Written By - OMC Staff
Last Updated: June 18, 2026

Choosing an online master’s program often starts with choosing the right university.

Some students prioritize affordability. Others focus on flexibility, employer recognition, program variety, or subject-specific strengths. This hub helps you discover universities offering online master’s degrees, compare different university types, and explore detailed university profiles before making a decision.

Use the sections below to browse schools by category, explore featured universities, compare university models, and navigate to program and comparison resources throughout OMC.

Start Here: Find the Right University Type

Not every university is built for the same type of student. Before exploring individual schools, identify the category that best matches your priorities

If Your Priority Is…Start With
Lowest CostAffordable Online Universities
Maximum FlexibilityLarge Online Universities or Competency-Based Universities
Strong Brand RecognitionPublic Flagship and Research Universities
STEM and Technology ProgramsSTEM-Focused Universities
Healthcare and Nursing ProgramsHealthcare-Focused Universities
MBA and Business ProgramsBusiness-Focused Universities
Military SupportMilitary-Friendly Universities
Faith-Based EducationFaith-Based Universities
Fast CompletionCompetency-Based Universities
Broad Program SelectionUniversities With Large Online Catalogs

Southern New Hampshire University

PROGRAM: Best & Affordable Online Masters Programs

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on-campus students and over 60,000 online students, making us one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Founded in 1932, we’ve been relentlessly reinventing higher education ever since and have gained national recognition for our dedication to helping students transform their lives and the lives of those around them.

We’re proud to provide affordable, accessible education that students can pursue on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, over our innovative online platform or at our regional centers in Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem, NH, and Brunswick, ME.

SNHU has earned the GetEducated.com Best Buy and Best of Business – Best Online Degree awards and is consistently ranked as a top Military Friendly® School by G.I Jobs®.

Browse Universities by Type

Public Universities

Public universities often combine strong employer recognition, regional reputation, and competitive tuition for online students.

Examples:

Private Nonprofit Universities

Private nonprofit universities often provide smaller student-to-faculty ratios, mission-driven education, and broad graduate offerings.

Examples:

Large Online Universities

These institutions offer extensive online catalogs and serve large populations of online graduate students.

Examples:

Competency-Based Universities

Competency-based schools may appeal to self-directed students who want greater control over pacing and completion timelines.

Examples:

Military-Friendly Universities

These schools are known for military benefits, transfer policies, and support services for active-duty personnel, veterans, and military families.

Examples:

Faith-Based Universities

Faith-based universities combine graduate education with religious mission or values-based frameworks.

Examples:

Affordable Online Universities

These schools frequently appear in affordability-focused rankings and may offer strong value for budget-conscious students.

Examples:

Arizona State University

Best For: Students seeking a large public university with broad online master’s offerings.

Not Ideal For: Students whose primary goal is minimizing tuition costs.

Explore Arizona State University →

Southern New Hampshire University

Best For: Students seeking flexibility and a wide range of online graduate programs.

Not Ideal For: Students prioritizing research-intensive university environments.

Explore Southern New Hampshire University

Western Governors University

Best For: Self-directed students seeking competency-based learning and flexible pacing.

Not Ideal For: Students who prefer traditional semester structures.

Explore Western Governors University

Purdue University

Best For: Engineering, technology, and professionally focused graduate programs.

Not Ideal For: Students seeking the lowest-cost graduate options.

Explore Purdue University

Johns Hopkins University

Best For: Healthcare, public health, and research-oriented graduate study.

Not Ideal For: Students focused primarily on affordability.

Explore Johns Hopkins University

Liberty University

Best For: Students seeking faith-based graduate education and extensive online program availability.

Not Ideal For: Students seeking secular academic environments.

Explore Liberty University

Compare Universities and Programs

Choosing a university is only part of the decision process. Many students ultimately compare specific programs across multiple institutions before enrolling.

Examples include:

  • ASU Online MBA vs Indiana Online MBA
  • Georgia Tech OMSCS vs Illinois MCS Online
  • Purdue MSN vs WGU MSN
  • Florida MBA vs ASU MBA

Use OMC’s comparison resources to evaluate tuition, flexibility, admissions requirements, curriculum focus, and career outcomes across competing programs.

Explore Compare Programs

Browse All Universities

Use the directory below to explore all universities offering online master’s programs.

How to Evaluate an Online University

When comparing universities, focus on factors that directly affect your graduate experience and outcomes:

  • Accreditation
  • Program-level accreditation
  • Tuition and fees
  • Online learning format
  • Program flexibility
  • Admissions requirements
  • Student support services
  • Employer recognition
  • Program availability within your subject area

The strongest university for one student may not be the strongest choice for another. Evaluating schools through the lens of your goals often leads to better decisions than relying on rankings alone.

University Types Explained

Public Flagship Universities

Often provide strong reputation, extensive academic resources, and broad program catalogs.

Regional Public Universities

Often balance affordability with practical career-focused graduate programs.

Private Nonprofit Universities

May offer specialized programs, mission-driven education, or smaller learning environments.

Large Online Universities

Typically provide extensive online catalogs and flexible enrollment options.

Competency-Based Universities

Designed for self-directed students who want greater control over pacing and completion timelines.

Research Universities

Often provide stronger specialization depth, faculty research activity, and advanced academic reputation

Next Steps

OMC organizes programs by subject area and key decision factors such as cost, completion time, admissions flexibility, and career outcomes.

Ready to continue your search?