Search online to learn more about your potential educators before committing to either program. Cost can be a major factor in choosing to work toward a master's degree online or traditionally. With the price of a college education varying wildly between universities, it's important to do your research to find the university that will give you the best education for your dollar.
The vast majority of master's degrees cost the same price whether they are online or not. If the price isn't a factor, then be sure to fall back to the reputation of the university and its faculty.
The ever-changing landscape of higher education requires research to make sure you're getting the best education for your dollar, regardless of the path you choose to complete the degree. By factoring in the cost, quality of faculty, reputation of the university for providing a high-quality education and your own ability to attend school from home, you'll be able to determine whether or not the traditional or online route is best for your upcoming master's degree.
If the university or college is not accredited, then it is not a credible degree, and employers will not trust it. An accredited university must go through an evaluation from a third-party agency, which are designated by the federal Department of Education.
The agency sets a clear standard that gives potential employers peace of mind that you have the training and education to handle the job. So how credible are online degrees? It depends on the university and degree. Prospective students must submit an online application form, official transcripts, personal statement, and resume.
Some programs also require recommendation letters. Wheaton offers several master's degrees and graduate certificates in disciplines such as biblical studies, global leadership, higher education and student development, and ministry leadership.
The master's in humanitarian and disaster leadership combines in-person intensives with online coursework while the master's in teaching English to speakers of other languages operates on a summers-only structure. The intensive format requires students to attend classes on campus for three weeks a year. As an evangelical institution, Wheaton offers courses that emphasize religious values. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.
Applicants must submit three recommendation letters, one from an academic reference, one from an employer, and one from a pastor or Christian leader. Some programs also require work and ministry experience. Gallaudet University offers online and hybrid master's degrees in areas such as clinical mental health counseling and education.
The Center for Continuing and Online Education provides a variety of professional development courses for non-degree-seeking students, including American Sign Language, deaf studies, linguistics, and interpreting. Most of these master's programs take two years to complete.
Hybrid programs require both in-person and online attendance. The master's in clinical mental health involves one year in residence at Gallaudet University and the second year in a fieldwork placement with continued coursework online. Enrollees complete their fieldwork in mental health agencies, addiction programs, or educational programs serving children and families with mental health needs.
Several master's programs require American Sign Language proficiency and an interview with program faculty. Prerequisites may include undergraduate credits in psychology. Clemson offers online and blended master's programs in disciplines such as education, athletic leadership, biological sciences, and industrial engineering. Most online programs combine weekly synchronous evening meetings through a web-conferencing system and asynchronous course materials through Canvas.
Most of Clemson's master's degrees require 30 credits and take two years to complete. The online master of business administration MBA requires 49 credits and takes 2. Some programs allow students to specialize further. The master of parks, recreation, and tourism management offers four concentrations: parks and conservation areas, travel and tourism, community recreation, and recreational therapy. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college.
Some programs require work experience in the field and prerequisite courses in certain subjects. For instance, the master of engineering in industrial engineering requires at least three years of industry experience and the completion of coursework in engineering calculus, business calculus, and statistics. WCU offers an online master of project management MPM for professionals who aspire to project management roles or mid-career project managers seeking graduate-level training.
Students can also pursue a graduate certificate in project management. The MPM degree requires 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Students take core courses on project planning, project selection and initiation, project execution, and project closeout and approaches. Students must maintain a minimum 3. Applicants need a minimum two years of industry experience and a 3. Bradley offers online graduate programs in nursing, education, and counseling. Bradley's online master's programs include a master of arts MA in counseling - clinical mental health counseling, an MA in counseling - professional school counseling, and a master of science in nursing MSN - family nurse practitioner program.
While these programs run mostly online, some include in-residence requirements. Bradley's online master's degrees require credits and take years to complete. MA in counseling students must complete a practicum, two internships, and a weeklong on-campus residency. Students in the MSN program must complete clinical hours. The number of credits and clinical hours needed to graduate in the MSN program varies depending on whether enrollees already possess an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing.
Counseling students take courses such as human growth and development, substance abuse counseling, counseling diverse populations, and crisis intervention. Temple offers online master's degrees in a variety of disciplines, including sport business, business administration, public health, and communication management.
Some programs run entirely online while others use a hybrid format. The online master of business administration MBA program requires an in-person residency for the first three courses, online courses for the remaining coursework, and a capstone consulting practicum with a real-world organization. These online master's degrees require credits and take approximately years to complete.
MBA students can choose from 15 concentrations, including business analytics, financial management, human resource management, and travel and tourism. Master of public health students can choose tracks in epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. Some programs require a minimum GPA or a certain number of years working in the industry. Harding provides several fully online master's programs , including a master's in information systems and a master's in kinesiology and sport administration.
The university offers other primarily online degrees with minimal on-campus components in the fields of education, mental health and wellness, nursing, and the school of theology.
These online master's degrees require credits and take years to complete. Students take a combination of core and elective courses. For some programs, students fulfill elective requirements through a concentration. The master's in information systems offers three concentration areas: information security and assurance, data analytics, and project management. Additional admission requirements vary by program. The school also provides integrated bachelor's and master's programs that allow learners to earn both degrees in five years.
These combined degrees include combinations such as a bachelor of arts in general studies and a master of science in instructional design and technology or a bachelor's in business and a master of business administration. An online master's degree at WIU requires credits and takes two years to complete. Some degrees allow students to specialize further. The master's in educational studies program offers two concentration areas: professional education or language, culture, and education. Most master's degrees deliver courses asynchronously but some contain synchronous components.
They must also submit transcripts, a goals statement, and participate in an interview. Saint Leo offers 35 online master's degrees in a variety of fields, including business administration, education, criminal justice, and social work.
This degree count includes different tracks and concentrations. According to the NCES, most graduate students attend college out-of-state. Of the , [graduate] students who exclusively took distance education courses, , were enrolled at institutions located in the same state in which they resided, and , were enrolled at institutions in a different state.
A school's location will significantly impact the overall cost of a master's degree program. Although rates vary by institution, most colleges and universities offer lower tuition for students who are residents of the state where their brick-and-mortar campus is located. Some master's students may be able to pay in-state tuition rates regardless of their residency status.
Many colleges and universities will grant in-state residency to anyone who has resided in that state for at least one year, allowing master's degree-seekers to reduce their financial burden by relocating one year prior to enrollment. A growing number of institutions also offer in-state rates to students after they have attended classes at the school for six months to one year although this may require on-campus attendance.
If in-state tuition is not feasible, master's students may still be able to reduce their tuition rates by a significant margin through a system known as state authorization reciprocity. Select U. For example, the Midwest Student Exchange Program offers lower out-of-state rates for students from nine other states in that region of the country. Online students are usually able to pay in-state tuition if their current residence is located in that particular state.
Online degree programs utilize tracking technology that allows them to pinpoint the location of each student, preventing anyone living out-of-state from paying in-state tuition rates. As with brick-and-mortar students, the tuition policy for online students will vary by school.
Some charge all online students the same tuition price regardless of state residency; in most cases, this rate is cheaper than the school's out-of-state rate, but more expensive than the in-state rate. Online students should research the tuition policies of each school they are considering — and contact campus officials if possible — in order to determine the most affordable options.
In addition to lower tuition rates, master's degree-seeking students often choose to attend college in their home state for other reasons too. These include unique degree programs and specialization options, athletic programs, and well-renowned counseling and advisement services.
Before settling on an online master's degree program, applicants should carefully research all potential schools and grade them using the same set of criteria. These factors include the following:. Creating a budget plan is an important first step for any prospective master's student.
Browse tuition rates at schools on your list to see if the overall costs fit within your personal budget constraints. Add up all expenses — including tuition, housing, and student fees — to calculate an accurate cost estimate. Research scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities that are exclusively offered to students enrolled at certain institutions.
Finally, look at the student outcomes of each school — particularly the average salaries of master's-earning graduates after they leave school. The choice between a synchronous or asynchronous master's online program should come down to student preference. Some learners appreciate the flexible schedule of a self-paced program, and look forward to potentially earning their degree ahead of schedule. Others prefer a firmer academic structure, and don't mind investing in the full two years or more in order to earn their master's degree.
The distance between your current residence and your school's campus may play an important role in your decision. While most coursework in an online master's program will be done at home, some courses require regular campus visits. Living close to campus also allows you to utilize school resources like libraries, computer labs, writing centers, and job boards, which are not always available online. For-profit online colleges and universities have caught flack due to below-average academic offerings and student outcomes compared to their not-for-profit competitors.
Many students who graduate with an online master's from a for-profit school are saddled with more debt but considered less employable than those who have earn a master's from other schools. For-profit institutions can often provide the best academic pathway for students, and programs and student outcomes vary by school.
Nonetheless, students should take the time to vet for-profit and not-for-profit schools on their list to look for past criticisms and controversies.
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