership, both at $792 per credit, as well as a Master in the Study of Law at $850 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $679.14
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

10. University of Northwestern

Through the University of Northwestern, students can earn online master's degrees in business administration, organizational leadership, and religion. Religious majors include divinity, ministry leadership, and theological studies.

The University of Northwestern, a private Christian school, is located in Roseville, MN. It charges $570 per credit for all programs except the MBA, which is $640 per credit.

• Average cost per credit hour: $584
• Financial aid: accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, accepts private financial aid
• Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

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

• Location: All schools listed are located in Minnesota.
• Accreditation: Every school is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• Type of institution: We only included public and non-profit schools in order to ensure the highest quality programs.
• Affordability: Once we found schools that matched the above criteria, we looked at which had the least expensive online master's degrees.

FAQs About Cheap Online Master's Programs in Minnesota

Pursuing higher education can be expensive. We've answered some frequently asked questions to help you navigate online master's degrees.

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

All the schools listed above offer online master's degrees for under $600 per credit. However, the total cost of your program will depend primarily on which school and which major you choose.

Public schools are often less expensive than private schools; however, this isn't always the case. Two public universities didn't make it onto this list: Minnesota State University Mankato, where online master's degrees start at $580.44 per credit, and the University of Minnesota, where tuition starts at $832 per credit for online master's degrees.

Some of the least expensive master's degrees are in education and teaching. Conversely, MBAs, which are some of the highest-paying master's degrees, are also often the most expensive.

Other things that can influence your tuition cost are whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student, whether you study full-time or part-time, and whether or not you have transfer credits.

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

Financial aid is available to help graduate students pay for their online courses. All students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which assesses eligibility for federal and state programs.

However, sometimes these programs don't cover graduate degrees. To help, many schools offer institutional aid, including scholarships, grants, and assistantship opportunities. You can also look into private and independent scholarship options.

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

In many cases, online master's degrees are cheaper than in-person programs. This is especially true for out-of-state students, who are often charged the in-state rate for online degrees.

For example, at Winona State, tuition for online courses is $4.50 per credit more than on-campus resident tuition. While this is slightly more expensive for residents, it's much less expensive for non-residents, who normally pay $750.74 per credit.

How Long Does an Online Master's Program Take?

Typically, online master's degrees take one to three years to complete, with two years being the most common. However, several things can impact how long your program takes, including your major, whether you study full-time or part-time, and whether or not you have transfer credits.

Some schools offer accelerated bachelor's to master's programs. These allow students to start taking graduate credits while in their bachelor's degree, which in turn allows them to finish their master's degree faster.

Find an Online Master's Degree

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