40 Fastest Online Master’s Degree Programs

Are you curious about the quickest way to get an online master’s degree? This ranking focuses on this very topic: The fastest master’s degree online programs.

The world of education is rapidly evolving, both on the side of students and on the side of the schools. Students seek the best career outcomes as they try to avoid taking on enormous student debt, while schools attempt to adapt to the fluctuating market this creates. Confounding the issue are recent claims from economists stating that the value of higher education has dropped dramatically overall, despite the rising costs of tuition. They compare the bachelor’s degree of today with the high school education of past generations. This creates strain and pressure both for students and schools as students seek to elevate themselves amid growing competition and shrinking opportunities, and schools attempt to meet a new generation of students’ needs.

Many schools are now designing their programs around the concepts of speed and convenience. Part of the reason why traditional education model is losing value, at least perceptually, is because it takes a large amount of time to complete the programs, during which time students are not usually amounting income or building the real-world experience so many positions require. It is no surprise that now many students are seeking online education amidst busy work schedules, so that they do not have to put their career on hold while they earn their master’s degree. In this article we explore 40 of the fastest online master’s degree programs available.

See Also: 10 Best Master’s in Industrial Engineering

Though this ranking of quickest master’s degree online programs was created primarily using data on the speed of the program, we drew information from the U.S. Department of Education, school websites, and U.S. News & World Report in order to create a baseline and organize the ranking according to the following criteria:

• Speed of the Program (1/4): (i) The fastest time in which a program can be completed. (ii) Whether or not the program offers accelerated learning options and/or previous learning or experience credits.
• Reliability (1/4): Whether the program offered accredited degrees and/or was affiliated with national education foundations.
• Academic Reputation (1/4): The rank of the school’s parent institution according to other prominent rankings such as U.S. News and World Report
  
• Accessibility of the Program (1/4): How easily the program can be applied towards, i.e. whether or not a specific undergraduate major was required as a prerequisite

We should also note that there are pros and cons to fast-paced and accelerated online programs such as the ones listed below.

• Pros: The program can be completed in a much smaller amount of time, and thus is convenient both in terms of financial requirements and scheduling requirements
• Fast-paced programs are often highly-focused on the most relevant material, which eliminates the potential for “busy-work.”
• Cons: In order to finish the coursework more quickly students are usually required to take on more of a burden, both in dedication and effort.
• Extreme learning in short periods of time might lead to less retention of what was learned, but this is largely reliant on the methods of education and personal characteristics.

Time for Program Completion: 12 months

#1. Ball State University

Online Master of Arts in Educational Psychology

Ball State University offers a master of arts in educational psychology that can be completed completely online in just twelve months if students undertake the full course-load. Despite its fast completion time, this quick online master’s program covers a research-based curriculum, which allows students to develop specializations according to self-selected project assignments and coursework options. The same faculty who teach the on-campus versions of the classes teach the online versions, so that students can expect the same quality as that of face-to-face learning.

#2. California Baptist University

Online Master of Science in Accounting

California Baptist University is a nationally ranked school and major proponent of online education. As such the master of science in accounting adheres to strong values of student-oriented flexibility and guidance. Students have 24/7 access to coursework so that they can progress when and how they want, and they also are assigned personal advisers to help assists and guide during the program. Through taking advantage of the online format, the degree can be earned in as little as one year. The University’s all-Christian faculty is highly committed to helping its students make the most of their time during such accelerated programs.

#3. California Baptist University

Online Master of Science in Education: Early Childhood Studies

California Baptist University Online also offers an accelerated program in early childhood studies, where the average completion time of the program is only twelve months. Through narrowing the programs focus to this specialization, students can finish their master’s in half the time of similar degree programs. This translates into thousands of dollars of saved tuition and more time to gain career experience. The program is designed to fully prepare its students to take on administrational, advisory, and consultative positions in the professional world where they will specialize in knowledge of children’s learning and health issues.

#4. Capella University

Online Master of Business Administration

Unlike the other accelerated learning options at Capella, the MBA program is designed to be completed in one year by all students. This implies a level of consistency and organization that might appear to be lacking in other accelerated learning programs. The program also brandishes impressive career outcome statistics with its MBA graduates earning an average of $28,000 more per year than those who only hold a bachelor’s in business administration. Capella’s attractive online learning technologies coupled with its student outcome statistics and “fast track” option make it an excellent option for those pursuing an MBA.

#5. Capella University

Online Master of Healthcare Administration

Capella University also offers a fully online healthcare administration program that can be completed in just twelve months. The program’s curriculum is designed to meet the standards of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL), and focuses on educating students about health care operations, health care leadership, or health policy and advocacy. Capella also reports that over 96% of student alumni reported that they were satisfied with their education.

#6. Capella University

Online Master of Healthcare Administration in Healthcare Leadership

Healthcare will generate more than four million new jobs between 2010 and 2020, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Capella’s healthcare leadership program offers students a chance to earn their degree in just twelve months, while simultaneously earning a certificate in their chosen concentration where they may delve deeper into select projects or topics in order to develop personal interests and career goals.

#7. Concordia University-Portland

Online Master of Education

Concordia University’s yearlong master of education program is designed for working teachers who are looking to earn a higher degree amidst demanding work-life. Thus the program adheres to strong principles of academic while also maintaining high-levels of flexibility. As mentioned before, many programs are able to achieve accelerated learning options through narrowing the focus of the program. Concordia manages 20 master’s degree concentration options, all of which are accredited and can be completed in just one year, making it an excellent option for both students and working professionals alike.

#8. University of North Texas

Online Master of Business Administration

The University of North Texas also offers an accelerated learning options for its fully online MBA program. The program’s curriculum is designed to meet the standards of the American Society for Quality, APICS, Association of University Programs in Health Administration, HR Certification Institute, Institute for Supply Management and the Society for Human Resource Management. The program’s physical location is in one of the Texas’ most dynamic and economically growing areas. Thus the program also emphasizes drawing upon real world connections to enrich coursework and project assignments.

#9. University of North Texas

Online Master of Education in Educational Leadership

The University of North Texas’ College of Education offers a fully accredited and fully online accelerated master of education degree option. The degree can be earned in less than a year, and surprisingly the program still maintains a good deal of the flexibility and self-paced coursework associated with online education. The program is able to maintain the seemingly opposing attributes of speed and flexibility, by narrowing the coursework of the program to focus on educational leadership. This specialization is for students pursuing careers in administrational positions of schools, school districts, or other educational institutions.

#10. Walden University

Online Master of Science in Education

Walden University offers a fully online graduate program in education with an accelerated learning option where students can earn their degree in just twelve months with as little as $10,000 in expenses. The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and while it is compacted into a short and affordable program the career-outcome and student satisfaction surveys display highly impressive results where over 96% of surveyed employers said they would employ another graduate from the MS in education program.

Time for Program Completion: 14 months

#11. Trine University

Online Master of Science in Criminal Justice

Often it is the case that programs are able to offer accelerated track options by narrowing the program’s focus and thus decreasing the required coursework. Trine University is a repeatedly nationally ranked school and is one of the exceptions to this trend. The University’s master of science in criminal justice can be completed in just fourteen months, but beyond that the program still offers its students three specialization options in forensic psychology, law, and public administration. The program is likely able to achieve this by asking for a higher level of dedication and performance from its students, as its admission requirements are stricter than others on this list.

#12. Trine University

Online Master of Science in Engineering Management

Trine University’s Ketner School of Business houses an accelerated online master of science in engineering program. Curricularly assisted by the Allen School of Engineering & Technology, the program draws from the resources of several departments to deliver a focused and efficient curriculum with a high-level of instructor advisement and guidance. Through taking advantage of open-ended online coursework and instructor-student interaction the program is able to cover ground quickly, so that students can earn their degree in just twelve months. With two departments assisting, students receive advisement from two perspectives–one from business and one from engineering–so that they may develop a well-rounded foundation on which to build their careers.

#13. University of North Texas

Online Master of Science in Learning Technologies

The University of North Texas offers a fully online learning technologies program that can be completed in as little as fourteen months. While the program is fast-paced and affordable, it does not sacrifice quality for speed, which is evidenced by the fact that it is one of few learning technology programs aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education’s (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS). Despite the speed of the program students still have options for convenience and flexibility; courses have personalizable lengths to accommodate the demands of any schedule.

Time for Program Completion: 15 months

#14. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Science in Accounting

Southern New Hampshire University offers an accelerated learning option for earning an MS in accounting. Despite the fast-paced curriculum, the program meets the 150-credit-hour requirement to sit for the CPA exam adopted by most states, and still allows the flexible learning schedule of undertaking just two courses per ten-week term. Many comparable accelerated programs require a third per learning period, so this program seems to strike a balance between student comfort and high-efficiency learning.

#15. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Business Administration in Economics

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution, and as such maintains high-standards of education and student-care. The University’s MBA in economics embodies these standards through providing a fast-paced, convenient, and fully-accredited option. The program is also one of the most affordable on this list and offers tuition rates well-below that of comparable programs.

#16. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

Southern New Hampshire University offers another 15-month, fully online, and fully accredited master’s degree option, an MS in healthcare administration (MSHA). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there has never been a better time to earn this degree with job growth in the industry projected at 23% through 2020. SNHU’s MSHA program is also a highly affordable option that manages to maintain a flexible schedule amidst the demanding coursework of the accelerated track.

#17. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Science in Human Resource Management

SNHU also offers a fully online, affordable, and accelerated graduate human resources program. The program’s curriculum is designed to reflect the standards, guidelines, and principles set forth by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The program often supplements faculty with instructors from successful companies and organizations in the industry, so that students can learn from real-world success stories and begin networking early in their careers.

#18. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Business Administration in Project Management

SNHU also offers an accelerated MBA in project management program that can be completed in just fifteen months and maintains some of the lowest tuition rates for this degree in the nation. SNHU is a Registered Education Provider (REP) of the Project Management Institute (PMI®), and as such the program’s curriculum is based on the models and strategies of businesses from the mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies. SNHU has been offering the MBA in project management for over 40 years, so students can expect a well-developed curriculum and highly experienced faculty to deliver it.

#19. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Science in Psychology

SNHU also offers a fully online and highly affordable graduate psychology program that can be completed in fifteen months with a variety of concentration options including: child and adolescent development, forensic psychology, and industrial organizational psychology. Despite offering concentration options amidst a demanding curriculum and schedule, the program adheres to high standards of student choice and allows 24/7 access to coursework, which can be completed according self-decided course schedules.

#20. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Business Administration in Criminal Justice

SNHU as mentioned before is a private, nonprofit institution emphasizing efficient, affordable, and accredited programs. Among these program options is the criminal justice studies MBA, which can be completed in just fifteen months. Though the accelerated learning likely puts a strain on students’ schedules the program seeks to counterbalance this strain with increased flexibility in learning options. For instance, students have 24/7 access to online coursework and they can customize the length and course-loads of classes in order to accommodate personal schedules.

#21. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Business Administration in Sports Management

SNHU boasts 40 years experience in MBA education and offers its graduates a close-knit network of highly proactive alumni, who often serve as mentors or advisers to current students. The University’s sports management program is also one of the most affordable degree options on this list and can be completed in just fifteen months. Through waving GRE and GMAT requirements, offering multiple start dates, and assigning academic and career advisers to each student SNHU is able to offer an attractive student-oriented program.

#22. Stevens-Henager College (Independence University)

Master of Science in Healthcare Administration

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of healthcare is one of the most rapidly growing job sectors in the US, and as such new and exciting career developments occur regularly. Through Independence University, Stevens-Henager’s online affiliate, the healthcare program can be completed in just fifteen months, and incorporates successful professionals from the field their instruction strategies to familiarize students with the industry’s real-world demands.

#23. Stevens-Henager College (Independence University)

Online Master of Science in Information Systems

Stevens-Henager’s unique focus on information technology and systems has allowed them to narrow the focus of the school’s curriculum and faculty specialties. Thus they are able to offer a fifteen month and fully online graduate program in information systems. Our world is dominated by the use and dissemination of information, and thus those with an information systems degree can find themselves working in a wide array of industries. As such this program employs a multidisciplinary approach to the study of information systems, so students can shape their personal interests while gaining experience that mirrors real-world demands.

#24. University of North Texas

Online Master of Science in Educational Psychology

The University of North Texas offers an accelerated learning track in which students can earn their MS in educational psychology in just fifteen months if they are willing to take on a full course-load. Comparable programs can last up to four times as long. This means that students who graduate from this program in fifteen months will have saved years and thousands of dollars. The program is able to manage this by narrowing the focus of the program to that of educating gifted and talented students, and upon completion students will receive an accredited certificate validating this specialization.

#25. University of North Texas

Online Master of Science in Special Education

The University of North Texas also offers a master’s level special education program that can be completed in just fifteen months if students are willing to take on the accelerated learning schedule. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and focuses on autism intervention.

Time for Program Completion: 16 months

#26. Northcentral University

Online Master of Business Administration

Northcentral University is a reputable school, well-known for its unique strategies of incorporating interconnectedness and social-learning into online education. The University capitalizes on these strategies in order to offer an accelerated MBA program option that can be completed in as little as sixteen months. The program is taught by all doctoral faculty and each student is assigned one faculty member per course, so that students receive proper advisement and guidance during the intensive coursework that is required to complete an MBA in just under a year and a half.

#27. University of Miami

Online Master of Science in Finance

The University of Miami is a nationally ranked institution that offers an accelerated track option in the master of science in finance degree. While many of the programs on this list require special effort or experience to “take the fast track,” this program is designed to be completed by all students in just sixteen months. The program is able to achieve this level of accelerated learning by narrowing its focus to centralized coursework that is both practical and applicable to the real-world demands of the finance industry. Though it lasts less than a year and a half, the program is designed to turn students into successful professionals of corporate finance, international finance and investments, and other financial sectors. To accomplish this goal, the same faculty who teach the on-campus version of the class teach the online version, so that the faculty can master the strategies of the accelerated learning program.

Time for Program Completion: 18 months

#28. Benedictine University

Online Master of Business Administration

Benedictine University is a nationally ranked school: U.S. News & World Report found it to be one of the nation’s best master’s universities and GraduatePrograms.com found the MBA program specifically to be one of the best in the US. While delivering nationally recognized results, the MBA program also maintains a high-level of convenience in its fully online format, flexible coursework schedules, and can be completed in just 18 months. The program also boasts highly impressive student survey results with over 94% of students reporting that the program had adequately prepared them for their careers.

#29. Boston University

Online Master of Arts in Art Education

Boston University specializes in bring the study of art and music education to the arena of fast-paced online education. BU offers an a fully online graduate art education program, which employs all of the university’s resources create a quality distance learning option. Through virtual studios, students can interact with art instructors just as they would in the physical classroom with real-time feedback and discussion formats.

#30. Boston University

Online Master of Music in Music Education

Boston University is a school with arguably the longest history of music education in our country as it offered the nation’s first music degree in 1872. The University has modernized its rich music program through offer fast-paced online learning options, specifically, the master of music education that can be completed in just 18 months. In this program, the University employs its over 100 year history of music leadership to train professionals how to excel in the music education of the 21st century.

#31. Boston University

Online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems

Boston University is a school with an impressive reputation and nationally recognition. BU’s computer information systems online program is ranked third by U.S. News & World Report as one the nation’s “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.” While not the fastest on this list the program manages to achieve nationally recognition while still managing a level of efficiency that makes it 30% faster than most similar online degree programs. In this program, students can expect strenuous coursework, but they are assured a highly attractive value-to-time ratio.

#32. Boston University

Online Master of Science in Health Communication

Boston University boasts a long history of higher education and massive alumni population of over 250,000. BU has recently created fast-paced learning options for degrees that otherwise had little to no online learning options. Among these is their health communication program, which if students take on the full course-load can be completed in just 18 months, about half of the time of comparable programs. While the program can be completed quickly it still adheres to high standards of quality, such as those set forth by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

#33. Capella University

Online Master of Public Administration

Capella University offers a fully online MPA program that can be completed in 18 months. While many programs on this list require students to take more of a burden in order to complete the accelerated courses, Capella’s MPA program is designed to be completed in this short amount without this increased burden through offering flexible learning strategies and emphasizing instructor-student guidance. Also, students will have choice of developing a degree-concentration of their choosing based on their career goals and personal interests.

#34. Capella University

Online Master of Public Health in Public Health Leadership

Capella University also offers a fast-paced and fully online graduate MPH in public leadership program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is very similar to the design of the one listed above, though the focus is shifted to the public health sector. One-on-one coaching is built into the program, so students can develop a leadership style early in their career. The program also employs “The Riverbend City” tool where students can simulate real-world situations in a risk-free environment.

#34. Northeastern University

Online Master of Science in Commerce and Economic Development

Northeastern University also offers a master of science in commerce and economic development program. The program can be completed in as little as 18 months if students are willing to take on the maximum course-load. The program also meets international visa requirements for any prospective international students looking to pursue this degree. The program’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions in international trade, e-commerce development, and economic consulting positions, all of which are sectors of above average growth, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

#35. Northeastern University

Online Master of Science in E-Learning and Instructional Design

Northeastern University also offers an e-learning and instructional design program, which like the others can be completed in just a year and a half if students are able to take on the maximum course-load. As was described in the opening paragraph, the industry of education is transitioning towards e-learning and convenient options. Students in this program will be at the forefront of this transition and can expect to learn the most cutting-edge technology and strategies of modern e-learning and instructional design. This prepares students to shape the future of any learning-driven organization such as corporations, non-profits, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and government agencies.

#36. Northeastern University

Online Master of Science in Global Studies and International Relations

Northeastern University also offers a global studies and international relations program that like the others can be completed in just 18 months if undertaking the maximum course-load. The program employs a multidisciplinary approach and offers students multiple concentration options such as Conflict Resolution, Development and Global Health, Diplomacy, International Economics and Consulting, or Global Student Mobility. The program boasts highly experienced faculty, many of whom have served as political ambassadors, international consultants, or diplomats.

#37. Northeastern University

Online Master of Science in Project Management

Northeastern University also offers a project management program that like the others can be completed in just 18 months if the student is willing to undertake a full course-load. The program is accredited by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center (GAC), the world’s leading association for project management professionals. Though the program is fast-paced it does manage to offer students a great deal of choice in coursework, and allows students to construct their own personalized concentrations through self-selected projects and coursework.

Time for Program Completion: 21 months

#39. Southern New Hampshire University

Online Master of Business Administration in Business Intelligence

SNHU’s MBA programs compile 40 years of educational experience into a convenient and fast-paced online learning format. The program is also accredited by multiple governing bodies such as The New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Student support is also a major hallmark of the program, so students can expect ongoing academic and career guidance from professionals with relevant experience throughout their time in the program.

Time for Program Completion: 24 months

#40. Northeastern University

Online Master of Science in Applied Nutrition

Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies offers multiple accelerated and fully online master’s degree options. Among these is the master of science in applied nutrition program, which can be completed in just 24 months. The program focuses on preparing students for the evolving industry of nutrition and offers the following concentration options: obesity and nutritional health, nutrition education, nutrition and fitness, and business and entrepreneurship in nutrition. The program emphasizes experiential projects and also involves successful nutritionists, fitness experts, as well as other health professionals, so that students may have a first-hand look at the industry’s professionals.

This concludes our ranking of quick online master’s programs.

See Also: Best Online History Master’s Degree Programs