2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges Offering Master's Degrees

Georgia Institute of Technology offers a variety of online courses and degree programs through "Georgia Tech Online." Master's-level online students can select between nine Master of Science degrees in subjects such as Aerospace Engineering, Medical Physics, and Operations Research. Georgia Tech Online also offers three professional master's degrees, designed for working professionals hoping to increase their expertise. Both the Master of Science and the professional master's degree programs provide students with the flexibility to engage with course materials on their own schedules. Lectures are offered both on demand or via download, enabling students to watch from anywhere. Students in one of the three professional master's degrees will focus on one class at a time and complete a capstone project before graduating. 

Amberton University offers degree programs designed primarily for working adults. Their online degrees cater to working professionals seeking to expand their knowledge or expertise. Online master's degrees at Amberton include an MBA with multiple options for specializations, a Master of Arts in Family Studies, and a Master of Science in Human Resources Training & Development, among others. Coursework is offered in four 10-week sessions to allow for the utmost flexibility for adult students. Graduate students can also select from nine specializations that can be completed in conjunction with their master's degrees. Specializations include Change Management, Diversity Awareness, Executive Communication Skills, and Project Management. All students at Amberton have access to the Ask-A-Libararian forum, library resources, and academic advisors.

Founded in 1902, Fort Hays State University has an enrollment of over 14,000, including over 6,000 virtual students. Online degrees are offered through Fort Hays State's virtual college and include a wide variety of master's programs. Degree programs offered at the master's level include those in education, health and human performance, liberal studies, nursing, and instructional technology, among others. Students can expect to take a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous classes, provided through the learning management system Blackboard. All online graduate students pay a tuition rate of $280.73 per credit, making Fort Hays State an extremely affordable option.

Founded in 1905, Missouri State University is a public institution located in Springfield, MO. It offers master's degree programs in a multitude of areas, including biology, teaching, creative writing, cybersecurity, health administration, literature, mental health, agriculture, applied anthropology, computer science, and music. Tuition for Missouri residents costs from $205 to $420 per credit hour, while out-of-state residents pay between $285 and $440 per credit hour, as rates differ between programs. Online courses cost $285 per credit hour for all students regardless of residency.

Located just 15 minutes north of the Florida border, Valdosta State University is one of the largest of its kind in the South Georgia area. There are numerous opportunities for an online education at VSU, with over 20 programs leading to a master's degree. Online master's degree programs at VSU include an M.S. in Criminal Justice, multiple M.Ed. programs, an MBA, a Master of Public Administration, and multiple M.A.T. programs. For students new to the online learning experience, VSU provides an Online Readiness Tool to help you determine if online degrees are a good choice for your learning style. The tuition for online graduate students is an affordable $293 per credit hour no matter where you live.

Founded as an agricultural school in 1909, Arkansas State University is now the second largest center of higher education in Arkansas, with over 150 degrees on offer. Online master's degree offerings include multiple Master of Science in Education options, a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Engineering Management, and a Master of Science in Sport Administration, among others. Program length varies but some of these degrees, such as the Master of Science in Sport Administration, can be completed in as few as 12 months. Online graduate students at Arkansas State have access to a wide variety of services, including online tutoring, library resources, and ProctorU, an online service that allows students to take exams proctored via webcam.

Located in Little Rock, AR, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public research university established in 1927. The school's online programs are taught by the award-winning faculty who also teach campus-based courses. Master's degrees available 100% online at UA Little Rock include an M.S. in Information Science, an M.Ed. in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Education K-12, and an M.S. in Criminal Justice. Each semester, the school offers over 450 online classes, providing distance learning students with access to a wide variety of courses with flexible schedules to support working students. No matter which master's degree you enroll in and no matter what state you live in, tuition will be the same affordable per-credit rate of $383, with discounts for military students.

Over 900 students from 43 states and nine countries are enrolled in online degree programs at Graceland University. Founded in 1895, Graceland University offers online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the schools of business, education, and nursing as well as through the school's Community of Christ seminary. At the master's level specifically, there are 13 degree options including Master of Education programs, MSN programs, and a Master of Arts in Religion. Coursework for these programs is completed through BrightSpace, an online learning management system, and is designed with working adult students in mind. Students should expect to commit 10-15 hours each week for reading, research, studying, and conversing with their peers.

Established in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a public institution located in Fayetteville, AR with a total enrollment of over 27,000 students. The university offers a large variety of online master's degree programs in fields such as nursing, social work, engineering, education, and business. The nearly 1,700 online students at the University of Arkansas have access to the same high-quality classes, professors, and academic support tools as campus-based students. In addition, students who only take online classes pay affordable in-state tuition rates. 

Based in Fargo, North Dakota State University is a public research institution with over 2,000 graduate students currently enrolled. Online master's degrees are offered in construction management, software engineering, community development, and human development, among other subjects. Some online master's programs are provided through Great Plains IDEA, a partnership of 19 universities that collaborate to provide high quality online degrees. Online classes at North Dakota State University are generally delivered through the learning management system Blackboard. Tuition varies by program for distance learning degrees but starts at $321.84 per credit, making NDSU an affordable option.

Founded in 1958, Columbus State University now offers over 80 degree programs, including a wide variety of online degrees. Prospective master's-level students will find online degree options in applied computer science, nursing, secondary education, business administration, and public administration. Within these subjects, students can select from multiple specializations. For example, the Master of Science in Applied Computer Science has a cybersecurity track, a modeling and simulation track, and a software development track, in addition to the traditional degree program. To support working adult students who may be pursuing an online degree, Columbus State University offers a 100% online adult re-entry course free of charge. This program helps students prepare for the reading, writing, and math skills that will be required of them in their online degree programs. 

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) is located in Warrensburg, which is about 50 miles southeast of Kansas City. The over 12,000 students enrolled at UCM have access to a wide variety of degree programs including multiple online master's degrees in subjects such as kinesiology, aviation safety, nursing, and nutrition. Online students have access to an online orientation to help them prepare for their degree programs. During their programs, online students can receive free tutoring online through the UCM Student Success Center. Tuition is $340.25 for online graduate degrees. 

Iowa State University offers online undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs as well as certificates. Available online master's degrees include a Master of Business Analytics, a Master of School Mathematics, a Master of Science in Seed Technology and Business, and a wide variety of engineering degrees. Classes in these degree programs are offered via three formats: synchronous, in which students meet at regularly scheduled times and interact in real time, asynchronous/cohort, in which students engage with course materials on their own schedules but complete exams and assignments on a regular schedule, and asynchronous/self-paced, in which students complete all coursework independently. In order to facilitate connections between classmates and professors, each online course has a communication plan that utilizes a variety of communication methods such as email, chat rooms, and video conferencing.

Founded in 1837 as Marshall Academy, Marshall University is an historic institution of Huntington, West Virginia. More than 150 online courses are offered completely online every semester with fully online degrees available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. There are a variety of online master's degrees available to Marshall University students including an MA in Counseling, an MA in Leadership Studies, an MS in Nursing, and an MBA program. All classes offered online are 100% asynchronous, meaning students complete the assignments independently with no face-to-face or scheduled requirements. Distance learning students are charged special tuition rates, making Marshall University an affordable school for online master's degrees no matter what state you live in. 

Established in 1873, Southeast Missouri State University is a public university located in Cape Girardeau, MO. In addition to its numerous on-campus programs, the university also presently offers several online master's degree programs, in fields such as criminal justice, exceptional child education, public administration, applied behavioral analysis, health administration, technology management, and teaching English to speakers of other languages. Coursework is delivered asynchronously in 16-week or eight-week periods, with discussion forums to facilitate interactions with classmates. Tuition for all graduate online programs is $334 per credit hour.

Saint Joseph's College of Maine is a private Catholic college located in Standish, Maine, which offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Online degree programs available at the master's level include a Master of Accountancy, an MBA, a Master of Science in Education with multiple specialization options, a Master of Health Administration, and a Master of Science in Nursing. Students at Saint Joseph's College of Maine are afforded a great deal of flexibility; most programs have course start dates at the beginning of every month, enabling students to being their degree programs whenever is best for them. Tuition rates vary by program, with the Master of Arts in Theology being the least expensive at $355 per credit hour. 

Established in 1960 as the South Bay State College, California State University Dominguez Hills offers 39 fully online degree programs and multiple online certificates. Prospective master's level students will find 22 online programs to choose from, including a Master of Public Administration, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science Nursing. Classes are offered through the learning management system Blackboard and include video content, discussions via blog posts, and traditional textbook assignments. California State University-Dominguez Hills provides a flexible learning environment at an affordable rate, with tuition for the MA in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding starting at $297 per credit hour.

Founded almost 100 years ago, Delta State University is located in the Mississippi Delta and has an enrollment of over 3,000 students. Delta State offers a host of graduate programs, including nine online master's degrees. Prospective master's students can choose from a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Science in Nursing, a Master of Science in Community Development, and a Master of Commercial Aviation, among other program options. Not only does Delta State offer these programs at an affordable tuition rate, the school also charges no out-of-state fees, making it an excellent option for students around the country.

The University of Alabama offers online degrees through its online portal, Bama By Distance. Online programs are available in a variety of subjects at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. At the master's level, students can pursue degrees in the categories of commerce and business administration, communication and information sciences, education, engineering, human environmental services, law, nursing, and social work. Course formats include work completed through Blackboard, an online learning management system, video streaming, and/or Intercampus Interactive Telecommunication System (IITS). Bama By Distance's student services staff offer assistance to students from before they enroll until graduation, ensuring that online students feel supported in their educational pursuits.

Beginning as an all-male military school of agriculture, Clemson University remains committed to its agricultural origins, offering masters degrees in subjects including agricultural education, wildlife and fisheries biology, forest resources, and entomology. The school also offers graduate programs in subjects from architecture and city planning to applied psychology and economics. Program tuition fees range from $405 per credit hour to $723 for residents of South Carolina, or $817 to $1,466 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. 

Jacksonville State University was founded in 1883 and today has an enrollment of over 7,000 undergraduate students and over 1,000 graduate students. JSU offers online master's degrees in numerous academic departments, including applied engineering, business, computer science, criminal justice, education, emergency management, kinesiology, nursing, and public administration. There are also various concentrations available for many of the master's degree programs; the Master of Public Administration, for instance, has specializations in criminal justice, education, emergency management, political science, as well as other concentrations. Online graduate students at Jacksonville State can expect 24/7 technical assistance in addition to an affordable tuition rate of $382 per credit hour.

Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Connecticut provides training for future priests as well as studies for anyone interested in theology or religious philosophy. There are three online Master of Arts degree programs offered at Holy Apostles: theology, philosophy, and pastoral studies. The theology program features seven concentrations, including apologetics, bioethics, church history, dogmatic theology, general studies, moral theology, and sacred scripture. The philosophy program has five concentrations, consisting of Christian wisdom, ethics, general studies, history of philosophy and systematic philosophy. The pastoral studies program has seven concentrations, including marriage and family studies, spiritual direction, youth & young adult, and pastoral counseling, among others. Tuition costs $320 per credit hour, regardless of whether the student is a resident of Connecticut. 

Opening in 1925 as the Texas Technological College, Texas Tech University is presently the largest higher education university in western Texas. TTU's eLearning department offers a wide range of online master's degrees through a variety of different colleges. The College of Media and Communication, for example, provides programs like Technical Communication and Strategic Communication and Innovation, while the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources offers master's degrees such as Agricultural Communications and Plant and Soil Science. Online master's degrees are also offered in subjects including education, engineering, English, and public administration, and more. Texas Tech offers these master's degrees at an extremely affordable tuition rate; annual tuition for a Master of Education in Special Education is only $5,850 per year.

Charleston Southern University, formerly known as Baptist College at Charleston, offers 30 online programs, 19 of which are master's degrees. These programs include, but are not limited to, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Master of Science in Project Management. Tuition rates at Charleston Southern University vary depending on the program. The most affordable is the Master of Arts in Christian Studies, which is $400 per credit hour. Other online master's programs have per-credit tuition rates ranging from $500 to $625.

Clarks Summit University began as Bible Baptist Seminary in 1932 and changed its name to Clarks Summit after it was granted university status by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2015. Online master's degrees at Clarks Summit are offered through eight-week sessions to provide flexibility for adult learners. The Baptist Bible Seminary offers online master's degrees in Biblical Apologetics, Church Planting and Renewal, Divinity, Ministry, and Theology. In addition, the Clarks Summit Graduate School offers four online master's degrees: a Master of Arts, a Master of Arts in Literature, a Master of Education, and a Master of Science in Counseling. Tuition rates range by program and start at $400 per credit hour for the Master of Arts programs.