A Guide to Online Master's Degrees

Key takeaways

An online master's degree lets you earn a graduate credential with the flexibility to balance work, life, and learning.

• In the 2021-2022 school year, 40 percent of postbaccalaureate students chose to enroll in distance learning programs instead of face-to-face and hybrid formats [1].

• Online master's degree programs typically follow the same curriculum and academic standards as in-person programs, covering advanced skills, theory, and applied learning.

• You can explore online master's degrees across fields such as business, education, health care, technology, and the social sciences to support your next career step.

Learn how online master's degrees work, what they cost, and how to choose a program. Then, browse online degrees from distinguished universities.

What's an online master's degree?

An online master's degree is a graduate degree you earn online. Rather than relocate to attend an in-person program, you'll work through your coursework from home, either by attending virtual classes at a set time or by completing asynchronous classes on your own time.

Increasingly, students are opting to earn their master’s degree online. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 40 percent of postbaccalaureate students in the 2021-2022 school year took all of their courses through distance learning [1]. That's because master's degree students tend to be professionals who work full-time and require greater flexibility. 

What are the requirements for an online master's degree?

To qualify for an online master's degree program, you will need a bachelor's degree, and many programs require a minimum GPA in undergraduate work. Degree requirements vary, depending on the school you attend and the degree program you choose. Typically, you'll need to earn between 30 and 60 credits, maintain a minimum GPA, and complete an internship, thesis, or capstone project.

Can you get a master's degree completely online in all majors?

The areas you can study online at the master's level continue to expand, and it's typical nowadays to earn a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) online in subjects pertaining to the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. These include history, English, marketing, mathematics, biology, foreign languages, and psychology. You can also earn a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA) online.

During the 2020-2021 school year, the majority of students earned a master’s degree in business, education, and the health professions [2]. Engineering and public administration/social services were also popular master’s degrees.

Some popular online master’s degrees include:

• Master of Computer Science

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Master of Public Health (MPH) 

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

• Master of Engineering (MEng)

• Master of Science in Finance 

• Master of Arts in Psychology

• Master of Science in Marketing

• Master of Arts in International Relations 

• Master of Arts in Communication

What can you do with online master's degrees?

The major difference between an online master's degree and an in-person master's degree is the way you earn it. Your online master's program should provide the same curriculum and skills development as an in-person master's degree.

Thanks to your advanced education, you may find that you can pursue more advanced roles, including managerial or leadership positions:

All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of December 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Master's degree holders also tend to make higher median annual salaries: $95,680 compared to $80,236 for bachelor's degree holders [3]. Learn more about the kinds of salaries you can command with an online master's degree, as well as what you can do with a master's degree earned in specific areas, including:

• Public health

• Data science

• Computer science

• Business administration

• Health care administration

Read more: Master's Degree Salary Guide

How much does a master's degree cost online?

A master’s degree typically costs between $44,640 and $71,140, depending on whether you attend a public or private institution [4]. However, many online master’s degrees tend to cost less. For example, the University of Colorado Boulder's Master of Science in Computer Science available on Coursera, costs a total of $15,750 [5].

The length of your program will depend on what you choose to study and where you choose to study it, but a master’s degree takes between 18 months and two years to complete when you attend full-time. 

Benefits of earning your master’s degree online 

Besides the lower costs and the opportunity to learn at your own pace, there are a number of other benefits you may experience from earning your master’s degree online. 

• Work while going to school: Online master’s programs often provide flexible scheduling, which may make it easier to work full-time while earning your degree. Not only can that help offset some of your degree costs, but it also means you won’t pause your professional development as you focus on your education. 

• More school choice: You will have to apply to each online master’s program that you’re considering, but when you choose a fully online program, you won’t have to relocate in order to attend. That means you’ll have more access to some of the top-rated schools in the country and around the world. 

• Network with your peers: Earning a master’s degree online no longer means having to forego the benefits of socializing and networking with your peers. A growing number of online master’s programs foster those kinds of connections using an array of virtual tools. 

• Refine important workplace skills: Earning your bachelor’s online requires both self-discipline and time management thanks to the self-paced and flexible nature of learning. Both are important workplace skills, and earning your master’s online can help you strengthen your abilities in each area.

Is an online master’s as valuable as an in-person master’s? 

In most cases, what you learn is more important than how you learn it, which is why it’s crucial that you find a program that aligns with your larger educational goals. Two helpful questions to pose as you research potential programs include: 

• Will the coursework help me gain a broad understanding of the subject? 

• Will I be able to deepen that knowledge through special electives or concentrations? 

Certain programs may be more hands-on than others, such as nursing or chemistry degrees. In those cases, how you learn may be important. Although you have the option of attending such master’s programs online, many of which are designed and equipped to help you succeed virtually, you may want to investigate how you will learn important procedures or experiments.

Thanks to the growing demand for telehealth, earning your nursing degree online may make you more comfortable and familiar with technology in a way that can ultimately benefit your career.

How to select the best online master’s program for you 

Determining which online master’s program will be best for you means first figuring out why you want to earn your master’s degree. What do you want to achieve with your master's? Once you know why you want to pursue a graduate degree, spend time researching programs, both online and in-person, to figure out which makes the most sense for you and your resources.

Let’s go over a few factors you can incorporate into your research. 

Accreditation

Attending an accredited college or university that offers online degrees can provide you with some assurance that you’re earning a quality education. It can also help you qualify for federal student aid via the annual FAFSA form. Each school should note its accreditation type (regional or national).

Program focus

Many master’s programs list a number of concentrations that can deepen your area of expertise. For example, MPH students can concentrate in environmental health, global health, or epidemiology, or MBA students can concentrate in marketing, operations, or management. If you’re interested in learning about a niche area, look for programs that allow you to focus or concentrate in it. 

Flexibility

An online master’s degree should offer some amount of flexibility, but it can differ by school or program. Find out whether your courses will be asynchronous or synchronous, and how much you’ll be able to work at your own pace in order to determine the best approach for your schedule.

Structure

Some online master’s degrees are entirely online, while others are hybrid (a mix of in-person and online courses). Depending on the structure you prefer, you should find master’s programs that will suit your needs.

Learning technology

Each college or university employs different technology to administer online learning. It helps to know what type of learning management system (LMS) and other virtual tools you might expect to encounter.

Faculty credentials

Who ultimately teaches your courses is important. Spend time looking into each program’s online faculty, many of whom may also teach in person. Think about how their expertise or academic qualifications will help contribute to your overall learning. 

Networking

Not all online master’s programs foster networking among peers, but if that’s something you’re interested in, then it’s best to find programs that provide that kind of opportunity. 

How to apply to an online master’s program 

Applying to an online master’s program is relatively similar to applying to an in-person master’s program. As you narrow the programs that most interest you, pay attention to their deadlines so that you have all of your materials gathered in time.

Each college or university may have different requirements, but in addition to the application you’ll complete for each program, you can expect to supply the following materials: 

• Standardized test scores (GRE or GMAT)

• Undergraduate transcripts 

• Personal statement 

• Writing sample (depending on program)

• Letters of recommendation

Explore our free college and career resources

Ready to continue your education? Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, to get practical guidance on education, skills, and career growth. Or, check out these free resources to learn more:

• Read this post: How to fit learning into your life: 3 tips from an online learner

• Hear from a learner: Meet the 18-Year-Old Getting His Master's Degree in Data Science

• Watch on YouTube: 10 Surprising Benefits of Online Learning

Complete your bachelor’s degree or pursue your master’s degree with flexible programs from esteemed university partners on Coursera.