10 Super Cheap Masters Degrees Online

Here we’ve assembled some educational bargains from a number of academic sources.  Some of these schools are traditional universities that have opted into the online education business; others are specialists in distance learning.  All have regional accreditation and recognition from the U.S. Department of Education.  There are some real deals here from some of the public universities, particularly for students who live in-state.

1.    Master of Criminal Justice degree from the University of Cincinnati is an online graduate program from one of the top five criminal justice programs in the country.  For the academic year 2010-2011 the cost is $4,412 per semester.  A full time student taking 18 credits per semester can complete this program in one year, total tuition costing $8,824.  Non residents have a token $100 per semester fee, raising the cost to $9,024.

2.    Master of Education as offered online at Abilene Christian University is available with two areas of specialization: Leadership of Learning (for Principalship) and Curriculum & Instruction.  There is also an online Master of Higher Education degree offered.  Tuition costs are $717 per credit hour; the online graduate programs generally take 18-24 months to complete. The GRE exam is not required.

3.    Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) can be earned online from Grantham University at a very low rate of $265 per credit hour; $250 per credit hour if you are a veteran.  The 36 credit program for non-vets has base tuition cost of $9,540.  There is a $50 shipping fee for each course which is another $600 and additional fees of $130 bring the total cost to $10,250.

4.    MBA offered by the California State University at Monterey Bay is a great bargain for California residents, and not a bad deal for out of state students.  The regular MBA and an Executive MBA are both available online; both are 24 month programs requiring a total of 48 credits.  The Executive MBA is for professionals who already have a business career underway.  Tuition for state residents is $6,000 per year; for out of state students it is $327 per semester credit.  No GMAT is required.  There are some additional fees that apply.

5.    Dual Master of Education (MEd) degree program is offered by the American College of Education.  This online program combines the MEd in Curriculum & Instruction with the MEd in Leadership, offering two credentials for students wishing to take a management role in educational development.  The tuition for each master’s degree is $6,950 bringing the total tuition for the two degrees $13,900.  There is a $20 technology fee for each course, adding a cost of $240 to each degree.

6.    Masters in Information Security & Assurance is offered on a sliding scale at Western Governors University.  All semesters are six months in length; for this degree the tuition is $2,890 per semester. For working students that require two years to complete the program, total tuition is $11,560.  This professional field will be growing rapidly for the foreseeable future and this is a degree that you can complete while you’re still working.

7.    Master of Public Health degree that has been developed by the University of Liverpool as an online option is a collaboration with U.S. educator Laureate Online Education, so all degrees meet U.S. accreditation requirements.  The online MPH from the University of Liverpool is available with specializations in Epidemiology, International Public Health, and Management of Health Systems.  The program can be completed in less than two years; total tuition is $22,300 and is payable on a plan.

8.    Masters in Organizational Leadership is an innovative graduate program offered online by Gonzaga University as a focused alternative to the MBA.  Many of the students who select this program are working businessmen who need a credential to move into senior management.  Completion usually requires two years for the working professional.  Tuition is on a per-credit basis rather than semester based so you can finish the degree at your own pace.  A 36 credit graduate degree from this top ranked western Jesuit university has a tuition of $27,900.

9.   Master of Public Administration (MPA) as offered online by the American Military University is a 36 credit hour curriculum with a set tuition price of $300 per credit hour.  The total tuition cost is $10,800.  Areas of concentration for this degree include Disaster Management, Health Policy, Human Resources, Environmental Policy, and Security Policy.

10.    Masters in Nursing (MSN) program that has just been introduced at Georgetown University School of Nursing is a leap forward in online graduate work.  Unlike most online MSN degrees, this program offers clinical degrees in Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Midwife.  The University faculty will make practicum arrangements for each student regardless of their location. A MSN from the sixth ranked nursing school in the nation will pay off throughout your career.  The tuition reflects the school’s top ten ranking, at $41,000 per year; however 55% of all graduate nursing students receive financial aid.

Recent Additions

11.   Masters in Instructional and Performance Technology is available online from Boise State University, one of the major state universities across the country that has entered the distance learning environment in the last two years.  This degree provides training in educational theory and covers the latest in digital educational enhancement for human resource professionals, instructional designers, corporate trainers, and performance technologists from the public and private sector.  Tuition for the two year, four semester program is currently $15,578 for Idaho residents and $34,460 for out of state students.

12.   Master of Organizational Leadership/Military is an unusual graduate level program that can be found as an online option at Brandman University.  The degree is designed for active duty and reserve military officers who have completed an officer commissioning program and the officer basic training for their respective service.  It is a 36 credit program with a tuition rate of $440 for military personnel, putting the tuition total at $15,840 for qualified military applicants.

13.    Masters in Biomedical Engineering is a new online offering from Colorado State University.  The thirty credit program covers the structural elements of biomaterials, the application of mechanical design to biomedical challenges, and the management of data in a biomedical program.  The tuition for this program is set at $645 per credit; total cost for any applicant whether a Coloradan or an out of state student, is $19,350 – an excellent price for a graduate degree in engineering.

14.    Masters in Health and Human Performance is a mix health sciences and performance psychology designed to prepare students for a career in performance enhancement.  The online program is offered by Fort Hays State University of Kansas, and is one of the bargain degrees still available from a public university.  Tuition for the 32 unit program is $229 per credit hour, for a total of $7,328.

15.    Masters in Music – Music Education is an online program offered by Kent State University for aspiring music teachers.  The program meets Ohio state standards for a teaching credential in the field.  Academic options for the degree include choral music, instrumental music, or general music.  Depending on the student’s focus, the degree requires 30 – 35 credits.  At a per-credit tuition rate of $571, the range for tuition is $17,130 – $19,985.

16.    Master of Natural Resources is offered online by Oregon State University as an interdisciplinary degree that taps faculty scientists from five OSU colleges and twelve departments.  The Colleges of Forestry and Agricultural Sciences are consistently recognized as among the top in the nation.  Conservation biology, fisheries, and wildlife sciences are also part of the curriculum.  The tuition for all applicants is $235 per credit for the online program.  The degree requires completion of 45 credits; total tuition is $10,575.

17.    Masters in Criminal Justice/Forensic Science is an innovative online degree offered by St. Leo University.  The curriculum covers the history of forensics, laboratory analysis of physical evidence, collection and documentation of physical evidence, forensics and courtroom evidence rules, and crime scene investigation & management.  Tuition for this degree is based on a rate of $382 per credit hour, and there is an additional technology fee of $115 per online class.  Tuition and fees for this 36 credit program total $15,017

18.    Masters in International Business is a non-MBA, graduate level option for students interested in a business career with global orientation.  The curriculum is heavily oriented to the basics of business and finance however, with courses in multinational corporate finance, international labor management, economics for business, financial analysis & accounting, and several other business courses with a global perspective.  Tuition is based on a fee of $1,827 for each 3 unit class.  The twelve class, 36 credit program has a tuition cost of $21.924.

19.    Master of Biology degree has been developed as an online program by the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  It is a thirty six credit, non-thesis program with eighteen credits of core courses and another eighteen credits of electives that include options such as Great Plains Heritage, Biological Statistics, Ecological Anthropology, and Freshwater Ecology.  Tuition costs at this campus for an online degree are based on a $218 cost per credit hour, with a technology fee of $10 per credit hour and a distance education fee of $25 per credit hour.  The total per credit hour is $253; the cost for the degree is $9,108.

20.    Master of Humanities degree with concentrations in Art & Visual Media, Communication, or English (Literature & Writing) is available online from Tiffin University.  This degree is designed for career changers who need to improve the essential skills that are ancillary to many of the new professional opportunities and the career tracks that are emerging from our altered economic landscape. Depending on the choice of concentration, the tuition for this degree ranges from $15,000 to $17,500.

Category: Colleges in USA , Online Degree Programs