Are you interested in earning a master’s degree to make more money or to move your career forward? Maybe you have some extra time on your hands and are interested in obtaining a master’s degree because it has always been a goal. If you’re not sure what you want to major in and simply want a master’s degree, maybe you should just apply for the easiest master’s degree you can find or look for the easiest master’s programs to get into.
How Much Will a Master’s Degree Cost?
Any additional education of any kind, whether it be a certificate or higher education degree, is going to be costly. Before researching any programs, really think about what a master’s degree would mean for your confidence or career. You can't put a cost on the joy something like earning a master’s degree can bring, but you certainly don’t want to go into debt because of it.
If you want to change directions in your career, a master’s degree is certainly the way to go and that can help you decide if the cost is worth it. But it’s important to not forget that furthering your education can in the long-term help you to earn more money.
When considering where you want to start your master’s journey, it’s important to decide whether or not you'll be attending a program at a public or private university as costs will vary depending on which one you choose. Costs typically begin above $10,000 for a two-year master’s program and continue to rise. This does not include the cost of books and materials and whatever else you’ll need to be successful.
If attending classes in person doesn’t work for your learning style or schedule, you might want to consider enrolling in a completely online master’s degree program. These programs can sometimes come at a slightly lower price break.
Aid to Help Pay for a Master’s Degree
Don’t let the investment scare you away. If you’re already employed, check with your employer about what employee benefits you're entitled to when it comes to education. You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that your employer will pay for you to earn your master’s degree. Many employers will pay a significant percentage, and some might pay even more.
If you know of the college or university you want to attend and the format you prefer most, online or in person classes, a quick search of your preferred institution's website can provide you with all the costs you need.
Due to the high interest in education and recognizing the financial investment students at any age must make to earn a master’s degree, many institutions offer scholarships and grants. Simply call or visit the admissions office to learn if you qualify for anything they have available. If there aren’t any grants or scholarships that you can partake in, consider applying for financial aid.
It’s wise to visit or contact the financial aid office at the college or university that you plant to attend as they can guide you on the best loans and aid that are right for your finances. If you have a good relationship with the banks you use for your checking and savings account, they may be able to offer you a loan that would best fit your finances.
It would also be helpful to share with family members that you are interested in obtaining a master’s degree because if they're able to financially, they might be able to loan you a portion of the money, which could provide better repayment rates than a bank or a lender. They could also offer you a portion as a gift.
Lastly, if you were in the military, you may qualify for some of their educational benefits. The military does offer educational benefits for those who have served, and these benefits could help toward the total cost of a master’s degree.
If you’re able, and it’s something that might interest you, you might want to consider joining the National Guard as those who dedicate a portion of their time can qualify for educational benefits that can help defray the cost of a graduate degree.
Even though your desire is to earn a master’s degree quickly, you may find it more affordable or easier to manage if you don’t take so many classes all at once. If you take classes as you can afford them, it will extend the time it will take for you to graduate, but you’ll be able to manage the costs a little better.
While the cost of obtaining a master’s degree might feel pricey, there are certainly ways to help you finance your education in a way that’s most comfortable to you.
Can You get a Master’s Degree in a Year?
You can earn a higher education certificate in about a year, but earning a master’s degree in a year or less is not necessarily doable. Most students earn a master’s degree in two years and that’s when they’re attending class full-time. Also, when reviewing programs that state you can earn a master’s degree in under 12 months, be sure to read the fine print and understand what will be required of you.
Just because something is stated, doesn’t always mean it’s true. It’s also important to make sure the school is accredited because if not, your degree might not mean anything to an employer looking to fill a position.
But a part-time student who is managing school, family and life may find it difficult to handle a full course load.
A part-time course load may mean only one or two courses are taken a semester, which means the journey to a master’s degree could take a really long time. It’s not uncommon for some people to take many years to complete their master’s if they’re not in a full-time program.
Unless of course, you started in a master’s degree previously and are now returning to it. In that case, then yes, you can get a master’s degree in a year. In fact, that might be the easiest way to earn a master’s degree because you would simply need to transfer credits that you’ve already earned.
Before attempting to earn your master’s degree this way and so quickly, it’s important to see if your current institution will acknowledge those previous credits. If not, you'll need to start fresh in a new program.
Depending on the program you enroll in, some schools will allow you to apply your real world experience to your degree. It doesn’t hurt to ask if this is something your school does because it may help you to graduate and receive your master’s degree sooner.
If you're currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, check with your admissions counselor because some colleges offer the ability to add a master’s program to the bachelor’s degree that a student is already earning. If that’s a possibility, it can certainly shave months if not a year from earning your master’s degree. So technically, you may not be able to earn your master’s degree in a year or less, but it may not seem as long if you’re earning credits for both a bachelor and master’s degree.
Like all things worth having, earning a master’s degree does take time and patience, so while it may take two years to complete your master’s degree if you’re a full-time student it will certainly be worth it.
What Are the Easiest Grad School Programs?
If you’re looking for the easiest grad school programs, the first thing you should consider is what do you think is easy. What constitutes what is easy is different for everyone. Once you’ve decided what you believe is easy, you could start researching the easiest master's courses or the easiest grad school programs.
If you select a program that you enjoy or is a passion, it will easily become the easiest grad school program. Many would consider the easiest grad school programs to be a master’s in liberal arts. This is seen as the easiest because the course requirements are very relaxed and allow a student to not necessarily have a focus.
The purpose of the program is to read and think critically about the world around the student but mainly through different disciplines. So there are requirements for participating in the easiest grad school programs, but required courses could be considered the easy master’s courses. If a math credit is required, it would be an entry-level course.
For a master’s in liberal arts, there is a chance for the student to have a greater choice of what course they choose to take. They will have to select a certain number of courses to meet credit requirements, but the classes one would choose could be the easy master's courses, which can include electives, and the more popular classes that students gravitate toward with the teachers who are much more relaxed.
Other choices could include master’s degree in human resources, communications, creative writing and education. These courses tend to not require math or science courses for graduation.
What Are the Easiest Online Colleges to Attend?
Many colleges, depending on the field of study a student is interested in, have an online master’s degree a student can earn. The most commonly found online master’s degree program found anywhere is the online MBA.
The online MBA tends to be the most popular degree to earn because the term MBA is internationally recognized, especially in the business world. Many business leaders hold an MBA as it provides them with knowledge on to how to efficiently manage a business and employees.
Because of the interest in the online MBA, there are many easy online colleges to attend. The easiest online colleges to attend that people are familiar with include Capella University, University of Phoenix and Walden University. Others to consider include Wilmington University, Liberty University and Arizona State University.
The easiest grad school programs with the easiest online MBA programs can be found virtually anywhere_. You simply need to decide what’s most important to you_ when earning the degree and what you can afford. A quick internet search can help you find what you need and connect with admissions counselors to answer all of your questions.
Earning an online master’s degree has never been easier. The only thing one needs to do is to have the desire to further their education, the time to invest, and a budget to make it happen. Earning an online master’s degree will not only make you happy, it can also change your life.
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Writer Bio
As a communications professional in the greater Philadelphia region, Jerisha enjoys writing informative advancement communications pieces for philanthropic organizations. When not writing, Jerisha is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences at Wilmington University where she guides full-time students and full-time working adults through the writing process. Jerisha holds an M.F.A. in creative writing and enjoys writing education articles and essays.