Best Online Accelerated Master’s Degrees
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Contributing Writer
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Reviewer & Writer
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An accelerated master's degree can help you earn your degree in half the time. That also means seeing a return on investment sooner, as you take what you've learned and apply it to your career.
Many schools offer accelerated degrees in an online format, allowing you to quickly work toward your degree while having the flexibility to study around a busy schedule.
We'll walk you through some of the most popular accelerated master's programs and answer common questions.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is an Accelerated Master's Degree Program?
An accelerated master's degree usually requires a higher course load in order to condense a graduate program. That allows you to finish your graduate degree in less than the typical two years to earn a master's, but it also means more intensive study.
Many online accelerated master's degree programs let you work around your schedule while earning the degree. That asynchronous, flexible format can help you stay in your career while working toward your degree.
While a faster-paced program might mean a heavier workload, it also allows you to finish your degree in less time than a master's would typically take, and it can potentially save you money.
10 Popular Online Accelerated Master's Degrees
Online accelerated master's degrees are offered in many disciplines. These are just a few of the most popular fields for online accelerated graduate degrees.
1. Accounting
An accelerated master's in accounting degree can qualify you for roles like financial manager, personal finance advisor, accountant, auditor, and more.
You might take courses like taxes and business strategy, financial policy, information technology, and investing as you continue through the program.
2. Business Administration
A master of business administration (MBA) degree has long been the gold standard in graduate business administration.
With a broad education in business topics and instruction in specialization areas like finance, strategy, and information technology, an MBA can help you pursue a number of high-paying management positions.
3. Computer Science
A computer science master's degree may include a number of high-demand topics, from software engineering and data science to cybersecurity.
A master's degree in computer science can prepare you for rapidly growing jobs like cybersecurity analyst or data scientist and can also help you pursue a job as a lead programmer or head of information technology for a company.
4. Education
A number of master's degrees are available in the field of education, including master of education (M.Ed.) and master of arts in teaching (MAT) degrees.
These degrees can prepare you for traditional teaching roles at both brick-and-mortar schools or online institutions and can also open up doors in the education technology field and the nonprofit sector.
5. Engineering
Whether you want to work on infrastructure as a civil engineer or specialize in computer science to become a software engineer, master's in engineering degrees include real-world learning opportunities and help to hone your problem-solving skills to help you potentially land lucrative engineering jobs.
6. Finance
A master's degree in finance can lead you to a number of high-paying jobs, like financial analyst, financial manager, budget analyst, and more.
Some schools allow students to concentrate on specialized areas of finance, like economics, computational finance, risk management, and real estate.
7. Healthcare Administration
A master's in healthcare administration can prepare you for leadership roles in the rapidly growing healthcare sector.
The curriculum usually covers areas like financial management, information systems, law and compliance, policy, and budgeting as they relate to healthcare.
8. Nursing
A master of science in nursing (MSN) can lead to career advancement for registered nurses. Some programs offer specializations based on your area of practice, allowing you to focus on family medicine, gerontology, or acute care.
An MSN can lead you to nurse practitioner roles or specialized nursing jobs such as a nurse anesthetist.
9. Psychology
A master's degree in psychology could open up job opportunities as a mental health counselor, marriage therapist, addiction counselor, and more.
A psychology master's degree can also be an asset outside of the already broad discipline of psychology and apply to fields like human resources and management.
10. Social Work
A master of social work (MSW) degree prepares students to become licensed social workers (LSWs) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) within their state, depending on state requirements for those roles.
Even though these degrees are online, you should expect to complete in-person supervised clinical hours.
How Do I Choose an Accelerated Master's Program?
Choosing the right accelerated master's program for you depends on several factors, including cost, format, and location.
Cost
To properly evaluate cost, you can start by comparing the prices of online and on-campus programs, in-state and out-of-state programs, and public and private schools. And if you're interested in accelerated programs, you should calculate the true program cost since you might have more difficulty working while studying.
Program Format
You should compare full-time vs. part-time programs when evaluating learning formats. If you pursue an accelerated program, you'll typically study full time. But you may have a choice between synchronous vs. asynchronous courses. These various program formats determine when you'll study and what kind of work-study balance you will have.
Location
Regardless of your choice between online or on-campus programs, you need to think about location. On-campus learners must attend class in person, while online students may need to satisfy on-campus residency requirements. And accelerated online master's degrees may feature these same components.
Accreditation
No matter what type of degree or program you choose, you need to pay close attention to school accreditation. It's important to keep in mind that graduate programs must be institutionally accredited in order to offer full financial aid, licensure, and employment opportunities to students. Programmatic accreditation may also be required depending on the discipline.
Student Support
You should carefully consider the type of student services a school provides. Online student services can give you the appropriate support for your specific needs, including academic, postgraduate, and wellness services. In-program support might include college internships and mentorship programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Online Master's Degree Programs
Is a one-year master's degree valid?
Yes. In many cases, a one-year master's degree provides the same level of education as a two-year program. An accelerated master's degree, for example, may condense a traditional two-year program into one year. Some accelerated programs accept transfer credits to shorten the program length to one year.
Are there one-year master's programs in the U.S.?
Yes. There are many one-year master's programs in the U.S. Schools regularly offer 4+1 bachelor's-to-master's pathways, one-year accelerated MBA programs, and other accelerated master's degrees.
What is the easiest master's degree to get online?
The easiest master's degree to get online depends entirely on the individual student and the program. Programs that you perceive as difficult — such as a master's program in engineering — can be easy for others who excel in that field. Generally, though, programs like education, business, and communication are easy to access online.
Are one-year master's programs worth it?
One-year master's programs offer great value for students that make them worth it for many people. Not only can you complete your training faster via an accelerated online master's degree program, but you can also save money due to the shorter study timelines.
Why are some master's degrees one year and some two years?
Master's degrees have varying lengths for many reasons. An accelerated master's degree may feature fewer courses and credits or a more condensed study schedule. And some programs allow you to use more transfer credits, while others expedite the transition between a bachelor's and master's program. Traditional master's programs generally last about two years.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed May 10, 2024.
