Fastest Online Master’s Degrees for 2024

Author: Shannon Lee

Editor: Staff Editor

Are you hesitant about committing to earning your master’s degree? With these accelerated online master’s programs, you can graduate quickly and begin earning more ASAP.

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A cheerful man wearing glasses and a yellow t-shirt sits at a table, clasping his hands together, with a laptop in front of him, visibly enjoying his surroundings in a well-lit café.

Regardless of discipline, earning your master’s degree can open up a number of doors in your career trajectory. A master’s degree can also pave the way for substantially better pay. According to Payscale.com, master’s degree holders on average earn around $83,000 a year — that’s over 15% more than professionals with only a bachelor’s degree.

As a working professional, though, you probably already know all of this. So what’s holding you back? Well, the biggest challenge for most professionals is finding the time to work a master’s degree program into their already busy work schedules. While online programs have the flexibility to help create balance, most graduate programs still take at least two years to complete.

With an accelerated online master’s degree, however, you can earn your graduate degree in 18 months (or less) in a variety of subjects. To help you explore your options, we’ve created this guide to introduce you to dozens of the best accelerated master’s programs offered today —some can even be completed in less than one year, while other don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Keep reading for more program info, including the most popular careers for accelerated master’s programs and advice on how to succeed in your degree studies.

Top 41 Colleges with the Fastest Online Master’s Degrees

About the ranking

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Science in Management and Leadership

12-18 months

  • Educational Leadership – M.S.
  • English Language Learning (PreK–12) – M.A.
  • M.A. – Mathematics Education (Secondary)
  • M.A. – Science Education (Middle Grades)
  • M.A. – Science Education (Secondary Physics)
  • M.A. – Teaching, Elementary Education
  • M.A. – Teaching, English Education (Secondary)
  • M.A. – Teaching, Mathematics Education (Middle Grades)
  • M.A. – Teaching, Mathematics Education (Secondary)
  • M.A. – Teaching, Science Education (Secondary Earth Science)
  • M.A. – Teaching, Science Education (Secondary)
  • M.A.- Mathematics Education (K-6)
  • M.Ed. – Instructional Design
  • M.S. – Curriculum & Instruction
  • M.S. – Human Resources Management
  • M.S. – Information Technology Management
  • M.S. – Marketing
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Health Leadership
  • Master’s in Accounting
  • Master’s in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
  • Master’s in Data Analytics
  • Master’s in Information Technology Management
  • Master’s in Management and Leadership
  • Master’s in Nursing – Education (BSN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Education (RN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN-to-MSN)
  • Master’s in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN-to-MSN)
  • MBA Healthcare Management
  • MBA Information Technology Management
  • Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – M.A.
  • Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A.
  • Teaching, Special Education (K–12) – M.A.

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-15 months

  • Accounting (MS)
  • Applied Economics (MS)
  • Communication (MA)
  • Criminal Justice (MS)
  • Curriculum & Instruction (MEd)
  • Cyber Security (MS)
  • Data Analytics (MS)
  • English (MA)
  • English & Creative Writing (MA)
  • Finance (MS)
  • Health Information Management (MS)
  • Healthcare Administration (MS)
  • Higher Education Administration (MS)
  • History (MA)
  • Human Resource Management (MS)
  • Information Technology (MS)
  • Management (MS)
  • Marketing (MS)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • Nurse Executive Leadership (MSN)
  • Nursing Education (MSN)
  • Organizational Leadership (MS)
  • Population Health (MSN)
  • Project Management & Operations (MS)
  • Psychology (MS)
  • Sport Management (MS)

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

10 months

  • M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction — Elementary Math and Science Education
  • M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction — English
  • M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction — Mathematics Education
  • M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership
  • Master’s in Educational Leadership
  • Master’s in Global Trade Management
  • Master’s in Higher Education Administration
  • Master’s in Human Resource Management
  • Master’s in Special Education

12 months

  • MEd, Educational Technology
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MBA in Accounting
  • MBA, Business Analytics
  • MBA, Entrepreneurship
  • MBA, Financial Planning
  • MBA, Healthcare Administration
  • MBA, Human Resource Management
  • MBA, Marketing
  • Master of Business Analytics
  • Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
  • Master of Health Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
  • Master of Health Sciences, Health Professions Education and Technology
  • Master of Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration
  • Master of Health Sciences, Healthcare Informatics
  • Master of Health Sciences, Nutrition
  • Master of Kinesiology
  • Master of Public Affairs

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Education (MEd)

13 months

  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Care Coordination
  • MSN, Care Coordination (RN-to-MSN)
  • MSN, Nursing Education
  • MSN, Nursing Education (RN-to-MSN)
  • MSN, Nursing Informatics
  • MSN, Nursing Informatics(RN-to-MSN)
  • MSN, Nursing Leadership and Administration
  • MSN, Nursing Leadership and Administration (RN-to-MSN)

14 months

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), Health Care Management
  • MBA, Human Resource Management
  • MBA, Project Management
  • MBA, Self-Designed
  • Master of Education (MEd) in Teaching and Learning
  • Master of Health Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Science (MS) in School Psychology
  • MS in General Human Resource Management
  • MS in General Psychology
  • MS in Human Resource Management in Health Care
  • MS in Psychology: Child and Adolescent Development
  • MS in Psychology: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • MS in Psychology: Sport Psychology

18 months

  • Master of Public Health (MPH)

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Arts (MA) in Strategic Communication
  • Master of Science (MS) in Education–Early Childhood
  • Master’s in Accounting (MAcc)

12-16 months

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • MS in Counseling Psychology
  • Master of Education (MEd)

12-18 months

  • MA in Organizational Leadership
  • Master of Healthcare Administration
  • Master’s in Healthcare Simulation Leadership
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA)
  • Master of Public Health (MPH)
  • MS in Education Specialization in Early Childhood Studies
  • MS in Education Specialization in Educational Leadership
  • MS in Education Specialization in Special Education
  • MS in Education with a Specialization in Curriculum and Instruction
  • MS in Education with a Specialization in Transitional Kindergarten
  • MS in Information Technology Management
  • MS in Kinesiology
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting
  • MBA in Management
  • MS in Accounting

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • M.Ed. Elementary Education
  • M.Ed. Reading
  • M.Ed. Secondary Education
  • M.Ed. Special Education
  • M.F.A. Creative Writing
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Development Practice
  • Master of Nonprofit Management
  • Master’s in Criminology
  • Master’s in Data Science
  • Master’s in Health Informatics
  • Master’s in Health Services Administration
  • Master’s in Human Resource Management
  • Master’s in Information and Cybersecurity
  • Master’s in Information Systems
  • Master’s in Information Technology Management
  • Master’s in Marketing
  • Master’s in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Master’s in Organization Leadership
  • Master’s in Project Leadership and Management

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA)
  • Master of Science in Education
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
  • MS in Criminal Justice
  • MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management
  • MS in Developmental Psychology
  • MS in Early Childhood Studies
  • MS in Forensic Psychology
  • MS in Health Education and Promotion
  • MS in Human Services
  • MS in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • MS in Leadership
  • MS in Management
  • MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership
  • MS in Psychology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master’s in Taxation Law

12-20 months

  • Master of Science in Project Management
  • Master of Science in Supply Chain Management

16 months

  • Master of Science in Insurance Management

16-18 months

  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice

16-24 months

  • Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics
  • Master of Science in Health Informatics
  • Master of Science in Software Development

18 months

  • Master of Music in Music Education

18-24 months

  • Master of Arts in Art Education
  • Master of Education in Curriculum & Teaching
  • Master of Science in Applied Business Analytics
  • Master of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Master of Science in Enterprise Risk Management
  • Master of Science in Financial Management
  • Master of Science in Global Marketing Management
  • Master of Science in Health Communication

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Accelerated MBA
  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

13 months

  • Master of Arts in Teaching

15 months

  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Technology Management

16 months

  • Master of Education
  • Master of Human Resource Management
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology
  • Master of Science in Computer Science
  • Master of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
  • Master of Science in Health Psychology
  • Master of Science in Information Technology

18 months

  • Master of Arts in Psychology
  • Master of Science in Educational Psychology
  • Master of Science in Sport Psychology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Professional Studies
  • Master of Science in Legal Studies

18 months

  • Master of Arts in Teaching
  • Master of Health Care Administration
  • Master of Health Informatics
  • Master of Health Information Management
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Master of Public Health
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science in Education
  • Master of Science in Health Education
  • Master of Science in Higher Education
  • Master of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management
  • Master of Science in Human Services
  • Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-18 months

  • MBA in Organizational Behavior & HR Management
  • MBA in Sport Entertainment Management
  • MBA in Strategic Management
  • MBA in Supply Chain Analytics

14 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Advanced Data Analytics
  • Master of Science in Digital Communications Analytics
  • Master of Science in Early Childhood Education
  • Master of Science in Educational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Learning Technologies
  • Master of Science in Marketing
  • Master of Science in Marketing Analytics

15 months

  • Master of Science in Educational Psychology
  • Master of Science in Special Education

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master’s in Criminal Justice
  • Master’s in Criminology

12-18 months

  • Master’s in Commerce and Economic Development
  • Master’s in Corporate & Organizational Communication

12-24 months

  • Master’s in Higher Education Administration

16 -24 months

  • Master’s in Energy Systems

16 months

  • Master’s in Finance

16-24 months

  • Master’s in Engineering Management

18 months

  • Master of Science in Global Studies & International Relations
  • Master of Science in Project Management
  • Master’s in E-Learning & Instructional Design

18-24 months

  • Master of Professional Studies in Applied Machine Intelligence
  • Master of Science in Applied Nutrition
  • Master of Science in Respiratory Care Leadership

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Computer Science
  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
  • MBA – Accounting
  • MBA – Finance
  • MBA – Human Resource Management
  • MBA – International Business
  • MBA – Management
  • MBA – Managerial Analytics
  • MBA – Marketing

15 months

  • Master’s in Nursing Administration
  • Master’s in Nursing Education

18 months

  • Master’s in Cybersecurity

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Arts in Education in Reading and Literacy Education
  • Master of Education in Reading and Literacy Education
  • Master of Entrepreneurship
  • Master of International Business
  • Master’s Degree in Sports Management
  • Master’s in Management
  • Masters of Science in Architectural Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Design

16 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master’s in Mass Communications

18 months

  • Master in Educational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
  • Master of Science in Biostatistics

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Arts in Education
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Master of Science in Computer Science
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice Policy & Leadership
  • Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology
  • Master of Science in Instructional Design and Learning Technology
  • Master of Science in Nursing – Rural Health Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science in Psychology – Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Master of Social Work

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Business Analytics
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science in Engineering Management
  • Master of Science in Information Studies
  • Master of Science in Leadership
  • Master of Science in Nursing
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice

12-15 months

  • Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

10 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology

12 months

  • Master’s in Educational Leadership
  • MBA – Accounting
  • MBA – Cyber Security Management
  • MBA – General
  • MBA – Human Resource Management
  • MBA – Marketing
  • MBA – Sports Administration

18 months

  • Master’s in Nursing with a Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Arts in New Media Journalism
  • Master of Arts in Public Relations
  • Master of Fine Arts in Media Design
  • Master of Science in Business Intelligence
  • Master of Science in Digital Marketing
  • Master of Science in Entertainment Business
  • Master of Science in Entertainment Business: Sports Management
  • Master of Science in Game Design
  • Master of Science in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
  • Master of Science in Instructional Design & Technology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

18 months

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN)
  • Management Master’s – Human Resources Management
  • Management Master’s – Organizational Leadership
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Master of Science in Information Systems
  • Master’s in Healthcare Administration
  • Nursing Education (MSN)
  • Systems Engineering Master’s – Mechatronics

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-18 months

  • M.S. in Administration of Justice
  • M.S. in Cybersecurity
  • M.S. in Information Systems Technologies
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Applied Family Science
  • Master of Science in Human Services
  • Master of Science in Nursing Leadership

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Management and Leadership
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Supply Chain Management
  • MBA

18 months

  • Master of Arts in Education
  • Master of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

15 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Fine Arts in Writing
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Master of Science in Accounting
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science in Human Services
  • Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

15 months

  • Master of Business Administration

18 months

  • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
  • Master of Arts in Educational Technology and Online Learning
  • Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
  • Master of Public Service Leadership
  • Master of Science in Homeland Security
  • Master of Science in Information Technology

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

18-24 months

  • Master of Arts in Theatre and Dance
  • Master of Education
  • Master of Library and Information Science
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Science in Information Management
  • Master of Studies in Law
  • Sports Administration Master of Arts (M.A.)

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • MA in Special Education
  • Master’s in Business Administration
  • Online Master’s in Bilingual / ESL
  • Online Master’s in Educational Leadership
  • Online Master’s in Public Administration
  • Online Master’s in Special Education, Autism

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Business Administration in Enterprise Resource Planning
  • Master of Science in Criminal Justice
  • Master’s in Criminal Justice
  • MS in Criminal Justice

15 months

  • Master of Science in Nutrition

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Accelerated MBA

12-24 months

  • MBA – Financial Planning
  • MBA – Health Care Administration
  • MBA – International Trade

18 months

  • Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness

18-24 months

  • Master’s in Health Sciences – Nutrition

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master’s in Human Capital
  • Master’s in Logistics

15 months

  • Master’s in Public Health
  • MS in Child and Family Sciences
  • MS in Library Information Science

18 months

  • Master’s in Music Education

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-24 months

  • Master’s in Construction Management

12-36 months

  • Master’s in Clinical Leadership in Healthcare Management

18 months

  • Master’s in Electrical Engineering
  • Master’s in Energy Systems
  • Master’s in Engineering Management

18-24 months

  • Master of Business Administration

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

16 months

  • Master of Social Work

16-24 months

  • Master of Science in Education – Educational Leadership
  • Master of Science in Education – Inclusion Education
  • Master of Science in Education – Reading Specialist

18 months

  • Master of Healthcare Administration
  • Master of Public Health

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Arts in Business Education

18 months

  • M.A. in Education
  • M.A. in Educational Psychology
  • Master of Arts in Educational Administration and Supervision
  • Master of Arts in Secondary Education
  • Master’s in Foundational Mathematics Teaching

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

10 months

  • Master of Business Administration

12 months

  • Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction
  • Master’s in Educational Leadership
  • Master’s in Health Administration
  • Master’s in Nonprofit Administration

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-24 months

  • Master’s in Athletic Administration
  • Master’s in Parks and Recreation
  • Master’s in Science in Sport Management
  • Master’s in Sport Leadership
  • Master’s in Sport Tourism & Hospitality Management

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master’s in Applied Statistics
  • Master’s in Education Sciences

15 months

  • Master’s in Healthcare Administration

18 months

  • Master’s in Computer Information Systems

9 months

  • Master’s in Tourism Management

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

10 months

  • Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management
  • Master of Science in Data Science

12 months

  • Master of Arts in Theological and Cultural Anthropology

16 months

  • Master of Arts in Teaching: Classical Education

18 months

  • Master of Education in Educational Leadership

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master’s in Business and Analytics
  • MS in Accounting

18 months

  • Master’s in Criminal Justice
  • MS in Computer Science

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12-18 months

  • Master in Management
  • Master of International Policy and Practice
  • Master of Studies in Law

16 months

  • Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy & Information Management
  • Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Criminal Justice Leadership

12-14 months

  • Master of Science in Organizational Leadership

14 months

  • Master of Science in Data Analytics

18 months

  • Master of Public Health

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Science in Early Childhood Teaching
  • Master of Science in Elementary Teaching

18 months

  • Master of Education (M.Ed.) In Special Education
  • Master of Science in Business Administration
  • Master of Science in Management

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

12 months

  • Master of Science in Engineering Management
  • Master of Social Work

18 months

  • Master of Education in Educational Technology
  • Master of Science in Engineering
  • Master of Science in Operations Management

Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

18 months

  • Master of Science in Applied Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Master of Science in Health Informatics
  • Master of Science in Nutrition & Human Performance
  • Master of Science in Sports Science & Rehabilitation
  • Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning

Best Career Fields to Get Your Master’s Fast

Generally speaking, a master’s degree is a major benefit to anyone seeking to take that next big step in their career, no matter what profession they’re in. Not all degrees – or careers, for that matter – are created equal, however. Below, we take a look at several professional fields that offer some of the biggest advantages to graduates of accelerated master’s programs. See if your field makes the list.

Accounting

The goal of most accounting professions is to become a Certified Public Accountant, or CPA. Requirements for CPA licensure vary somewhat from state to state, but typically require at minimum a bachelor’s degree in accountancy plus a minimum of 150 hours of postsecondary training.

Earning an online master’s degree in accounting helps prospective CPAs meet the 150-hour training requirement. It also provides advanced training that will prove helpful in practice and passing the Uniform CPA Exam. In addition, a most master’s programs offer advanced training in a specialized area of the accounting field, such as forensics, risk management, or taxation. Being specialized in your field makes you more marketable.

Business Administration

Most students pursue an online MBA 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 current organization. For example, some might take specialty courses in marketing, human resources, finance, entrepreneurship, or project management.

If advancing into management is one of your goals, earning your MBA is a logical step since most MBA programs include management-related coursework. Another benefit of earning a master’s degree in business administration is access to more and better networking opportunities. The connections you make in your MBA program often provide as great a positive impact on your career as the additional information and skills you obtain.

Computer Science or Management

Due to the advanced skills you’ll gain in areas like web development and database management, earning an online master’s degree in computer science opens up a slew of new professional pathways. 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 a management or other leadership position.

Education

An online master’s degree in education (MEd) 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.

Education master’s degrees are often pursued by teachers seeking 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 career opportunities such as curriculum specialist, instructional coordinator, educational consultant, school principal, and college professor.

Finance

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 finance master’s degree program, students gain advanced skills in a particular aspect of finance, such as financial technology, quantitative analysis, financial reporting, or management. Whether it’s working in a new area of the financial markets or better understanding the changing financial world, a master’s degree in finance puts your career on a new trajectory.

Healthcare Administration

A master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA) 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 in the areas of finance or budgeting at 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, earning a master’s in healthcare administration is a good way to do it.

One thing to keep in mind is that a master’s degree in healthcare administration differs from 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, while a master’s in healthcare administration focuses primarily on the financial considerations of a healthcare department.

Marketing

An online marketing master’s degree provides students with 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 in jobs such as marketing manager, brand manager, market research analyst, digital marketing specialist, advertising executive, and sales manager.

Nursing

The direct-entry online MSN is suited for students with a non-nursing undergraduate degree seeking to enter the nursing profession as registered nurses. Current RNs also pursue MSN degrees to obtain advanced nursing skills, focus on any of a number of specialized areas of nursing practice, or take on greater responsibilities (such as becoming an advanced practice registered nurse and prescribing medications). An MSN degree can also offer advancement into positions in nursing administration and management, as well as in nursing education as teachers or professors.

As you explore the varied accelerated master’s options available — those listed above and in your extended program search — you’ll find a number of academic disciplines more heavily represented than others. The five disciplines listed below are among the most popular of those program types. Some may surprise you.

Psychology

An online master’s degree in psychology typically takes one to two years to complete, with general psychology and forensic psychology programs usually the quickest. These degrees consist of as few as 30 credit hours which can be earned in an accelerated format in just one year. Program costs vary due to a number of factors, but most prospective students should expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $1,300 per credit.

Nursing

You can earn an online MSN 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 18 months or more. Tuition costs typically run from $300 to $1,700 per credit.

Business Administration

Most students earn their MBA in about two years. Accelerated programs shorten this time frame to about 18 months. However, graduating in just one year is sometimes possible, especially if the student has previously-earned credits or experience that can be applied to the 35 or so credits typically needed 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.

Finance

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 full-time students willing to take classes year-round. Most students, however, continue to work full-time and complete their degree requirements with 18 months of part-time study. Tuition costs for finance master’s programs typically range from $400 per credit for in-state students to $1,200 per credit at more competitive private universities.

Education

Dozens of master’s degrees are available in education. Many consist of 30 to 38 credits and normally take about two years to complete. These include degrees in specific areas of the larger education field such as adult education, elementary education, and education administration. Students in programs with accelerated or self-paced asynchronous formats can often earn their degrees in less than 18 months. In terms of program costs, education master’s students should expect to pay between $300 and $800 per credit.

Benefits of Getting Your Master’s Quicker

As we discussed earlier, one of the biggest benefits to earning your master’s degree is better pay. In fact, more money is often seen as the biggest benefit as well as the primary incentive for pursuing a master’s. It’s easy to understand why. Take a look again at the Payscale.com earnings figures mentioned above in the guide’s introduction. Those figures are reinforced by similar ones from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics which indicate that master’s degree holders earn around $230 a week more than their bachelor’s degree-holding counterparts.

But better pay, of course, is a benefit for almost all master’s degree holders regardless of how fast they earned their degree. Students in accelerated programs enjoy a number of additional benefits from earning their degrees quicker. Here’s a look at some of the most common.

Save Time

In general terms, online programs offer a tremendous amount of study flexibility. One specific way that flexibility appears, particularly in accelerated programs, is through variable program lengths. Consider MBA programs, for example. Part-time MBA programs usually require three to four years to complete, while traditional full-time MBA programs typically require two years. But if you choose an accelerated MBA degree, you could graduate in as little as 12 to 18 months. And that means getting your pay raise or completing your career transition that much sooner.

Tuition Savings

The logic is simple: the less time a student spends in school, the less tuition and fees they have to pay. In most cases, that is. Some programs charge a flat fee that allows you to take as many classes as you want during the timeframe covered by the fee.

Oftentimes, master’s programs intended for quick completion have generous transfer credit policies that include 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 that means a lower total program cost.

Greater Earning Potential

As we’ve said, a master’s degree often leads to an increase in pay. In some professions, in fact, that pay raise is automatic. For example, teachers in some school districts receive a substantial salary increase automatically upon obtaining their education master’s even if their job 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 an MSN is often allowed to provide a number of additional advanced care practices to patients, which leads to increased pay. The continuing high demand for master’s-trained nursing professionals who can take on advanced practice RN roles and administrative and management positions also drives salaries upward..

Upgrading Skills

A master’s degree offers a deep dive into the latest developments in your field. For example, a bachelor’s degree in computer science provides a broad foundation in computer science principles and theories in programming, artificial intelligence, information systems, networking, and more.

But a master’s degree in computer science typically features coursework in a specialized area of the larger computer science field, such as cybersecurity, big data, or machine learning. And because the field of computer science exists in a state of constant change, graduate students enjoy immediate access to cutting-edge developments, some of which may not yet be public knowledge.

Highly Focused Education

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 specialized expertise in their chosen subject. Curriculums are designed to explore complex theories, advanced concepts, and practical applications that enable students to gain a deep and thorough understanding and mastery of the subject matter.

How to Succeed in an Accelerated Online Master’s Program

As discussed above, accelerated master’s degrees offer students the quickest way to obtain their credential and move swiftly on in their professions and up the career ladder. But students will find that accelerated programs come with a few trade-offs. The biggest is that you will likely have to step away (at least temporarily) from your full-time job and make your academic studies your primary focus.

There are also a number of skills you’ll need to master to succeed in an accelerated master’s program format. First, you must be able to handle a large amount of information very quickly, as an accelerated program often requires students to take four or five classes during the same time period. That means digesting a lot of information in a substantially shorter amount of time when compared to a standard format program. As a student in an accelerated master’s program, you must develop consistent study habits with a regular, disciplined schedule.

The subject of a consistent study schedule brings up the larger topic of self-discipline. Being self-disciplined is non-negotiable when you’re earning your master’s degree online at a fast pace. Accelerated programs require 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.

Along with a solid study routine, it is highly recommended that you establish a dedicated study space in your home, office, or elsewhere, and set clear, realistic goals for yourself for completing assignments and other coursework. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks and using time-management techniques like setting priorities and avoiding distractions will certainly help.

Having a strong support system and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are additional strategies for staying strong with your self-discipline while you pursue your accelerated master’s program online.

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