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Online Master's Degree Programs (2026): A Guide to Choosing
Key takeaway: A master's degree is a graduate degree earned after a bachelor's. Most programs require about 30 to 60 semester credits, typically one to two years of full-time study. It comes as an academic degree (MA or MS) or a professional degree named for its field, such as the MBA, MSN, MEd, MPH, or MSW. Online, the degree title and accreditation are generally the same as the campus version at the same school.
A master’s degree is the first level of graduate study. It builds advanced knowledge in one field, usually through a set of core courses, electives or a concentration, and a final thesis, capstone project, or exam. Many master’s students work while they study, which is why online and part-time formats are common at this level. This page explains the degree types, what admissions usually asks for, how long programs take, and which accreditation to check.
Types of master’s degrees
Academic master’s degrees focus on a discipline and its research methods:
- MA, Master of Arts. Humanities, social sciences, communication, and education. Often more reading, writing, and theory.
- MS, Master of Science. Science, technology, health, business analytics, and other quantitative fields. Often more methods, data, and lab or applied work.
Professional master’s degrees prepare students for practice in a specific field. The degree name tells you the field:
- MBA, Master of Business Administration. General management across finance, marketing, operations, and leadership. See our MBA guide.
- MSN, Master of Science in Nursing. Advanced nursing practice, education, or leadership for registered nurses. See online master’s in nursing.
- MEd, Master of Education. Teaching, curriculum, educational leadership, and related school roles. See online master’s in education.
- MPH, Master of Public Health. Population health, usually covering epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and program planning. See the public health guide.
- MSW, Master of Social Work. Graduate social work practice, and a common requirement for clinical social work licensure; check your state board. See online master’s in social work.
Some schools also offer an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in creative fields and an MPA (Master of Public Administration) for government and nonprofit management.
Credits, length, and format
Most master’s programs require about 30 to 36 semester credits; some professional and licensure-track programs, such as counseling and social work, require 48 to 60 or more. Full-time schedules are usually designed to take one to two years, and part-time online schedules commonly run two to three years. Individual timelines vary. Accelerated formats exist, but the credit total generally stays the same.
Two structural choices matter more than the calendar:
- Thesis or non-thesis. A thesis track adds an original research project and is often the better fit if you may apply to a doctoral program. Non-thesis tracks usually end in a capstone project or comprehensive exam.
- Practicum or clinical hours. Nursing, counseling, education, and social work programs usually require supervised hours in a real setting, arranged near where you live. Ask how the school places online students.
Admissions requirements
Requirements vary by school and field, but most programs ask for:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, sometimes in a related field or with specific prerequisite courses
- Official transcripts, often with a minimum undergraduate GPA
- A resume, a statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation
- Test scores such as the GRE or GMAT at some schools; many programs now waive or do not require them
- A current license for some professional programs, such as an RN license for most MSN programs
Accreditation to check
First, confirm the school holds institutional accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Then, where the degree leads to a license or a regulated career, check the program’s own accreditation. Common examples include CCNE or ACEN for nursing, CAEP for educator preparation, CEPH for public health, CSWE for social work, CACREP for counseling, and AACSB, ACBSP, or IACBE for business. If you plan to work in a licensed field, also confirm the program meets the requirements of the state where you intend to work.
Online master’s degrees by field
Each guide covers curriculum, admissions, careers, and schools that report completions in that field.
- Business: MBA, business administration, finance, marketing, accounting, supply chain management
- Health: nursing (MSN), healthcare administration, health science, global health
- Education: education (MEd), instructional design, higher education administration
- Technology: computer science, cybersecurity, data science, engineering
- Psychology and social services: psychology, forensic psychology, counseling, social work
- Public service: criminal justice, public administration, construction management
Quick Answers
What are postgraduate courses?
“Postgraduate” means study after a bachelor’s degree. In the U.S. the usual term is “graduate”: master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates are all postgraduate study. A graduate certificate is a shorter set of graduate courses, often four to six, that some schools let you apply toward a later master’s.
What is a dual degree or double degree?
A dual (or double) degree program lets you earn two degrees, such as an MBA paired with an MPH or a law degree, in less total time than earning them one after another, because some courses count toward both. Admission, credit sharing, and length vary by school. A double major is different: one degree with two majors.
What are PhD courses, and how is a PhD different from a master’s?
A PhD is a research doctorate earned after a bachelor’s or master’s. PhD coursework usually covers advanced theory and research methods for the first two years or so, followed by exams and an original dissertation. A master’s is shorter and usually ends with a thesis, capstone, or exam. Applied doctorates such as the EdD, DNP, and DBA focus on practice rather than academic research.
What is a master’s degree?
A master’s degree is a graduate degree earned after a bachelor’s. Most programs require about 30 to 60 semester credits, typically one to two years of full-time study, and end with a thesis, capstone project, or comprehensive exam.
What is the difference between an MA and an MS?
An MA (Master of Arts) usually covers humanities, social science, communication, or education, with more reading, writing, and theory. An MS (Master of Science) usually covers scientific, technical, or quantitative fields, with more methods and data. In the same field, both are graduate degrees at the same level.
How long does an online master’s degree take?
One to two years of full-time study is typical. Part-time online students commonly take two to three years, and licensure-track programs with 48 or more credits can take longer.
Is an online master’s degree respected?
At the same accredited school, the degree title and transcript generally do not state how the courses were delivered. Employers, licensing boards, and doctoral programs look at the school’s accreditation and, in licensed fields, the program’s accreditation.
Do I need the GRE for an online master’s program?
It depends on the school. Many programs now waive or do not require the GRE or GMAT, while others still require it or ask for it when your GPA is below a cutoff. Check each program’s admissions page.
What is the difference between a master’s degree and a graduate program?
“Graduate program” covers all study after a bachelor’s, including master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and graduate certificates. A master’s degree is one type of graduate program.