Search Online Master’s degree offered by 1300 accredited US universities

Is an Online Master's cheaper than a traditional Master’s program?

Certainly, in fact, that is one of the misconceptions many of us fall prey to that online programs are really cheap. The good and reputed Universities offer Online Master’s programs either at the same price or just 5-10% cheaper than on-campus programs. However, you do save up on the traveling cost and time. 

Some schools charge the same tuition for on-campus and online courses. For example, the MPH in Epidemiology which is a hybrid program offered by Harvard University costs $86,664 for both online and on-campus courses.

Does the Online Master program have all pre-recorded sessions?

Earlier all the Online Master Programs had pre-recorded sessions only. But now, the trend is changing from outdated concepts of online pre-recorded instructional videos to Live Video Streaming sessions online. The learners are now able to ask questions and learn better with the feedback given by the instructor. They are able to speak, chat, raise queries, and share their own screen through different technology tools. Moreover, this further leads to fewer chances of errors and mistakes in the learning process.

Why is the Online Master’s program not cheaper than the traditional Master’s program?

Yes, Online Master’s should be cheaper than traditional Master’s programs as institutions don’t need space to conduct classes or they don’t have to spend on providing essential facilities like libraries, office staff, and other facilities. However, that is not the case as the growing popularity and convenience of attending classes along with more flexibility has made learners opt for online learning format in large numbers. Additionally, it is not important to change your schedule or leave your job, you also end up saving your commuting time to college if you have enrolled in an online Master’s degree program. 

Most of the time the universities have outsourced their online program management to third-party companies which charge very high to manage and maintain the program. Because of this extraordinary cost of online programs, it could be sometimes very similar to a program that is offered in universities.

An exception to this is Georgia Tech Online Master’s in Computer Science. Georgia Tech along with Udacity and AT&T is offering the first online Master of Science in Computer Science that students can earn exclusively through the "massive online" format and for a fraction of the normal cost. This costs around $8000 dollars for 2 years.

How to find accredited colleges for Online programs?

Searching for an online program may not be an arduous task but checking on its accreditation could be. Generally, reputed Universities offer online programs which are accredited but it is always good to double-check. Accreditation of your college is the first question every employer will ask when applying for a job with them. 

College listings in Collegehippo are from IPEDS and most colleges in IPEDS are accredited. To get more information on accreditation a student can use the Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, found at https://ope.ed.gov/dapip.

Steps to Research and Check accredited colleges online:

• Does the college have institutional or specialized accreditation?  

Check the Institution's website for minute details and confirm if the accreditors are recognized by the Department of Education or Council For Higher Education Accreditation. 

• Is it regional or national accreditation?

Most employers prefer regional accreditation as it is considered more rigorous and intensive. Beware of something called International accreditation as it does not exist and is fake. 

• Scrutinize the institution’s accreditation history

Find out more about the institution’s history on the department or council website. Check if the queries and weaknesses have been timely handed or not. 

• Contact the Online College or University directly

You should not rely on verbal information and ask the college staff to provide documents to validated documents as proof. 

What is the duration of the Online Master’s program?

In the US, the duration of most Online Master’s is two years. Globally it varies between 18 months to three years. As a student, you also have the opportunity to speed up or shorten the program depending on the time you have at hand. 

There are even universities that offer online master's programs that can be completed in less than a year. For example, the Online Masters in Human Resources Management offered by the University of Southern California can be completed in just 12 months and the Online Masters program at the University of Southern California can be completed in a duration of 12-20 months. Find out more, at 1 year - 18 months Online Masters programs.

How to find the cheapest Online Master’s program?

Everyone wishes to graduate from the best university at a low cost. But it is not an easy task to find a university of this kind. But, with the help of CollegeHippo, it will be an easy task. There are various ways to find the most affordable college at CollegeHippo. You can use our best tool Match Me with Masters program or else you can go to Find affordable masters program to find the cheapest master’s programs.

Is admission requirements for Online Master's Programs different than the traditional Master's programs?

There is not much difference in the admission requirements for online master's programs than the traditional master's programs. You may be required to submit all your transcripts, GPA scores, CV/ Resume, Essays, Letters of Recommendation, Interviews, and previous research experience for admission.

But, you need to make that unlike the traditional Master’s programs, for Online Programs you don’t have to clear the GRE or MAT exams.

Are there No GRE/GMAT/LSAT Universities for Online Master’s programs?

There has been an increasing number of Universities that have removed the GRE requirements for admission to online Master's programs. You can find universities that do not require GRE for a Master's program or have a stipulated minimum GRE for admissions.

Check the below links for more details.

No GRE Online Master’s program

No Minimum GRE Master’s programs

What are the scholarships and Financial Aid offered for Online master’s programs?

Almost all universities provide Scholarships for Online master’s programs. Unlike a scholarship, an assistantship is considered more like a salary and not financial aid which is given when students complete a certain task or work on campus.

By choosing fully funded scholarships or fellowship programs offered by the university you can convert your degree for free. We do help students find scholarships that can reduce the cost of a program by 60-80%. 

Find Scholarships and Financial aid for Master's and PHD Programs 

Do Ivy Leagues offer online Master’s programs?

The Ivy League is the most exclusive club of Universities and they have started offering an online master’s degree program. 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. Seven of the eight universities offer online master’s programs. Princeton University is the only Ivy League school that does not offer an online master’s program yet.

For more information, see IVY League Online Masters Programs