Snapshot Card
80+
Online master’s programs
$530–$630+
Per credit hour
—
Public university ranking
R1
Public research university
Key policies
Institution type:
Private, nonprofit
Regional accreditation:
HLC
Admissions model
Rolling
GRE/GMAT required:
Not required
Out-of-state premium:
out-of-state may differ
Notable Programmatic Accreditations
- AACSB
- ACBSP
- CACREP
- CCNE
- CEPH
- CSWE
- Edited By Jeevan D'Souza
Start Here
- Best For: Working professionals in clinical and practitioner fields — counseling, nursing, social work, education — who need programmatic accreditation and fieldwork coordination built into the program; career changers entering human services or mental health counseling who need a rolling-admissions, no-GRE pathway; military-connected students who value Walden’s dedicated military concentrations in counseling and social work.
- Not Best Fit: Students who prioritize low tuition above all else; students targeting competitive employers in business, tech, or data science where institutional brand perception is a factor in hiring; students who want AACSB-accredited business programs or thesis-track research degrees; anyone uncomfortable with the perception dynamics of for-profit university credentials.
Overview
Walden University is a for-profit, fully online institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Founded in 1970, it now enrolls more than 50,000 students — the vast majority of whom are pursuing graduate degrees. Unlike traditional research universities that adapted to online delivery, Walden was built from the ground up to serve working adults, and its identity reflects that origin: rolling admissions, asynchronous coursework, frequent start dates, and a curriculum organized around practitioner-preparation rather than academic research.
Walden’s strongest institutional claims are in clinical and human-services fields. Its counseling programs hold CACREP accreditation, its nursing programs hold CCNE accreditation, its Master of Social Work holds CSWE accreditation, and its business programs hold ACBSP accreditation. These programmatic accreditations matter because they determine whether graduates can sit for licensure exams and whether employers in regulated fields will recognize the credential.
That said, Walden’s for-profit status is a defining characteristic that shapes both its cost structure and how employers perceive its degrees. Per-credit tuition runs higher than most public online programs and many nonprofit alternatives. Students considering Walden need to weigh the genuine flexibility and clinical accreditation advantages against a price premium and the reputational dynamics that come with for-profit education. This page evaluates those tradeoffs across Walden’s full portfolio of 80+ online master’s programs.
Quick Decision Guide
Quick Fit Summary: Walden works best for working professionals in health, education, counseling, and human services who need flexible pacing, rolling starts, and clinically accredited programs — and who are willing to pay a premium for that flexibility compared to public or nonprofit alternatives.
Cost Signal: Approximately $530–$630+ per credit depending on the program, with total costs typically ranging from $16,000 for shorter education programs to $38,000+ for 60-credit clinical programs. Walden is more expensive than most public online programs and many nonprofit competitors.
Learning Model Signal: Fully asynchronous courses delivered in 8-week terms with multiple start dates per year. Some programs — particularly NP nursing tracks, counseling, social work, and public health — require in-person residencies, clinical hours, or practicum placements.
Admissions Signal: Rolling admissions with no GRE or GMAT requirement for most programs. Relatively open access, though clinical programs have specific prerequisites (e.g., active RN license for MSN, bachelor’s degree in any field for MSW).
Flexibility Signal: Very high. Walden’s entire model is designed for adults who are working full-time, often with families. Asynchronous delivery, frequent start dates, and part-time pacing options are standard across the catalog.
Main Tradeoff: Walden offers unmatched flexibility and clinically accredited programs in counseling, nursing, and social work — but at a higher cost than public alternatives, and with employer-perception challenges that come with for-profit institutional status. The question is whether the programmatic accreditations and flexibility justify the premium for your specific career path.
What Walden University Is Known For
Walden’s institutional reputation rests on a specific set of strengths that distinguish it from both traditional universities and other large online providers. Understanding these strengths — and their limits — is essential for evaluating whether Walden’s programs are worth investigating for your field.
Programmatic accreditation in clinical and practitioner fields.
This is Walden’s most defensible advantage. The university’s counseling programs (Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, Marriage/Couple/Family Counseling) all hold CACREP accreditation, which is the gold standard for counseling licensure preparation in the United States. Its MSN programs hold CCNE accreditation, its MSW holds CSWE accreditation, and its business programs hold ACBSP accreditation. For students in fields where programmatic accreditation determines licensure eligibility, these credentials carry real weight — regardless of the institution’s for-profit classification. You can learn more about why accreditation matters for online master’s programs .
One of the largest online-only master’s portfolios in the U.S.
Walden offers more than 80 distinct online master’s programs and specializations across education, psychology, counseling, nursing, social work, healthcare administration, public health, business, criminal justice, public administration, IT, data science, and communication. Few institutions — online or otherwise — match this breadth at the graduate level.
Practitioner-preparation focus.
Walden’s curriculum is oriented toward applied practice rather than academic research. Courses emphasize case studies, fieldwork, real-world projects, and professional skills development. The university’s “social change” mission threads through program objectives, though the practical impact of that framing varies by program.
Fieldwork and clinical coordination.
For programs that require practicum, clinical, or field placement hours — including counseling, nursing NP tracks, social work, and public health — Walden provides placement coordination support. This is a meaningful logistical advantage for students who live far from a campus and need to arrange supervised practice experiences in their local area.
Designed for working adults from the start.
Unlike traditional universities that retrofitted their programs for online delivery, Walden built its entire model around asynchronous, flexible pacing for employed adults. Rolling admissions, 8-week course terms, multiple annual start dates, and evening/weekend-friendly scheduling are standard — not adaptations.
These strengths are real, but they come with context. Walden’s for-profit status means its per-credit costs are higher than most public and nonprofit alternatives. Its programmatic accreditations are legitimate, but the institutional brand does not carry the same weight in fields like business or technology where employer screening is more name-dependent. The sections below break down exactly where those tradeoffs matter most.
Online Master’s Programs at Walden University by Subject
Walden’s online master’s catalog spans more than 30 distinct programs across 10+ subject areas. The table below provides a structured overview of every online master’s program, including credit requirements, estimated costs, programmatic accreditation, and whether any in-person component is required. Subject-specific interpretation follows in the subsections below.
| Program Name | Degree Type | Subject Area | Credit Hours | Estimated Total Cost | Accreditation | In-Person Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | MBA | Business | 48 | $30,240 | ACBSP | No |
| MS in Accounting | MS | Business | 30 | $18,900 | ACBSP | No |
| MS in Human Resource Management | MS | Business | 30 | $18,900 | ACBSP | No |
| MS in Leadership | MS | Business | 30 | $18,900 | — | No |
| MS in Project Management | MS | Business | 30 | $18,900 | — | No |
| MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | MS | Psychology | 60 | $37,800 | CACREP | Yes |
| MS in School Counseling | MS | Psychology | 48 | $30,240 | CACREP | Yes |
| MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling | MS | Psychology | 60 | $37,800 | CACREP | Yes |
| MS in Forensic Psychology | MS | Psychology | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| MS in Psychology | MS | Psychology | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| MS in Developmental Psychology | MS | Psychology | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology | MS | Psychology | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| Master of Social Work (MSW) | MSW | Social Work | 60 | $34,200 | CSWE | Yes |
| MSN — Nurse Practitioner tracks | MSN | Nursing | 54 | $34,020 | CCNE | Yes |
| MSN — Non-NP tracks | MSN | Nursing | 39 | $24,570 | CCNE | No |
| MEd — General Education | MEd | Education | 30 | $15,900 | — | No |
| MS in Education — Special Education | MS | Education | 36 | $19,080 | — | No |
| MS in Education — Instructional Design and Technology | MS | Education | 30 | $15,900 | — | No |
| MS in Education — Higher Education | MS | Education | 30 | $15,900 | — | No |
| MS in Education — Educational Leadership and Administration | MS | Education | 36 | $19,080 | — | No |
| MS in Education — Early Childhood Studies | MS | Education | 30 | $15,900 | — | No |
| Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) | MHA | Healthcare | 48 | $30,240 | — | No |
| MS in Health Education and Promotion | MS | Healthcare | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| Master of Public Health (MPH) | MPH | Healthcare | 60 | $34,200 | — | Yes |
| MS in Health Informatics | MS | Healthcare | 36 | $22,680 | — | No |
| MS in Criminal Justice | MS | Criminal Justice | 45 | $25,650 | — | No |
| MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management | MS | Criminal Justice | 45 | $25,650 | — | No |
| Master of Public Administration (MPA) | MPA | Public Administration | 48 | $27,360 | — | No |
| MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership | MS | Public Administration | 30 | $17,100 | — | No |
| MS in Information Technology | MS | IT & Data | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| MS in Data Science | MS | IT & Data | 45 | $28,350 | — | No |
| MS in Communication | MS | Communication | 30 | $17,100 | — | No |
| MS in Emergency Management | MS | Criminal Justice | 36 | $20,520 | — | No |
Counseling and psychology represent Walden’s flagship subject area — the place where its institutional strengths are most clearly differentiated from competitors. Three of Walden’s counseling programs hold CACREP accreditation: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. CACREP accreditation is not optional decoration. In a growing number of states, it is required for licensure eligibility, and many employers in mental health settings will only hire from CACREP-accredited programs. For students aiming toward Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credentials, this accreditation is the single most important factor in program selection.
All three licensure-track counseling programs require in-person residency components plus supervised practicum and internship hours, which Walden helps coordinate through its field experience office. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage/Couple/Family Counseling programs are 60 credits (~$37,800), while School Counseling is 48 credits (~$30,240). These are substantial investments, but the CACREP credential and Walden’s placement coordination infrastructure make them competitive with other online counseling options. For a broader comparison, see our ranking of the best online master’s in counseling.
Walden also offers several non-licensure psychology programs — Forensic Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and a general MS in Psychology with multiple concentrations. These 45-credit programs (~$28,350) are fully online with no in-person requirements. They can be useful for career enrichment or as stepping stones toward doctoral study, but they do not lead to licensure as a psychologist or counselor. Students should understand that distinction clearly before enrolling.
Walden’s nursing programs are CCNE-accredited across both nurse practitioner and non-NP tracks — a meaningful credential for a fully online provider. The NP tracks include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), and Adult-Gerontology options in both acute care and primary care. These 54-credit programs (~$34,020) require clinical hours that students complete in their local area under preceptor supervision, with Walden providing placement support.
The non-NP MSN tracks — Nursing Education, Nursing Informatics, and Nurse Executive — are shorter (39 credits, ~$24,570) and fully online with no clinical requirement. These serve experienced RNs who want to move into leadership, teaching, or health IT roles without pursuing an advanced practice credential.
All MSN applicants must hold an active RN license, which serves as a meaningful built-in quality filter. Walden’s PMHNP track is particularly notable given the national shortage of psychiatric providers and the high demand for this specialization. For students comparing online MSN options, our best online master’s in nursing ranking provides additional context.
Walden’s education portfolio is extensive, spanning six distinct programs: a general MEd with multiple concentrations, plus MS programs in Special Education, Instructional Design and Technology, Higher Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, and Early Childhood Studies. Education programs carry a lower per-credit rate ($530) than most other Walden programs, making them among the university’s more affordable options — with total costs ranging from roughly $15,900 to $19,080.
A critical distinction: most of Walden’s education programs are non-licensure. They are designed for practicing teachers and education professionals who want career advancement, salary-step increases, or preparation for leadership roles — not for individuals seeking initial teaching licensure. The Educational Leadership program may prepare graduates for principal licensure in some states, but this varies by jurisdiction and students should verify state-specific requirements before enrolling.
For practicing educators who need a flexible, affordable master’s degree to advance their careers, Walden’s education programs are a reasonable option. The frequent start dates and asynchronous delivery make it possible to continue teaching full-time while pursuing the degree. Our broader best online master’s in education ranking includes additional options across different institution types.
Walden’s Master of Social Work is CSWE-accredited — the required accreditation for graduates to pursue state licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Social Worker (LSW). The program offers concentrations in Advanced Clinical Practice and Military Social Work, plus an advanced standing track for students who already hold a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program. The advanced standing option reduces the program from 60 credits (~$34,200) to approximately 33 credits, cutting both time and cost significantly.
Field placement is mandatory and typically requires 900+ hours of supervised practice. Walden’s field experience team assists students in locating and arranging placements in their local communities, which is a meaningful logistical support for an online program. The MSW’s per-credit rate of $570 places it in the mid-range of Walden’s tuition scale.
The CSWE accreditation makes this a functionally equivalent credential to MSW degrees from traditional universities when it comes to licensure eligibility. The primary tradeoff is cost: public university MSW programs can be substantially less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. For a broader comparison of online MSW options, see our best online master’s in social work ranking.
Walden offers four health-related programs beyond nursing: a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA), a Master of Public Health (MPH), an MS in Health Education and Promotion, and an MS in Health Informatics. These programs do not carry specialized programmatic accreditation (the MPH, for instance, is not CEPH-accredited), which is worth noting for students in fields where programmatic accreditation influences hiring.
The MHA (48 credits, ~$30,240) and MPH (60 credits, ~$34,200) are the most substantial offerings. The MPH requires a practicum component involving applied practice experience, making it one of the few Walden health programs with a fieldwork element. Health Informatics (36 credits, ~$22,680) sits at the intersection of healthcare and IT and may appeal to professionals looking to bridge clinical and technical roles.
These programs are solid options for students already established in healthcare who need a master’s credential for advancement. However, students evaluating healthcare administration programs should compare Walden’s costs against public university alternatives, where similar programs often cost significantly less. Our best online master’s in healthcare administration ranking offers additional options.
Walden’s business programs include an MBA with five concentrations, plus standalone MS programs in Accounting, Human Resource Management, Leadership, and Project Management. The MBA and Accounting programs hold ACBSP accreditation.
The ACBSP vs. AACSB distinction matters here. ACBSP is a legitimate accrediting body — it signals that the program meets established quality standards for business education. However, AACSB is the more widely recognized accreditation among competitive employers, particularly at larger corporations and consulting firms. Students targeting Fortune 500 companies, management consulting, or investment banking should understand that an ACBSP-accredited MBA from a for-profit institution will be viewed differently than an AACSB-accredited MBA from a traditional university.
That said, for mid-career professionals who need an MBA for internal promotion, career pivoting within their current organization, or entrepreneurial ventures, Walden’s MBA (48 credits, ~$30,240) offers flexible pacing and relevant concentrations like Healthcare Management and Project Management. The Project Management MS is aligned with PMI standards, which adds practical credential value. Our best online MBA programs ranking provides a broader competitive landscape.
Walden’s remaining programs span criminal justice (MS in Criminal Justice, MS in Criminal Justice Leadership, MS in Emergency Management), public administration (MPA, MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership), IT and data (MS in Information Technology, MS in Data Science), and communication (MS in Communication).
The criminal justice programs (45 credits at $570/credit, ~$25,650) are oriented toward working professionals in law enforcement, corrections, and homeland security who want to advance into leadership or policy roles. The MPA (48 credits, ~$27,360) offers six concentrations including Homeland Security, Health Policy, and Nonprofit Management, making it one of Walden’s more versatile programs. For a broader view of online criminal justice options, see our best online master’s in criminal justice ranking.
The IT and Data Science programs (45 credits at $630/credit, ~$28,350) are functional but face stiffer competition. In technology fields, employer perception of institutional brand matters more than in education or human services, and Walden’s for-profit positioning is a more significant headwind in that hiring environment. Students considering Walden for tech credentials should weigh this carefully against alternatives from public universities or nonprofit institutions where the tuition is often lower and the brand signal is stronger.
The MS in Communication (30 credits, ~$17,100) is one of Walden’s most affordable offerings and offers concentrations in digital media, health communication, and organizational communication.
Looking across Walden’s full online master’s portfolio, a clear pattern emerges. The university’s strongest and most defensible programs are in regulated, licensure-dependent fields: counseling, nursing, social work, and to a lesser extent education. In these areas, Walden’s programmatic accreditations (CACREP, CCNE, CSWE) function as equalizers — the accreditation body’s stamp carries more weight than the institutional brand in determining employment eligibility and licensure outcomes. Where Walden is less competitive is in fields where institutional prestige influences hiring decisions directly — business at competitive employers, technology, and data science. The for-profit tuition premium also makes Walden a harder sell in subject areas where equivalent public university options exist at substantially lower cost. Students should choose Walden for the specific advantages it offers in clinical and practitioner fields, not as a default option across all disciplines.
How Walden University Compares
Students considering Walden are almost always also evaluating other large online universities. The comparison below places Walden alongside four institutions that prospective students frequently weigh as alternatives — each with a different institutional model, cost structure, and set of strengths.
| Dimension | Walden University | Southern New Hampshire University | Western Governors University | Liberty University | University of Maryland Global Campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional Type | For-profit | Private nonprofit | Private nonprofit | Private nonprofit (faith-based) | Public |
| Tuition Range (per credit) | $530–$630+ | ~$627 | ~$4,295/term (flat-rate) | ~$565–$615 | ~$499–$599 |
| Program Breadth (master’s) | 80+ programs | 100+ programs | 40+ programs | 100+ programs | 30+ programs |
| Key Accreditations | CACREP, CCNE, CSWE, ACBSP | ACBSP | CCNE, ACBSP, CAEP | CACREP, CCNE, ACBSP, CAEP | — |
| Admissions Model | Rolling, no GRE | Rolling, no GRE | Rolling, no GRE | Rolling, GRE varies | Rolling, no GRE |
| Best Known For | Clinically accredited counseling, nursing, social work | Affordable tuition, scale, undergraduate programs | Competency-based education, flat-rate tuition, fast completion | Faith-integrated education, military-friendly | Public university brand, cybersecurity, IT |
How to read this comparison:
- Walden’s primary advantage over these alternatives is the depth of its programmatic accreditation in clinical fields. SNHU offers comparable breadth and lower cost for many programs, but it does not hold CACREP accreditation for its counseling programs — a critical distinction for students pursuing licensure. Western Governors University uses a fundamentally different educational model: competency-based, flat-rate tuition that can be significantly cheaper for fast learners. WGU holds CCNE accreditation for nursing, but its competency-based approach does not translate well to the supervised clinical training that counseling and social work require. Liberty University holds CACREP accreditation and offers a faith-integrated approach, serving a different student demographic with a different institutional mission. UMGC offers the public-university brand advantage at lower tuition, but its master’s portfolio is narrower and focused more on technology, cybersecurity, and management than on clinical or human-services fields.
- The cost comparison is not straightforward. Walden’s per-credit rates are comparable to or higher than SNHU and Liberty, and significantly higher than WGU’s flat-rate model or UMGC’s in-state rates. For students in counseling, nursing, or social work where Walden’s specific accreditations are required, the cost premium may be justified. For students in business, IT, or general management, the same premium is harder to defend when less expensive alternatives exist with comparable or better employer perception.
Best For
Walden is a genuinely strong fit for a specific set of student profiles — not for everyone, but for people whose needs align with what this institution does well:
- Working professionals pursuing licensure in counseling, social work, or advanced-practice nursing. If you need a CACREP-accredited counseling program, a CSWE-accredited MSW, or a CCNE-accredited NP program that you can complete while working full-time, Walden is one of the few fully online institutions that checks all three boxes. The programmatic accreditations are the credential that matters most in these regulated fields.
- Career changers entering human services or mental health fields. Walden’s rolling admissions, no-GRE policy, and flexible pacing create a low-barrier entry point for professionals transitioning from other careers into counseling, social work, or education. The fieldwork coordination support is particularly valuable for students who do not have existing professional networks in their new field.
- Practicing educators seeking non-licensure advancement degrees. Teachers who need a master’s degree for salary increases or career advancement — and who do not need initial licensure — can complete Walden’s education programs at the lowest per-credit rate in the portfolio ($530/credit) while continuing to teach full-time.
- Students who need maximum schedule flexibility and frequent start dates. If you cannot wait for a traditional semester start, cannot commit to synchronous sessions, or need to pause and resume your studies, Walden’s model accommodates that better than most alternatives.
- Military-connected students and veterans. Walden offers dedicated military concentrations in counseling and social work, accepts military education benefits, and has a student population with significant military representation. Understanding whether an online master’s is worth the investment is especially important when using limited education benefits.
Not a Best Fit For
Walden is not the strongest choice for every student, and being honest about where it falls short is just as important as identifying where it excels:
Cost-conscious students. Walden’s per-credit tuition ($530–$630+) is significantly higher than public university alternatives and many nonprofit competitors. Students who are price-sensitive should compare total costs carefully — especially for non-clinical programs where cheaper alternatives with equivalent or better outcomes exist. SNHU, WGU, and public universities like UMGC often offer lower total costs for comparable programs. Our most affordable online master’s programs ranking provides a useful benchmark.
Students targeting competitive employers in business, technology, or data science. In fields where resume screening and institutional brand perception influence hiring — including consulting, investment banking, Big Tech, and data science at competitive firms — a for-profit credential faces headwinds that a public or nonprofit university degree does not. This is not about whether the education is adequate; it is about how hiring managers and algorithms process the institutional signal.
Students who want AACSB-accredited business programs. Walden’s MBA holds ACBSP accreditation, which is legitimate but not AACSB. For students whose career goals require the AACSB signal — and many corporate MBA pipelines effectively do — Walden is not the right choice.
Students seeking research-oriented or thesis-track master’s programs. Walden’s curriculum is practitioner-focused across the board. Students who want a research-intensive experience, lab access, faculty mentorship in academic research, or a thesis-track program that prepares for PhD applications should look at research universities.
Students uncomfortable with for-profit institutional status. The for-profit designation carries real perception consequences in some fields and some circles. Students who anticipate that employer perception, colleague attitudes, or personal comfort with the for-profit model would create ongoing friction should consider nonprofit or public alternatives.
Admissions Snapshot
Walden operates a rolling admissions model with new cohort start dates approximately every four to eight weeks throughout the year. This is one of the most accessible admissions structures in graduate education — there is no single application deadline to hit, and students can begin a program within weeks of being accepted.
Standard requirements across most programs:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Completed application with transcripts
- No GRE or GMAT required for the majority of programs
- Personal statement or goal statement (varies by program)
Program-specific prerequisites for clinical programs:
- MSN programs require an active, unencumbered RN license
- Counseling programs may require prerequisite coursework in psychology or related fields
- MSW programs accept applicants from any undergraduate major; advanced standing requires a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program
- MPH requires a practicum that necessitates background checks and possibly immunization documentation
Transfer credits. Walden accepts transfer credits on a case-by-case basis, though policies vary by program. Students transferring from another graduate program should verify the maximum number of transferable credits before enrolling.
Walden’s open-access admissions model is part of what makes it work for career changers and non-traditional students. The lack of GRE requirements and the rolling calendar remove two of the most common barriers to graduate enrollment. The tradeoff is that admissions selectivity is low, which means the institutional filtering happens during the program rather than at the door. Students should be prepared to self-assess their readiness honestly, particularly for rigorous clinical programs.
Tuition and Cost Overview
Walden’s tuition structure varies by program area, with per-credit rates ranging from approximately $530 to $630 or higher. Understanding the total cost picture — not just the per-credit rate — is essential for making an informed decision.
Per-credit tuition by program area (approximate):
- Education programs: ~$530/credit
- Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Communication, Social Work, Public Health: ~$570/credit
- Business, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, IT, Data Science: ~$630/credit
Total cost ranges for representative programs:
- MEd — General Education (30 credits): ~$15,900
- MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership (30 credits): ~$17,100
- MS in Accounting (30 credits): ~$18,900
- MS in Criminal Justice (45 credits): ~$25,650
- MBA (48 credits): ~$30,240
- MSW (60 credits, standard track): ~$34,200
- MSN — Nurse Practitioner (54 credits): ~$34,020
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits): ~$37,800
These figures represent tuition only. Additional costs may include technology fees, course materials, residency travel (for programs with in-person requirements), background checks for clinical placements, and graduation fees.
How Walden’s costs compare. Walden is more expensive than most public online programs and many nonprofit alternatives for equivalent degree types. For instance, public university MSW programs frequently charge $300–$500 per credit for in-state students, compared to Walden’s $570. WGU’s flat-rate tuition model can reduce total costs substantially for students who complete coursework quickly. SNHU’s per-credit rates are comparable to Walden’s in some programs but carry the nonprofit institutional distinction. Our graduate school cost calculator can help you estimate your actual out-of-pocket costs across different scenarios.
Financial aid and funding options. Walden participates in federal financial aid programs, including federal Direct Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. The university also offers institutional scholarships, including need-based and merit-based awards. Many Walden students use employer tuition reimbursement programs, and the university accepts military education benefits including GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and Yellow Ribbon funding.
The honest cost assessment: Walden’s pricing is justifiable in clinical fields where its programmatic accreditations are required for licensure and where few alternatives offer comparable flexibility. In non-clinical fields — business, IT, criminal justice, communication — the cost premium is harder to justify when public and nonprofit alternatives offer similar or equivalent programs at lower tuition.
Visit Walden University’s official online programs page
Related Rankings
Students evaluating Walden should compare their specific program of interest against the broader competitive landscape. The following OMC rankings are directly relevant to Walden’s strongest subject areas and most common student decision points:
- Best Online Master’s in Counseling — Compares CACREP-accredited and other counseling programs across online providers. Essential reading for anyone considering Walden’s counseling programs.
- Best Online Master’s in Nursing — Evaluates CCNE-accredited MSN programs including NP tracks. Useful for comparing Walden’s nursing options against public and nonprofit alternatives.
- Best Online Master’s in Social Work (MSW) — Ranks CSWE-accredited online MSW programs. Helps contextualize Walden’s MSW against competitors on cost, format, and outcomes.
- Best Online Master’s in Education — Covers the full range of online education degrees. Relevant for Walden’s extensive education portfolio.
- Most Affordable Online Master’s Programs — Provides a cost-comparison baseline. Particularly useful for students who want to see how Walden’s pricing stacks up against the most budget-friendly alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Walden University holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which is one of the six recognized regional accrediting bodies in the United States. Regional accreditation is the standard that employers and other institutions recognize when evaluating the legitimacy of a degree. In addition to institutional accreditation, several Walden programs hold specialized programmatic accreditations: CACREP for counseling, CCNE for nursing, CSWE for social work, and ACBSP for business.
Walden is a legitimate, regionally accredited university. It is classified as a for-profit institution, which sometimes raises questions, but its HLC accreditation and multiple programmatic accreditations confirm that it meets recognized educational quality standards. Walden has been operating since 1970 and currently enrolls more than 50,000 students. The for-profit designation relates to the institution’s ownership and financial structure — it does not, by itself, indicate anything about the quality of instruction or the validity of degrees awarded. However, for-profit status can affect how some employers perceive the institution, which is a tradeoff students should consider, particularly in competitive hiring environments.
Total costs vary significantly by program. Per-credit tuition ranges from approximately $530 for education programs to $630 or more for business, nursing, psychology, and healthcare programs. A 30-credit education master’s may cost around $15,900, while a 60-credit clinical counseling or social work program can exceed $37,000. These figures represent tuition only — additional fees for technology, residencies, clinical placements, and materials may apply. Walden is generally more expensive than public online programs and some nonprofit alternatives for comparable degree types.
No. Walden does not require the GRE or GMAT for admission to the vast majority of its online master’s programs. Some clinical programs have specific prerequisites (such as an active RN license for nursing or prerequisite coursework for counseling), but standardized test scores are generally not part of the admissions process. This is consistent with the broader trend among large online universities serving working adults.
Completion time depends on the program’s credit requirements and the student’s enrollment pace. Shorter programs (30 credits) can be completed in approximately 12 months of full-time study, while longer clinical programs (54–60 credits) typically take 24 to 36 months. Most students attend part-time while working, which extends timelines. Walden’s 8-week course terms and multiple annual start dates allow students to maintain continuous enrollment without long breaks between terms.
This depends heavily on the field. In regulated professions — counseling, nursing, social work, education — employers evaluate credentials based primarily on accreditation status and licensure eligibility, not institutional brand. Walden’s CACREP, CCNE, and CSWE accreditations mean its graduates meet the same licensure-preparation standards as graduates from traditional universities. In less regulated fields like business, technology, and general management, employer perception of for-profit institutions can be more mixed. Some employers view for-profit credentials with more scrutiny, particularly at larger corporations and in competitive hiring environments. Students should research how their target employers and industries view Walden’s credentials specifically.
Walden holds four major programmatic accreditations relevant to its online master’s programs. CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accredits the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Marriage/Couple/Family Counseling programs. CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) accredits the MSN programs, including all nurse practitioner and non-NP tracks. CSWE (Council on Social Work Education) accredits the Master of Social Work. ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) accredits the MBA, MS in Accounting, and MS in Human Resource Management. These programmatic accreditations are particularly important in fields where licensure depends on graduating from an accredited program.
Yes. Walden participates in federal student aid programs, and online students are eligible for the same financial aid as any other students. Available options include Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans. Walden also offers institutional scholarships and grants — both need-based and merit-based — though availability and amounts vary. Many students fund their degrees through employer tuition reimbursement programs, and Walden accepts military education benefits including the GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and Yellow Ribbon Program funding. Students should complete the FAFSA to determine their federal aid eligibility and contact Walden’s financial aid office for information about institutional awards.