Best Accelerated Online Master’s Degree Programs of 2025

How we rank programs

This list features some of the best accelerated online master’s programs in the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Next, we compared this comprehensive list of the best accelerated online master’s programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

What You Should Know About Accelerated Online Master’s Degrees

For students prioritizing the quick completion of their degree, an accelerated bachelor’s degree may seem like the ideal solution. However, there are key points to keep in mind about how these degree programs work and how to find a quality program.

Pacing and workload

The number of credits for a master’s degree varies by program, although the majority require between 30-60 credits. Traditional master’s degree programs are typically designed to be completed in two to three years of full-time study, with full-time students completing 18 credits per academic year.

Accelerated programs are a fast-track to earning a master’s, Villagomez says. They compress all the required credits into a shortened time frame through various methods. These can include accepting a higher number of previously earned credits, faster-paced classes, more classes per term, and fewer breaks in the academic calendar.

However, Villagomez offers some words of caution for students considering an accelerated degree.

“There are no shortcuts with this route,” she says. “Students are expected to complete the same amount of work as they would in a traditional program in a shorter time frame. They require a higher investment of time and energy every week. Therefore, I usually only recommend them to individuals with strong time management skills, dedication, and discipline.”

Degree completion programs

Many programs that advertise themselves as accelerated are actually degree completion programs, which are designed for students who have already earned some college credits. By accepting up to half of the required credits for a degree, these types of programs allow students to finish their master’s in as little as a year or less.

Each school sets its own policies for degree completion programs. Students should consult with an admissions or transfer counselor to help them determine if they are eligible for one.

Class schedules

Because of their fast-paced nature, accelerated programs typically rely on asynchronous classes. With this delivery format, there are no scheduled class meetings. Instead, students can access pre-recorded lectures, videos, and reading assignments anytime, allowing them to complete their schoolwork on the schedule that’s most convenient for them.

While the flexibility of asynchronous classes makes learning more accessible, students must be comfortable learning autonomously and have strong self-motivation, time management, and discipline skills in order to be successful.

Accreditation

Whether you’re attending a traditionally paced or accelerated program, it’s important to verify the accreditation status of any institution you’re considering attending.

“Attending a non-accredited college can negatively impact future post-graduate opportunities such as employment and doctorate programs,” Villagomez says. “With institutional accreditation, schools are evaluated as a whole and must pass several standards to receive a regional or national accreditation. Programmatic accreditations evaluate the quality and legitimacy of the specific degree programs offered at institutions.”

One way to verify accreditation is to use the U.S. Department of Education’s online accreditation database. If you need help, meet with an academic advisor on your current campus to help you during this process. They may have helpful insight into other resources you can use to verify the legitimacy of an institution.

There are two types of accreditation for U.S. colleges and universities, regional and national. Both are designed to assess the quality of education at institutions, although regionally accredited schools are held to more rigorous standards.

You can find more information about a school’s accreditation status by visiting their website, speaking to an admissions counselor, or searching for a school in the U.S. Department of Education’s accreditation database.

Non-profit and for-profit status

Students should also be aware of whether the schools they’re considering are non-profit or for-profit. This status can impact the quality of a school’s programs, how the institution spends its money, and your financial aid eligibility and future employment opportunities.

As the name implies, for-profit schools are designed to earn money, which may mean that providing quality education may take a backseat to boost revenue. For-profit schools can spend their revenue however they want, which can result in underinvestment in students and resources.

Meanwhile, non-profit institutions are required to reinvest their revenue into the school in the form of faculty and staff salaries, infrastructure, student services, and other resources. All public and many private two- and four-year colleges in the U.S. are non-profits.

All of the schools on our list are non-profits. If you’re considering a for-profit school, be sure to carefully research their business practices, graduation rates, and outcomes for graduates.

Eligibility and restrictions

While online learning has removed geographic barriers to earning a degree, there are some limitations on who can attend which schools and programs. In the U.S., institutions must be authorized by individual states to grant degrees to students living in those states. Without this authorization, non-resident students are ineligible to enroll in the institution. Currently, over 2300 institutions throughout 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), ensuring their distance education programs are authorized to operate and grant degrees in multiple states.

Other restrictions may apply to a student’s specific area of study. For example, teachers in the U.S. must be certified by the state in which they wish to teach. Depending on the state, students might be required to earn their degree in the state in which they want to get certified. Keep professional plans in mind when exploring your program options, and if you’re unsure of your eligibility for a particular school or program, speak to an admissions counselor for clarification.

Pros and Cons of Accelerated Online Master’s Programs

There are several advantages to attending an accelerated online master’s degree program. However, students should also be aware of the challenges that these types of programs present and understand that they may not be a good fit for everyone.

How to Succeed in an Accelerated Degree Program

A high GPA is often needed to get into an accelerated degree program, and you will likely need to maintain a high GPA in order to stay in the program as well. If your GPA falls below 3.0, most accelerated programs won’t allow you to take any more graduate courses until you get your grades up.

The following methods can help you study more effectively and improve your GPA:

• SQ3R: This learning system involves five steps — survey (skim through course materials before you read them), question (ask yourself questions based on this survey, such as what the course material is about and whether you already know this information), read (fully read the material and look for answers to your questions), recite (summarize in your own words what you have just read), and review (re-read any portions of the material that you didn’t fully understand). SQ3R is much better for retaining information than simply reading course materials.
• The Leitner System: Sebastian Leitner was a science journalist who wrote a bestselling book on the psychology of learning, and his system for memorizing subjects involved making flashcards and storing them in a series of five boxes. All of the cards start in Box 1. If you get a card right, move it into the next box. If you get it wrong, move it down a box. Review Box 1 every day, Box 2 every two days, Box 3 every four days, Box 4 every nine days, and Box 5 every 14 days. This method is based on the theory of spaced repetition, which has been proven to help students learn subjects faster.
• The Pomodoro Technique: Do you find it hard to focus while studying? This time management system involves following every 25 minutes of study with a 5-minute break. Once you’ve completed four intervals, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. It’s much easier to resist distractions when you only commit to studying for 25 minutes at a time.

You should also remember that getting good grades involves more than just studying. The highest-performing students typically stick to a schedule, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep. By staying organized and healthy, you’ll be able to support the mental state needed for optimal academic performance.

How to Choose the Online Accelerated Master’s Degree Program That’s Right For You

Below are the five key steps in selecting an online accelerated master’s degree. Please note that many of these steps overlap, and some are ongoing throughout your higher education journey.

Step 1: Make sure the field of study you choose is right for you

“Students should be proactive in their career exploration and stay open-minded about the different ways they can receive exposure to new knowledge,” Villagomez says. “Students are often surprised when they learn that exploration is an ongoing process that takes time and intentionality.”

Consider your reasons for wanting a master’s degree. Perhaps it’s a requirement to be eligible for certain jobs, like social worker or nurse practitioner. Maybe you already have a bachelor’s degree in one field, but want to pivot to another profession and need additional education. Or you may be interested in deepening your skills in an area in which you already have a degree or professional experience. Your reasons for getting a master’s degree will help guide you to the programs that offer the type of curriculum and skill development that’s right for you. You may also find that a different type of educational path, such as a post-secondary certificate or bootcamp is sufficient.

Step 2: Research schools and programs

“When it comes time to research programs, I recommend students develop a list of custom filters to narrow down options,” Villagomez says. “Some examples of filters include curriculum requirements, duration of program, faculty reputation and ranking, and professional development opportunities offered.”

Researching the program’s faculty and support services will help you determine its quality. “Due to the fast pace of an accelerated program, it’s important to know how your professors and the school will support your education and help you with any challenges you may face along the way,” Villagomez says. “Find out if they have reputations for being accessible, reliable, and supportive. Support systems vary across institutions, so understanding who you have access to is a proactive way to take care of your future self.”

Students should also investigate the program’s curriculum to ensure it aligns with their future career goals. For example, if your field of study requires student teaching, an internship, or clinical residency, confirm that the program’s curriculum accounts for these in-person requirements.

This information is often available on the school’s website. For more information, you can also follow schools and programs on social media, speak to admissions representatives, and attend virtual open houses.

Step 3: Prepare for tests and applications

“After conducting research on the degree programs and schools that are the best fit for them, students should have a strong sense of the admission requirements,” Villagomez says. “It’s important for students to stay organized with a comprehensive and detailed checklist to track their progress, submit all required materials, and meet deadlines.”

Specific application requirements and processes will vary by school, but the common elements of an application for a master’s degree include:

• Completed application and required fees
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate colleges attended
• Letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Personal statement
• GRE or GMAT scores

Take note of application deadlines, as many accelerated programs offer multiple start dates throughout the academic year. It’s best to stay on top of deadlines to ensure you can start the program when you plan to.

Step 4: Select your program

With all this information in hand, you should be ready to select the program or programs you’ll apply to. Like most other aspects of this process, the right number of schools to apply to is based on your personal needs and preferences. Some students are only interested in one specific program, while others may apply to multiple programs to increase their chances of acceptance. Either way, taking the time to research and prepare should help you choose the online accelerated bachelor’s degree that’s right for you.

Step 5: Determine how you’ll pay for your degree

This is also the point where you’ll want to start crunching some numbers. What’s the tuition at the schools you’re applying to? What kind of scholarships, grants, and other financial aid do they offer? What additional costs, like upgrading technology, should you budget for?

Speak to a financial aid counselor to get a realistic idea of what your bill will be like each term and your options for paying it. If you need loans to help pay for school, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which the U.S. Department of Education uses to determine eligibility for federal student loans, grants, and work-study. Individual schools also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid, such as institutional scholarships and grants. Students can also explore opportunities for scholarships through professional development organizations, private foundations and non-profits, community and religious groups, and more.

If you’re planning on working while earning a master’s degree, find out if your employer offers any kind of tuition assistance benefits, which can help offset education costs. Individuals who are veterans or active-duty military service members can inquire about their eligibility for GI Bill benefits.