25 Most Affordable Public Colleges with Online Master’s Degrees

1. Sul Ross State University

Alpine, Texas

Website

Number one in our list of most affordable public colleges offering online master’s degree programs is Sul Ross State University (SRSU, est. 1917), a member of the Texas State University System. While authorized in 1917, the original Normal College did not start classes until 1920, focusing primarily on being a teacher’s college. The current name is in honor of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who served as a mounted Texas Ranger and later as Governor of Texas. College review lists that Sul Ross appears in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges in the category Regional Universities West. Notable SRSU alumni included actor Dan Blocker who played the lovable Hoss Cartwright (Bonanza/ Ponderosa).

SRSU offers bachelor’s and master’s level degrees programs. It has multiple low cost online master’s degree programs, some of which include

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 36 credits; 2yr part-time only)
• Master of Arts in Political Science (MAPS)
• Master of Arts in Public Administration (MAPA; 36 credits)
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Counselor Education (39 of 48 credits are available online; the other 9cr are from weekend courses)
• MEd in Reading Specialist (30 credits)
• Master of Science in Animal Science (36 credits; 1+ years; online version: non-thesis; on-campus version is 30cr and requires a thesis)
• Master of Agriculture (30 credits; non-thesis; one online course can be substituted for an in-person internship)

The MSCJ and MAPA are also offered together as a dual-degree option (54 credits).

2. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Website

Fitchburg State University (FSU, est. 1894) ranks second in our ranking of most affordable public online master’s colleges. Originally a women’s teacher training college, the university’s current academic offering combines sciences and liberal arts with professional programs. The university ranks in the following categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list: Top Public Schools; Regional Universities North; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs. Notable FSU alumni include genre author R.A. Salvatore, probably best known for his fantasy novels but also for his Star Wars: New Jedi Order – Vector Prime novel.

FSU offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs -over 50 degree programs in total. It has seven cheap online master’s programs, plus concentrations, including:

• Master of Science in Applied Communication (MSAC) – Social Media Concentration (36 credits = 12 courses including a Capstone)
• Behavior Analyst
• Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Teaching (36 credits; 12+ months; non-licensure)
• MEd in Educational Leadership and Management (33 credits; 12+ months; non-licensure)
• Master of Arts in History (30 credits; 3+ years)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) with three concentration options (Accounting; Human Resources Management; Management) — 30 credits; 12+ months
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in Forensic Nursing (39 credits)

Some of these affordable programs may not require GMAT/ GRE exam scores for admission. Select online graduate-level certificate programs are also available.

3. Fort Hays State University

Hays, Kansas

Website

Taking third place in our most affordable online master’s colleges is Fort Hays State University (FHSU, est. 1902), which is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. Nearly half of its enrolled students participate in the Virtual College, and nearly a quarter participate in its China program. Fort Hays also boasts a Hispanic College Institute (HCI), which focuses on prepping Hispanic/LatinX high school students for college. U.S. News & World Report categories of their 2019 Best Colleges list in which the university ranked include: Regional Universities Midwest; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans ; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs. Notable FHSU alumni include Nola Ochs (deceased), whom the Guinness World Records designated as the oldest college graduate in the world.

FHSU offers cheap associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – including 200 online degree programs. It has thirteen affordable online master’s degree programs, plus dozens of concentration options, including:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 34 credits) with 13 concentration options (each 9cr) online include Generalist (Accounting option on-campus only)
• Master of Science in Counseling (MSC) – Clinical Mental Health Counseling (50% of courses are online; 5% on-campus on Fridays and Saturdays). Additional concentration option of School Counseling on-campus only
• Master of Science (MS educational topics) with three concentration options (Instructional Technology; Library Media Specialist; School Psychology)
• MS in Education (MSE) with six Emphasis options
• MS in Educational Administration – PreK-12 Leadership with one Emphasis and one Endorsement option.
• Master of Science in Special Education (MSSE) with two Emphasis options that both have Endorsement equivalents
• Master of Arts in History (MAH; 30-33 credits; non-thesis
• MA in Public History (MAPH; 30-33 credits; non-thesis)
• Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) with 12 concentration options (31 credits incl. 21 for concentration)
• Professional Studies (MPS) with 13 concentration options (30 credits; choice of project or internship)
• MS Nursing (MSN) with concentration in Nursing Administration or Nursing Education (both 36 credits)

See site for concentration choices available for each low cost degree program. Note: a few of the concentration options may be of hybrid delivery rather than fully online. Four Educational Specialist degree programs are offered online as well.

4. Cameron University

Lawton, Oklahoma

Website

While Cameron University (CU, est. 1908) is a public institution, it was named after a Baptist minister and was originally intended to be a Baptist institution. The university appears in two categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019: Regional Universities West; Best Online MBA Programs. Notable CU alumni include radio host/ former basketball player James Morris, who may be better known by his WWF wrestling moniker Hillbilly Jim.

CU offers affordable associate’s through master’s level degree programs. It has two fully online and three partly online (>50%) master’s programs:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 33-45 credits; 100% online)
• Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL; 33 credits; 100% online)
• MS in Educational Leadership (MSEL; 33 credits; 64% online)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Education with a concentration in Special Education (33+ credits; 64% online)
• MEd in Reading (33 credits; 55% online)

Some of these programs require a thesis, while others offer a choice, with a non-thesis option. Internship may be required as well.

5. Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Website

Northeastern State University (NSU, est. 1909) is a member of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. It is proud of its diversity, which includes having the most Native American students amongst public institutions in the country — a fact related to its original founding as a female seminary for Cherokee students. Categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list in which the university ranked include: Regional Universities West; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs. The university has notable alumni in many fields, including sports, entertainment, business and politics, and includes American Idol winner/ country music celebrity Carrie Underwood.

NSU offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – with over 80 academic programs in total. It has 10 cheap online master’s programs (MA, MBA, MEd, MS, MSN), plus concentration or specialization options:

• Master of Arts in American Studies (MAAS; 36 credits; multi-disciplinary with individualized study from choice of three concentrations)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Leadership (36 credits)
• MEd in Reading (33 credits; preps grads for state certification test)
• MEd in School Administration (36 credits)
• MEd in Science Education (K-12; 36 credits)
• Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership (MS-HIEDL; 36 credits)
• MS in Library Media and Information Technology (MS-LMIT; 33 credits – 23cr certification option available for master’s degree holders)
• MS in Criminal Justice (MSCJ; 36 credits; covers five topic areas)
• Business Administration (MBA; 36 credits) with eight elective areas, each with four courses
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with three Specialization options (32 credits; 120 practicum hours)

A Capstone may be part of some of these low cost programs. Certification tests are typically taken outside of a prep program.

6. Missouri Southern State University

Joplin, Missouri

Website

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU, est. 1937) is situated near Missouri’s borders with Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Originally founded as a junior college, the university is proud of their current campus, which has been recognized as “beautiful,” and which is surrounded the Wild Cat Glades, which is popular with hikers and outdoor adventurers. The university appears in the Regional Colleges Midwest category of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list. Notable MSSU alumni include actors Dennis Weaver and Lonny Chapman.

MSSU offers cheap associate’s through master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs – over 120 programs in total. It has three affordable online/ hybrid master’s programs:

• Master of Science in Management (MSM; 30 credits; hybrid; part- or full-time option) with two tracks (Management; Human Resources)
• Master of Science – Criminal Justice Administration (MSCJ; 36 credits; thesis or non-thesis option
• Master of Science in Education (MSEd) – Administration (30 credits; online with in-person internship)

The university is in the process of developing additional low cost online degree programs at the master’s level.

7. Western New Mexico University

Silver City, New Mexico

Website

Western New Mexico University (WNMU, est. 1893) was originally founded as a Normal School. The university is officially an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution), with 50% of the university’s undergrads being Hispanic. The campus has its own movie theater, screening recent and current films. For outdoorsy types, the campus’ home base, Silver City, is surrounded by the Gila National Forest. The university appears in the Regional Universities West category of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list (unranked). Notable WNMU alumni include Tammie Jo Shults, one of U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots, and currently an captain for Southwest Airlines.

WNMU offers affordable associate’s through master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs – with over 70 majors in total. It has six inexpensive online master’s programs:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) with five concentrations including General (33 credit plus 9cr for concentration; non-thesis)
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with three tracks (non-teachers/ initial licensure; specialization: current PreK-12 teachers wanting to teach in college; alternative licensure) with additional specialization options
• MA in Educational Leadership (MAEL; 36 credits)
• MA in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS; 36 credits, or 30 for holders of an existing master’s; multi-disciplinary) with 14 online concentration options, many of which are Education-related.
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN; 33 credits) with option for 3-semester FNP post-master’s certificate
• Master of Social Work (MSW) with advanced or non-advanced standing tracks.

The majority of WNMU’s affordable online programs are provided asynchronously, allowing students to work partly on their own schedule, with some synchronous requirements including meetings and labs. Practicums may be required for some programs, which are typically conducted in person.

8. Georgia Southwestern State University

Americus, Georgia

Website

Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW, est. 1906) is a member of the University System of Georgia. For those who enjoy the outdoors, the university-owned and run Griffin Bell Golf Course is open to all, with relatively affordable 9- and 18-hole rates and membership options. In addition to earning a Military Friendly School (2017) designation from Victory Media, the university appears in two categories (Regional Universities South; Business Programs) of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list. Notable GSW alumni include both former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, his wife the former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, his sister Gloria Carter Spann, as well his former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell. The university’s Rosalyn Carter Institute (RCI) for Caregiving is named after the former First Lady.

GSW offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has three low cost online master’s programs, plus track options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 30 credits)
• Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS; 30 credits)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN; 36-44 credits) with four track options (Education; Leadership/ Management; Informatics; Family Nurse Practitioner) and two certificates (Education; Informatics)

An affordable online grad certificate program in Computer and Information Science (CIS) is also available.

9. East Central University

Ada, Oklahoma

Website

East Central University (ECU, est. 1909) is a member of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. Originally founded as a Normal school for teacher prep, the university ranks highly nationally as a public institution that is tops for government grants in its student population category. In addition to being designated a Military Friendly School by Victory Media, the university is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in two categories of their 2019 Best Colleges review list: Regional Universities West; Best Online Graduate Education Programs. Notable ECU alumni include baseball hall-of-famers Lloyd Waner and Paul Waner, and hugely successful PGA golfer Dr. Gil Morgan. No fewer than four of its alumni have held Governor positions — one of whom also became a senator and ran for U.S. president.

ECU offers affordable bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has four cheap online master’s degree programs:

• Master of Education (MEd) in Library Media (32 credits)
• MEd in Educational Leadership (32 credits)
• MEd in Sports Administration (33 credits)
• Master of Science in Water Resource Policy and Management (MSWRPM)

Additional low cost distance master’s programs (MEd School Counseling; MEd Educational Technology) are offered via ITV (Interactive TV) at off-site locations.

10. Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Durant, Oklahoma

Website

Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU, est. 1909) is a member of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. Originally founded as a Normal school, the university currently serves students at this campus, a branch campus and multiple outreach centers (Oklahoma and Texas), plus online. The university’s academic offering is recognized in the categories Regional Universities West and Business Programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list. Notable SOSU alumni include actress/ country music star Reba McEntire and NBA hall-of-famer and celebrity Dennis Rodman.

SOSU offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has seven affordable online master’s programs across four topic areas (Business; Education; Native American Leadership; Sports Administration) plus concentration options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 36 credits; no GMAT) with 12 concentration options
• Master of Education (MEd) in School Counseling (42 credits)
• MEd in Special Education – Administration or Challenging Behaviors concentrations (30 credits)
• MEd in Educational Leadership (30 credits) with Professional or Academic tracks
• MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (30 credits) with five concentrations (General; Educational Technology; English; Math; Science)
• Master of Science in Native American Leadership (MSNAL; 30 credits) with four concentrations (General; Education; Hospitality Marketing; Healthcare Information Systems)
• MS in Sports Administration (MSSA; 30 credits) with four concentrations (General; Business; Educational Leadership; Native American Leadership)

See site for MBA concentration options.

11. Wayne State College

Wayne, Nebraska

Website

Wayne State College (WSC, est. 1910) is a member of the Nebraska State College System. Originally founded as a teacher training college, it now serves students from 46 counties both on-campus and online in numerous majors. In addition to recognition as a Best College from Money magazine, Wayne State ranks in three categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list (Top Public Schools; Regional Universities Midwest; Best Online MBA Programs). It has also earned a Military Friendly School designation from Victory Media (2019-20), and a place in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll — one of just six colleges in the state to do so. Notable alumni include journalist James Keogh, once a special presidential assistant under the Nixon administration.

WSC offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs – over 130 programs in total. It has 25 fully or partially online (hybrid) low cost master’s degrees, plus concentration or emphasis options. Programs listed below are fully online (coursework) unless noted, although in-person clinical/ internship hours may be required:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 30 credits; non-thesis)
• Master of Science in Education (MSE) – Athletic Administration
• MSE Business and Information Technology Education (36-39 credits; choice of either topic as an emphasis)
• MSE Community of Learning/ PK-16 (36 credits)
• MSE Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC; 60 credits; hybrid)
• MSE Counseling – School Counseling (48-60 credits; hybrid)
• MSE Counseling – Student Affairs and College Counseling (48 credits; hybrid)
• MSE Curriculum and Instruction – Instructional Leadership (36-39 credits) with 14 Emphasis areas, some of which are fully online, some hybrid
• MSE Early Childhood Education (36 credits)
• MSE Elementary Education (36 credits)
• MSE ESL Education (36 credits; hybrid)
• MSE Family and Consumer Sciences Education (36 credits)
• MSE Music Education (36 credits; hybrid)
• MSE Industrial Technology Education (36 credits)
• MSE Math Education (39 credits)
• MSE Reading Specialist – PK-12 (36 credits)
• MSE School Administration (36-48 credits)
• MSE Science Education (36 credits; hybrid) with four concentrations (Biology; Chemistry; Earth Science; Physics)
• MSE Social Sciences Education ((36 credits)
• MSE Special Education – with four pathways/ certification choices (36-51 credits))
• Master of Science in Organizational Managemen (MSOM) – Criminal Justice Administration and Management (CJAM; 36 credits; thesis, project or internship)
• MSOM Human Resource Management (HRM; 36 credits; thesis, project or internship)
• MSOM Information Technology Management (36 credits; thesis, project or internship)
• MSOM Public Affairs (36 credits; thesis, project or internship)
• MSOM Sport and Recreation Management (36 credits)

Some of the above affordable programs require certification in a specific field. Alternately, a number of low cost online Education Specialist programs are also available.

12. Texas A&M University-Texarkana

Texarkana, Texas

Website

Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT, est. 1971) is a member of the Texas A&M University System. The university serves students at this main campus (ranked safest of 4-year publics in the state by Houston Chronicle), the RELLIS shared campus, and online. TAMUT ranks in three categories (Regional Universities West; Best Online MBA Programs; Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate) of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list. Notable TAMUT alumni include current Texarkana mayor, Bob Bruggeman.

TAMUT offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degree programs. It has four fully online affordable master’s programs plus concentration and track options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 36 credits)
• Master of Science in Accounting (MSA; 30 credits)
• MS in Instructional Technology (MSIT; 36 credits)
• MS in Nursing (MSN; 33 credits; preps students for the CENP – Certified Executive Nurse Practice)

See school site for curriculum focus areas and elective options.

13. New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Website

New Mexico State University (NMSU, est. 1888) is a member of the New Mexico State University System. It serves students on six campuses or learning centers, plus online. In addition to being is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), it has received HEED (Higher Education Excellence in Diversity) awards by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Recognition for the university’s academic offering includes ranking positions on college review lists by Forbes, Victory Media (Military Friendly School – multiple years), Washington Monthly, and U.S. News & World Report (2019 Best Colleges: Top Public Schools; National Universities; Engineering Programs – schools with doctorate; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs; etc.) Notable NMSU alumni include Pixar Animation Studios co-founder Alvy Ray Smith and computer scientist/ virtual reality expert Jaron Lanier.

NMSU offers cheap associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – including over 60 affordable online programs alone. It has 15 cheap online master’s programs, including concentration options:

• Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) – Concentration in Early Childhood Education (ECE; 33 credits; two years)
• MA in Sociology (36 credits; 2-2.5 years)
• MA in Spanish with focus options in Linguistics or Literature (36 credits; two years)
• MA in Teaching (MATCHG) – Concentration in Spanish (33 credits; two years)
• MA in Education (MAEd) with a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching and Learning (33 credits; two years; K-20+)
• MAEd Language Literacy and Culture/ Reading (33 credits; two years)
• MA in Educational Administration (MAEA) – Concentration in Community College and University Administration (33 credits; two years)
• Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ; 33 or 36 credits; two years; non-thesis)
• Master of Music (MM) in Music Education (31 credits; two years)
• Master of Public Health (MPH; 42 credits; 3-4 years) with HBHP (Health Behavior and Health Promotion) and HMAP (Health Management, Policy and Administration) concentration options
• Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences – Teaching, Research, and Administration (30 credits for thesis track, 32 for non-thesis; two years)
• MS in Electrical Engineering (MS-EE; 30 credits; two years)
• MS in Industrial Engineering (MS-IE; 30 credits; two years)
• MS in Nursing (MSN) – Nursing Administration (36 credits; 2-2.5 years; requires RN license and BSN degree)
• Master of Social Work (MSW; 60 credits; two years full-time) with non-advanced or advanced standing option

Some low cost programs may have synchronous online sessions requiring real-time attendance, or offer it as an alternative to asynchronous sessions. Active members of the military may be qualified for a per credit hour rate reduction on some or all of these programs. See site for details for a given program.

14. Texas A & M University-Kingsville

Kingsville, Texas

Website

Texas A & M University-Kingsville (TAMUK, est. 1925) is a member of the Texas A&M University System. Kingsville is known not only for its diversity but is considered one of the country’s top Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and a top producer of Hispanic bachelor’s degrees (Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine). Other recognition for the university includes ranking positions on several college review lists, including from: Forbes (best colleges); Washington Monthly; U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Business Programs; Engineering Programs – schools with a doctorate; Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online MBA Programs). Notable Kingsville alumni include actress Eva Longoria.

TAMUK offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – over 100 programs in total. It has seven inexpensive online master’s programs:

• Master of Education (MEd) in Adult Education (36 credits)
• MEd in Special Education (36 credits)
• Master of Science in Educational Administration (MSEA; 36 credits) with three track options (certification; Principalship certification only; master’s degree only
• MS in Education (MSEd; primarily online; for instructors of high school/ college dual-enrollment courses)
• MS in Kinesiology with Sport Management focus (36 credits; non-thesis)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 30 credits) with optional dual-degree MS Engineering add-on
• Master’s of Industrial Engineering (#1 in state as per U.S. News; part- or full-time)

Additional low cost master’s programs available partially online include the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and the MS in Counseling and Guidance, both 60 credits.

15. Texas A & M University-Central Texas

Killeen, Texas

Website

Texas A & M University-Central Texas (TAMUCT, est. 1999) is a member of the Texas A&M University System. In addition to earning recognition for being one of the most diverse institutions in the country, the university appears in multiple categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list, including: Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs; Best Online Graduate Criminal Justice Programs for Veterans; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans; Best Online Graduate Business Programs – Excluding MBA; Best Online Graduate Business Programs for Veterans – Excluding MBA.

TAMUCT offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees programs. It has four affordable online master’s degree programs plus concentration/ emphasis options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) with five Emphasis options (Computer Information Systems; Human Resource Management; Healthcare Administration; International Business; Management and Leadership; Marketing)
• Master of Science in Educational Psychology (MSEP) – Experimental Psychology Emphasis (11 courses including thesis)
• MS in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS; 36+ credits; thesis optional)
• MS in Management and Leadership – One Planet Leadership (MS OPL)

Programs with an optional thesis usually require a project or paper in place of a thesis.

16. University of Nevada-Reno

Reno, Nevada

Website

University of Nevada-Reno (UNR, est. 1874) is located in a popular destination area that combines a lake, mountains, skiing, beaches, casinos, food festivals, rodeos, a Shakespearean festival, a major league soccer team and more — enough variety of extracurricular activities to entice even online students. It is recognized on college review lists by the likes of Forbes (best colleges), Princeton Review, Washington Monthly, Bloomberg Businessweek (top MBA programs) and U.S. News & World Report (2019 Best Colleges: Top Public Schools; National Universities; Engineering Programs – schools with a doctorate; Business Programs; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs). The campus has been a setting for several classic movies (1940s and 50s), including probably the best known of the bunch, Mr. Belvedere Goes to College. Notable people affiliated with UNR include no fewer than six Pulitzer Prize winners, including Ron Einstoss (1966 Watts Riot coverage) and Kristen Go (1998 Columbine High School shootings coverage).

UNR offers affordable bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs- including over 100 graduate programs alone. It has six cheap online/ hybrid master’s programs:

• Master of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education (MSEDE; 32+ credits; hybrid)
• Master of Justice Management (MJM; thesis (24+ credits) or non-thesis (32+ credits))
• Master of Education (MEd) in Reading Curriculum and Instruction
• Executive MBA (EMBA; 36 credits)
• Master of Public Health (MPH; 24+ months; no GRE) – 45 credits including 21cr concentration in Public Health Practice, 3cr Practicum (field), 3cr Capstone
• Master of Social Work (MSW) – 62 credits for the Traditional Program (student has non-BSW bachelor’s), 32cr for Advanced Standing Program

An online graduate-level certificate program in Renewable Energy is also available.

17. Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska

Website

Chadron State College (CSC, est. 1911) is a member of the Nebraska State College System. The college is based in a small rural community and offers open enrollment. While the majority of its students are under 25 years old, there are non-traditional students, with the oldest being 68. Just over 40% of undergrads were first generation college students (in their family). Recognition for Chadron includes college review rankings from Military Times (Best for Vets), G.I. Jobs (Military Friendly), and U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges – Public Regional Midwest). Notable CSC alumni include retired NFL wide receiver who played four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Green Bay Packers (winning XXXI).

CSC offers cheap bachelor’s and master’s level degrees programs – 60 academic programs in total. It has four low cost master’s programs with multiple fully or partially online concentration, track or focus options:

• Master of Arts in Education (MAE) with five concentrations (Educational Administration; School Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; History; Science and Mathematics), some of which have additional track options
• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 36 credits)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction, with 10 fully-online and two partially-online concentrations (36-51 credits)
• Master of Science in Organizational Management (MSOM; 36 credits) with two fully- and one partially-online focus areas (Human Services; Sports Management; Natural Resources)

See the site for additional study options for the MAE and MEd programs.

18. University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Website

University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV, est. 1957) is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education. It enjoys a milestone of being one of the most ethnically diverse campuses in the country — tied for first according to U.S. News & World Report (USNWR). A related milestone is that it is the state’s first 4-year college/ university to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI; >= 25% Hispanic undergrad enrollment). It is also an MSI (Minority-Serving Institution) and an AANAPISI (Asian-American and Native-American, Pacific Islander-Serving Institution). The university appears in college review lists published by Forbes Magazine, Washington Monthly and USNWR’s 2019 Best Colleges review list: National Universities; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Business Programs; Engineering Programs – doctorate; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs). Notable UNLV alumni include comedian/ talk show host Jimmy Kimmel; music entrepreneur Suge Knight; DJ/ music producer Chris Cox; celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

UNLV offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – nearly 300 degree programs and 390+ majors in total. It has six affordable online/ hybrid master’s programs:

• Master of Science (MS) in Emergency and Crisis Management (ECEM; 36 credits)
• MS in Educational Psychology (MSEP; 33 credits; thesis or non-thesis/ capstone option)
• Executive Master of Health Care Administration (EMHA; 36 credits incl. capstone)
• Masters of Hospitality Administration (MHA; 30 credits) with two concentrations (Hospitality Management; Gaming Management) and paper or entrepreneurship option
• MS in Nursing (MSN) with two track options: Nurse Educator (33 credits); Family Nurse Practitioner (46 credits). On-campus orientation sessions required.
• Master of Arts in Urban Leadership (MAUL; 36 credits)

A number of online graduate-level certificates are also available (Emergency Management Cybersecurity; Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineering; Infection Prevention), as well as some post-doctoral options.

19. University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Odessa, Texas

Website

University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB, est. 1973) is a member of the University of Texas System. The university serves students on this campus and online, and is an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), with this group of students comprising 44% of the population. The university appears in numerous categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list, including: Top Public Schools; Regional Universities West; Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs.

UTPB offers affordable bachelor’s and master’s level degrees, plus certificate programs. It has four cheap online master’s degrees, plus concentration options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 12+ months) with two concentrations: General (30-36 credits); Finance (30-42 credits)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA; 36 credits; 12+ months)
• Master of Arts (MA) in Bilingual/ ESL (36 credits; 12+ months)
• MA in Educational Leadership (MAEL; 36 credits; 12+ months)
• MA in Special Education with General or Autism concentration (MASE; 36 credits; 12+ months)

There are typically six start dates for these programs, but this may vary by program. Some programs are TEACH Grant eligible.

20. Texas A & M International University

Laredo, Texas

Website

Texas A & M International University (TAMIU, est. ) is a member of the Texas A&M University System. Originally founded with a focus on teacher education, it has the highest undergrad retention rate in the TAMU system at nearly 80%. Accolades for the university include ranking positions on college review lists published by Princeton Review, Washington Monthly (Best Bang for the Buck – 2018 Southern), Zippia (Top 10 Best U.S. Colleges for Economic Mobility) and U.S. News & World Report (2019: Top Public Schools; Best Value Schools; Regional Universities West; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate; Business Programs; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs), amongst others. Notable TAMIU alumni include a number of educators, entrepreneurs, politicians, etc., one of whom is Henry Cuellar (U.S. House of Representatives).

TAMIU offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degree programs, including six inexpensive online/ hybrid master’s degrees (plus concentration or specialization options):

• Master of Business Administration (30 credits; 15+ months) with four Concentrations: Management; International Banking and Finance; International Business; International Trade and Logistics;
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ; 36 credits; 12+ months)
• MS in Educational Administration (MSEA; 30 credits; 10+ months)
• MS in Curriculum and Instruction (MSCI; 33 credits; 12+ months) with three Specializations: Bilingual Education; Educational Administration; Reading
• MS in Nursing – Nursing Administration (31 credits; 10+ months)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA; 42 credits)

Several online graduate-level certificate programs in the broader Education niche are also available.

21. Missouri State University-Springfield

Springfield, Missouri

Website

Missouri State University-Springfield (MSU, est. 1905) is a member of the Missouri State University System. Originally founded as a Normal school, the university serves students at four campuses (including one in China, with additional partnerships with Chinese institutions) plus online. Including Fall 2018, it has set new fall enrollment records for seven consecutive years. U.S. News & World Report ranks the university in several categories of their 2019 Best Colleges review list, including: Top Public Schools; Regional Universities Midwest; Business Programs; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs; Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans. Notable MSU alumni include award-winning actor John Goodman (Roseanne, The Conners, The Big Lebowski).

MSU offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – 170 programs in total, excluding concentration/ track options. It has 13 affordable online master’s degrees plus concentration options:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 33 credits)
• Master of Science in Child Life Studies (MSCLS; Standard, Advanced or Accelerated tracks) – preps students for Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS)
• Master of Arts in Communication (46-54 credits, depending Independent Study and Thesis choices)
• MS in Criminology and Criminal Justice (MSCCJ; thesis track: 30+ credits; non-thesis: 36+ credits; 1.5-2 years)
• MS in Cybersecurity (MSC; 30 credits including Internship)
• MS in Early Childhood and Family Development (MS-ECFD; 32 credits)
• MS in Education (MSED), Educational Technology (EDT; 33 credits)
• MSED, Elementary Education (EE; 27+ credits)
• MSED, Literacy with Traditional and Accelerated tracks (36-39 credits; thesis and non-thesis option)
• MA in History (MAH; 30 credits)
• Master of Professional Studies (MPS; 33 credits)
• MS in Special Education, Blindness and Low Vision Option (34-38 credits)
• MS in Project Management (MSPM; 33 or 36 credits, depending on choice of Thesis or Seminar, respectively)

For those interested in certificate programs over a degree, there are over a dozen graduate-level options, most of which are 100% online. See site for details.

22. University of Wyoming

Laramie, Wyoming

Website

Situated by the Rocky Mountains, the history of the University of Wyoming (UW, est. 1886) predates Wyoming’s becoming a state. The university appears on college review lists published by Forbes Magazine, Princeton Review, Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report (2019: Top Public Schools, National Universities; Engineering Programs – schools with a doctorate; Business Programs; Best Online MBA Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs) and others. Notable UW alumni include former Vice President Dick Cheney (under President George W. Bush), who also served in other roles for previous Republican Presidents.

UW offers affordable bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – over 200 academic programs in total. It has 12 cheap online or hybrid master’s programs:

• Master of Arts in Education: Curriculum and Instruction (MAEd-CI; )
• MAEd: Higher Education Administration (HEA; 33 credits)
• MAEd: Educational Leadership (EL; 33 credits)
• MAEd: Special Education/ K-12 (hybrid; 33 credits non-thesis, 41cr thesis)
• MAEd: Instructional Technology/ Learning, Design, and Technology (33 credits)
• MA in English (33 credits; hybrid: online and summer residency classes)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 30 credits)
• Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences (MSFCS): Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS; 30+ credits)
• MS in Health Services Administration (MSHSA; 30 credits; non-thesis; minimal residency)
• MS in Kinesiology and Health (MSKH) – Physical Education Teaching (36+ credits)
• MS in Nursing: Nurse Educator (MSN-NE) – suspended until Fall 2020
• Master of Public Administration (MPA; 39 credits)

Some of these low cost programs have interview, orientation or other residency requirements. See UW site for details.

23. University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, Texas

Website

University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP, est. 1914) is a member of the University of Texas System. The university is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) with one of the largest Hispanic student populations in the country (80%). Students, over 50% of whom are first generation college students, are served both on-campus and online (through UTEP Connect). The university appears on college review lists from Forbes Magazine, Washington Monthly, and U.S. News & World Report (2019: National Universities; Business Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs; Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs; Engineering Programs – schools with doctorate). It is one of the top producers nationally of Hispanic engineering graduates. Notable UTEP alumni include NBA hall-of-famer basketballer Nate Archibald and actor F. Murray Abraham.

UTEP offers cheap bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – 170 degree programs in total. It has eight affordable online master’s degrees, plus concentration options:

• Master of Defense and Strategic Studies (MDSS; 36 credits; non-thesis; 12+ months)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction (MEd CI; 36 credits; non-thesis) with two Concentration options (Bilingual Education; Early Childhood Education)
• Master of Science in Construction Management (MSCM; 30 credits; non-thesis)
• MS in Systems Engineering (MSSE; 30+ credits) with three Concentration options (Systems Architecture and Design; Systems Engineering Process; Systems Modeling and Simulation)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing with English/ Spanish bilingual option (48 credits incl. thesis)
• MS in Nursing (MSN) with three – Nursing Education (33 credits; two years)
• MSN – Nurse Practitioner (46-49 credits; in-person clinical requirements of 675-775 hours) with four Concentrations: Family with Primary Care Focus (Family Nurse Practitioner or FNP); Pediatrics with Primary Care Focus (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or PNP-PC); Adult/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with Acute Care Focus (Adult/Gero Acute Care Nurse Practitioner or AGACNP); Pediatrics with Acute Care Focus (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner or PNP-AC)
• MSN – Nursing Administration Management (33 credits; two years)

Additionally, five low cost online graduate-level certificate programs are available.

24. University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, Georgia

Website

University of North Georgia (UNG, est. 1873) is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university serves students on five campuses plus online, and has one of the country’s six Senior Military colleges. Formed from the merger of two older institutions in 2013, it has the designation of State Leadership Institution. Being a Military college, it not surprisingly has earned a “Best for Vets” ranking from Military Times. It also appears in several categories of U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 Best Colleges review list, including: Most Innovative Schools; Top Public Schools; Regional Universities South; Best Value Schools; Best Colleges for Veterans; Best Undergraduate Teaching; Business Programs.

UNG offers affordable associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs – over 100 programs in total. It has six cheap online/ hybrid master’s degrees, plus concentration options:

• Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA; 36 credits; no GRE with minimum GPA)
• Master of Education (MEd) in Middle Grades Math and Science (36 credits; 2+ years; certification required; no entrance exam)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA; 36 credits; no GRE/GMAT with minimum GPA) with three concentrations: Diversity; Military Leadership; Public Affairs
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ; 36 credits; no entrance exam)
• MS in Kinesiology (MSK; 30 credits) with two concentrations: Exercise Science; Health and Physical Education
• MS in Nursing – Nursing Education (MSNE; 35 credits; some campus visits plus in-person practicum)

Most of these inexpensive programs allow starting in any semester. Alternatively, Several cheap online graduate-level certificate programs are available as well.

25. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, Texas

Website

Midwestern State University (MSU, est. 1922) is a public institution. Originally founded as a junior college, the university is one of few public institutions with a special out-of-state tuition rate, earning it a top 10 spot in an U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranking of that exact metric. USNWR also ranks Midwestern in several categories of their 2019 Best Colleges review list, including: Top Public Schools; Regional Universities West; Business Programs; Engineering Programs – schools with no doctorate. Notable MSU alumni include TV personality Phil McGraw, aka Dr. Phil.

MSU offers affordable bachelor’s and master’s level degrees programs – nearly 90 programs in total. It has nine low cost online/ hybrid master’s programs, plus concentration options:

• Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ; 36 credits)
• MA in Human Resource Development (MAHRD; 39 credits incl. Internship)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA; 33 credits) with two Concentrations (Accounting; Energy Management) and optional 6-credit leveling course for non-business students
• Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership with Principal Certification (42 credits; combines online course and videoconferencing). Available as certification-only track for master’s degree holders.
• MEd in Sport Administration (SA; 36 credits)
• MEd in Special Education (SE; 36 credits) with General or Dyslexia Emphasis
• Masters in Health Administration (MHA; 45 credits) with four Concentrations: Health Information Management; Medical Practice Management; Public and Community Sector Health Care Management; Rural and Urban Hospital Management
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN; 48 credits incl. 24cr clinical) with two Concentrations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP; 6cr thesis or project); Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP; 9cr project)
• MS in Radiologic Sciences (MSRS; 34-37 or 53-56 credits; thesis or non-thesis; hybrid: 6-10 on-campus visits) with three Concentrations: Administration; Education; Radiologist Assistant (RA)

Some of these inexpensive programs require one or more on-campus visits. One cheap online post-master’s certificate program is available (Nursing/ FNP).