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20 Schools That Offer Free Master’s Degrees Online

Written by Grad School Center Team We are a passionate team of experienced educators and advisors at GradSchoolCenter.com, dedicated to guiding students through their graduate education journey. Our experts, with advanced degrees across various disciplines, offer personalized advice, up-to-date program information, and practical insights into application processes.

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: November 25, 2024, Reading time: 33 minutes

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In this article, we will be covering...

Data Points20 Best Schools with Online Free Tuition Master's Degree ProgramsMaster's Degrees are the New Entry-level DegreesBest Reasons for Pursuing a Master's DegreeThe Best Time to Pursue a Master's DegreePlanning Tips For Grad School SuccessFrequently Asked QuestionsKey Takeaways
Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Data Points

Earning a master’s degree brings a wide range of benefits, from increased earning potential to improved quality of life! Fortunately, some schools offer free tuition or nearly free tuition master’s degree programs, thanks to scholarships, tuition waivers, and federal aid, among other forms of financial aid.

Keep in mind, too, that students in master’s degree programs are less likely to be the recipients of fellowships, grants, and tuition waivers in comparison with their undergraduate and postgraduate counterparts.

Let’s take a look at the master’s degree programs with the most number of graduates:

Chart - Top Master's Degrees Conferred by Field of Study

Audio Summary

Overview:

Earning a master’s degree for free – or at least, as near to free as you can get on the tuition and mandatory fees –  means that you won’t be neck-deep in student loans.

But remember, too, that free tuition doesn’t automatically mean without terms and conditions (there really isn’t any such thing as “completely free tuition”), neither does it mean without spending a single penny during your time in the master’s degree program!

Demonstrated need, academic performance, and even work-for-tuition conditions are usually required.

20 Best Schools with Online Free Tuition Master’s Degree Programs

University of the People

UofPeople was the first fully online university to offer free tuition for all its students. There are none of the typical requirements for demonstrated need and academic performance. 

Students, however, pay a $60 application fee and $400 per course as an assessment fee upon course completion. Scholarships can also cover these minimal fees for students with demonstrated needs. The requirements are favorable, too. 

Graduate students don’t have to pay tuition, annual enrollment fees, and technology fees. The free tuition arrangement is possible because UoPeople has generous donors and partners including large companies and organizations. Their donations and other arrangements cover the cost of tuition and other waived fees. 

Curtis Institute of Music

Every student receives full-tuition, merit-based scholarships regardless of their financial need. No separate financial aid application is needed. These merit-based scholarships are renewable every year, too. If not for the full-tuition scholarships, graduate students will pay  $67,502 for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Furthermore, Curtis offers scholarships to students with demonstrated financial need. These scholarships can be used to cover their living expenses. The need-based financial aid has a separate application form and it’s intended to replace the loans program. Recipient students then have a lower risk of getting into debt through student loans. Most students (92%) receive said need-based financial aid. 

With only 175 students, Curtis can sustain its generous scholarship policy. But it also means that Curtis has a highly selective admission process. Students thrive with the hands-on instruction and one-on-one attention provided by faculty and staff members.

The online, two-year, 40-semester hour Master of Music program attracts highly gifted musicians. The program features diversified training, intensive coaching, and studio classes. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Earning a master’s degree from MIT can be expensive. The current full regular tuition is $30,995 per term or $61,990 for the fall and spring terms (2024-2025). This is only for tuition so be sure to account for mandatory and miscellaneous fees, too. 

But it’s still possible to achieve your dream! MIT provides students from families earning less than $90,000 in annual income to earn their degrees virtually for free. This is because of scholarships, grants, and work-study arrangements. 

Students in master’s programs in science and engineering can apply for: 

The tuition and other applicable fees are charged to these financial aid forms.

But MBA students at Sloan School pay the full regular tuition. But getting their money back is possible through management consultation jobs and from signing bonuses. 

Master’s degree programs covered by financial aid include:

Every department has its financial aid guidelines so check first.

Stanford University

As a private university, Stanford University’s tuition and fees for its graduate programs are among the more expensive. During the 2024-2025 academic year, graduate students pay $13,240 in quarterly tuition (i.e., 8-10 units only). Engineering graduate students pay $14,100 while MBA students are charged $27,485 per quarter. 

Fortunately, Stanford makes it possible for deserving students to earn an advanced degree without paying for the full tuition! Among the “free money” and other financial aid that the university provides under its Stanford Support Programs are: 

Students should also consider: 

Students are well-advised to first consult with their respective academic departments regarding the range of financial aid options offered. Enough funds may be sourced to cover nearly all, if not all, their educational expenses. But if this isn’t the case, students can consult with the Financial Aid Office for possible education loans. 

Stanford’s master’s degree programs offered online include:

Columbia University

Columbia offers online master’s degree programs in a wide range of fields. These include African-American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Archaeology, Biotechnology, and Climate and Society.

Graduate students in MS and  EngScD programs are charged $2,584 per credit (2024-2025). The exception is a fixed special fee. Doctoral students in PhD programs are charged $27,592 per Residence Unit (i.e., full-time enrollment for one semester).  

Certain master’s degree programs have different tuition rates. MA in Biotechnology students pay $40,386 per residence unit per semester while MA in QMSS students pay $41,130 per residence unit every semester. 

Fortunately, you can finance your education without overwhelming student loans. Be sure to explore your financial aid options at Columbia including: 

Federal and private loans may also be considered to fill in the gap.

Some programs only have restricted fellowships and merit-based awards, but these are still useful in getting significant tuition reductions.

Weill Cornell Medicine Graduate School of Medical Sciences

The MD-PhD Program is a dual degree program offered as a partnership between three prestigious institutions. These are the Weill Cornell Medical College, Rockefeller University, and Sloan Kettering Institute. All students in the  MD-PhD Program receive full-tuition scholarships and stipends for their living expenses during their entire studies. 

Furthermore, every PhD student at the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences receives an annual stipend for their living expenses. For the 2024-2025 academic year, it’s $52,500 for every student; the Houston Methodist Hospital cohort receives $38,500 per year. Every PhD student also receives a full-tuition scholarship that covers tuition, fees and health insurance.

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

UNC Chapel Hill doesn’t have a zero-tuition program. But graduate students will enjoy substantial tuition reductions through generous financial aid packages. Plus, Chapel Hill is among the most livable college towns. 

Graduate tuition and fees are so affordable that it’s relatively easy to find financial aid to cover most, if not all, of them. Tuition and fees vary for every graduate program. At the College of Arts and Sciences, tuition ranges from $764.67 to $1,153.56 per credit. (These are in-state tuition for 2024-2025. Out-of-state tuition rates are higher) 

Graduate students should explore these financial aid options: 

Financial aid has terms and conditions, such as faculty recommendations, academic performance, and demonstrated financial need.

There are two types of stipends offered and administered separately. First, the service stipends require recipients to put in commensurate work. Second, the non-service stipend without work requirements. Qualified students may receive both types, too. 

UNC’s impressive range of fellowship and scholarship programs includes:

Check out the North Carolina Excellence Fellowship and Native American Incentive Fellowship. More information can be found at the Graduate Funding Information Center.

Areas of study in its master’s programs include:

Arizona State University

Arizona residents enjoy a significantly lower graduate tuition and fees ($13,587) than non-residents ($27,521) in ASU’s master’s degree programs. Furthermore, these tuition rates are affordable yet deliver an outstanding quality of advanced education!

However, ASU still offers its graduate students opportunities for tuition reduction, even to the point that they can earn their degrees virtually for free. 

Students must be nominated for the fellowships, scholarships, and grants awarded by the graduate programs (i.e., students cannot directly apply). These financial aid options cover both need-based and merit-based free money that the Graduate College runs and funds. 

Students may apply for external funding, such as: 

ASU has online master’s degree programs in:

Texas A&M University

TAMU is recognized as among the Best in Texas by Money Magazine and the Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly. Indeed, with affordable costs, outstanding academics, and strong career potential for its graduates, TAMU’s inclusion in the list is justified!

TAMU also strives to provide graduate students with financial aid options that remove the monetary barrier of advanced education. These financial aid options that that make earning a master’s degree virtually tuition-free include: 

TAMU only has a single scholarship application. Students’ applications are automatically reviewed for all financial aid options. 

TAMU’s master’s degree programs cover areas in:

Rice University

Rice Online Learning is a global leader in post-secondary online education, emphasizing academic excellence, hands-on experiential learning, and innovative approaches. Its current master’s degree program lineup offered online is in:

These programs have the same curriculum, degree requirements, and faculty members as their on-campus counterparts. 

The Master of Science in Computer Science program is notable for its merit-based scholarship with awards of up to $10,000 per recipient. Students also benefit from the flexible self-paced coursework with weekly live sessions and lectures. 

Qualified graduate students can also apply for stipends of up to $40,000 per year, which can be used for living expenses and other non-educational costs of attendance expenses. Recipients also receive a full-tuition scholarship, meaning their graduate education is nearly free!  

Continuing students who have completed ten semesters will receive tuition reductions. Active military personnel and veterans can apply for military benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides tuition support and book and supplies allowance.

The University of Iowa

The Graduate College offers assistantships and scholarships intended for substantial tuition reductions. Assistantships are available for both in-state and out-of-state students. These consist of tuition remission, health benefits and salary benefits.

Scholarships further reduce the cost of attendance. The American College Testing (ACT) scholarship is the most popular. Selected students receive $23,000 per year in stipends and a full-tuition waiver is intended for full-time students from underrepresented populations. 

Iowa allows its online students to enroll in four semester hours of on-campus courses. Master’s degree programs offered online are in:

Boston University

BU’s competitive tuition rate is made even more affordable through its inclusive financial aid policies. Full-time tuition is $66,670 (2024-2025), higher than the national average. 

Every BU student will be provided with financial aid, although it’s in varying amounts. Many master’s degree programs offer partial scholarships. Tuition remission is a perk that BU employees enjoy. 

Students must complete the FAFSA and other forms that the financial aid office may recommend. Doing so can open the doors for federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences has merit-based scholarships for first-year master’s students and on-campus employment opportunities. The  Office of Graduate Affairs maintains a database of BU fellowships and external funding sources including the:

Some of BU’s master’s degree programs available online are in:

University at Buffalo

The Graduate School of Education offers qualified students generous financial aid options including: 

Graduate students must first fill out the FAFSA for their financial aid applications to be considered. This is because the FAFSA collects personal information, including family income, used to determine eligibility for federal aid. The FAFSA form is also used for institutional aid applications. 

Some of UB’s online master’s degree programs include:

University of Minnesota

Funding packages for graduate students are mostly sourced from: 

The graduate assistantships may cover most of the tuition and mandatory fees. But assistants must work at least 98 hours every semester. 

Graduate students who want generous tuition support should look into the Diversity of Views and Experiences Fellowship program. Recipients get: 

Only 15 fellowships are offered. 

Online students receive the same quality of instruction as their on-campus counterparts, and their degrees don’t indicate the online platform. Master’s degree programs can be offered fully online, partially online, or primarily.

The number of credits ranges from 31 to 52 credits, and programs are in:

Loyola University of Chicago

LUC’s commitment to upholding social justice and values is reflected in its graduate students’ competitive financial aid packages. Since financial aid largely removes the financial burden, graduate students enjoy a better educational experience, particularly with LUC’s extensive student support services. 

Graduate assistantships are sought-after because of their competitive benefits including:

The total value for a full graduate assistantship is $28,000 over nine months for PhD students and $18,000 for a nine-month period for master’s degree students. Graduate assistants also thrive, thanks to the professional development opportunities initiated by LUC. 

Fellowships also provide: 

Fellowships don’t have a service component.

Among the fields of study in its online master’s degree program options are:

University of Miami

UOnline ensures that none of its students pay the full price. Depending on their program, students can save up to 50% on their tuition, thanks to financial aid. Every graduate student qualifies for merit-based scholarships, too, with their matriculation being the foremost requirement for eligibility.

The FAFSA is a must for every student, too, since it’s the basis for federal aid and state and institutional aid. 

Students choose from several master’s degree programs with tuition reductions ranging from 27% to 50%, including:

University employees and alumni can also apply for affinity-based scholarships that further reduce their tuition payments. 

UOnline also welcomes active military personnel and veterans with its military-specific financial aid options including: 

Students may also apply for fellowships with financial aid between $23,000 and $40,000 for two years. UOnline makes it easier for students to pay their tuition via easy installment plans.

University of Georgia

Most online programs offered at UGA have the same tuition structure for in-state and out-of-state students. Plus, UGA’s tuition is among the most affordable in the state. In-state tuition and fees are $10,260 per year while out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,616 per year (2024-2025).

Students may have limited institutional graduate scholarships that external scholarships and grants can augment. 

UGA welcomes corporate assistance for tuition payments, such as tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement. Active duty military personnel and veterans and their qualified spouses and dependents can get military tuition assistance. Check with your employer. Federal aid is also a large part of why a UGA master’s degree can be earned virtually for free! 

UGA’s online master’s degree programs are in Business Administration with concentrations in:

University of North Dakota

UND’s Scholarship Central is the hub for scholarship opportunities offered and accepted by the university. Notable examples include: 

Filling in the General Application with your complete and accurate personal information will result in automatic scholarship matching. UND has a “pool and match” system where students are matched with scholarship programs based on the latter’s intent and applicable laws. 

Students should also file for federal aid via FAFSA, which will be used to determine eligibility for state education aid programs. Scholarship programs may also use the FAFSA but will likely require other documents and impose conditions, such as satisfactory academic progress. 

UND also provides limited financial support through the Angel Fund, an emergency fund for students in crisis and emergencies. The Open Door Scholarship program awards a one-time financial aid to students undergoing difficulties due to unforeseen dire circumstances. UND also provides its employees and their family members with tuition waivers. 

Among the fields of study covered in UND’s online master’s degree programs are

Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU works with students to achieve academic success, particularly in earning their degrees. The online master’s degree programs are in:

While SNHU is a nonprofit, private university, its budget-friendly cost of attendance results from its decade-long tuition freeze. 

Students can save on their tuition by: 

The University of Texas at Austin

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid maximizes students’ options to finance their graduate-level education. Of course, UT Austin has one of the most affordable tuition rates among the public universities in Texas. Resident tuition per credit ranges from $1,177 for business programs to $1,469 for information programs. Nonresident  tuition per credit ranges from $1,822 for business programs to $2,082 for information programs.

When the affordable tuition and financial aid options are combined, you may earn your master’s degree nearly for free!  

FAFSA is the first resort since federal aid is usually the easiest to receive. Students fill in the gaps through scholarships and grants, such as the Texas Public Education Grant and the UT Grant.

The individual awards vary, but they can be as high as $10,000 for an entire year. Waivers and exemptions for fellowship recipients and graduate assistants are also common. 

UT Austin’s online master’s degree programs are in:

Master’s Degrees are the New Entry-level Degrees

In a survey, most employers increased their educational requirements for entry-level positions because of their experience with employees with graduate training being more productive, proficient, and passionate about lifelong learning.

These employers report that employees with master’s degrees contribute to organizational growth through innovative ideas, increased revenues, and improved customer loyalty.

Indeed, several well-paid occupations require at least a master’s degree for entry-level positions, such as education administrators, family therapists, and nurse practitioners.

Best Reasons for Pursuing a Master’s Degree

The free tuition part isn’t the only great thing about earning a master’s degree in these prestigious universities either!

In the best and worst economic times, workers with higher educational levels typically enjoy higher pay and lower unemployment rates than individuals with less education.

Master’s degree holders earn $1,737 in median weekly wage, a higher amount than the $1,493 median weekly wage of bachelor’s degree holders. The former also has a lower unemployment rate at 2% than the latter at 2.2%, not to mention that a master’s degree is the minimum for many well-paying jobs.

Once you earn a master’s degree in a field you’ve worked in for a few years, you’re more likely to be hired for supervisory or managerial positions. The higher your rank, the better your compensation package can be.

Graph - Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment

Employers acknowledge the value of master’s degrees in their organizations’ bottom line, whether net profits or public advocacies. However, the level of recognition differs depending on whether a master’s degree is a prerequisite or a preference for leadership positions.

Either way, you will stand out from a crowd of individuals with a bachelor’s degree and similar work experiences as yours! You can even be justified in highlighting your master’s degree from a prestigious university in your resume.

Career change is defined as moving from one specific occupation to another, usually unrelated, such as from a computer science major to a doctor. The reasons vary widely, from wanting a new challenge to following a passion, but the career change typically requires new education and training.

A master’s degree can be useful, particularly when your bachelor’s degree has zero training in the new career you’re planning on pursuing.

Earning a master’s degree means that you’re passionate about lifelong learning, which employers look for in their employees. Doing so also means that you will gain specialist knowledge, which is a huge plus when applying for specialist occupations.

Even when you already have specialist knowledge in your area, you will find that a master’s degree will further develop it. You may also use it as a consultant, and it usually pays better, too.

Pursuing a master’s degree isn’t a walk in the park, whether for free or not, on-campus or online, because students are expected to have graduate-level knowledge and skills. There will be plenty of papers to read, evaluate and write, and a thesis that demands excellent communication skills.

However, you will also feed your passion for lifelong learning, and the challenges that come your way are well worth it. Even when you think that you’ve read every book in your field of study, there is always something new you can learn.

Every industry and its fields of study are always in flux, meaning new ideas, innovations and inventions are constantly introduced. This is all too true in medicine, computer science and technology, accountancy and law, among other fields with high obsolescence.

Pursuing a master’s degree means being updated about your field of study while developing your specialist knowledge and research skills.

Even if you never meet your classmates in your online master’s degree program, you can still make them part of your network! Your LinkedIn and social media accounts will not only be more extensive, but you can also request referrals that can boost your career advancement opportunities.

Your professors are also great sources for letters of recommendation, job referrals, and other useful career information with their established connections.

While doctorate programs don’t require a master’s degree, it’s usually either a prerequisite or a preferred credential. A master’s degree is also an excellent preparation for a doctorate program due to its intensive research requirements. Your master-level research skills will make your doctorate research easier.

Aside from gaining specialist knowledge, you will be surprised at the depth and breadth of the new knowledge you can develop in a master’s degree program! You will also further develop your key cognitive skills, such as critical and analytical thinking skills, which are transferable to any industry.

Your ability for self-study will also be developed beyond what you learned in college – there’s no spoon-feeding in graduate study!

Participating in faculty-led research at a professional level is too good to pass up for students in master’s degree programs. Your curiosity about a particular area can be satisfied but also deepened so you can engage in more research in the future. 

Of course, your personal growth will also get a boost! Whatever professional knowledge and skills you acquired in earning a master’s degree will translate into your personal growth, from making new friends to making more discoveries about yourself.

The Best Time to Pursue a Master’s Degree

Should you enroll in a master’s degree program straight from college or wait until you have gained relevant work experience?

When You Should Go Right After College

If you register for a master’s degree college the year after your graduation, you’re more likely to make a smoother transition with a summer break in between. You’re leveraging your momentum with your effective study habits still going strong, meaning you won’t find it difficult to transition from college-level to graduate-level life. 

If you take a break, your study habits may not be as effective, and your transition from a working life to a working and studying life can be extremely challenging for the first semester. Your life may also undergo significant changes that will make it more difficult to balance work, studies, and personal responsibilities, such as getting married and raising children.

Your decision to pursue a master’s degree without these additional responsibilities may be the best thing! 

There’s also the matter of repaying your federal student loan as an undergraduate student being postponed since you’re continuing your education. But remember that you may also rack up more student debt for your graduate studies, and you must still repay your undergraduate loans after earning your master’s degree. 

Note that if you want to avail yourself of federal aid as a graduate student, you’re still going to file for FAFSA, but this time, you are an independent student. You are eligible for the Direct PLUS and direct unsubsidized loans only and the paid federal work-study program.

You can also apply for state, institutional, and private scholarship programs, perhaps even avail of your employer’s tuition support program. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Going to grad school right after college has its disadvantages, too. You may not have the maturity, life and work experiences, and time management skills yet! You may not be equipped to meet the admission requirements of programs that require relevant real-world experience for a minimum number of years (e.g., executive MBA programs).

When It’s Better to Wait

If you wait for a few years before pursuing a master’s degree, you will enjoy several benefits, too. You will get a break from the all-nighters, hours-long exams and cold pizzas that characterized your college life. You can establish your career first, perhaps settle down in a specific place or travel extensively, and find your place under the sun. 

While at it, you will build your professional experience and develop your skills to contribute to your success in graduate school. Your work and life experiences will enhance, if not change, your opinions and perspectives as a college student, which will contribute to a more enriching graduate experience.

You will also have more time to complete creative projects, volunteer in community work and build a portfolio, which results in personal enrichment and looks good on your resume, without the extra burden of graduate studies. 

Your interests and ambitions may also evolve in your work, and thus, your plans for a specific master’s degree may also change. You may want to discover your true calling before making plans for a master’s degree or risk making a substantial investment in a graduate degree in a field you’re not interested in. Besides, graduate schools will be there whether you wait for a year or ten years! 

And then there’s also the matter of finances! You can first pay your undergraduate student loans, stabilize your finances, and save for graduate school if you wait. Even if you don’t pay 100% of your undergraduate student loans, making a significant dent in it can mean fewer graduate loans.

You’re better positioned to finance your graduate education through scholarships, assistantships and tuition support from your employer. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Pursue your master’s degree when you’re ripe and ready for it! You must have effective time management skills, possess the emotional maturity for adulting responsibilities, and be as financially stable as possible. You should also be committed to completing the program, and it can be a challenge in itself.

Planning Tips For Grad School Success

Regardless of your decision regarding when to plunge into the life of a graduate student, you will benefit from keeping these tips in mind. 

You must have clear goals, including your reasons and motivations for pursuing a master’s degree. What do you want to achieve with an advanced degree? What are your expectations for graduate school, including its didactic and research components? What are your aspirations for your career with a master’s degree? 

The clearer your goals, the greater your chances of earning a master’s degree in your chosen field! You don’t have to write everything down, but a list can become a good source of motivation. Your goals don’t have to mirror everybody else’s either because they have to be your own!

You may, for example, make it your goal to earn an MBA because you want to make your private medical practice more results-effective, cost-efficient and patient-responsive.

While there are numerous personal and professional benefits to earning a master’s degree, the costs are daunting! If you’re patient and persistent – and with a little bit of luck – you can finance your education with scholarships, grants, and fellowships. However, there are living costs and other unexpected expenses that must be planned. 

If you have a family, you must also consider the impact of your advanced studies on your family’s financial health. Even with full coverage for tuition and other educational expenses, the additional costs can be a challenge to overcome. You have to factor in technology costs, such as your laptop or computer and Internet setup, among other possible expenses. 

So, before you look into master’s degree programs, you must look at your current finances and future cash flow. You should also discuss your plans with family members and perhaps ask for emotional and financial support.

Ask yourself, “Can we afford my master’s studies? Can’t we afford not to pursue it, considering its numerous benefits and the tight job market?”

If you’ve sailed through your undergraduate studies because you’re an overachiever, you will likely find a different environment in your graduate studies! A difficulty that most graduate students will experience is imposter syndrome.

It is the strong feeling of being a fraud and doubting your abilities. Your self-confidence will be tested more times than you care to count, and thus, it’s important to be your own strongest cheerleader and have a supportive network. 

You should also expect more personal initiative and less guidance from your professors and other staff members during your graduate studies. While there are exceptional student support services in graduate school, spoon-feeding isn’t a thing here.

Due to the greater flexibility in graduate school, you must possess maturity and its associated traits to thrive. Aside from effective time management skills, you must also possess the following traits: 

But be sure to take good care of your mind and body, too! These are your best assets toward earning your master’s degree and enjoying career success.

You must plan far ahead when you’re planning to pursue graduate studies. If you’re enrolling right after college, you should plan while still in your junior year of college. You will have ample time to decide on your field of specialization, comply with the admission requirements, and become a competitive applicant.

Your decision to enroll in a bachelor-to-doctorate program also means you have to hit the ground running as early as your junior year!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average cost of a two-year master’s program?

According to EDI, a master’s degree in a public school costs between $44,640 and $71,140 on average. Private schools, meanwhile, charge an average of $62,550 for their master’s programs. Each year, a master’s student spends an average of $41,026.

Each year, a master’s student spends an average of $39,460.

Note, however, that costs vary depending on the graduate school, the major, and the length of the master’s program.

Image - Average Cost Master's Degree

Be sure to add other college-related costs, too, such as books and supplies, traveling and living costs, and Internet connection and costs for computer setup and maintenance, in case of online master’s degree programs.

What are the legitimate ways to get a free online master’s degree?

Look for scholarships, fellowships and grants that offer free tuition for graduate students! While there’s a more limited number of these programs for master’s degree students than for undergraduate and doctorate students, there are still several.

You will also find audience-specific free money, such as those for military personnel and veterans, aspiring teachers, and underrepresented groups. Ask about industry and employer benefits, too, and work-for-education programs.

Is a free online master’s degree acceptable among employers and industries? 

Generally speaking, employers are more likely to consider whether an accredited institution issued a master’s degree. Of course, the field of study, specialization, and coursework contributing to the organization’s bottom line will also be considered a priority. Ultimately, what you bring will matter more than where you acquired it. 

You may even highlight that you earned your master’s degree for free through merit-based scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships. This is an indication of your persistence, passion, patience, and leadership skills that will be valuable to the organization if you’re hired.

Do universities with tuition-free online master’s degree programs have high academic standards? 

Not every school, but if you choose from one of the 20 universities featured, you have a 100% guarantee that these are among the best in the country! But even if you don’t, you can do your research about the accreditation, academic track record, and graduate outcomes of whatever universities you’re considering.

Are there negative aspects to a tuition-free online master’s degree program? 

None that we know of that earning an on-campus, paid-for-tuition master’s degree doesn’t have! You must choose a field of specialization that addresses your aspirations and professional goals.

It would be best if you also chose an accredited university with a master’s degree program known for its academic excellence, among other factors. In this way, you can maximize your advanced studies and enjoy its benefits.

Is it necessary to match your master’s degree with your bachelor’s degree? 

No, it isn’t necessary! Consult with an academic advisor about course prerequisites and work experiences when not matching your master’s and bachelor’s degrees. You may have a bachelor’s degree in computer science and decide to get your master’s in Accounting.

Key Takeaways

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