Find the Best Online Master's Degrees

How to Select the Right Online Master’s Program

Selecting an online graduate program is a decision you shouldn’t make lightly. As you’re evaluating programs, consider how each school’s resources, reputation and value line up with your career interests and goals. Graduate programs can be highly specialized and enable students to get deep into a specific subject. Before you decide on a program, make sure you’re passionate about the topic and want to become an expert in it.

Whether you want to build on your undergraduate area of study or go in a new direction, you can narrow down your program choices with the help of academic advisers at institutions of interest. Past professors and connections from your undergraduate alma mater are another good source for program recommendations. Also, check out the many U.S. News rankings of accredited online master’s programs and specialties to further your search.

When choosing an online master’s program, prospective students should ensure the school is accredited by an organization recognized by either the U.S. Department of Education or the nonprofit Council for Higher Education Accreditation. These organizations monitor programs and schools and renew their accreditation every few years. Accreditation is a process that an outside authority conducts to ensure a school or degree program – either on campus, online or a combination of both – meets certain quality standards. Attending an accredited institution is important for your career, as employers favor certain accreditations over others.

Prospective students may come across for-profit and nonprofit online schools in their search. For-profit schools are privately owned entities that, for years, have rehabbed their image as high-acceptance, low-graduation and higher debt colleges. To do this, for-profit schools began emphasizing things that nonprofit schools are known to prioritize, including student support services and the use of entrance exams to gauge students’ college readiness.

Be aware that for-profit schools' priority is to make money. Watch out for online degree scams and red flags. If a school’s website suggests you can earn a degree in a very short time period or at an extremely low or abnormally high cost, conduct further research.

Once you narrow down what programs you’re interested in, make sure the courses are in your ideal format. There are various program and individual course structures in online learning.

• Asynchronous: Courses are self-paced with weekly deadlines.

• Synchronous: There’s a preset schedule of classes and conversations, typically via videoconference.

• Hybrid: Activities are a mix of online and in person and combine synchronous and asynchronous methods.

• Open-schedule: This asynchronous format lets students complete assignments based on their course start date.

• Fixed-time: In this synchronous format, students must log on to attend class at specific times virtually with no in-person meetings required.

Before applying, review admission requirements and application fees and compare the availability of financial aid. Look into details about the school, like competitiveness, what fees you have to pay on top of your tuition – including book, course material and online delivery fees – and information about student services and the faculty.

How Much Does an Online Master’s Degree Cost?

The cost of an online master’s program varies based on a number of factors, including whether the school is public or private, what degree you’re pursuing, and whether you’re in-state.

At some institutions, full-time online students pay less for a master’s degree than their in-person counterparts. In addition, tuition for in-state online students can be lower than for those out-of-state.

Online master’s students may save on regular transportation costs and on-campus fees, but could incur distance education, matriculation or technology fees, among others. These vary by institution. Prospective students should check whether a program has any on-site components. Some online graduate programs have requirements, like a residency, that could add to the cost.

Prospective students must weigh the costs of an online master’s degree with the potential for increased earnings over time. Those with master’s degrees in 2020 earned a median of $1,545 per week, compared with bachelor’s degree holders who took in a median of $1,305 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Professionals in STEM, health care and business fields have some of the most notable salary increases after earning an advanced degree. In addition to more money, graduate degree holders have lower unemployment rates than those with only a bachelor’s or high school education.

How Long Does It Take to Complete an Online Master’s Degree?

The length and pace of an online master’s degree depends on whether you choose a full- or part-time program. Full-time students can take more classes per term, but a part-time program may be easier to manage on top of other obligations. Programs take one to three years to complete and require 30 to 50 credits. Part-time programs might cap students to around five years, depending on the area of study.

How Will Potential Employers View an Online Master’s?

Students should have confidence in earning their master’s degree online. In most cases, it’s the degree itself, and not the format through which it was earned, that hiring managers and potential employers care about, as well as a school’s reputation and accreditation.

In the hiring process, candidates shouldn’t shy away from discussing their online education – it can be a good opportunity for online learners to showcase commitment to their career field and discuss their time-management skills.

How to Apply to an Online Graduate Program

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Whether you are on the fence about enrolling in an online master’s degree program, need advice on ways to pay for school or seek postgraduate employment opportunities, you aren't alone.