Worried about one year on-campus Master's program?

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding one-year Master's programs.

Are one-year Master's programs offered by accredited universities?

Accredited universities are the once that have recognition from the U.S. Department of Education that maintains a certain level of educational standards. There are many master's programs offered by accredited universities that can be completed within a year. Some of the universities are the University of California-Berkeley, Illinois Institute of Technology, The University of Texas at Austin, Bay Path University, and many more.

The one-year Master's program, is it for on-campus or online Master's?

The short answer is both. Hult Business School in Boston, MA offers a one-year MBA program. Boston University and UMASS both offer one-year programs.

Are one-year or accelerated Master's programs cheaper than 2 years Master's programs?

Yes, they can be because they can be done in 1 year or 18 months and you need fewer credits to complete them. Since the total cost depends on the number of credits hours, it will be cheaper than a 2-year master's program. This might not always be true so make sure you check out the cost per credit and the total tuition cost before you conclude.

Do accelerated Master's programs require GRE or GMAT?

Some one-year master's programs do not require GRE or GMAT. For example, Indiana University-Bloomington, Syracuse University, University of Southern California, University of California-Berkeley, University of Virginia-Main Campus, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute offer a one-year master's program without GRE/GMAT requirements. And some programs may require GRE/GMAT scores. The decision is made by the university committee and details can be found under the admission requirements of the program. Post-COVID a good number of universities have not mandated the GRE/GMAT for their Master's programs.

Do Ivy Leagues offer a 1 year Master's program?

IVY League colleges are superior to any other top-tier university due to name recognition, as these are the most competitive schools. Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University are among the eight universities that make up the IVY League. You can find a one-year master's program offered by IVY League universities. For example, the Online Executive Master of Human Resource Management offered by Cornell University, Technology Leadership Sc.M. offered by Brown University, and Master of Health Care Delivery Science offered by Dartmouth College can be completed within a year. Most of these are executive-level MBA or MBA-Master's courses which require some work experience as a pre-qualification.

Do you still get a Master's degree after you complete a 1 year Master's program?

If you can complete all the credit requirements and the coursework, you will be able to get a Master's degree in 1 year. Don't be confused with certificate programs as there are certificate programs that are stepping stones to a complete Master's degree. When you search for a 1 year or 18-month Master's program, keep that in mind.

How many credits are required to complete a 1-year master’s program and how much will it cost in total?

Usually, 28-40 credits are required to complete a 1-year master’s program. On average, the one-year master's program may charge $1,336 per credit hour.

For example, the Master of Data Science program offered by the Illinois Institute of Technology requires a total of 33 credits and charges $1,646 per credit hour. And the Online Master of Science in Engineering Management offered by the University of Southern California requires 30 credits and charges $2,199 per credit.

Can you complete a 2-year Master’s program in 1 year or 18 months?

Yes, you can. It is possible to complete a 2-year master's program within 1 year or 18 months with the help of transfer credits. If you have any transfer credits earned by your undergraduate degree or any credits earned from your work experience can be used to replace the credit hours and earn the degree in less time.

Are you still eligible for financial aid and scholarships for 1 year Master’s program?

Yes, as long as it is a Master’s degree from an accredited university you will be eligible for the scholarships and financial aid. For example, the University of West Alabama offers financial aid for 80 percent of graduate students. Additionally, the grants, scholarships, and loans offered for graduate students by the University of West Alabama make it more affordable.

Can you still apply for FAFSA if you are going for a 1 year Master’s program?

Yes, all graduate students can apply for FAFSA irrespective of the credits and duration. Before applying for FAFSA, you must check for basic eligibility requirements like age limit, citizenship, and minimum degree level. For more details on FAFSA refer to our detailed post, FAFSA for Graduate Programs – The Complete Guide.