Are Online Masters Degree Programs Worth Taking?

online master's degrees

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Master’s degrees generally require large investments of both time and money. They require careful consideration before enrollment. In order to ensure that your investment will pay off, it is best to have a specific position or promotion that you will be eligible for once you have earned your degree. If you are interested in attaining the credentials to take your career to the next step, an online master’s degree is often the most efficient means of getting there.

ROI of a Masters Degree

One of the best ways to make sure you receive a quick turnaround on your educational investment is to find a school that offers a great deal. If you are looking for an affordable master’s degree, check out our list of cheap online graduate programs to find great tuition rates.


Tuition prices fluctuate year to year and degree to degree within the same school, so if any of the schools on our list interest you, be sure to visit their website and request specific information about the particular degree program that you are interested in learning about.

Online Masters Degree Programs

online masters degree

While there are some aspects of a classroom learning environment that cannot be replicated on a digital medium, there are a number of advantages to online classes.

Consider the following benefits of earning your master’s degree in an online format:

  • Online formats give you maximum schedule flexibility by allowing you to work on assignments wherever you have a Wi-Fi connection and whenever you have free time.
  • Asynchronous class schedules mean that you can attend class at any time, day or night.
  • You will save time and money as you are not required to visit or commute to campus and will not have to pay for housing.
  • Many programs benefit from online formats, such as graphic design, computer science, and accounting, among others.
  • You receive the same educational quality and support as on-campus students.

Higher Pay with a Masters Degree

Earning an online master’s degree will often lead to earning you a higher salary, though your maximum salary depends on the degree that you earn. If you are looking to earn a master’s degree for your future financial security, you should check out our infographic on The Most Lucrative Online Graduate Degree Programs.

Some of the master’s degrees that can earn you the most during your career are:

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Corporate Finance
  • Information Technology
  • Marketing

Public Service Careers

If you are looking to earn a master’s degree to increase your abilities to help other humans as opposed to earn a high salary, there is even more financial aid available for master’s degrees that qualify graduates for jobs in public service. Many of the following degrees can be fully funded by a financial aid package or scholarship:

  • Master’s in Social Work (MSW)
  • Master’s in Public Health (MPH)
  • Master’s in Education (M.Ed)

The best way to make sure that your degree is worth your money is by finding a good deal on your degree program. Due to the desirability of master’s degrees, many degree programs are extremely expensive and can put students in debt for a long time. Fortunately, there are some great online master’s degree programs that offer competitive tuition rates.