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

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.

Earning a master's degree can be a big stepping stone in your professional life, whether as a step up in your current field or as a way to shift into a new area of the job market. There are many schools across the U.S. that offer nearly free master's degrees online, but there are also several to choose from in Massachusetts. Students of various academic backgrounds can earn a master's degree online for little to no cost if they take advantage of different forms of savings. Continue reading to discover the Massachusetts schools that offer an almost free master's degree online.

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

With financial aid and other similar strategies, you can earn an online master's degree for less. It is important to note that there is no such thing as an entirely free master's degree, or any degree, whether through online courses or on-campus. University of the People is the only college that offers tuition-free online master's degree programs, but students are still responsible for applicable school and program fees.

Tuition-free online colleges essentially don't require tuition payments after financial aid or other discounts have been applied � and starting with a school that has a low tuition rate is the best place to start. Choosing a school with a low tuition rate, and being proactive in your search and use of financial aid, can help to bring the cost of your degree down to very little, possibly nothing.

How To Make Your Online Master's Degree Affordable

While you won't likely find a completely free program, there are several strategies that you can use to earn your online master's degree at a cheap price. Several of the best resources and tools that you can use to cut the costs of your program are discussed below.

• Cheaper Tuition: Choosing a school with cheaper tuition gives you a lower price point to start with. The difference between $500 per credit and $1,000 per credit over the course of a master's program is significant. Many schools offer lower tuition rates to in-state students, while others have a single tuition rate for learners of various residencies. In addition, some schools offer lower tuition rates to full-time students and higher rates for part-time study.
• Transfer Credits: Transferring credits into your chosen program decreases the number of courses you need to take, bringing the program cost down as well. Most schools accept qualifying transfer credits from prior coursework, and many also offer transfer credits for assessment scores and life/work experiences. You could transfer in coursework from a bachelor's degree program and earn credits based on experiences or knowledge that you already have.
• Federal Student Aid: Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online so you can apply for federal, private, and other financial aid. You can submit your FAFSA results directly to your candidate schools from within the application. There are many cheap online schools that accept FAFSA with master's degree programs. Your school will let you know about your eligibility for federal financial aid.
• Scholarships and Grants: There are thousands of scholarships and grants that you can apply for once you have submitted the FAFSA. Many schools offer in-house scholarships and grants, but most are offered through various private groups. No single school or website has a complete list of available awards, so you should be proactive in searching for them. The U.S. Department of Labor's Career OneStop is a good place to start, as it has several thousand different awards in its database. Scholarships are available based on various criteria, from merit and background to field of study (e.g., information technology or healthcare).
• Federal Work-Study: Many schools offer federal work-study funding options, which typically involve working part-time during your program in exchange for earning funds for your expenses. When available, work-study jobs are usually related to your field of study. While these programs aren't specifically designed for working professionals, your school may have a work-study opportunity that can be balanced with your academic and professional obligations. Speak with the work-study representative from your candidate schools to find out more.

Low-Cost Online Master's Programs

Many universities across the country offer graduate programs through online courses, with various options for master's degrees. While graduate school is typically a two-year program instead of the four years of undergraduate work, it can still be expensive. Our team has reviewed the most affordable online master's degree options through a combination of lower tuition as well as available financial aid. The nine most affordable online master's programs in Massachusetts are discussed below.

1. Salem State University

Salem State University has several online master's degree options and the most affordable tuition in Massachusetts. Students can choose a Master of Education, Master of Social Work, or a master's degree in criminal justice, geo-information science, or teaching. The teaching and education programs offer concentration options, and online students can also earn related graduate certificates and/or licensures.

Average in-state tuition: $128 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $240 per credit

Financial aid: Salem State offers several in-house scholarships and provides a list of other awards that students can review and apply for.

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

2. Worcester State University

Worcester State University has online master's degree programs in nursing and education, each offering specialization options for customized degrees. Nursing students can choose between nurse educator or nursing public and population health concentrations, while Master of Education (MEd) students can select from early childhood education, educational leadership, moderate disabilities, and elementary education.

Average in-state tuition: $189 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $189 per credit

Financial aid: Students can apply for a wide variety of in-house scholarships during the spring semester, which are available in amounts from $400 to $4,000.

Accreditation: NECHE

3. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University has online master's degree programs in:

• nursing
• English
• engineering
• education
• computer science
• history
• communications
• criminal justice
• business

In addition to low tuition rates, the school offers multiple graduate scholarships, including merit-based and field-specific awards. It offers an MBA award that covers the cost of an MBA program concentration (30 credit hours) and a nursing scholarship.

Average in-state tuition: $272 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $272 per credit

Financial aid: Fitchburg State offers several in-house scholarships to graduate students, including an MBA-specific full-tuition scholarship that covers the cost of 30 credit hours.

Accreditation: NECHE

4. Gordon College

Gordon College offers online master's degree programs in education, including numerous fields, such as arts education, early childhood education, science education, and more. There are several in-house scholarships offered to students pursuing graduate degrees in education. Gordon College also has an online Master of Public Health (MPH) program and two scholarships that are automatically considered for MPH students.

Average in-state tuition: $540 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $540 per credit

Financial aid: Gordon College has in-house scholarship options for students in education and public health master's programs.

Accreditation: NECHE

5. Northpoint Bible College

Northpoint Bible College offers an online Master of Arts (MA) in practical theology, with concentration options in pastoral leadership or spiritual formation. Tuition is $492 per credit hour, and students can submit a single application for use towards all in-house scholarship awards. The MA program includes coursework in theological development, spiritual formation, and biblical leadership.

Average in-state tuition: $492 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $492 per credit

Financial aid: Northpoint offers scholarships for students pursuing ministerial work, and students can also apply for external aid.

Accreditation: Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation (ABHE)

6. Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology

Hellenic College integrates moral support with academic and professional advancement. Online students can earn a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) as well as a Master of Theology (ThM). The ThM program can be completed in one year of full-time study. Scholarships are available for students who maintain good academic standing, and the school has a reference list of various outside scholarships.

Average in-state tuition: $500 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $500 per credit

Financial aid: In addition to in-house scholarship opportunities, students can access and apply for external awards through the school's scholarship tool.

Accreditation: NECHE

7. University of Massachusetts-Lowell

The University of Massachusetts at Lowell, or UMass Lowell, has several dozen fully online master's degree programs, with tuition rates ranging from $470 to $750 per credit hour. Students can pursue degrees in criminal justice, finance, business administration, education, cybersecurity, nursing, and more.

UMass Lowell offers a variety of in-house financial aid options for graduate students, including a grant program for in-demand fields of study.

Average in-state tuition: $610 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $610 per credit

Financial aid: Multiple in-house scholarships and grants are available, including an excellence scholarship for online students.

Accreditation: NECHE

8. Merrimack College

Merrimack College offers competency-based education master's degree programs, enabling students to bypass some required coursework if they already have satisfactory knowledge of relevant concepts. Online master's degrees are available in fields of education, nursing, counseling, science, business and engineering.

Merrimack offers a 100% tuition coverage graduate fellowship to students of civil or mechanical engineering master's programs and allows students to progress through programs at their own pace.

Average in-state tuition: $725 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $725 per credit

Financial aid: A $1,000 award is offered to new students, as well as a few other scholarships and an engineering fellowship that covers the full cost of tuition.

Accreditation: NECHE

9. Bay Path University

Bay Path University offers various online master's degree programs, with tuition rates ranging between $565 and $1,060 per credit hour. Master's programs are available in cybersecurity, psychology, business administration, and more. The cheapest programs with program-specific aid are:

• Master of Education in special education
• Master of Science (MS) in applied behavior analysis
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Tuition rates are program-specific and unaffected by enrollment level (i.e., full-time or part-time). Students can pursue their degrees through fully online courses at their own pace.

Average in-state tuition: $813 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $813 per credit

Financial aid: Program-specific scholarships are available for students of graduate programs in special education, applied behavioral analysis, and nursing.

Accreditation: NECHE

Find an Affordable Online Master's Degree

If you're searching for the most affordable online master's degrees, review more of the top school lists on Learn.org. Our team combs through hundreds of schools to bring you information on the best options for quality, affordability, and flexibility. Contact the schools that offer programs of interest, and begin your next journey today.