Best One-Year Online Master’s Programs

Want to earn more money and reduce your unemployment risk? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with a master’s degree earn an average salary of $1,574 per week and have an unemployment rate of just 2.6%. This is significantly better than the career outlook for those with only a bachelor’s degree ($1,334 per week, 3.5% unemployment rate) or a high school diploma ($809 per week, 6.2% unemployment rate). In this guide, we’ll show you why one-year online programs may be the best option for earning your master’s degree, and we’ll also review the top colleges that offer such programs.

Which Master’s Programs Are Available in a One-Year Format?

A little math is required to determine whether a master’s program can be completed in just one year:

• It generally takes 30 to 60 credit hours to earn a master’s degree.
• Each course typically counts as three credit hours.
• Most colleges consider students to be “full-time” when they are enrolled in courses worth a combined 12 credit hours per semester.

So, for the standard two-semester (fall and spring) academic year, you’ll need to take 5+ courses per semester (slightly more than a full-time course load) and find a program that requires close to 30 credit hours in order to earn your master’s degree in one year.

This is possible for some areas of study more often than others. For example, there are many master’s degree programs in STEM subjects that require 60+ credit hours. Most colleges won’t allow you to take the number of credits per semester needed to finish such a program in one year, even if you cram in some extra courses over a summer semester. But you’ll likely be able to find master’s degree programs in the 30 to 35 credit hour range for a variety of soft science subjects, such as:

• Business Administration: A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is an excellent option for those especially concerned about earning a high salary. This degree will put you on the path to becoming a chief executive, and the average salary for this occupation is a whopping $179,520.
• Social Work: If you would like to spend your career helping people get through tough times, a Master of Social Work (MSW) would allow you to do so in many ways (directing families to benefits and services, working with students to improve their academic performance and social development, etc.).
• Education: While there are many Masters of Education (M.Ed.) programs that only take 30 credit hours to complete, you’ll need to make sure that the field experiences involved with any particular program (e.g., classroom observation or direct teaching requirements) won’t prevent you from earning your degree in one year.
• Psychology: This is one of the most versatile master’s degrees available. By earning a Master’s in Psychology, you can become qualified for high-paying roles in healthcare, research science, marketing, public affairs, and many other fields.

Pros and Cons of One-Year Online Master’s Programs

The most significant benefit of one-year master’s programs is that they allow you to enter the workforce with your advanced degree and start making a higher salary as quickly as possible. However, earning 30+ credit hours in one year can be challenging. Do you have the time and ability to pull this off?

If you wish to earn your degree in one year, the next decision is whether to earn your degree online or in person.

In-person programs allow you to connect with your professors and peers face-to-face, which may help you learn course materials and provide valuable networking opportunities. Online programs are more convenient and often more affordable, and with video chat technology, you can still interact with your teachers and fellow students in real-time. The best option for you will depend on your specific preferences and needs.

Is a One-Year Online Master’s Program Right for You?

You may not be intimidated by a heavy course load if learning comes naturally to you and you have a strong academic track record. But if you struggle with picking up new concepts, completing assignments on time, and maintaining an adequate GPA, there’s a good chance that the course load required to finish a master’s program in one year is more than you can handle.

In addition to academics, you should consider other aspects of your life before making this decision.

How far away are you from campus? If you live nearby, attending classes in-person might be easy. On the other hand, online programs are an attractive option for students who would otherwise need to deal with a lengthy commute or pay for housing near campus in order to attend lectures.

What kind of college experience do you want? Anyone attracted to the social aspect of college will likely prefer an in-person program. However, if you don’t care about that, you might as well take advantage of the convenience and affordability of online programs.

Do you have any obligations outside of school? Students who have children, a full-time job, or any other demanding responsibilities should strongly consider choosing an online program rather than an in-person program, as they offer more flexible scheduling (especially online programs that involve asynchronous courses, which allow you to complete assignments and take tests at your own pace).

Overall, one-year online master’s programs are best suited for high-achieving students who either don’t have the time or would simply prefer not to commute to campus and attend in-person classes.

How to Decide on Which Program You Will Attend

There are nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, many of which offer one-year online master’s programs. To decide on which particular program you will attend, you should take the following factors into account:

• Major: First of all, each college in the country offers a different set of degree programs to choose from, so you’ll need to confirm that any college you’re considering provides a one-year online master’s program in your area of study. If not, you can quickly rule out that college as a viable option.
• Cost: Public schools are usually much more affordable than private schools if you qualify for in-state tuition. If you decide to go to a public college in a different state, you can save thousands of dollars by moving to the state and waiting until you have established yourself as a resident before starting your master’s program.
• Remote services: Many colleges now offer a video chat option for most student services due to the rising popularity of online classes, but some schools are still behind the times. If you would like to remotely access services such as counseling, academic advising, and tutoring, make sure these options are available at any school you’re considering.

How to Succeed in a One-Year Online Master’s Program

As mentioned above, you’ll likely need to take on a fairly intense course load to earn your master’s degree in one year. To succeed with such a course load requires more than hours and hours of studying. You’ll need to stay highly organized in order to keep up with all your deadlines, avoid missing assignments, and maintain good grades.

We recommend sticking to a routine. Figure out when you have free time for completing assignments and preparing for tests on each day of the week and commit to studying during these times whenever you are able. Without a regular schedule, you may put off studying until absolutely necessary, leading to stressful all-nighters that won’t help you retain information in the long term and will barely help you earn a passing grade in the short term.

Also, don’t rely on your memory. You can use old-fashioned, physical calendars as well as alarms on your phone to ensure you don’t forget about any deadlines, and there are various mobile apps available for organizing notes, tracking assignments, etc.

Finally, taking care of your health will help you succeed academically. By exercising regularly, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep, you can naturally reduce your stress levels and stay sharp enough for the mental demands of your program.

Our Research

This list features some of the best one-year 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 one-year online master’s programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as the U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

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