The 7 Easiest Master’s Degrees to Get in 2025
Key Takeaways
- Busy working professionals might find that the “easiest” master’s degree programs are ones with flexible schedules and low barriers to entry.
- Subject matter difficulty depends on your strengths and experience, but programs in disciplines like HR, business administration, and communications are often considered easier.
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills are a must in any master’s program.
No master’s program is “easy.” Each requires a commitment to learning advanced material. However, some are more manageable than others.
The most manageable master’s programs offer flexible learning options — such as part-time, online, and self-paced learning formats. They’re affordable for smaller budgets. Students in these programs may focus more on applying practical skills than writing theses or carrying out extensive research projects. And of course, being truly passionate about the subject you’re studying can help make your degree easier.
Ultimately, the easiest master’s degree depends on several factors, including the school you choose and whether its program aligns with your skills, interests, and learning style.
Read on to learn about the easiest master’s degrees.
How We Chose the Easiest Master’s Degrees
We turned to trusted sources, like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), to find information on the following aspects of popular master’s degree programs:
Ease of Enrollment
- Program affordability
- Relatively high acceptance rates
- Limited or no requirements for standardized testing, entrance exams (e.g., GRE, GMAT)
Ease of Completion
- Duration and flexibility (e.g., accelerated or online options)
- A focus on practical, real-world applications versus theory and research
- Minimal practicum, internship, or fieldwork requirements
Likelihood to Benefit
- High demand for master’s-level jobs in related industry
- Above-average salaries for master’s degree-holders
7 Easy Master’s Degrees for Busy Students
The following master’s degrees meet our criteria for programs that are easy to start and finish and also offer advantages in the job market.
Human Resource Management
This practical degree can help position you for senior leadership roles in human resources, especially at large or international corporations. Many master’s programs in human resources are designed for working professionals. So, you can earn your degree while you continue working and gain experience as an HR professional.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Affordability: Many top online human resource management master’s programs are at public universities, which tend to be less expensive than private colleges.
- Accelerated Options: You can earn this degree online in 1-2 years.
- Six-Figure Salaries: Human resource managers earned a median salary of $140,030 per year as of 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Communication
If you’re interested in organizing message campaigns, skilled in crafting marketing language, and keen on working in advertising, media, or public relations, a master’s in communication be a good fit for you.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Versatility: The field of media and communications encompasses a wide range of roles, from photographers and journalists to broadcast technicians and radio and television announcers.
- Career Outcomes: According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 90% of recent graduates with a master’s in communication and media studies reported positive career outcomes.
Keep in Mind
Roles in communications pay a wide range, from $42,520 annually for photographers to $91,670 for technical writers, according to the BLS. And you typically don’t need a master’s in communication for high-paying jobs PR or technical writing. You can land a job with a bachelor’s degree and experience. However, a master’s in communication might help you advance or switch industries faster.
Healthcare Administration
What makes a master’s degree in healthcare administration (MHA) programs easier than others is that they are designed for healthcare professionals and focus on practical management skills. By earning this degree, you can prepare for a management position in a booming industry without working in direct patient care.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Affordability: The average net price for the cheapest MHA programs was less than $10,000 a year in 2020.
- Online Options: Most of the least expensive MHA programs serve the majority of their students online.
- In-Demand Careers: The BLS projects jobs for medical and health services managers to grow by 29% from 2023-2033. (All occupations combined are projected to grow by just 4%.)
- Above-Average Pay: Medical and health services managers earned $117,960 per year in 2024, according to the BLS.
Business Administration
Due to its emphasis on practical business knowledge, a master’s in business administration (MBA) program can be a natural fit for those with a background in or aptitude for business. Many MBA programs offer flexibility through part-time and online options, which can be less expensive. Programs designed for working professionals should build on the experience you already have and help you network with peers.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Flexible Program Duration: Earn an MBA on your own timeline by completing a part-time program over a number of years or an accelerated, one-year MBA.
- Major Payoff for MBA Grads: According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, part-time MBA earners boosted their salaries by 29% after graduating.
- Potentially Avoid Standardized Entrance Exams: A growing number of business schools are dropping GMAT and GRE requirements for admission.
Keep in Mind
There is a wide range of competitiveness for MBA programs. Ivy League business programs have very low admission rates, may require high GMAT or GRE scores, and can be quite costly. Other MBA programs — including many reputable programs — don’t require the GMAT or GRE at all and are more affordable. What matters is that you choose the program that meets your needs.
Nursing
Nursing is not an easy profession. It takes excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and strong attention to detail to be successful. But, master of science in nursing (MSN) programs can be an easy way for people who already have a bachelor’s in nursing to boost their career prospects. MSN programs build on concepts you’ve already learned on the job or in a BSN program, so you won’t be starting from scratch.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Online, Accessible Programs: Several online nursing master’s programs exist, and many don’t require the GRE for admission.
- Hands-On Learning: Even online MSN programs typically require students to complete clinical hours. This can be a bonus for students who learn best by doing.
- In-Demand, High-Paying Jobs: With a master’s degree, you can qualify for higher-paying jobs in nursing. Nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners earned a median salary of $132,050 in 2024, per the BLS.
Criminal Justice
Criminal justice master’s programs focus on applied practice rather than theory. You’ll engage in real-world scenarios, examine public policy, and learn law enforcement practices. Graduates enter the workforce as police captains, intelligence analysts, and fraud investigators, among other roles.
You may find this degree program even easier if you have a background in criminal justice or a field related to law enforcement.
What’s to like about this degree?
- High Acceptance Rates: Even some of the best online criminal justice master’s programs have relatively high acceptance rates, accepting 80% or more of students.
- Shorter Than Other Master’s: These master’s typically take 1-2 years to complete.
- Flexible and Affordable Program Options: Part-time and online programs are widely available at universities across the nation.
Organizational Leadership
Master’s in organizational leadership programs are designed to help you gain valuable management and leadership skills in corporate or non-governmental environments. This interdisciplinary degree applies psychology to leadership, sales, marketing, human resources, and other teams within an organization — making it a fascinating field for people with a variety of interests.
What’s to like about this degree?
- Asynchronous Learning: Most of the top online programs in this field offer asynchronous options, meaning there’s no set time to attend class. Instead, review the material on your schedule.
- Standardized Testing Not Required: Many programs allow you to skip the GRE.
Start Your Master’s Program Journey Today
How to Choose the Easiest Master’s Degree for You
Choosing the easiest master’s degree depends on your skills, interests, and learning style. What kind of courses can hold your interest? What jobs can your master’s degree program lead to? The following steps can help you narrow down your master’s degree program search.
☐ Step 1: Carry Out a Self-Assessment
While your personal and professional interests should always be at the forefront when deciding on a master’s degree program, there are other considerations, too. Carry out a self-assessment where you answer or even journal about the questions below:
- What are your career goals?
- What types of learning environments and formats do you excel in?
- Do you prefer large class sizes with many students to connect with? Or small group discussions with more individualized support?
- Would you learn best through an online program or an in-person program? Or would you prefer a mix of both (a hybrid course of study)?
You should also consider your strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps you have opportunity areas you’d like to improve through a master’s program. Or maybe you want to play on your strengths to ensure your master’s program is as easy — and enjoyable — as possible.
☐ Step 2: Research Programs and Make a List
When you research the easiest master’s programs and make a list of your favorites, it’s important to consider admissions criteria. For example, will the program require you to take exams like the GRE or GMAT? If so, those programs may be more challenging to enter and complete.
Consider the school’s reputation. What are their acceptance rates? If a school has high acceptance rates, applicants are more likely to get in. Additionally, you’ll likely enter a less competitive environment than in schools with low acceptance rates.
You’ll also want to take note of program flexibility. Will you have time to manage coursework along with your other obligations? And what are the program’s duration and graduation requirements?
Make sure to also keep track of your estimated costs. In our 2024 Online Education Trends Report, 28% of online students and program graduates said they wished they had done more research about cost and financial aid before enrolling in an online program.
☐ Step 3: Talk to People Connected With the Program or Career
Networking isn’t just for job-seekers. While you’re researching programs, it’s helpful to get in touch with people who can answer your questions and help you further your research.
Find a program coordinator or academic advisor to learn more about your desired program and whether it’s a good fit for you. If possible, try to talk to faculty members to learn about their teaching styles and materials. You might get to read a course syllabus to better understand what the classes are like, what topics they cover, and how much work they require.
You can also use LinkedIn to contact current students and alumni to ask them about their experiences in their programs. You can also use the site to connect with professionals working in your desired field to ask them about the career that interests you.
Making these connections can help you better determine whether the program is a good fit for you.
☐ Step 4: Search for Financial Aid Opportunities
Make sure you fill out the FAFSA so you qualify for federal student aid. You can also seek out other funding opportunities such as grants and scholarships from your school or other institutions.
Many graduate programs offer paid fellowships, assistantships, and Work-Study opportunities. You may also find master’s programs that are fully-funded, given you teach or carry out research projects while you study.
Look for lesser-known funding resources. You might have access to tax benefits like the lifetime learning credit and employer-provided educational assistance.
If you serve or have served in the military, you may be eligible for the GI Bill® or military-specific scholarships.
☐ Step 5: Consider Shorter and Cheaper Alternative Modes of Study
If, after all your research, you find that even the easiest master’s degree programs don’t match your needs, you have other options. A better fit for your professional needs may be a certificate program or a professional development course.
These are shorter, cheaper modes of study that don’t lead to graduate degrees but can prepare you for the career you desire. You can find these programs and courses at higher education institutions and several popular online learning platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Easiest Master’s Degrees
Having a master’s degree tends to pay off in some fields, such as business and STEM. Also, master’s degrees are required to enter some professions, such as counseling. However, the value of a master’s degree depends on many factors, like how much it costs you, what you earn after graduation, and what you intend to do with your degree.
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