20 Most Affordable Online Masters Programs

Online master’s degree students at Purdue Online undertake the same curriculum as their on-campus counterparts. Currently, there are 54 online master’s degrees at Purdue. Except for a limited number of programs that require on-campus attendance, Purdue’s master’s degrees can be completed entirely online. Online courses are asynchronous, so students can work at their convenience and pace. Purdue’s online master’s focus is heavily weighted toward the hard sciences, with seven engineering programs including computer engineering, electrical engineering, aeronautics and astronautics, and industrial engineering. Applications, $60, are completed online and require a conference with an admissions counselor, submission of transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Tuition: $354 per credit hour.

ASU serves up more than 70 online master’s degree programs. Key fields are in behavioral health, science, journalism, computer sciences, education, criminal justice, engineering, and an MBA. The best selections of online master’s degrees are in education and engineering. Graduate admission requirements include completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Apply online at the university, $70. More than 80 percent of graduate students receive some form of financial aid. Graduate tuition varies by online master’s program and costs $522 to $1,397 per credit hour.

There are more than 20 online master’s degree programs at Wilmington University. Programs are offered in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, nursing, education, information technology, etc. Master’s programs offering the greatest selection of degrees are education, business and nursing. More than 90 percent of graduates reported they were prepared “exceptionally well” for the workplace. Graduate applications, $35, are completed online at the university. Application requirements include transcripts and an interview with an admissions specialist. Tuition: $477 per quarter unit.

UTPB is a member of the University of Texas System. Special features are the university’s accelerated programs. Of the 10 master’s degree programs offered at the university, seven are offered in seven-week sessions, shortening time to the degree. Online master’s programs that are not offered in accelerated formats are delivered in 15-week semesters. UTPB master’s programs are available in accounting, business administration, education, kinesiology, English, and public administration. Applications, $40, can be completed at the UTPB “Apply Now” website. Graduate requirements include submission of transcripts and GRE scores. Tuition: $326 per credit hour.

With more than 20 online master’s degrees, Lamar University consistently ranks high among online graduate programs. There are eight master’s degrees in business, two in criminal justice, three in nursing, and two in the health sciences. Top programs include business and education, each offering 11 degrees. In addition to university admission requirements, each graduate program has its own criteria. For example, a student applying to the education programs, applicants must have a valid teaching certificate and two years’ experience. Admissions are made online at the university and fees are $25. Tuition: $11,550, annually.

NC State University frequently ranks high on the list of most affordable master’s degree programs. Noted for its scope of available online degrees, potential students can choose among nearly 100 programs. Online master’s degrees are offered in fields such as aerospace engineering, business administration, clinical education, mental health counseling, nanoengineering, soil science, and information technology. NCSC’s specialty is in education, with 18 online education master’s degrees. Degree programs are presented in 100 percent online formats, with others offered as hybrid degrees that blend online studies with campus classes. Each graduate college at NCSC has its own admissions requirements. Applications, $70, are submitted online and include official transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Some, but not all programs, require submission of GRE scores. Tuition: $11,672, annually.

Wayne State has 17 online master’s degree programs. Four programs are presented in a hybrid formats, requiring some on-campus attendance. Top online specialties are offered in education, business (MBA) and information technology. You can also pursue online master’s degrees in theater arts, library science, and dance. Applications, $50, are made online. Admissions requirements vary by program, but college-wide graduate requirements include submission of GRE or GMAT exam scores, transcripts and recommendation letters. The college Career Center provides online students with writing resumes and cover letters, along with listings of available internships. Tuition: $215 per credit hour.

The Fort Hays State University Virtual College offers 13 online master’s degree programs. All but three master’s programs are delivered entirely online. Programs in counseling and music performance are hybrids, requiring campus attendance. Business studies comprise the single-largest selection of online master’s degrees. The MBA offers 12 specializations in leadership including finance, healthcare, marketing, management information systems, and international business. Other online master’s degrees are in education, liberal studies, nursing, and professional studies. Online graduate applications, $40, require submission of transcripts, entrance exam scores (if required by the department), and letters of recommendation. Tuition: $287.75 per credit hour.

There are 27 online master’s degrees available at Southeast Missouri. The university’s online specialty is in education, with eight of the total online master’s degrees, including teacher leadership, elementary and secondary education, STEM fields, and early childhood special education. Other online master’s programs are in information science and healthcare administration. In addition to its education master’s degrees, SMSU offers an online MBA degree with a selection of 10 business specialties. Online university graduate applications, $30, require submission of materials germane to the major. Education students must hold a current teacher’s license and submit transcripts and GRE scores. Tuition: $276.70 per credit hour.

Midway’s Graduate School offers a choice of online degrees in business (MBA), nursing (MSN), and education (M.Ed.). Courses are delivered in eight-week semesters, accelerating the time to completion of the degree. Applications, $40, can be made online or through a paper application process. Admissions requirements vary by graduate program; however, none require GRE scores. The graduate school requires all applicants to provide official transcripts, confirmation of a bachelor’s degree, three letters of recommendation, and a conference with a graduate adviser. Tuition: $250 to $520 per credit hour, depending on the degree.

Alabama’s master’s degree programs are frequently raked among the top online programs in the land. Education degree programs lead the list with 14 specializations. Two of these master’s programs are blended, requiring some campus attendance. Grad students can choose from online master’s business degrees in operations management, global business management, and marketing. Other online master’s degrees are available in public health, information technology, and nursing. Applications, $65, require submission of supporting documents: resume, statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts, letters of recommendation, and scores from the GRE, GMAT, MAT, depending on the degree. Tuition: $394 per credit hour.

Valdosta State’s online programs culminate with awards of M.Ed., MS, MA, MAT, MBA., or MIIS. degrees. Of the 28 online master’s degree programs at the university, 20 are dedicated to the field of education. Additional online master’s degrees are offered in healthcare administration, information science, public administration, and library science. Online master’s students have access to degree counseling, digital research, and internship searches. Applications, $35, are submitted online and must include official transcripts. Test scores on the GRE, GMAT, or the MAT may be required for the program. Tuition: $293 per credit hour.

Georgia Tech first began offering distance education in the 1940s. Students can pursue more than 100 online master’s degrees and specialties. Tech is renowned for its online engineering and mathematics programs. There are 37 degree options in online engineering master’s degree and options alone. But the institute also gets high marks for master’s programs in business, computing, design, liberal arts, and sciences. Online applications for enrollment cost $75. To apply for graduate school, you’ll need to submit transcripts and three letters of recommendation. Depending on the online master’s program, you may be required to submit GRE or GMAT scores. Tuition: $9,027 ($14,754 MBA), annually.

Wisconsin’s eCampus is home to 61 online master’s degree programs. Prominent eCampus master’s specialties are in education, business administration, engineering, information systems, human resource development, criminal justice, healthcare administration, nursing, counseling, and communications. Online degrees include the MS, MA, MBA, MSE, PMS, and MNR. Some master’s degree programs are presented in hybrid formats that combine asynchronous learning with campus attendance. Applications, $50, can be submitted online or via paper mail. Graduate school admission requirements include confirmation of a completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Each online program may set its own additional requirements. Tuition: $12,010, annually.

Florida’s Distance Learning programs offer nearly 80 master’s degrees, with major specializations in engineering, agricultural and life sciences, pharmacy studies, allied health professions, and veterinary studies. Most degrees are offered wholly online. Some majors with labs, fieldwork, or internships require attendance. Florida uses an online application process, $30, for its graduate school programs. Every distance learning program has its own online application requirements, which may include scores from the GRE, GMAT, or the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Some College of the Arts programs do not require GRE scores. Potential students should contact the appropriate department for details. Tuition: $21,824, annually.

SHSU has a strong graduate program, often ranked among the nation’s best online schools. It offers 29 online master’s degree programs, with education, criminal justice, and communications drawing accolades. Other online degrees are available in business administration and banking, homeland security, library science, history, mathematics, and health care quality and safety. SHSU graduate transcripts and master’s degrees do not include the word “online”. Applications for admission, $45, are made online at “ApplyTexas.” Supporting documentation includes transcripts with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8, a resume, statement of intent, and writing samples, and letters of recommendation. Some programs require scores from a GRE or GMAT entrance exam, others have no requirement for test scores. Tuition: $8,572, annually.

At UI Online, graduate aspirants can pursue one of 37 accredited master’s degrees. Online master’s degrees contain the same curriculum as those offered on campus. Engineering and computer science are among the most notable programs at UI Online however master’s students can earn degrees in education, business administration, social work, and library and information science. Applications, $70, are made online. Potential grad students must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. While the GRE is not a graduate school requirement, individual online programs may call for your scores. Other application submissions include transcripts, statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and a program essay. Tuition: $12,266, annually.

With 31 online master’s programs, ECU provides a wide range of online master’s choices for prospective students. ECU offers online graduate programs in fields of Arts, Business Administration, Communication, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Public Health, Social Work and etc. Students can apply online on the ECU website and the application is non-refundable and costs $75. The base tuition fees for online graduate programs is $249.29 per semester hour. However, there is an additional cost depending on the graduate program. MBA/MSA courses cost an additional $125 per semester hour, MSN, MS in OT, MPH cost an additional $100 per semester hour. MS in Social Work costs an additional $34 per semester hour. ECU estimates that the cost of attendance is $4,487 per semester for tuition fees.

OSU offers a wide selection of majors among its 24 online master’s degrees. Agriculture has been an academic staple of OSU education since its founding in 1890. There are six OSU graduate colleges offering four master’s degrees in agriculture, four degrees in business (including an MBA), and nine in engineering/information technology. Applications to OSU, $50, are handled online through CollegeNET. Master’s aspirants must have satisfactorily completed a baccalaureate or first professional degree and provide relevant transcripts. Some programs require GRE, GMAT, or MAT scores and up to four letters of recommendation. Tuition: $22,060 annually.

Liberty University offers a wide variety of online master’s programs that are 100% online and come with affordable tuition fees. With over 200 programs, LU’s most popular programs include Criminal Justice, Public Health, Education, Business Administration etc. Prospective students can apply online for a master’s program on Liberty University’s website and the application fee is $50, nonrefundable. The tuition fee varies from program to program but falls in the range of $330 – $565 for full-time per hour rate and $330 – $615 for part-time per hour rate.