10 Best Online Master's Degrees in 2025

<p>Many schools throughout the country offer online graduate degrees, but they are not all created equally. In the following sections, we'll explore some of the best schools in the country offering online master's degree programs. </p> <h3 id="section---1.GeorgiaInstituteOfTechnology">1. Georgia Institute of Technology</h3> <p>The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is a public school offering 14 fully online and hybrid master's degrees. Areas of study include: </p> <ul><li>cybersecurity </li><li>medical physics </li><li>manufacturing leadership </li><li>operations research </li><li>aerospace engineering </li></ul><p>Students complete rigorous online courses from the convenience of wherever they have an internet connection and gain a world-class education on a schedule that works for them. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $14,064 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $29,140 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds, scholarships, and state aid </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) </p> <h3 id="section---2.UniversityOfNorthCarolinaAtChapelHill">2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</h3> <p>This prestigious public school admits only 19% of applicants and has an overall graduation rate of 92%. It offers a range of online master's degrees, including: </p> <ul><li>applied data science </li><li>accounting </li><li>digital communication </li><li>pharmaceutical sciences </li><li>social work </li></ul><p>These flexible programs provide highly motivated professionals with the education and credentials they need to take their careers to the next level and become leaders in their field. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $10,552 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $28,844 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> grants, institutional scholarships, and loans </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </p> <h3 id="section---3.OhioStateUniversity">3. Ohio State University</h3> <p>Ohio State University is known for its high academic standards and wealth of education programs. The public school boasts dozens of online master's degrees, with majors including: </p> <ul><li>bioethics </li><li>law </li><li>dental hygiene </li><li>learning technologies </li><li>public administration </li></ul><p>The school provides ample support services to help students thrive in these high-quality programs. And, with so many options to choose from, you're sure to find a specialization that meets your particular career and educational interests. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $12,515 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $40,245 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> scholarships, grants, loans, and federal work-study </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> Higher Learning Commission (HLC) </p> <h3 id="section---4.UniversityOfIllinoisUrbanaChampaign">4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</h3> <p>The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is well known for its online higher education programs, ranging from courses open to the general public to advanced graduate degrees. Some of its many online master's degrees include: </p> <ul><li>clinical and community nutrition </li><li>architectural engineering </li><li>environmental geology </li><li>journalism </li><li>veterinary science </li></ul><p>This school's programs consistently rank among the best online degrees according to U.S. News &amp; World Report. Courses are taught by world-renowned faculty, and more than 150 online degree and certificate programs are available. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $15,545 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $30,348 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> FAFSA aid and institutional scholarships </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC </p> <h3 id="section---5.UniversityOfVirginia">5. University of Virginia</h3> <p>The University of Virginia is another high-ranking public school with a high graduation rate (95%). It offers various online master's degrees, with some of the options including: </p> <ul><li>business analytics </li><li>chemical engineering </li><li>public safety </li><li>curriculum and instruction </li><li>systems engineering </li></ul><p>Students at this school can enroll in fully online programs or choose from hundreds of individual online courses to support their academic journeys. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $19,118 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $32,022 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> FAFSA aid and institutional scholarships </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </p> <h3 id="section---6.FloridaStateUniversity">6. Florida State University</h3> <p>Florida State University is a well-known public school providing a wide variety of online and in-person undergraduate and graduate degrees. Some of the online master's degrees to choose from include: </p> <ul><li>art education </li><li>criminology </li><li>Juris master </li><li>nursing </li><li>athletic coaching </li></ul><p>This school provides highly ranked online programs in a variety of disciplines, helping students gain a flexible education from a well-known and reputable school. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $9,684 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $24,116 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> state and federal aid and scholarships </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </p> <h3 id="section---7.UniversityOfFlorida">7. University of Florida</h3> <p>The University of Florida is another top public school in Florida. It offers many of its degrees in a convenient online format, including dozens of master's degrees. Options include: </p> <ul><li>fire and emergency sciences </li><li>entomology and nematology </li><li>mathematics education </li><li>sport management </li><li>tourism and hospitality management </li></ul><p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $10,770 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $27,335 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> federal and state grants, scholarships, loans, and federal work-study </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </p> <h3 id="section---8.NorthCarolinaStateUniversity">8. North Carolina State University</h3> <p>North Carolina State University is a public school with more than 50 online master's degree programs. Students can choose from options such as: </p> <ul><li>business administration </li><li>adult and community college education </li><li>clinical mental health counseling </li><li>horticultural science </li><li>nuclear engineering </li></ul><p>Courses are available in both synchronous and asynchronous formats to give students a good blend of flexibility and structure. Academic advisors are available to help you every step of the way. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $9,459 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $29,433 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> FAFSA grants, institutional scholarships, loans, and federal work-study </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> SACSCOC </p> <h3 id="section---9.IndianaUniversity">9. Indiana University</h3> <p>Indiana University provides an array of online degrees offered through its various campuses. Some of the many master's degrees available online include: </p> <ul><li>health informatics </li><li>environmental sustainability </li><li>liberal studies </li><li>music therapy </li><li>strategic finance </li></ul><p>Students can choose between part-time and full-time enrollment depending on their needs and preferences. Courses are taught by expert faculty in flexible formats that work best for busy professionals. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $10,133 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $31,932 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> FAFSA aid and scholarships </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> HLC </p> <h3 id="section---10.OregonStateUniversity">10. Oregon State University</h3> <p>Oregon State University is a well-known public school providing online degrees through its Ecampus. Students can choose from among 22 online master's degrees, including: </p> <ul><li>natural resources </li><li>radiation health physics </li><li>school counseling </li><li>engineering management </li><li>geography and geospatial science </li></ul><p>Online courses allow students to network with faculty and students from around the world, all while studying in a convenient format that works for them. </p> <p><b>Average in-state tuition:</b> $13,446 </p> <p><b>Average out-of-state tuition:</b> $29,349 </p> <p><b>Financial aid:</b> Grants, scholarships, loans, and federal work-study </p> <p><b>Accreditation:</b> Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) </p> <h2 id="section---HowWeRankSchools">How We Rank Schools</h2> <p>We endeavor to select only the best programs when creating our rank lists. We used the following criteria when choosing the schools above: </p> <ul><li><b>Accreditation:</b> All of the schools maintain regional accreditation from nationally recognized accrediting bodies such as the Higher Learning Commission. </li><li><b>Program reputation:</b> Each school is known for providing top-quality academic programs both online and on-campus. </li><li><b>Online degree offerings:</b> Every school featured above offers at least 10 online master's degrees, and several of them have many more than that. </li><li><b>Tuition cost:</b> Each of the schools features affordable tuition rates averaging less than $20,000 per year. </li></ul><h2 id="section---HowMuchDoesAnOnlineMasterSDegreeCost">How Much Does an Online Master's Degree Cost?</h2> <p>The cost of online graduate programs varies widely depending on several factors. Public schools generally charge more for out-of-state students than those living in-state; that said, colleges sometimes charge the same amount for online learners regardless of residency. Private schools typically charge more than public schools, though this isn't always the case. </p> <p>According to Forbes, the average cost of a master's degree is nearly $40,000. Some may cost under $20,000, while others may cost well over $100,000. </p> <h2 id="section---IsAnOnlineMasterSDegreeWorthIt">Is an Online Master's Degree Worth It?</h2> <p>Even affordable grad programs are not cheap, and if you're on a budget, you may be wondering whether it's worth investing the time and money in a master's degree. Whether or not earning this advanced degree is worth it to you will depend on your career goals. </p> <p>That said, generally speaking, a master's degree can help you transition from one career to another or pursue advancement in your current career. What's more is that according to the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/median-weekly-earnings-of-full-time-workers-with-only-a-bachelors-degree-1541-in-q2-2024.htm#:~:text=Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics%2C%20U.S.,htm%20(visited%20April%2016%2C%202025">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, those with a master's degree often earn more than those with only a bachelor's degree. Those who earn a master's degree often feel that doing so was well worth the investment. </p> <h2 id="section---PopularOnlineMasterSDegrees">Popular Online Master's Degrees</h2> <p>There are a variety of master's degree specializations available, but some are far more common and popular than others. Let's look at some of the most common types of master's degrees that you may want to pursue. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfBusinessAdministrationMBA">Master of Business Administration (MBA)</h3> <p>An online MBA program teaches a wide range of business principles, from project management, budgeting, and business leadership to entrepreneurship and marketing. Online MBAs are some of the most common online master's degrees available. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfEducationMEd">Master of Education (MEd)</h3> <p>A MEd degree prepares learners for advanced teaching and leadership roles at public and private schools. Specializations within this type of degree may include special education, educational leadership, and curriculum development. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfSocialWorkMSW">Master of Social Work (MSW)</h3> <p>MSW degrees prepare students for careers as social workers and are commonly taught in online learning environments. Traditional MSWs are for students with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field and typically take two to four years to complete; advanced-standing programs are for those with a bachelor's degree in social work and can be completed in one to two years. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfPublicHealthMPH">Master of Public Health (MPH)</h3> <p>An MPH degree prepares students for leadership roles in public health settings. They learn to design health education programs to teach the public about good health habits and may also gain administrative skills necessary for running public health organizations. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfEngineeringMEng">Master of Engineering (MEng)</h3> <p>MEng degrees prepare graduate students to advance in their particular field of engineering. They typically require students to have backgrounds in engineering-related fields. Coursework varies and is generally dependent on the type of engineering background each student has. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterOfHealthcareAdministrationMHAOrManagement">Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Management</h3> <p>MHA degrees are similar to MBA degrees in that they teach business administration principles like human resources, information systems, and management techniques. However, MHA programs are specifically designed to help students learn to manage healthcare facilities rather than other types of businesses. They prepare students for non-clinical but essential leadership roles in healthcare. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterSInInformationTechnology">Master's in Information Technology</h3> <p>IT master's degrees are typically available for students with backgrounds in information technology. They provide a pathway for experienced IT experts to advance to lucrative leadership roles within the IT field. </p> <h3 id="section---MasterSInComputerScience">Master's in Computer Science</h3> <p>Computer science master's degrees may be generalist programs or may offer concentrations that allow students to specialize in particular disciplines. They provide advanced education in computer programming, software engineering, and more to help students begin or advance their tech careers. </p> <h2 id="section---EarnYourMasterSDegreeOnline">Earn Your Master's Degree Online</h2> <p>If you're ready to explore the best online master's programs, check out the schools featured here on Learn.org. Contact any of the colleges or universities today to learn more about their online learning options and to find the ideal master's degree for you.</p>