Best Online Master’s Programs 2026
No matter your field — finance, healthcare, education, or beyond — there’s a master’s program to help you advance your skills and expand your career options.
An online master’s program gives you the flexibility to earn an advanced credential without putting your life on hold, so you can work and manage other commitments while in school.
Explore graduate pathways, career outcomes, and our ranking of the top online master’s programs.
Why Earn Your Master’s Degree Online
- Increased job opportunities: A master’s degree can prepare you for advanced career paths, including management and leadership roles.
- Flexibility: Online learning allows you to earn a degree without relocating to a new city or quitting your current job.
- Affordability: An online master’s can help you save on expenses related to higher education, such as relocation, commuting, and childcare.
Top 5 Accredited Schools Offering Online Master’s Degrees
Northeastern University — Most Selective School
- Boston, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top School
Northeastern University is the most selective school on our list, admitting only 6% of nearly 100,000 undergraduate applicants in 2023. Admission into Northeastern's graduate programs is also competitive, with higher-than-average minimum GPA requirements (3.0). The school offers 52 online master’s programs in unique fields like applied AI, nanomedicine, and resilience studies.
Northeastern has been accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education since 1940. Additionally, many of its master’s degree offerings have earned specialized accreditation from subject-specific bodies and professional organizations.
What to Expect
- 95% of graduate students land a job or continue their education within nine months of graduating.
- Access experiential learning opportunities through co-ops and career development resources.
- Get introduced to employer and industry partnerships through the university.
How to Enroll
Submit all transcripts from all of your post-secondary institutions. You also need to write a personal statement and include your professional résumé. Depending on the program, you may need to submit graduate exam scores, letters of recommendation, and an application fee.
27%
$27,728
97%
$27,728
- Acceptance Rate
- 5%
- Students Enrolled
- 39,774
- Institution Type
- Private
Southern New Hampshire University — Most Affordable Graduate Tuition Rate
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top School
Southern New Hampshire University’s graduate tuition, at $659 per credit, makes it the most affordable graduate tuition rate on our list. You can explore 87 online master’s degree programs, none of which require an application fee for acceptance.
SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, with programmatic accreditation varying per master’s subject.
What to Expect
- Complete the program in a minimum of 15 months,
- Most degree programs require 36 credits for graduation.
- Chat with advisors and take advantage of drop-in tutoring at any time.
How to Enroll
Submitting an application to SNHU is free. You can apply for five different graduate terms throughout the year, and you need a 2.75 GPA or higher in your undergrad for acceptance. However, completion of a previous graduate degree replaces the GPA requirement. You can apply up to two days before the term starts.
97%
$19,467
60%
$19,467
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Students Enrolled
- 184,099
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Florida — Highest Student Retention Rates
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top School
Among its first-time bachelor's students, the University of Florida retains 97% and 89% of full- and part-time students, respectively — the highest student retention rates on our list. Although focused on undergraduates, these rates still indicate that UF offers excellent student support and satisfaction across the board — including for graduate students.
UF offers 94 online master's programs in subjects such as international business, public health, and education. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. These accreditations assure students that their education meets regional and national online education standards.
What to Expect
- UF has financial aid options for students of all classes and colleges.
- Online students benefit from learning from the same professors as in-person students.
- Center for Online Innovation and Production offers unique, immersive online instruction.
How to Enroll
To enroll in an online master’s degree program at UF, you must adhere to general university application guidelines. These include submitting a $30 application fee and applying before the deadlines for each of the three terms per year.
59%
$10,770
98%
$27,335
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Students Enrolled
- 56,311
- Institution Type
- Public
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — Best Support for Military and Veteran Students
- Chapel Hill, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top School
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers transitional support and discounted tuition rates that make it the school with the best support for military and veteran students on our list. With a dedicated Military and Veteran Student Success Center, UNC at Chapel Hill welcomes military students to schedule virtual or in-person advising.
UNC-Chapel Hill offers 15 online master's programs in fields such as accounting, business administration, and social work. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What to Expect
- Enrollment and tuition costs vary with each program and your state residency status.
- Benefit from the graduate Student Success program, which provides academic coaching, peer tutoring, and writing assistance.
- Complete a thesis or dissertation during your program.
How to Enroll
Pay a $95 application fee. Additionally, you must have a 3.0 minimum bachelor’s GPA and submit unofficial post-secondary transcripts and three letters of recommendation. You also need to answer community standards questions alongside your résumé, statement of purpose, and standardized test scores.
25%
$10,552
97%
$28,844
- Acceptance Rate
- 15%
- Students Enrolled
- 32,680
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Southern California — Largest Selection of Online Master's Programs
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top School
The University of Southern California has 97 online master's degree programs, making it the school with the largest selection of online master’s programs. Choose from programs in fields such as business administration, data science, digital media management, and social work.
Since 1949, USC has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Senior College and University Commission.
What to Expect
- Pay the standard tuition rate, which applies to online programs.
- Choose from part-time and full-time online master’s programs.
- Most programs offer flexible course scheduling.
How to Enroll
Admission into an online master’s program at USC often follows the same standards as its on-campus counterpart. You'll generally need to submit your GRE and GMAT exam scores, transcripts, résumé, and letters of recommendation, but this varies with each program.
30%
$66,640
97%
$66,640
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Students Enrolled
- 47,147
- Institution Type
- Private
Why Accreditation Matters for Master’s Programs
When researching master’s programs, only consider schools that are accredited. The accreditation process ensures that colleges and universities meet educational standards. Accreditation also enables enrolled students to receive federal financial aid and transfer their credits to other accredited schools.
Institutional accreditation applies to entire colleges and universities, while programmatic accreditation applies to individual programs or departments.
Regardless of your area of study, you should always make sure your school holds institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Professional fields like nursing or social work may also require programmatic accreditation for you to be eligible for professional licensure.
Types of Online Master’s Degrees
You can pursue online master’s degrees in nearly any professional or academic field. However, many programs fall under one of five categories. Explore some of the most common types of master’s degrees below.
- Master of Arts (MA): Arts degrees may focus on humanities subjects such as English, history, or philosophy. MA degrees typically feature fewer hard science courses and less technical training.
- Master of Science (MS): MS programs often focus on mathematics, engineering, or hard sciences like biology and chemistry. Professional fields that rely on technical knowledge may also offer MS degrees, such as nursing and accounting
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): MBA programs build specialized skills for business leadership and management. Some programs focus on general business, while others let you choose a specialization, such as marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship.
- Master of Education (M.Ed.): Education degrees commonly focus on different student populations, such as early childhood, elementary, or special education. Other degrees highlight the administrative side of the field, such as curriculum design or education management.
- Master of Social Work (MSW): MSW programs train you to assist clients in social service settings, including child services, family counseling, and substance use counseling.
Explore Online Master’s Degree Specializations
Is an Online Master’s Degree Worth It?
$81,308
Average starting salary for master’s graduates
2.2%
Unemployment rate for master’s degree-holders
Generally, you can pursue better job prospects and a higher salary potential after earning a master’s degree. For example, master’s graduates earned an average starting salary of $81,308 in 2023 — more than $17,000 higher than bachelor’s graduates. Unemployment rates among master’s graduates are also slightly lower than bachelor’s graduates.
While a master’s degree can benefit your career, not all programs guarantee you a salary increase. In general, a degree in professional fields like law and medicine can lead to high salaries, though you typically need a doctoral degree. However, fields such as nursing or accounting may require a master’s degree to obtain professional certifications or licensure.
Q&A With Real Online Master’s Students and Grads
Q: Why did you choose an online master’s program?
“I chose to pursue my MBA online because I needed a way to balance grad school work with my day-to-day life. As a mom who also works full time in a demanding, busy job, I knew that getting out of the house and attending classes in person somewhere just wouldn’t work for my schedule. Online courses allow me to fit my school work in when it makes sense for me.”
— Cassie Viau, Director of Marketing, CoreMedical Group
“An online master’s degree allowed me to continue my education while on active duty in the Air Force. … My school and program offered me the flexibility to get my master’s in education while continuing to serve in my full active duty capacity, including on two deployments to Afghanistan.”
— Gina Smith, Air Force Officer (name has been changed upon request to protect the interview participant’s privacy)
“I chose this specific program because it had synchronous meetings weekly for each course. This allowed me to travel and complete my coursework and meetings from all over the world. I attended class while in a car in Ireland, at the beach in Spain, and in the middle of a refugee camp in Jordan!”
— Emma Cole, Nurse Practitioner
Q: What surprised you most about earning your master’s degree online?
“I found it to be more work than I expected. … [The instructors] wanted to see that I was keeping up with the work and engaging with the material and with my online classmates, so I had to post a lot in the portal about my thoughts on the material and respond to all the responses my classmates posted.”
— Marie Coughlin, Associate Director, The New York Public Library
“My program was physically located on the East Coast, but I was able to complete my clinical education in my local community. This allowed me to create connections locally for post-grad employment but also allowed me to learn how to navigate the specific challenges of clinical care in my area.”
— Emma C.
“The thing that has surprised me most about earning my MBA online is how much I’m enjoying all the independent reading and research. I’m genuinely enjoying reading the books and articles that are assigned!”
— Cassie V.
Q: What advice would you give to students considering online master’s programs?
“Compare schools, programs, and tuition assistance options. Choose a school that is accredited, and ask your employer about tuition assistance.”
— Gina S.
“Never expect it to be a cakewalk because it’s online. I am glad I had the experience of doing an online master’s program because it really did hold me accountable to do the work. There were several undergraduate courses where I could reasonably skate by; not so in online grad school!”
— Marie C.
“Put together a schedule for yourself at the start of the semester that you can stick to and keep yourself accountable. Mapping out assignments and deadlines up front on the calendar makes it feel much more manageable when life starts to get busy.”
— Cassie V.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best online master’s programs are just as respected as campus programs. Your diploma will not indicate that you earned your degree online. Your school and individual program’s reputation and accreditation matter more than your course delivery format.
