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Master's Degrees

Master's Degrees: Types, Costs, Salaries & Top Programs

A master's degree is a graduate degree earned after a bachelor's, usually in one to two years and 30 to 60 credits. It's the credential that unlocks advanced, specialized, and licensed roles in fields like education, healthcare, counseling, business, and technology. This guide covers how master's degrees work, what they take to get into, what they cost, what they pay, and where to find the right program by subject, format, and state.

Master's degree at a glance

  • Typical credits: 30 to 60 graduate credits
  • Typical length: 1 to 2 years full-time; accelerated programs can take 12 months or less
  • Federal loan limit for new graduate borrowers (from July 1, 2026): $20,500 per year, $100,000 aggregate
  • Median weekly earnings, master's degree holders (2024): $1,840 (vs. $1,543 with a bachelor's degree)
  • Unemployment rate, master's degree holders (2024): 2.2%

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education Pays 2024 (workers age 25+); One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21) federal loan provisions.

What Is a Master's Degree?

A master's degree builds deep expertise in one field on top of a bachelor's. Programs mix advanced coursework with a capstone, thesis, practicum, or comprehensive exam. Some are research-focused and lead toward a PhD; most are professional degrees built for career advancement or licensure.

If you're weighing the decision, start with whether a master's degree is right for you and how to decide which master's degree to get. Then browse the most useful master's degrees for ideas.

Types of Master's Degrees

Master of Arts (MA). Humanities, social sciences, communication, and education, often with a thesis option.

Master of Science (MS). STEM, healthcare, analytics, and technical business fields, with more quantitative coursework.

Professional master's degrees. Field-specific degrees such as the MBA, MEd, MSN, MSW, and MPH that prepare you for a defined career path and, often, a license.

Your undergraduate major doesn't have to match. You can usually earn a master's with a bachelor's in a different field. Education and psychology grads can see the master's degrees open to elementary ed majors and master's degrees to pursue with a psychology bachelor's.

Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Most programs require a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, a minimum GPA, transcripts, recommendation letters, and a personal statement. Read the prerequisites for a master's degree and the requirements for most online master's degrees. Many schools have dropped the GRE; see 1-year online master's programs with no GRE requirement and HBCUs with online master's programs that don't require the GRE.

Age isn't a barrier. See the average age of master's students, whether 30 is too old for a master's, whether a master's is worth it in your 40s, and whether 50 is too old.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Master's Degree?

Full-time students usually finish in one to two years; part-time students often take two to three. Read how long an online master's degree takes, then compare faster routes: the best 1-year master's programs online, accelerated online master's programs, ways to earn a master's degree quickly, and colleges with 4+1 accelerated master's programs that combine a bachelor's and master's in five years.

How Much Does a Master's Degree Cost?

Costs range from under $10,000 at some public online programs to well over $60,000 at private universities. See what an online master's degree costs, then compare the most affordable online master's degrees, tuition-free online master's degrees, and the fastest and most affordable online master's degrees.

Financing changed on July 1, 2026. Grad PLUS loans ended for new borrowers, and federal borrowing for most master's students is now capped at $20,500 per year and $100,000 total. That makes free money more important:

Online Master's Degrees

Online master's programs from accredited schools are equivalent to campus programs and often cost less. Compare the best online master's degree programs, then narrow by format: self-paced master's programs, part-time master's programs, and competency-based master's degrees. If you want the most manageable path, see the easiest master's degrees to earn. Wondering about value? Read whether an online degree is worth it.

Master's Degree Salary: Is It Worth It?

Workers whose highest credential is a master's degree earned a median of $1,840 per week in 2024, about 19% more than bachelor's degree holders. In some fields, including school counseling, nurse practitioner roles, and speech-language pathology, a master's is required to work at all.

Master's vs. Bachelor's vs. Doctorate

A master's sits between a bachelor's and a doctorate. See whether a master's is higher than a bachelor's and the advantages of a master's over a bachelor's. If a doctorate is your eventual goal, compare direct-entry PhD programs that don't require a master's and PsyD programs that accept master's credits.

Browse Master's Degrees by Subject

Find programs, rankings, and career guides for your field.

Healthcare & Medical

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Careers & outcomes

Nursing

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Business, Management & Finance

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Computers, IT & Data

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Careers & outcomes

Cybersecurity & AI

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Careers & outcomes

Education

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Careers & outcomes

Psychology, Counseling & Social Work

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Careers & outcomes

Criminal Justice, Law & Security

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Engineering, Trades & Technology

Program directory

Program guide

Careers & outcomes

Arts, Media & Communication

Program directory

Rankings

Program guide

Careers & outcomes

Social Sciences, Humanities & Religion

Rankings

Program guide

Degree comparison

Science & Environment

Rankings

Program guide

Careers & outcomes

More Master's Guides

More Master's Rankings

Browse All Master's Programs

Master's Degrees by State

In-state public schools often charge far less, even for online programs. Find options in your state.

Tuition-Free Master's Degrees Online by state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Cheapest Online Master's Degrees by state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Affordable Master's in Business Intelligence by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Affordable Master's in Data Analytics Degrees by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Affordable Master's in Digital Marketing Degrees by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Affordable Master's in Entrepreneurship Degrees by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Affordable Master's in Finance Degrees by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Best Online Master's in Cybercrime Degrees by state: California · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas

Master's Degrees at Specific Schools

Program details, costs, and requirements at individual schools and providers.

Master's Degree FAQs

How many credits is a master's degree? Most master's degrees require 30 to 60 graduate credits. Research programs with a thesis and licensure programs with clinical hours sit at the higher end.

Can you get a master's degree in one year? Yes. Many accelerated online programs are designed to be finished in 12 months or less. Compare the best 1-year master's programs online.

Do you need the GRE for a master's degree? Not always. Many programs have made the GRE optional or dropped it entirely, particularly online and professional programs.

How do you pay for a master's degree after the Grad PLUS changes? New borrowers can take up to $20,500 per year in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, up to $100,000 total. Employer tuition assistance, assistantships, scholarships, and lower-cost online programs can close the gap. See how to pay for a master's degree.

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