Fastest Online Master’s Degrees for 2022

If you think getting a master’s degree might mean a bigger salary, you’re right — according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, master’s degree holders earn nearly $12,000 more per year than those with bachelor’s degrees. On top of better pay, a master’s degree can help progress your career by opening the door to more senior-level positions.

Just a few years ago, earning a master’s degree required students to attend several years’ worth of classes on campus. For students juggling full-time employment and other pressing responsibilities, master’s degrees were out of reach. These days, many master’s degrees are offered online. Not only does this provide greater learning flexibility, but it also allows you to graduate much faster. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find an online master’s degree program that you can complete in less than two years. Read on to explore top programs and learn more about what it takes to earn a master’s degree online quickly.

Even though the benefits of a master’s degree are clear, that doesn’t mean all graduates enjoy the same advantages when they take that degree into the workplace. For some jobs, a master’s degree might be required to take on certain roles because of licensing certification rules. A master’s degree might not be a necessity in other careers, but because of what you’ll learn, it’s strongly recommended. Below is a list of some of the fields where earning a master’s degree is either required or is highly recommended for advancement.

People who want to go as far as possible as an accountant will want to become a Certified Public Accountant or CPA. To become a CPA, accountants must complete at least 150 credit hours of postsecondary training. Most bachelor’s degree programs include about 120 credit hours. Therefore, earning a master’s degree in accounting online helps meet this eligibility requirement for becoming a CPA. It also provides advanced training that’ll prove helpful in practice and passing the Uniform CPA Exam. In addition, a master’s program allows you to learn more about a specific area of accounting, such as forensics, risk management, and taxes. Having a specialty makes you more marketable.

Many people who pursue an online MBA want to gain special business skills, move into a different area of business, become more effective in their current position, or take on a new role in their organization. For example, some might take specialty courses in accounting, finance, information systems, or cyber security. If getting into management is one of your goals, a master’s is a logical step. Most MBA programs include management-related coursework. Another benefit of earning a master’s degree in business administration is the networking opportunities you’ll have. The connections you make often have as much of an impact on your career as the information you learn.

Getting a master’s degree in computer science online opens new professional pathways because you’ll learn new skills, such as a specialized form of web development or database management. Your master’s degree can also facilitate a shift in career focus. For example, a master’s degree in computer science is the first step for anyone wishing to engage in deeper research or move into management. Students may already have technical knowledge and years of experience in the sector. Still, if they want to manage people, they’ll need additional management training.

A master’s degree in education online can open doors to an impactful career in teaching and educational leadership. It deepens pedagogical strategies, curriculum development, and educational research knowledge, making it ideal for passionate educators seeking professional growth. An education master’s is pursued by teachers who want to advance their skills, education administrators aspiring for leadership positions, and career changers who want to transition to the education field. A master’s in education can lead to opportunities such as curriculum specialist, instructional coordinator, educational consultant, school administrator, or college professor.

The primary reason to earn an online master’s degree in finance is to gain the advanced skills and knowledge needed for finance careers at the top of the corporate ladder. At the undergrad level, a finance degree covers general financial concepts and theories, such as investments, private and public debt, and the fundamental mathematical formulas and models used to analyze financial data. In a master’s degree program, students learn more about a particular aspect of finance, such as fintech, quantitative analysis, financial reporting, and management. Whether it’s working in a new area in the financial markets or better understanding the changing financial world, a master’s degree in finance puts your career on a new trajectory.

A master’s degree in healthcare administration is ideal for those seeking a supervisory position in a particular department or specialty area in a healthcare setting. It’s also suitable for students interested in working on the financial or budgeting aspect of a hospital or other healthcare facility. For instance, if you’re a nurse who would like to shift your work from hands-on patient care to making department-wide decisions, a master’s in healthcare administration is one way to do it.

One thing to keep in mind is that a master’s degree in healthcare administration isn’t usually the same as a master’s degree in healthcare management. There’s plenty of overlap in the coursework, but a master’s degree in healthcare management focuses more on the management and operations of an entire organization, and a master’s in healthcare administration focuses on the financial considerations of a healthcare department.

An online marketing master’s degree gives students advanced insight and skills in market research, consumer behavior, branding, and digital marketing strategies. Business professionals seeking to enhance their career prospects, pursue leadership roles, or switch to marketing may want to pursue a master’s in marketing. This degree opens doors to diverse career opportunities, including marketing manager, brand manager, market research analyst, digital marketing specialist, advertising executive, and sales manager.

The direct-entry online MSN is suited for students with a non-nursing undergraduate degree who wish to become registered nurses. Still, even experienced nurses pursue MSNs to learn advanced skills, focus on a particular field of nursing (like midwifery), or take on greater responsibilities (such as becoming an advanced practice registered nurse and prescribing medications). This degree also allows a shift into nursing management. A registered nurse might want to work less with patients and more on making personnel decisions for their department. In addition, master’s-prepared nurses work as teachers and professors.

How long it takes to earn a master’s degree depends on its academic requirements. Some subjects and fields are better suited for quicker studies. The five master’s degrees listed below are among the fastest to complete. Learn how long these degrees typically take and how much they cost.

An online master’s degree in psychology typically takes one to two years to complete. A general psychology or forensic psychology master’s degree usually is the quickest. These degrees consist of as few as 30 credit hours. In an accelerated curriculum, you could earn either of these master’s degrees in just one year. Various factors play a role in the cost, but prospective students should expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,300 per credit.

You can earn an MSN online in as little as one year. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree in nursing can complete the required 32 to 37 credits in an accelerated format if they focus on a master’s degree with no hands-on clinical requirements. Because many students work full-time while in school, earning an MSN often takes closer to 18 months. As for cost, an MSN runs anywhere from $300 to $1,700 per credit.

Most students earn their MBA in about two years. Accelerated programs shorten this timeframe to about 18 months. However, graduating in just one year is sometimes possible, especially if the student has credits or experience that count toward the 35 or so credits necessary to graduate. Costs vary based on the type of school and prestige of the program, but prospective students should anticipate paying anywhere from $300 to $1,700 per credit.

A master’s degree in finance will normally consist of 30 to 36 credits and take two years or less to complete. Graduating in just one year is possible for students willing to take classes year round. A more common scenario is for a student to work full-time and graduate in 18 months. The cost of a finance master’s degree ranges from $400 per credit for in-state students up to $1,200 per credit at more competitive private universities.

Dozens of master’s degrees are available in education. Many of them consist of 30 to 38 credits and normally take about two years to complete. These include degrees in adult education, elementary education, and education administration. If a program is offered in an accelerated format or has self-paced asynchronous learning, students can earn their degree in less than 18 months. When it comes to paying for the degree, expect roughly $300 to $800 per credit.

For most professionals, earning a master’s degree improves their compensation and their potential for professional advancement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers with a master’s degree can expect to earn an extra $250 per week and have a lower unemployment rate. Getting a master’s degree also provides an opportunity to switch careers.

What stops many potential students from pursuing a master’s degree is the cost, both in terms of money and time. Busy professionals struggle to squeeze one more thing into the day. However, you can cut both cost and time. Most online master’s programs are set up for students to graduate in two to three years, but if you graduate in 12 to 24 months, you can potentially save tens of thousands of dollars and jump up to a new pay grade quicker.

Below are some of the benefits you’ll find with a quick master’s program.

Thanks to the flexibility available with online programs, the timing for your master’s can be fluid. Let’s use a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree as an example. A part-time program usually takes three to four years to complete. A traditional full-time program takes two years to complete. But if you choose an accelerated curriculum, you could graduate in as little as 12 to 18 months, which means getting your pay raise or completing your career shift that much sooner.

The logic is simple—the less time a student spends in school, the less tuition and fees they will pay. Some programs charge a flat fee, and you can take as many classes as you want during the time frame covered by the fee.

Oftentimes, master’s programs intended for quick completion have generous transfer credit policies. This takes the form of giving credit for prior coursework or professional experiences. The more transfer credits someone has, the fewer classes they need to complete, meaning less time in school and less money for tuition.

A master’s degree often leads to a pay increase. In some professions, a pay raise is automatic because the employee now has a master’s degree. For example, teachers get a raise in some school districts once they complete a master’s degree, even if their position stays the same.

A master’s degree also allows professionals to step into more advanced roles. Nursing is a great example of this. A registered nurse with a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) can earn more and provide more advanced care to patients. They can be nurse managers and advanced practice registered nurses, both of which are in demand and well paying.

A master’s degree offers a deep dive into the latest developments in your field. For example, consider computer science. A bachelor’s degree gives you a broad foundation in computer science principles and theories. These include programming, artificial intelligence, information systems, and networking. But a master’s degree in computer science often provides courses in an area of specialization, such as cyber security, big data, or machine learning. And because the field of computer science changes quickly, graduate students learn about cutting-edge developments, some of which may not yet be public knowledge.

A master’s degree is highly focused due to its advanced level of study and specialization. While a bachelor’s degree provides a broad understanding of a field, a master’s degree delves deeper into specific areas within that field. Master’s programs often offer specialized courses, research opportunities, and hands-on experiences that allow students to develop a high level of expertise in their chosen subject. The curriculum is designed to explore complex theories, advanced concepts, and practical applications, enabling students to gain a deep and thorough understanding and mastery of the subject matter.

To make the most of an online master’s program, you’ll need to ensure you’re enrolling for the right reasons. For many students, a master’s will give their existing career a boost, and so an accelerated program makes sense. For those who want to earn a master’s simply for the sake of intellectual stimulation, looking for a non-accelerated or part-time program might be a better fit.

You must be able to handle a large amount of information very quickly to succeed in an accelerated master’s program, as an accelerated program might require students to take four or five classes simultaneously. Students must soak up a lot of information in a short amount of time with few breaks. That doesn’t mean a master’s program isn’t for you or that you won’t succeed in one; but it does mean you should consider studying at a regular or slower pace to enhance your chances for success.

Being self-disciplined is non-negotiable when you’re earning your master’s degree online at a fast pace. Accelerated programs requires you to manage your time effectively and stay motivated without the structure of traditional campus classes. Self-discipline is how you’ll complete your assignments, meet strict deadlines, and adhere to a rigorous study schedule. To keep that self-discipline, you can establish a dedicated study space, create a routine that you can stick to, and set clear goals for yourself. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and using time-management techniques like setting priorities and avoiding distractions can also keep you in check. Seeking support from family members, staying organized, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are additional strategies for staying strong with your self-discipline while you attend an accelerated master’s program online.