Are There Tuition-Free Master's Degrees Online in Illinois?

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.

There's no doubt that tuition can be expensive, especially for graduate degrees. However, some students need to pursue education beyond a bachelor's degree, whether to reach a specific career or increase their chances in the job market.

Earning a degree online can often be less expensive than earning one on campus. Not only are rates sometimes lower, especially for out-of-state students, but you don't have to worry about commuting and can choose somewhere with lower living expenses.

In a perfect world, schools would offer tuition-free online master's degree programs. While there really aren't any free master's degrees online, there are ways to significantly reduce your costs. Keep reading to learn how to get low-cost and free master's degrees online in Illinois.

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

There are no tuition-free online colleges in Illinois. In fact, there are no schools that offer completely free master's degrees online in the U.S.

The closest is University of the People, a private nonprofit online school based in Pasadena, CA. UoPeople does not charge a per-credit tuition rate, but it does charge a per-course fee. While still very low-cost, that means the degrees are not completely free.

However, Illinois offers several affordable online master's degrees. Those, paired with the right financial aid, could allow you to earn your degree for free or for a very small amount of money. All students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what they're eligible for; there are several accredited online colleges that accept FAFSA in Illinois.

How To Make Your Online Master's Degree Affordable

Although there aren't really free graduate degrees, there are steps you can take to reduce or even completely eliminate your costs. These include:

• Choose a low-cost school: Tuition rates can vary greatly between institutions, and choosing a low-cost school gives you a good starting point for making your degree affordable.
• Consider your program: Some schools charge higher rates for certain programs, while others charge the same rate for all graduate degrees. Look at tuition rates for the specific program you want to pursue.
• Fill out the FAFSA: The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal aid and some state aid. Additionally, most schools require you to have submitted the FAFSA before they will offer you institutional aid.
• Apply for financial aid: Look for financial aid opportunities through your state, your school, and private organizations to help you cover the cost of your online courses. You may even be able to find full-tuition scholarships.
• Use employer student aid: If you're a working professional, check to see if your employer offers tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement.

Low-Cost Online Master's Programs

Although no school in Illinois offers free tuition, choosing one of the most affordable online master's degrees in the state can help keep costs low. We've highlighted some low-cost programs from accredited universities in Illinois below.

1. Olivet Nazarene University

Olivet Nazarene University is a private Christian school in Bourbonnais, IL. It offers online master's degrees in four fields: business administration, education, nursing, and theology and Christian ministry.

Tuition varies between programs. Most master's degrees are $12,000 total, or roughly $333 per credit hour, but the theology and ministry degrees are $450 per credit hour. Olivet offers a variety of financial aid opportunities to help graduate students pay for their courses.

Average in-state tuition: $391.50 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $391.50 per credit

Financial aid: Olivet Nazarene accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Eastern Illinois University

At Eastern Illinois University, students can choose from over a dozen online master's degrees. Areas of study include biological sciences, cybersecurity, healthcare, and humanities.

EIU, a public university, is located in Charleston, IL. It charges $344.25 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students in online graduate programs, and financial aid is available.

Average in-state tuition: $344.25 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $344.25 per credit

Financial aid: EIU offers institutional aid, including scholarships and assistantships. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: HLC

3. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers dozens of online master's degree programs. UIUC is a private research institution in Champaign, IL.

Tuition varies by program. Some of the most affordable programs at UIUC include:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA): $363 per credit
• Master of Science (MS) in management: $363 per credit
• Master of Education (MEd): $520 per credit
• Master of Social Work (MSW): $598 per credit

Other fields available online at UIUC include animal sciences ($755 per credit), engineering ($1,160 per credit), computer science ($620 per credit), and library and information science ($680 per credit).

Average in-state tuition: $763.84 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $763.84 per credit

Financial aid: UIUC offers institutional aid and accepts FAFSA and private student aid.

Accreditation: HLC

4. University of Illinois Springfield

Multiple online degrees are available at the University of Illinois Springfield. Areas of study include business analytics, environmental sciences, human services, and public health.

UIS, located in Springfield, IL, is a public university. Most of its online graduate degrees are $365.75 per credit. However, a few degrees have a slightly higher tuition rate, like the MBA program ($424.75 per credit), the master's in computer science ($407 per credit), and the master's in healthcare informatics ($424.75 per credit)

Average in-state tuition: $365.75 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $365.75 per credit

Financial aid: UIS accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs. It also offers institutional aid.

Accreditation: HLC

5. Illinois State University

Illinois State University is a public research institution in Normal, IL. It offers several advanced degrees online in fields like business, data science, education, and nursing.

Tuition for in-state residents at Illinois State is $422.57 per credit, and this is the fee that residents of bordering states pay as well. The cost is $877.72 per credit for residents of other states.

Average in-state tuition: $422.57 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $877.72 per credit

Financial aid: Illinois State accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.

Accreditation: HLC

6. McKendree University

Through McKendree University, students will find half a dozen online graduate degrees. Tuition varies by program, with some of the lowest-cost options being:

• Master of Arts (MA) in education: $445 per credit
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): $445 per credit
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): $495 per credit
• Master of Health Administration (MHA): $525 per credit

McKendree University, a private nonprofit college, is located in Lebanon, IL. Other degree options here include an online MBA ($555 per credit) and an MA in performance psychology and leadership ($525 per credit).

Average in-state tuition: $498.33 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $498.33 per credit

Financial aid: McKendree University offers institutional aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private programs.

Accreditation: HLC

Find an Affordable Online Master's Degree

Find the perfect online degree by exploring the high-quality options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.