To earn a place on the Best Online Colleges for Master's Degree Programs ranking list, an online college must meet two criteria. First, they must offer their online master's degree programs at an annual tuition rate that students can reasonably pay off within 10 years of graduation. Second, they must offer a large number of master's degree programs to students (minimum of 10).
The online schools that meet these criteria are ranked against each other based on how well they meet each standard. For more information on this ranking please see the ranking methodology. Access the ranking seal, here.
| Rank | College Name | Location | # Online Master's Programs | Full Time, In-state Tuition | Per Credit, In-state Tuition | Full Time, Out-of-state Tuition | Per Credit, Out-of-state Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | 75 | $14,526 | $538 | $14,526 | $538 |
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Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | 40 | $12,844 | $550 | $12,844 | $550 |
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Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 38 | $18,373 | $1,021 | $18,373 | $1,021 |
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University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 36 | $10,770 | $449 | $27,335 | $1,139 |
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North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 35 | $8,088 | $379 | $22,610 | $1,060 |
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Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 35 | $9,783 | $544 | $9,783 | $544 |
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East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 34 | $4,656 | $291 | $17,547 | $1,097 |
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Texas A & M University-College Station | College Station, TX | 34 | $5,784 | $258 | $15,953 | $681 |
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National University | La Jolla, CA | 34 | $11,232 | $416 | $11,232 | $416 |
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Kaplan University-Davenport Campus | Davenport, IA | 31 | $9,432 | $393 | $9,432 | $393 |
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American Public University System | Charles Town, WV | 30 | $6,300 | $350 | $6,300 | $350 |
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Kaplan University-Mason City Campus | Mason City, IA | 30 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Lincoln Campus | Lincoln, NE | 30 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Omaha Campus | Omaha, NE | 30 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Maine Campus | S Portland, ME | 29 | $7,680 | $320 | $7,680 | $320 |
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Kaplan University-Augusta Campus | Augusta, ME | 29 | $7,680 | $320 | $7,680 | $320 |
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Kaplan University-Cedar Rapids Campus | Cedar Rapids, IA | 29 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Hagerstown Campus | Hagerstown, MD | 29 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Cedar Falls Campus | Cedar Falls, IA | 29 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Kaplan University-Des Moines Campus | Urbandale, IA | 29 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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Concordia University-Wisconsin | Mequon, WI | 28 | $10,170 | $565 | $10,170 | $565 |
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Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | 26 | $6,500 | . | $6,500 | . |
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Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | 26 | $8,051 | $466 | $8,051 | $466 |
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Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 26 | $12,690 | $705 | $12,690 | $705 |
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New England College | Henniker, NH | 26 | $13,560 | $565 | $13,560 | $565 |
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Kaplan University-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | 25 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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University of South Carolina-Columbia | Columbia, SC | 25 | $12,398 | $533 | $27,008 | $1,142 |
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 25 | $15,267 | $593 | $28,507 | $1,198 |
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University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 24 | $6,916 | $370 | $25,759 | $1,194 |
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Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | 24 | $8,956 | $444 | $17,781 | $1,164 |
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Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO | 24 | $9,628 | $535 | $23,604 | $1,311 |
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University of Phoenix-Arizona | Tempe, AZ | 24 | $16,581 | . | $16,581 | . |
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Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | 23 | $5,400 | $300 | $12,744 | $708 |
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Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL | 23 | $9,630 | $535 | $9,630 | $535 |
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Indiana Wesleyan University-National and Global | Marion, IN | 23 | $10,218 | $523 | $10,218 | $523 |
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Dallas Baptist University | Dallas, TX | 23 | $15,408 | $856 | $15,408 | $856 |
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Missouri State University-Springfield | Springfield, MO | 22 | $4,644 | $258 | $9,324 | $518 |
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Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX | 22 | $5,139 | $286 | $12,483 | $694 |
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Kaplan University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | 22 | $9,216 | $384 | $9,216 | $384 |
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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH | 22 | $12,790 | $640 | $24,532 | $1,227 |
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Concordia University-Chicago | River Forest, IL | 22 | $14,328 | $597 | $14,328 | $597 |
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University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg, KY | 21 | $5,670 | $315 | $5,670 | $315 |
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Wilmington University | New Castle, DE | 21 | $8,190 | $455 | $8,190 | $455 |
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University of Maryland-University College | Adelphi, MD | 21 | $8,244 | $458 | $11,862 | $659 |
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University of South Florida-Main Campus | Tampa, FL | 21 | $8,350 | $431 | $19,048 | $877 |
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Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 21 | $9,670 | $403 | $21,828 | $910 |
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Bellevue University | Bellevue, NE | 21 | $9,810 | $545 | $9,810 | $545 |
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Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 21 | $11,400 | $570 | $16,320 | $816 |
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Mercy College | Dobbs Ferry, NY | 21 | $15,156 | $842 | $15,156 | $842 |
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Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 20 | $9,072 | $504 | $27,216 | $1,512 |
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Tiffin University | Tiffin, OH | 20 | $12,600 | $700 | $12,600 | $700 |
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Indiana State University | Terre Haute, IN | 19 | $7,128 | $396 | $13,986 | $777 |
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Concordia University-Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | 19 | $8,550 | $420 | $8,550 | $420 |
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University of the Southwest | Hobbs, NM | 19 | $14,376 | $599 | $14,376 | $599 |
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Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | 18 | $5,922 | $247 | $18,414 | $767 |
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Iowa State University | Ames, IA | 18 | $8,474 | $471 | $21,786 | $1,211 |
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Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | 18 | $16,536 | $689 | $28,128 | $1,172 |
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Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, GA | 17 | $4,734 | $263 | $17,118 | $951 |
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Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | Stillwater, OK | 17 | $5,033 | $210 | $19,801 | $825 |
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University of Louisiana at Monroe | Monroe, LA | 17 | $6,490 | $479 | $18,590 | $479 |
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University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS | 17 | $7,549 | $420 | $16,419 | $913 |
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Purdue University-Main Campus | West Lafayette, IN | 17 | $9,208 | $348 | $28,010 | $948 |
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Xavier University | Cincinnati, OH | 17 | $10,908 | $606 | $10,908 | $606 |
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Brenau University | Gainesville, GA | 17 | $11,736 | $652 | $11,736 | $652 |
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Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, MI | 17 | $12,232 | $548 | $18,216 | $819 |
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Lesley University | Cambridge, MA | 17 | $17,550 | $975 | $17,550 | $975 |
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American College of Education | Indianapolis, IN | 16 | $5,500 | . | $5,500 | . |
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Northwestern State University of Louisiana | Natchitoches, LA | 16 | $5,738 | $412 | $16,526 | $862 |
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Arizona State University-Skysong | Scottsdale, AZ | 16 | $6,024 | $502 | $6,024 | $502 |
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University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 16 | $6,714 | $373 | $22,374 | $1,243 |
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Troy University | Troy, AL | 16 | $7,146 | $397 | $14,292 | $794 |
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Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO | 16 | $9,566 | $399 | $27,312 | $1,138 |
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University of Phoenix-California | Costa Mesa, CA | 16 | $16,067 | . | $16,067 | . |
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Saint Joseph's University | Philadelphia, PA | 16 | $16,092 | $894 | $16,092 | $894 |
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Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 16 | $17,917 | $943 | $17,917 | $943 |
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The University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, TX | 15 | $4,896 | $375 | $12,294 | $786 |
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 15 | $5,439 | $411 | $12,783 | $819 |
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Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | 15 | $6,636 | $277 | $26,518 | $1,105 |
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University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 15 | $7,379 | $410 | $18,842 | $1,047 |
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Ball State University | Muncie, IN | 15 | $8,386 | $466 | $20,698 | $1,150 |
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University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 15 | $8,492 | $354 | $24,090 | $1,004 |
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Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY | 15 | $9,450 | $525 | $15,390 | $855 |
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Regis University | Denver, CO | 15 | $11,250 | $625 | $11,250 | $625 |
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Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | 15 | $16,764 | $699 | $32,940 | $1,373 |
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Arkansas State University-Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR | 14 | $4,626 | $257 | $9,252 | $514 |
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University of Nebraska at Kearney | Kearney, NE | 14 | $5,418 | $223 | $11,886 | $495 |
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Lamar University | Beaumont, TX | 14 | $6,048 | $336 | $13,392 | $744 |
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University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO | 14 | $6,683 | $308 | $13,366 | $586 |
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Aspen University | Denver, CO | 14 | $6,975 | $388 | $6,975 | $388 |
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University of Memphis | Memphis, TN | 14 | $8,820 | $490 | $17,604 | $488 |
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Florida International University | Miami, FL | 14 | $8,912 | $446 | $21,393 | $992 |
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Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 14 | $9,684 | $482 | $24,116 | $1,114 |
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Concordia University-Nebraska | Seward, NE | 14 | $9,919 | $557 | $9,919 | $557 |
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Southwestern Assemblies of God University | Waxahachie, TX | 14 | $10,350 | $575 | $10,350 | $575 |
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The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 14 | $10,470 | $622 | $26,950 | $1,410 |
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University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 14 | $11,372 | $812 | $31,124 | $1,729 |
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Harding University | Searcy, AR | 14 | $15,678 | $734 | $15,678 | $734 |
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University of Phoenix-Florida | Orlando, FL | 14 | $17,234 | . | $17,234 | . |
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Golden Gate University-San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 14 | $17,550 | $975 | $17,550 | $975 |
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New Mexico State University-Main Campus | Las Cruces, NM | 13 | $4,088 | $227 | $14,254 | $792 |
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University of North Texas | Denton, TX | 13 | $5,450 | $399 | $12,794 | $807 |
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The University of West Florida | Pensacola, FL | 13 | $7,088 | $378 | $22,166 | $1,037 |
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University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | 13 | $7,185 | $299 | $19,184 | $799 |
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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | Daytona Beach, FL | 13 | $7,440 | $620 | $7,440 | $620 |
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South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | 13 | $7,516 | $347 | $14,449 | $636 |
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Mississippi State University | Mississippi State, MS | 13 | $7,780 | $426 | $20,900 | $1,155 |
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Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 13 | $8,826 | $612 | $18,424 | $1,223 |
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Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 13 | $8,904 | $371 | $17,808 | $742 |
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Wayland Baptist University | Plainview, TX | 13 | $10,620 | $540 | $10,620 | $540 |
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Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 13 | $10,870 | $453 | $22,210 | $925 |
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The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville, TN | 13 | $11,044 | $615 | $29,232 | $1,626 |
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Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 13 | $12,139 | $490 | $12,139 | $490 |
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Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | 13 | $12,150 | $450 | $21,799 | $807 |
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South University�Savannah Online | Savannah, GA | 13 | $13,488 | $500 | $13,488 | $500 |
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University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 13 | $16,240 | $1,353 | $25,120 | $2,093 |
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Fort Hays State University | Hays, KS | 12 | $3,398 | $225 | $9,676 | $574 |
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Angelo State University | San Angelo, TX | 12 | $3,783 | $210 | $11,128 | $618 |
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Grantham University | Lenexa, KS | 12 | $3,900 | $325 | $3,900 | $325 |
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University of Houston-Victoria | Victoria, TX | 12 | $5,798 | $402 | $13,142 | $810 |
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The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | 12 | $7,141 | $401 | $15,638 | $893 |
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Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH | 12 | $7,632 | $424 | $13,284 | $738 |
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Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs, NC | 12 | $7,722 | $429 | $7,722 | $429 |
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University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | 12 | $8,592 | $478 | $19,066 | $1,059 |
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Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 12 | $8,736 | $478 | $25,548 | $1,195 |
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Virginia International University | Fairfax, VA | 12 | $9,144 | $508 | $13,068 | $726 |
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Southwestern College | Winfield, KS | 12 | $10,085 | $560 | $10,085 | $560 |
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University of Phoenix-Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 12 | $13,243 | . | $13,243 | . |
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City University of Seattle | Seattle, WA | 12 | $13,914 | $580 | $13,914 | $580 |
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University of Phoenix-Colorado | Lone Tree, CO | 12 | $15,989 | . | $15,989 | . |
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Florida Institute of Technology-Online | Melbourne, FL | 12 | $16,128 | $896 | $16,128 | $896 |
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University of Phoenix-Texas | Houston, TX | 12 | $16,955 | . | $16,955 | . |
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University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | Norman, OK | 11 | $4,886 | $204 | $18,989 | $791 |
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 11 | $5,022 | $279 | $7,452 | $414 |
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University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | 11 | $5,117 | $640 | $18,566 | $2,321 |
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University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 11 | $6,390 | $355 | $12,780 | $710 |
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University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie, WI | 11 | $6,878 | $447 | $14,573 | $874 |
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 11 | $7,134 | $297 | $20,412 | $850 |
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University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO | 11 | $8,462 | $353 | $23,172 | $966 |
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University of Illinois at Springfield | Springfield, IL | 11 | $8,624 | $369 | $16,640 | $510 |
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Northwest Nazarene University | Nampa, ID | 11 | $8,851 | $595 | $8,851 | $595 |
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Colorado State University-Global Campus | Greenwood Village, CO | 11 | $9,000 | $500 | $9,000 | $500 |
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Ohio University-Main Campus | Athens, OH | 11 | $9,510 | $587 | $17,502 | $1,083 |
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Belhaven University | Jackson, MS | 11 | $10,080 | $560 | $10,080 | $560 |
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Murray State University | Murray, KY | 11 | $10,968 | $503 | $32,952 | $1,419 |
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Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | 11 | $10,976 | $610 | $22,479 | $1,249 |
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Ashford University | San Diego, CA | 11 | $10,989 | . | $10,989 | . |
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California Baptist University | Riverside, CA | 11 | $11,430 | $635 | $11,430 | $635 |
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Campbellsville University | Campbellsville, KY | 11 | $11,904 | $496 | $11,904 | $496 |
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Stratford University | Fairfax, VA | 11 | $13,365 | $495 | $13,365 | $495 |
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Creighton University | Omaha, NE | 11 | $14,760 | $820 | $14,760 | $820 |
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DeVry University-Illinois | Chicago, IL | 11 | $18,384 | $766 | $18,384 | $766 |
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The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 10 | $4,497 | $250 | $12,326 | $685 |
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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | Wake Forest, NC | 10 | $4,734 | $263 | $4,734 | $263 |
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Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana | Arecibo, PR | 10 | $5,250 | $159 | $5,250 | $159 |
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Columbus State University | Columbus, GA | 10 | $5,706 | $317 | $11,952 | $664 |
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Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS | 10 | $6,218 | $323 | $16,302 | $743 |
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The University of Texas Medical Branch | Galveston, TX | 10 | $6,347 | $264 | $16,409 | $684 |
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Jackson State University | Jackson, MS | 10 | $7,141 | $397 | $7,141 | $973 |
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University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 10 | $7,588 | $396 | $17,294 | $935 |
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University of Houston | Houston, TX | 10 | $7,956 | $442 | $17,100 | $950 |
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Park University | Parkville, MO | 10 | $8,025 | $535 | $8,025 | $535 |
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Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Winona, MN | 10 | $8,100 | $450 | $8,100 | $450 |
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Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN | 10 | $8,300 | $415 | $22,280 | $1,114 |
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Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN | 10 | $8,331 | $347 | $22,985 | $958 |
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Western International University | Tempe, AZ | 10 | $8,352 | . | $8,352 | . |
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Carson-Newman University | Jefferson City, TN | 10 | $8,580 | $477 | $8,580 | $477 |
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Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | Edinboro, PA | 10 | $8,694 | $483 | $13,050 | $725 |
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Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, OH | 10 | $8,964 | $498 | $8,964 | $498 |
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Union College | Barbourville, KY | 10 | $9,600 | $400 | $9,600 | $400 |
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University of Saint Mary | Leavenworth, KS | 10 | $10,764 | $598 | $10,764 | $598 |
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Arizona State University-Tempe | Tempe, AZ | 10 | $10,810 | $772 | $23,480 | $1,174 |
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Brandman University | Irvine, CA | 10 | $11,160 | $620 | $11,160 | $620 |
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Washington State University | Pullman, WA | 10 | $11,224 | $589 | $24,656 | $1,261 |
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California University of Pennsylvania | California, PA | 10 | $11,592 | $483 | $17,400 | $725 |
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Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley, PA | 10 | $11,772 | $669 | $11,772 | $669 |
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Thomas Edison State University | Trenton, NJ | 10 | $12,024 | $668 | $12,024 | $668 |
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Wright State University-Main Campus | Dayton, OH | 10 | $13,474 | $622 | $22,890 | $1,060 |
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Lewis University | Romeoville, IL | 10 | $14,310 | $795 | $14,310 | $795 |
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Canisius College | Buffalo, NY | 10 | $14,310 | $795 | $14,310 | $795 |
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Champlain College | Burlington, VT | 10 | $14,436 | $802 | $14,436 | $802 |
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University of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | 10 | $14,940 | $830 | $14,940 | $830 |
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University of Phoenix-Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | 10 | $16,319 | . | $16,319 | . |
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Full Sail University | Winter Park, FL | 10 | $16,401 | . | $16,401 | . |
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Argosy University-Phoenix Online Division | Phoenix, AZ | 10 | $17,353 | $750 | $17,353 | $750 |
See Other Best Colleges for Online Degree Lists
- Best Colleges for Online Certificates
- Best Colleges for Online Associate Degrees
- Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Degrees
Methodology
To earn a spot on the Best Colleges for Online Master's Degrees list, an online college needs to offer a wide variety of affordable online master's programs. The online colleges on this list meet the following two criteria:
- Offer their online master's programs for a reasonable annual tuition rate - $18,400 is the upper tuition limit (annual in-state tuition) for this list. The annual salary for those with master's degrees according to the BLS is $71,760. Bankrate recommends that students not accumulate more student debt than they will make the first year after graduation. According to a recent TICAS (https://ticas.org/posd/map-state-data#) study and Peterson's (https://www.petersons.com/) data, the average bachelor's student graduates with about $30,000 in student debt. Another survey by Citizens Financial Group (https://www.citizensbank.com/HomePage.aspx), suggested that current students between the ages of 18-24 said they expect to have between $39,000-$42,000 in student debt upon graduating. If you take an approximate average of those two debt amounts, $35,000, and subtract that from the average annual salary of a master's graduate, $71,760, you get about $36,800. If you maintain the Bankrate principle of not graduating with more student debt than your graduating annual salary, for graduate students who already have about $35,000 of accumulated student debt, it would be wise to find a quality online master's degree program that offers an annual master's tuition of $18,400 or less (considering master's programs are 2 years in length - 2 years at $18,400 tuition equates to the desired $36,800 master's student debt). Thus, for this ranking list, we have included online master's programs that offer an annual tuition of $18,400 or less.
- Offer a large number of online master's programs in a variety of study areas. We used 10 as the lowest number of master's programs an online college could offer in this ranking list. If these conditions were met, online colleges were sorted from top to bottom based on the number of online master's programs that they offer to students.
