Best Online Master’s Degrees and Program Guide of 2021

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.

These include classes with lab and/or practicum components. 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.

For most students, total cost is the primary consideration when choosing between public and private schools. At private colleges, the tuition rates for online courses tend to be less expensive than the rates for both brick-and-mortar courses and out-of-state students.

In contrast, in-state online students enrolled at public universities often pay more in tuition than their in-state counterparts attending courses on campus.

My wife completed law school at Texas Tech, in Lubbock, TX and while we were there, I took one graduate level class, so I have some grounds for comparison, both from my own experience and observing hers. Earning my degree online was easier in some ways and harder in others.

Working at my own pace, on my own schedule made my experience smoother in many ways, but it also could also present challenges at times. Having classmates around the world in similar demographics (employed, family life, more life experience) was helpful. At the same time, I missed some of the face-to-face discussion that a student would receive at a traditional, on-campus program.

I think that there are a lot of credible options out there for online schools. Opinions of employers and licensing boards vary; but, the common wisdom that I have experienced is that if a school has a brick and mortar presence, it tends to be a better choice when choosing an online program. Most people don't question where I got my degree, just what licensing and certification I have.

I have had two employers since earning my degree online. One was the company I was working for while I was in school. I did my internship and supervision hours there with my clinical and management supervisors.

The other was with another company and they did not ask where I got my degree as long as I had one. I am now in private practice and don't think of my online degree any differently than I would have if it was a degree from a brick-and-mortar program.

The amount of work I put into my degree was reflected directly by my 3.5 GPA. The more I worked at it, the better I did in class, on papers and during exams. I worked full time during my studies and did not have much trouble balancing my life. My daughter was young (3-6 years old) and my wife was supportive.

That said, I did not spend very much time on social media, watching television, or in my garden. I had a number of late nights and early mornings. If I was up and concerned about my studies, I just got up and worked on them.

I think that the ideal online student is self-motivated, balanced, and committed to making their life, and the lives of those around them better. I had highly successful classmates that ranged in age from their early 20's to their late 70's. Some were geographically isolated; others were involved in their local communities or careers such that leaving to attend graduate school was not an option.

An online program is not for everyone. Be honest with yourself about your own level of dedication and engagement.

This will be a particularly important consideration for students who are employed full- or part-time and plan to keep their jobs while they earn their master's. Asynchronous programs allow them to study at their own pace, which can be ideal for those with demanding schedules. Synchronous programs may be harder to handle while working, but students tend to complete these pathways faster than asynchronous pathways.

Master's students may be able to enter their graduate programs with a handful of credits if they have held certain jobs or served in the military. This is known as experiential credit, and is awarded on the basis that the student's professional background negates their need for taking certain courses.

This type of credit is not always available, but students with experience in certain areas should look into experiential credit opportunities at schools they are considering; just one course can potentially save them thousands of dollars.

It is absolutely imperative to submit all application materials ahead of the school's admissions deadline. Some institutions will receive and review applications during certain periods of the year, and will discard applications that arrive outside that window.

Others offer 'rolling admission', and will continuously review applications and grant admission to students throughout the calendar year. On average, schools with rolling admission will issue a response to applicants within four to six weeks of receiving their application materials.

Like undergraduate programs, many master's programs require applicants to submit standardized test scores. The most common test taken by master's applicants is the Graduate Record Examinations, or GRE. The GRE features three sections: verbal, consisting of reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical reasoning; quantitative, which consists of mathematics and logical reasoning; and a critical writing assessment, which is optional.

The GRE is scored on a scale of 130 to 170, and only accounts for the verbal and quantitative sections. In addition to the GRE, some master's programs require standardized test scores from exams concentrated in certain academic fields. These exams include the GMAT (business), LSAT (law), and the MCAT (medical).

Students who speak English as a second language (ESL) may be required to take a graduate entrance exam that assesses their abilities to read, write, and understand English. The three most common ESL exams for master's students are the TOEFL, IELTS, and MELAB exams. It's important to note that many schools do not require standardized test scores of any kind for master's degree applicants.

Master's program applicants should carefully choose who they ask to write their letters of recommendation. The best options usually include undergraduate professors and advisors, current and past employers, relevant co-workers, and other individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the applicant's academic and/or professional background.

Family members, friends, and classmates should be avoided. Be sure to allow enough time for the chosen references to write the letter; generally, six weeks prior to mailing the application is a good benchmark.

Applicants should tailor their resume to reflect academic and professional experiences that are relevant to their master's degree field of study. Prioritize jobs that showcase skills and knowledge related to the program, and be sure to include community service projects, volunteer experiences, and other applicable details that will bolster the employment history.

Make sure all contact information is accurate and up-to-date; for most applications, a cover letter will not be required.

Like undergraduate applications, many graduate school applications require candidates to write a personal statement and/or prompted essay. This section gives students the chance to show off their writing and critical thinking skills. The amount of writing requirements will usually vary from one or two to as many as five or six, depending on the school.

Write or type everything out beforehand in order to review the language and check the grammar. If completing a paper application, always use a pen and write with the best possible penmanship.

In order to prove they have successfully completed their bachelor's degree studies, master's programs will always ask applicants to submit official undergraduate transcripts; high school transcripts are usually not required. An official transcript is printed on official school stationery and sealed in a tamper-proof envelope; these are easily available from undergraduate institutions for a small fee.

Unofficial transcripts are also available, but applicants should always submit official transcripts as part of their master's program application.