2027 Best College Degrees With Part-Time Study Options
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Key Things You Should Know
- Business, IT, computer science, and some education master's degrees can work well around employment when required courses are offered regularly; healthcare and licensed-profession pathways may be less flexible because of placements or supervised practice.
- Part-time availability is not the same as a workable schedule: confirm live-class times, course rotation, internships, and the maximum time allowed to finish before applying.
- The College Board lists average published in-state tuition and fees of $11,610 at public four-year colleges for 2024-25; that annual undergraduate benchmark is not a master's-program price or the total cost of graduating.
Top 10 Best College Degrees With Part-Time Study Options
Business Programs
A part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) can suit experienced professionals seeking broader management skills; specialized master's degrees in accounting or analytics serve narrower goals. Evening or online classes may fit a workweek, but group projects and scheduled meetings still take time. Compare employer tuition assistance, course rotation, and whether a capstone or internship can draw on your current job. An MBA does not by itself qualify someone for management, and applicants without a business background may need foundation courses.
Healthcare Programs
A part-time Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) focuses on operations, finance, and policy rather than clinical licensure. It can fit people already working in hospitals or health systems, especially if projects relate to their workplace. Some programs require an internship or residency that complicates scheduling; others may accommodate relevant professional experience. Ask whether the curriculum targets your goal: administrative advancement, public health, and direct patient care call for different preparation. An MHA alone does not make a graduate a licensed clinician.
Information Technology Programs
A part-time Master of Science in Information Technology may cover systems, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and IT management. It suits professionals seeking deeper technical or organizational skills without necessarily pursuing a research-heavy computer science degree. Online access can reduce commuting, but collaborative labs and fixed project deadlines still matter. Compare prerequisites, practical assignments, and elective availability. For a narrowly defined job, a targeted certification may cost less and take less time; a degree offers a broader curriculum but does not replace experience.
Computer Science Programs
A part-time Master of Science in Computer Science can support work in software, systems, or computing research. Applicants changing fields should check requirements in programming, algorithms, and mathematics; prerequisite courses can add substantial time and expense. A course-based path may fit a predictable work schedule better than a research thesis, depending on faculty and course availability. Choose electives for the work you want to do, and ask when required classes run. The degree does not guarantee a software-development position.
Nursing Programs
A part-time Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can prepare licensed registered nurses for leadership, education, or a specific advanced-practice track. These tracks are not interchangeable. Advanced-practice study commonly involves clinical hours, and eligibility for certification and state licensure depends on the exact program and specialty. Check placement support, clinical scheduling, and authorization in the state where you intend to practice. An online classroom does not eliminate in-person patient-care requirements, so confirm that your work schedule can accommodate them.
Psychology Programs
A part-time master's in psychology may emphasize research, applied psychology, or preparation for further study. It is not automatically a pathway to independent clinical practice: psychologist licensure generally requires doctoral preparation, while counseling licensure has distinct degree and supervised-practice rules. If your goal is therapy, compare a counseling or social work degree against your state's requirements before choosing a psychology program. Thesis and research-assistant commitments can also make an otherwise part-time schedule less predictable.
Education Programs
A part-time Master of Education (MEd) can help educators deepen expertise in curriculum, instruction, or school leadership while continuing to teach. Programs for initial teacher licensure have different requirements from degrees intended for already licensed teachers. Student teaching, field placements, or administrator internships may occur during school hours. Confirm state approval, any required teaching experience, and whether coursework counts toward your intended credential or employer pay schedule; neither a master's degree nor online delivery establishes eligibility on its own.
Criminal Justice Programs
A part-time master's in criminal justice can serve professionals interested in policy, administration, analysis, or research. Scheduled seminars may suit a working student better than an internship, but ask whether required courses rotate infrequently. For many law-enforcement roles, hiring standards and academy training matter more than a graduate degree. Before enrolling, compare the program's curriculum with specific job postings or promotion rules; a master's may be useful for a defined goal, but it is not a substitute for required experience.
Engineering Programs
A part-time Master of Engineering or Master of Science in Engineering may fit engineers whose employers support advanced technical study. A professional, course-based degree can be easier to schedule than a research thesis, though laboratories and specialized electives may require campus attendance or limited-term availability. Applicants changing disciplines should ask about prerequisite mathematics and engineering coursework. For roles requiring professional engineer licensure, education is only one component; state rules also address examinations and qualifying experience.
Social Work Programs
A part-time Master of Social Work (MSW) can prepare students for social work practice, but required field placements may demand substantial daytime availability. Programs may offer advanced standing to eligible applicants with a qualifying bachelor's in social work; that pathway is not available to every applicant. If clinical practice is your goal, verify program accreditation, placement arrangements, and your state's post-degree supervision and examination rules. Ask for a sample part-time fieldwork calendar before assuming you can maintain your current work hours.
What Are the Best College Degrees You Can Earn Part Time?
The best part-time degree is the one whose required courses and hands-on work fit your actual weekly availability and lead toward your intended career. The fields above describe master's programs; students seeking a first degree can also explore bachelor's options in business, computing, and other fields, but should compare undergraduate requirements separately. If you are considering an easiest online bachelor degree, prioritize a sustainable workload and career fit over a reputation for easy classes.
This comparison highlights the constraint most likely to determine whether part-time study is practical in each field.
| Degree field | Why it may fit part-time study | Constraint to check first |
| Business or IT | Coursework and projects may complement an existing job | Live meetings, team projects, and course rotation |
| Computer science or engineering | Specialized study can build on technical work | Prerequisites, labs, and elective availability |
| Education or healthcare administration | Workplace experience may provide useful context | Fieldwork and credential-specific requirements |
| Nursing or social work | Part-time academic plans may be available | Clinical or field-placement hours |
Start with the occupation or advancement goal, then request the school's actual part-time course sequence. A field that looks convenient on paper may be a poor fit if its required placement conflicts with your job.
Part-time students often pay for fewer credits each term, not necessarily fewer credits overall. The College Board's 2024-25 average published in-state tuition and fees of $11,610 at public four-year colleges is a useful undergraduate price benchmark, but it is an annual figure - not the price of any program described here. Graduate tuition, residency rules, and required fees vary by school.
Compare the following charges using each school's published tuition schedule and your expected remaining credits:
- Tuition for every required credit, including prerequisites and courses that may not qualify for transfer.
- Mandatory, technology, laboratory, clinical, and other program fees.
- Travel, placement, materials, and any extra terms needed when required courses are unavailable.
Ask financial aid staff how your intended course load affects eligibility; some aid has minimum-enrollment conditions. Employer assistance and accepted transfer credits may reduce your cost, but confirm whether credits satisfy degree requirements. To begin comparing lower-priced online options, see cheapest online colleges that accept FAFSA near me, then verify the price and aid eligibility of the specific program you want.
Neither format is universally better. Online study can remove a commute, but it may still include live meetings and fixed deadlines. Campus study can provide easier access to labs or classmates while adding travel time. Compare the format of required courses, not just the program's marketing description.
The practical differences below can help you identify which questions to put to each program.
| Format | Potential advantage | Potential scheduling problem |
| Online | No routine trip to class | Scheduled video sessions or local placements |
| Campus-based | Direct access to facilities | Travel and limited evening sections |
| Hybrid | Mix of remote and in-person work | Required visits may change between courses |
Completion time depends on credits remaining, credits taken each term, and whether required courses are offered when needed. A student taking one course per term will generally need longer than someone taking two, but a clinical placement, prerequisite sequence, or thesis can change either timeline. Accepted transfer credit or advanced standing may shorten a plan only when those credits apply to specific requirements.
Ask an advisor to map every remaining requirement by term, including summer availability and the program's time limit. This is especially helpful for returning learners comparing degrees for seniors: the right pace should leave room for other commitments without risking a missed course that delays graduation.
For the master's programs discussed here, applicants generally need a bachelor's degree, but preparation varies. Computer science or engineering may require technical prerequisites; an MSN typically requires nursing credentials; some education tracks require teacher licensure. Schools may also evaluate grades, recommendations, work experience, statements, or test results. A university's general graduate admission policy does not override a program's separate requirements.
Before applying, compare the program-specific checklist with your transcripts and credentials. Ask whether missing prerequisites can be completed after admission, how they affect cost and time, and whether a bridge or advanced-standing path has separate eligibility rules. Undergraduate applicants should use the requirements for their intended bachelor's program instead.
Career opportunity depends on the occupation you pursue, not simply the degree's title. For example, the BLS projected employment for information security analysts to grow 33% from 2023 to 2033. That signals demand in an occupation relevant to some IT and computing students, but it does not mean a master's degree is required or that its graduates will obtain those jobs.
Business and healthcare administration can make sense when you already have relevant workplace experience. Nursing, education, and social work offer more defined professional pathways, but often impose licensing or placement requirements. Compare job postings in your location with the program's courses, required credentials, and your current experience before treating any field as the best career bet.
BLS occupational wages provide context, not a prediction of what a part-time student will earn after graduation. In May 2024, the median annual wage was $93,600 for registered nurses and $133,080 for software developers. These are medians for people employed in those occupations across experience levels; they are not typical starting salaries or evidence that an MSN or computer science master's caused those earnings.
For a more useful personal comparison, look at local openings you could realistically qualify for, their stated pay ranges, the experience they require, and your total education cost. A graduate degree may have greater value when it meets a documented credential requirement or supports a specific move than when its connection to the job is unclear.
Some career paths require credentials beyond the degree. Registered nurses need state licensure, and advanced-practice nursing has additional specialty requirements. Clinical social work generally requires post-degree supervised experience and state licensure. Teacher and professional engineer requirements also vary by state and role. By contrast, many business and IT jobs have no single state license, though employers may value relevant certifications or experience.
Match the exact degree track to the occupation and state where you intend to work. Do not assume that an online program, an accredited institution, or a related master's degree automatically satisfies a licensing board's coursework, clinical, examination, or supervised-practice rules.
How Can You Choose an Accredited Part-Time Degree Program?
Start by confirming that the institution holds recognized institutional accreditation, then check whether the specific program needs programmatic accreditation or state approval for your goal. This distinction matters particularly for social work, nursing, education, and other licensed-profession pathways. Accreditation alone does not establish that a program meets every state's licensing requirements.
Before accepting an offer, ask the program for its part-time degree map, complete tuition and fee schedule, placement expectations, and written transfer-credit evaluation. Confirm requirements with the relevant state licensing board when applicable. Red flags include an unexplained claim that an online degree meets all licensing rules, no clear plan for required course availability, or a quoted price that omits mandatory fees and fieldwork expenses.
Other Things You Should Know About
Often, yes, but check live classes, group work, and any daytime clinical or field placements. Ask for a term-by-term schedule before committing.
Enrollment pace does not change the credential awarded. Program quality, applicable accreditation, skills, and fit with your career goal matter more.
Possibly. The school must evaluate them and determine whether they satisfy requirements in your specific program; accepted elective credit may not replace a required course.
It may, depending on the program, aid type, and your course load. Ask the financial aid office to calculate eligibility for the schedule you actually plan to take.
- Employer-offered educational assistance programs can help pay for college | Internal Revenue Service https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/employer-offered-educational-assistance-programs-can-help-pay-for-college
- Federal Pell Grants | studentaid.gov https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell
- Licensing FAQs - Texas Board of Professional Engineers https://pels.texas.gov/lic_faq.htm
- Accreditation in the U.S. | ed.gov http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/accreditation-in-the-us
- Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment - COE https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cba/annual-earnings
- The Major Payoff: Evaluating Earnings and Employment Outcomes Across Bachelor's Degrees - CEW Georgetown https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/major-payoff/
- Tuition & Fees | Portland State University https://www.pdx.edu/student-finance/tuition
- 4 Flexible Ways to Earn a College Degree on Your Schedule | stjohns.edu https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/johnnies-blog/4-flexible-ways-earn-college-degree-your-schedule-0
- Internship? Co-op? Practicum? Clinical? Part-time Job? Some ways to know the differences | Career & Co-op Center https://career.uml.edu/resources/internship-co-op-part-time-job-some-ways-to-know-the-differences/
- Cost of Attendance | University of Portland https://www.up.edu/admissions-aid/office-of-financial-aid/costs/index.html
