It’s no secret that obtaining the best online master’s degree is difficult in more ways than one, and there are any number of obstacles that could get in your way. Whether it’s the graduate students’ loan debt, crappy insurance, or hectic personal life you’re convinced is holding you back, we’re here to tell you otherwise.
With today’s higher education information technology and easily accessible online program resources, there is a way to accomplish even the most daunting of personal goals. That includes earning your affordable master’s degree.
Through the affordable online master’s degree programs that we’ve compiled below, you can achieve professional advancement as well as personal fulfillment while learning and becoming proficient in a field that you truly love–all at minimal cost to you.
Methodology
All schools considered for these rankings
- Are regionally or nationally accredited
- Offer at least one fully online master’s degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
- Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.
Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in July of 2022.
2023 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degrees
| Rank | School | Average Net Price |
| # 1 | University of North Georgia | $10,444 |
| # 2 | Columbia Southern University | $11,241 |
| # 3 | Minot State University | $12,205 |
| # 4 | Eastern Illinois University | $13,098 |
| # 5 | Fort Hays State University | $13,189 |
| # 6 | Valdosta State University | $13,240 |
| # 7 | University of the Cumberlands | $13,476 |
| # 8 | Southeast Missouri State University | $13,568 |
| # 9 | University of Central Missouri | $14,058 |
| # 10 | Georgia Institute of Technology | $14,974 |
| # 11 | West Texas A & M University | $15,033 |
| # 12 | Western Illinois University | $15,305 |
| # 13 | The University of Texas at Arlington | $15,509 |
| # 14 | Texas Tech University | $16,194 |
| # 15 | University of Arkansas | $16,507 |
| # 16 | University of Central Arkansas | $16,554 |
| # 17 | Missouri State University | $16,718 |
| # 18 | Old Dominion University | $17,204 |
| # 19 | Graceland University | $18,286 |
| # 20 | Campbellsville University | $19,819 |
| # 21 | Union College – KY | $20,558 |
| # 22 | University of Valley Forge | $21,509 |
| # 23 | Prescott College | $22,082 |
| # 24 | Ohio Christian University | $22,901 |
| # 25 | Strayer University | $23,189 |
10 Best Affordable Colleges for Online Colleges Offering Master’s Degrees
1. University of North Georgia
Average Net Price: $10,444
School Type: Public College
School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Part of the University System of Georgia, the University of North Georgia is a public university comprising of five campuses. It has an enrollment of 13,323 students, making it the seventh-largest university in the state. It offers more than 100 programs of study, including certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. It also offers graduate students several affordable online master’s degree programs.
Master of Arts in International Affairs
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
Master of Education in Middle Grades Math and Science
Master of Public Administration
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Master of Science in Nursing Education
2. Columbia Southern University
Average Net Price: $11,241
School Type: For-profit online university
School Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission as well as several program-specific accreditations
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Columbia Southern University is an online university with an enrollment of 8,397 undergraduate students. It offers several master’s degree online programs.
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
Master of Business Administration with Health Care Management Concentration
Master of Public Health
Master of Business Administration with Human Resource Management Concentration
Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health
Master of Public Administration
Master of Science in Emergency Services Management
3. Minot State University
Average Net Price: $12,205
School Type: Public university
School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Minot State University is a public university and one of the largest in North Dakota. It has an annual enrollment of about 1,979 undergraduate students. Minot University offers not just on-campus undergraduate and graduate degree programs, but also several online master’s degree options. MSU offers online courses, certificates and bachelor’s degree programs as well as the following affordable online master’s degree programs:
Master of Education with concentrations in Curriculum and Instruction; English and Special Education
Master of Science in Information Systems
Master of Science in Sports Management
Master of Science in Disability Human Services
Master of Science in Special Education with emphasis in Deaf or Hard of Hearing Education; Special Education Strategist; Early Childhood Special Education or Specific Learning Disabilities
Master of Science in Management
4. Eastern Illinois University
Average Net Price: $13,098
School Type: Public University
School Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Acceptance Rate: 56%
Eastern Illinois University is a small public university with a student enrollment of about 7,415. The university, located on 320 acres, is made up of seven colleges and schools and offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs. Eastern Illinois University has an extensive list of affordable online master’s degree programs. Here are just a few of the many:
Master of Arts in Art with emphasis on Art Education or Community Arts
Master of Arts in Aging Studies
Master of Arts in History
Master of Arts in Art
Master of Arts in Political Science
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Master of Science in Education with emphasis in Special Education or Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Business Administration with three emphasis areas
Master of Science in Human Services Program Administration
5. Fort Hays State University
Average Net Price: $13,189
School Type: Public university
School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Located in Hays, Kansas, Fort Hays State University is one of six universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents and the third-largest of that group. It offers several different colleges and departments and has an enrollment of about 15,900 students. Graduates have a 96 percent job placement rate. In addition to offering online degree programs at all levels, Fort Hays State University offers the following online master’s degree programs:
Master of Business Administration with concentrations in 12 areas
Master of Science in Counseling with concentrations in College Counseling/Student Affairs; Clinical Mental Health, and School
Master of Science in Education with concentrations in Instructional Technology; Library Media Specialist, and School Psychology
Master of Science in Education with concentrations in eight areas
Master of Science in PreK-12 Leadership with concentrations in Educational Administration and Non-Degree District Leadership
Master of Science in Special Education with several concentration areas
Master of Professional Studies with several concentration areas
Master of Liberal Studies with several concentration areas
6. Valdosta State University
Average Net Price: $13,240
School Type: Public University
School Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International as well as many program-specific accreditations
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Located in Valdosta, Georgia, Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university that offers a little of everything, including certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in a variety of fields of study. VSU also offers study-abroad opportunities as well as various hybrid and online programs. There is a variety of online master’s degree programs offered at Valdosta State University, including some of the following:
Master of Education in Adult and Career Education; in Curriculum and Instruction; in Education Leadership; in Elementary Education; and Health and Physical Education, among many others
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration
Master of Public Administration
Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Special Education
Master of Library and Information Science
7. West Texas A & M University
Average Net Price: $13,476
School Type: Public University
School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 58%
West Texas A & M University is a small public university in Canyon, Texas, with an undergraduate student enrollment of about 7,000 students. The university, located on 135 acres, comprises sixteen colleges and schools, and two satellite campuses. They offer more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. WTAMU has an extensive list of online master’s degree programs. Here are just a few of the many:
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems & Business Analytics
Master of Science in Finance and Economics
Master’s of Business Administration
Master of Arts in Counseling
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Reading
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Special Education
Master of Education in Educational Diagnostician
Master of Education in Educational Leadership
Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology
Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling
Master of Education in School Counseling
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Science in Engineering
Master of Science in Mathematics
Master of Science in Nursing – Comprehensive
Master of Science in Sports and Exercise Science (Sports Management Emphasis)
Master of Arts in Communication
Master of Arts in English
8. Southeast Missouri State University
Average Net Price: $13,568
School Type: Public university
School Accreditation: Northcentral Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Southeast Missouri State University is a regional comprehensive university with a large number of academic offerings, including more than 145 undergraduate programs and more than 75 graduate programs as well as more than 200 areas of study. Southeast Missouri State University’s main campus is located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. SMSU has four different campus locations, five colleges and an annual enrollment of almost 12,000 students. The following master’s degree online programs are offered at Southeast Missouri State University.
Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting
Master of Arts in Applied Business Analysis
Master of Science in Applied Computer Science
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Arts in Elementary Education with three areas of emphasis
Master of Arts in Elementary or Secondary School Administration
Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Exceptional Child
Master of Arts in Teaching with a STEM emphasis
Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in General Administration or Health Administration
Master of Science in Healthcare Management
Master of Science in Management
Master of Public Administration
Master of Arts in Secondary Education
Master of Business Administration in Sport Management
Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership
Master of Science in Technology Management
9. University of Central Missouri
Average Net Price: $14,058
School Type: Public University
School Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission as well as several program-specific accreditations
Acceptance Rate: 64%
The University of Central Missouri is a public university known not just for its excellent academic programs but also for being very affordable. Although about 90 percent of UCM’s students are from Missouri, they have students from almost every state as well as from about 50 countries. It offers more than 150 areas of study and about 37 graduate programs. Job placement for graduates of UCM is about 97 percent. Aspiring online graduate students have several online master’s degree programs available.
Master of Science in Aviation Safety
Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Therapy
Master of Science in Career and Technology Education
Master of Art in Communication – Applied Communication
Master of Art in Communication – Studies Option
Master of Science in Criminal Justice
Master of Science in Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Science in Education in Educational Technology
Master of Science in Elementary Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Science in Education in Elementary Mathematics
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Master of Science in Industrial Management
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
Average Net Price: $14,974
School Type: Public University
School Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 21%
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology is a technologically-focused university that offers certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs from 6 colleges and 28 schools covering a variety of fields of study. Georgia Tech also offers over 130 study-abroad opportunities and various hybrid and online degree programs. The online master’s degree programs offered at Georgia Tech are listed below.
Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Master of Science in Analytics
Professional Master’s in Applied Systems Engineering
Master of Science in Computer Science
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Professional Master’s in Manufacturing Leadership
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Master of Science in Medical Physics
Professional Master’s in Occupational Safety and Health
Master of Science in Operations Research
