- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
- Expert Reviewed By Soumen Chatterjee
Choosing an online master’s program often starts with choosing the right university.
Some students prioritize affordability. Others focus on flexibility, program variety, academic fields, learning format, or other characteristics. 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 universities by type, explore major online universities , and evaluate universities based on the priorities that matter to you. Once you have narrowed your shortlist, OMC’s comparison resources can help you compare specific universities, programs, and degree options side by side.
Start Here: How Do You Want to Explore Universities?
Not every university is the right fit for every student. Start with the factor that matters most to your search, or compare specific options if you already have a shortlist.
| If You Want To… | Start With |
|---|---|
| Explore schools by university type | Browse Universities by Type Below |
| Find lower-cost options | Affordable Online Universities Below |
| Find flexible online options | Large Online or Competency-Based Universities Below |
| Explore universities by academic field | Browse STEM, Healthcare, Business, or Education Universities Below |
| Browse individual schools | Browse All Universities Below |
| Compare specific universities or programs | Compare Universities and Programs Below |
Browse Universities by Type
Universities offering online master’s programs differ in institutional structure, academic model, program breadth, and approach to online learning. Explore several common university types below to understand how these differences may affect your graduate-school search.
Public Universities
Public universities are state-supported institutions that may offer online master’s programs across a broad range of academic fields. Tuition structures, residency policies, program availability, and online learning models vary by university.
Examples:
Private Nonprofit Universities
Private nonprofit universities operate independently of state governments and may offer online master’s programs across a range of academic and professional fields. Program availability, tuition, learning formats, and institutional focus vary by university.
Examples:
Large Online Universities
Some universities offer extensive online program catalogs and serve large populations of distance-learning students. These institutions may provide online master’s programs across multiple academic fields and learning formats.
Examples:
Universities Offering Competency-Based Programs
Competency-based programs allow students to progress by demonstrating mastery of required knowledge and skills rather than relying solely on traditional semester schedules. Availability and program structure vary by university.
Examples:
Faith-Based Universities
Faith-based universities incorporate a religious mission or values framework into the institution, although how that mission influences individual graduate programs can vary by university and field of study.
Examples:
Explore Major Online Universities
Many universities offer online graduate programs, while some institutions operate particularly broad or established online education programs. The universities below represent several prominent examples across different institutional types and online learning models.
University Type: Public university
Explore: Broad range of online graduate programs
Best Fit For: Students looking for a large public university with a broad portfolio of online graduate programs.
Consider Another Option If: You specifically want a competency-based graduate program structure.
University Type: Private nonprofit university
Explore: Large online graduate program portfolio
Best Fit For: Students looking for a university with a broad selection of online graduate programs and an established online learning model.
Consider Another Option If: You specifically want a graduate program from a public university or a competency-based learning model.
Explore Southern New Hampshire University →
University Type: Private nonprofit university
Learning Model: Competency-based education
Best Fit For: Students interested in a competency-based learning model that allows progress through demonstrated mastery.
Consider Another Option If: You prefer a traditional semester-based graduate program with regularly scheduled courses.
University Type: Public university
Explore: Online graduate programs across multiple academic and professional fields
Best Fit For: Students looking for online graduate options from a large public university across multiple areas of study.
Consider Another Option If: You specifically want a competency-based graduate program or a university primarily focused on online education.
University Type: Private nonprofit university
Explore: Online graduate programs including healthcare and public health fields
Best Fit For: Students exploring online graduate study in areas such as healthcare, public health, and other professional fields offered by the university.
Consider Another Option If: You want a university with a particularly broad online graduate catalog spanning many unrelated fields.
University Type: Private nonprofit, faith-based university
Explore: Broad range of online graduate programs
Best Fit For: Students looking for a faith-based university with a broad selection of online graduate degree options.
Consider Another Option If: You prefer a secular institution without a faith-based university mission.
Explore Universities by Student Priority
Different universities may appeal to students for different reasons, including cost, learning format, academic interests, and other priorities. Explore selected universities below based on the factors most relevant to your search.
Tuition and overall graduate-school costs can vary considerably by university and program. Students prioritizing affordability can explore universities offering online graduate programs and compare tuition, fees, and other program costs before choosing a school.
Examples:
Online learning structures can differ in pacing, scheduling, course delivery, and opportunities to progress around work or other responsibilities.
Examples:
Students with military backgrounds may consider universities that provide dedicated resources, benefits guidance, or support services for service members and veterans.
Examples:
Compare Universities and Programs
Once you have identified universities or programs you are considering, comparing them side by side can help you evaluate differences in cost, admissions requirements, curriculum, learning format, and other factors that may affect your decision.
OMC’s comparison resources can help you browse existing head-to-head comparisons or compare master’s programs based on the options you’re considering.
Browse Comparisons → University & Program Comparisons
Compare your options → Compare Master’s Programs
Browse All Universities
Browse OMC’s university profiles below to explore schools offering online master’s programs. Universities are organized alphabetically to help you find a specific school.
- Michigan State University
- National University
- North Carolina State University
- North Dakota State University
- Northeastern University
- Nova Southeastern University
- Ohio State University
- Ohio University
- Oklahoma State University
- Old Dominion University
- Penn State World Campus
- Pepperdine University
- Purdue University
- Regent University
- Regis University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Syracuse University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Alabama
- University of Arizona
- University of Central Florida
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Denver
- University of Florida
- University of Houston
- University of Illinois Springfield
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of Maryland Global Campus
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Michigan
- University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- University of North Texas
- University of Southern California
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of the Cumberlands
- University of Washington
- Villanova University
- Walden University
- Western Governors University
How to Evaluate an Online University
When comparing universities, focus on factors that directly affect the quality, cost, and fit of the specific master’s program you’re considering:
- Institutional accreditation — Verify that the university holds recognized institutional accreditation.
- Programmatic accreditation — Some fields have specialized accreditation that may matter for professional practice, licensure, or employer requirements.
- Tuition and fees — Compare the actual cost of your specific program rather than relying only on a university’s general tuition rates.
- Online learning format — Consider whether courses are synchronous, asynchronous, competency-based, or use another delivery model.
- Program flexibility — Review pacing, part-time options, start dates, and other scheduling considerations.
- Admissions requirements — Compare prerequisites, GPA expectations, testing requirements, work experience, and other admission criteria.
- Student support — Look at advising, career services, technical support, academic resources, and services available to online students.
- Program availability — Make sure the university offers the degree, specialization, and curriculum that align with your goals.
The right university can differ from one student to another. Evaluating schools based on your academic goals, budget, preferred learning format, and other priorities can help you build a more relevant shortlist than relying on reputation or rankings alone.