Online master’s programs
Per credit hour
Typical total cost
National university ranking
Institution type
Private, nonprofit
Regional accreditation
NECHE
Admissions model
Rolling (CPS) · Deadline-based (Khoury/Bouvé)
GRE/GMAT required
Not required (most programs)
Military rates
Available (Yellow Ribbon)
Northeastern University has built one of the more ambitious online master’s portfolios among highly ranked private universities. Most online programs are administered through the College of Professional Studies (CPS) under the Northeastern Global brand, though several high-profile programs — particularly in computer science and nursing — are housed in their home colleges (Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, D’Amore-McKim School of Business).
This matters for prospective students because the college of origin affects selectivity, tuition rates, and the nature of the student experience. CPS programs tend toward open-access rolling admissions and are designed for working professionals. Khoury and Bouvé programs are more selective, may follow traditional deadline cycles, and carry different tuition structures.
Northeastern’s calling card is its experiential learning model — the co-op tradition that defines its on-campus identity. For online master’s students, this translates into capstone projects, employer-sponsored experiential components, and portfolio-driven coursework rather than traditional co-op placements. Whether this distinction matters depends on what you’re looking for, which is a question this page addresses directly.
Northeastern occupies a specific niche in the online master’s landscape: it’s one of a handful of top-50 national universities offering a genuinely broad online catalog — not just a few token programs, but deep coverage across business, cybersecurity, data science, healthcare, education, criminal justice, communication, and engineering management.
Northeastern holds an NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation, which places its cybersecurity programs among a relatively small group with federal-level recognition. The MS in Cybersecurity is one of the university’s most recognized online offerings, and it draws students from military, federal, and private-sector backgrounds. If you’re comparing cybersecurity MBA concentrations or dedicated cybersecurity master’s programs, Northeastern belongs in the conversation.
The MS in Computer Science and MS in Data Science come from Khoury College of Computer Sciences — Northeastern’s dedicated CS school — not from a generic professional studies division. The ALIGN program specifically targets career changers with no prior CS background, offering a bridge pathway into the full MS. This is unusual among top-50 universities.
Northeastern’s co-op tradition is famous on campus, but online master’s students should understand what they actually receive: capstone projects, industry-partnered coursework, and optional experiential components — not the six-month paid co-op placements that define the undergraduate experience. The experiential component is real but not equivalent. Students who enroll expecting a traditional co-op may be disappointed.
Northeastern offers CCNE-accredited MSN tracks (FNP, PMHNP, Adult-Gerontology NP), a CEPH-accredited MPH, and specialized programs like MS in Health Informatics and MS in Drug Regulatory Affairs. The regulatory affairs programs are genuinely niche — few universities offer them online at the master’s level — and serve a specific pharmaceutical/biotech audience.
The D’Amore-McKim MBA carries AACSB accreditation and offers seven concentrations including finance, healthcare management, high-tech management, and supply chain. For students specifically seeking AACSB-accredited online MBA programs , Northeastern is a premium-priced but credentialed option.
Northeastern maintains corporate partnerships that offer tuition discounts to employees of participating organizations. If your employer is a Northeastern partner, this can meaningfully offset the premium pricing.
Northeastern’s online master’s catalog spans at least ten distinct subject areas. The table below groups all known online master’s programs by subject. Note that tuition rates, credit requirements, and admissions selectivity vary significantly by college — CPS programs are generally more accessible, while Khoury and Bouvé programs are more selective.
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | MBA | Finance, Healthcare Mgmt, High-Tech Mgmt, Innovation, Marketing, Supply Chain, Sustainability | AACSB | No (waiver available) | Fully online | D’Amore-McKim School of Business. 18–24 months. |
| MS in Finance | MS | — | AACSB | No | Fully online | 30 credit hours. 12–24 months. |
| MS in Leadership | MS | Health Mgmt, HR, Organizational Communication, Project Mgmt, Sport Leadership | — | No | Fully online | 18–24 months. |
| MS in Project Management | MS | — | PMI GAC recognized | No | Fully online | 18–24 months. |
| MS in Commerce and Economic Development | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Sport Leadership | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
Students exploring data and technology programs should also review our broader psychology programs hub for industrial-organizational tracks that intersect with analytics.
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Analytics | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | College of Professional Studies. 18–24 months. |
| MS in Data Science | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | Khoury College of Computer Sciences. |
| MS in Information Systems | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Computer Science | MS | AI, Data Science, General, Software Engineering Systems | — | Varies | Fully online | Khoury College. ALIGN program for career changers. Selective admissions. |
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Cybersecurity | MS | — | NSA/DHS CAE-CD | No | Fully online | Flagship online program. 18–24 months. |
| MS in Cyber-Physical Systems | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
Northeastern’s nursing programs require clinical placements, making them hybrid rather than fully online. For a broader view of online MSN options, see our MSN programs hub .
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Nursing — Family Nurse Practitioner | MSN | — | CCNE | No | Hybrid (clinicals required) | Bouvé College. Deadline-based admissions. |
| MS in Nursing — Psychiatric Mental Health NP | MSN | — | CCNE | No | Hybrid (clinicals required) | Deadline-based admissions. |
| MS in Nursing — Adult-Gerontology NP | MSN | — | CCNE | No | Hybrid (clinicals required) | Deadline-based admissions. |
See our MHA programs hub for a broader comparison of online healthcare administration degrees.
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Healthcare Administration | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Health Informatics | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MPH — Master of Public Health | MPH | — | CEPH | No | Fully online | Bouvé College. |
| MS in Drug Regulatory Affairs | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | Niche: pharmaceutical/biotech. |
| MS in Regulatory Affairs for Drugs, Biologics, and Medical Devices | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | Unique niche program. |
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEd in Higher Education Administration | MEd | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MEd in eLearning and Instructional Design | MEd | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MEd in Curriculum and Instruction | MEd | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
For broader context on online criminal justice master’s degrees, visit our criminal justice programs hub .
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Criminal Justice | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Homeland Security | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPA — Master of Public Administration | MPA | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Nonprofit Management | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Organizational Communication | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Corporate and Organizational Communication | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| MS in Technical Communication | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Engineering Management | MS | — | — | No | Fully online | — |
For additional online psychology master’s options, see our psychology programs hub .
| Program | Degree | Concentrations | Accreditation | GRE Required | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS in Applied Behavior Analysis | MS | — | ABAI Verified | No | Hybrid (fieldwork required) | Supervised fieldwork for BCBA certification eligibility. |
Northeastern sits in a competitive tier of private universities offering large online master’s catalogs. The comparison below highlights the most relevant peer institutions — all with OMC evaluation pages — across dimensions that actually affect your decision.
| Dimension | Northeastern | Drexel University | George Washington University | Arizona State University | Johns Hopkins University |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institution Type | Private, nonprofit | Private, nonprofit | Private, nonprofit | Public | Private, nonprofit |
| U.S. News Tier | Top 50 | Top 100 | Top 70 | Top 120 (innovation #1) | Top 10 |
| Online Master’s Programs | 30+ | 100+ | 60+ | 200+ | 30+ |
| Tuition Range (per credit) | $800–$1,700+ | $700–$1,200+ | $1,000–$1,800+ | $500–$1,000+ | $1,100–$1,900+ |
| Experiential/Co-op DNA | Strong (adapted online) | Strong (co-op tradition) | Moderate | Moderate | Limited (research focus) |
| Strongest Online Subjects | Cybersecurity, Data, Business, Healthcare | Health, Business, Engineering, IT | Policy, Public Health, International Affairs | Business, Education, Engineering, IT | Public Health, Education, Healthcare |
| GRE Required | Mostly no | Varies | Varies | Mostly no | Varies |
| Admissions Model | Mostly rolling (CPS); selective (Khoury, Bouvé) | Rolling and deadline-based | Mostly deadline-based | Rolling | Selective, deadline-based |
| Key Accreditations (Online Programs) | AACSB, CCNE, CEPH, NSA/DHS CAE-CD | AACSB, CCNE, ABET | AACSB, NASP | AACSB, CACREP | CEPH, NASP |
What the comparison reveals:
Northeastern’s online master’s programs aren’t designed for everyone, and that’s part of the value proposition. Here’s who benefits most:
Northeastern is a strong option in specific contexts, but there are clear scenarios where other universities serve students better.
These six programs represent Northeastern’s strongest or most distinctive online master’s offerings, based on accreditation, reputation, unique positioning, or market demand.
1. MS in Cybersecurity
Northeastern’s cybersecurity program is arguably its online flagship. The NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense designation puts it in select company nationally, and the curriculum is built around real-world threat modeling, network security, and policy. It draws heavily from military, federal, and enterprise security professionals. Completion in 18–24 months, no GRE required.
2. MBA (D’Amore-McKim School of Business)
AACSB-accredited with seven concentrations — the most notable being healthcare management, high-tech management, and supply chain management. The GMAT/GRE waiver makes this more accessible than many ranked MBA programs, though the premium tuition offsets that accessibility. Students who specifically need AACSB accreditation and want a recognized brand should compare this against other AACSB-accredited online MBA programs .
3. MS in Data Science (Khoury College)
Housed in one of the nation’s top computer science colleges, not a professional studies division. This distinction matters because Khoury’s research faculty design the curriculum, and the degree carries CS-school branding rather than generic professional studies labeling. The program is more selective than CPS offerings.
4. MPH — Master of Public Health (Bouvé College)
CEPH-accredited, which is the gold standard for public health programs. The online MPH is delivered through Bouvé College of Health Sciences and covers epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and health policy. Students exploring public health specializations may also want to review epidemiology-focused programs across universities.
5. MSN — Family Nurse Practitioner (Bouvé College)
CCNE-accredited and one of the most sought-after online NP tracks at Northeastern. Requires clinical placements, so this is a hybrid program, but the coursework is primarily online. Deadline-based admissions make it more competitive than CPS programs. Prospective nursing students should compare across our MSN programs hub for alternatives.
6. MS in Applied Behavior Analysis
ABAI-verified, which is the accreditation that matters for BCBA certification eligibility. The program requires supervised fieldwork hours, making it a hybrid, but it’s one of the more structured online ABA pathways from a top-50 university. This is a strong option for students pursuing board certification in behavior analysis.
| Factor | CPS Programs (most online master’s) | Khoury College Programs | Bouvé College Programs (Nursing, ABA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions Model | Rolling — multiple starts per year | Selective — may have application deadlines | Deadline-based — Fall and Spring intakes |
| GRE/GMAT | Not required for most | Varies by program | Not required |
| Minimum GPA | Typically 2.5–3.0 | Typically 3.0+ | Typically 3.0+ |
| Work Experience | Preferred but not always required | Not required (ALIGN exists for career changers) | Clinical experience required for NP tracks |
| Application Components | Transcripts, resume, personal statement, 1–2 recommendations | Transcripts, resume, personal statement, 2–3 recommendations | Transcripts, resume, personal statement, recommendations, license verification |
The key distinction at Northeastern is that “online master’s admissions” isn’t a single process — it depends heavily on which college houses the program.
College of Professional Studies (CPS): Most of Northeastern’s online master’s programs sit here, and admissions are designed for working professionals. Rolling admissions with multiple start dates per year means you’re not locked into a fall-only application cycle. GRE/GMAT is waived for most programs. This is the most accessible path into a Northeastern master’s degree.
Khoury College of Computer Sciences: The MS in Computer Science is more selective, with competitive admissions and potential prerequisites depending on your background. The ALIGN program specifically exists for career changers — it adds a bridge semester of foundational CS coursework before the full MS sequence. Data Science admissions are somewhat more accessible but still more selective than CPS norms.
Bouvé College of Health Sciences: Nursing NP tracks follow deadline-based admissions with Fall and Spring cohorts. Clinical experience and active RN licensure are typically required. The ABA program requires a bachelor’s degree and supervised fieldwork arrangements.
Most Northeastern online master’s programs do not require standardized test scores, which aligns with the university’s presence on lists of online master’s programs with no GRE requirement .
| Cost Dimension | Range |
|---|---|
| Per-Credit Rate (CPS programs) | ~$800–$1,000 per credit |
| Per-Credit Rate (Khoury, D’Amore-McKim, Bouvé) | ~$1,200–$1,700+ per credit |
| Typical Total Program Cost (30–45 credits) | ~$24,000–$75,000+ depending on program and college |
| Fees | Technology fee, registration fee vary by term |
| Financial Aid | Federal loans, employer tuition partnerships, military/veteran discounts, merit scholarships (limited for online) |
Northeastern is not a budget-friendly option. This needs to be stated clearly because it’s the single most common concern prospective online students raise.
The university charges per credit hour, and rates vary meaningfully by college. CPS programs (the majority of online master’s offerings) tend to fall in the $800–$1,000 per-credit range. Programs housed in D’Amore-McKim (MBA), Khoury (CS, Data Science), and Bouvé (Nursing, Public Health) carry higher per-credit rates, often exceeding $1,500.
For a 30-credit CPS program, total tuition might land around $24,000–$30,000. For a 45-credit MBA or a 40+ credit nursing program through a higher-rate college, total costs can exceed $60,000–$75,000.
How to make it work financially:
If tuition is your primary constraint and you don’t have employer support, public universities like Arizona State University or Penn State World Campus offer significantly lower per-credit rates for comparable programs.
Northeastern’s programs appear in or are relevant to several OMC ranking pages. Use these to compare Northeastern against other universities in specific program categories:
Visit Northeastern University’s official online programs page
Is Northeastern University regionally accredited?
Yes. Northeastern is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which is one of the six regional accrediting bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation covers all programs, including those delivered online.
Do Northeastern online master’s degrees say “online” on the diploma?
No. Northeastern does not distinguish between online and on-campus degrees on transcripts or diplomas. Graduates receive the same credential regardless of delivery format.
Can online students participate in Northeastern’s co-op program?
The traditional co-op experience — six-month paid employer placements — is not available to most online master’s students. However, many online programs incorporate experiential learning elements such as capstone projects, applied research, and employer-partnered coursework. Some programs offer optional experiential components for students near a Northeastern campus.
How long does it take to complete an online master’s at Northeastern?
Most programs are designed for completion in 18–24 months at a part-time pace. Some programs (like the MS in Finance at 30 credits) can be completed in as few as 12 months for students taking a heavier course load. Nursing and clinical programs may take longer due to placement scheduling.
Is the GRE or GMAT required?
No, for the vast majority of online master’s programs at Northeastern. Most CPS programs do not require standardized test scores. The MBA offers a GMAT/GRE waiver. Khoury College programs may have varying requirements. Verify with the specific program.
Does Northeastern offer payment plans for tuition?
Yes. Northeastern offers monthly payment plans that allow students to spread tuition across each semester rather than paying in a single lump sum. Federal student loans and employer tuition reimbursement are also commonly used.
What is the difference between CPS programs and Khoury/Bouvé programs?
The College of Professional Studies (CPS) administers most online master’s programs and is designed for working professionals with rolling admissions and flexible scheduling. Khoury College (Computer Sciences) and Bouvé College (Health Sciences) house more selective, discipline-specific programs with different admissions timelines, higher tuition rates, and sometimes synchronous or clinical components. The college of origin affects your admissions process, tuition, and student experience.