2027 Best Degrees With Scholarship Options

Business Programs

MBA, accounting, and business analytics master's programs suit different goals. An MBA often emphasizes leadership and may favor applicants with work experience; accounting programs may require foundation courses and can help students meet state-specific CPA education requirements. Universities may offer merit awards, employer partnerships, or graduate assistantships, but awards vary by program. Compare tuition with expected career use: a costly MBA is harder to justify if your target role does not require it. Ask whether a scholarship covers summer courses, fees, and the full program.

Healthcare Programs

Master's options include public health, health administration, and clinical fields, but their outcomes differ. An MPH can support population-health work; a health administration degree may serve experienced professionals seeking management roles. Clinical programs can require prerequisites, supervised placements, and separate licensure. Look for departmental awards, employer tuition assistance, and funding tied to underserved communities. Before accepting an award, confirm whether its service requirement matches where you want to work and whether required fieldwork limits paid employment.

Information Technology Programs

Master's programs in information technology, cybersecurity, and information systems typically emphasize applied infrastructure, security, or organizational technology. They may suit professionals changing specialties, though some technical roles can be entered through experience and certifications instead. Relevant funding may include university STEM awards, employer assistance, and assistantships; eligibility depends on the specific program. Compare prerequisite courses, hands-on labs, and whether a scholarship applies to online enrollment. Do not assume a cybersecurity degree alone qualifies you for a security clearance or a senior role.

Computer Science Programs

A computer science master's can deepen skills in algorithms, artificial intelligence, systems, or research. Some programs admit career changers with bridge coursework; others expect substantial prior computing study. Thesis-based programs may offer research assistantships, while course-only professional programs may rely more heavily on merit awards or employer funding. The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program is worth investigating for eligible research-oriented students, but it is not a general scholarship for every computing master's. Check the total cost of any required bridge courses.

Nursing Programs

MSN pathways include nurse practitioner, education, leadership, and other specialties. Applicants commonly need a nursing license, and clinical tracks may have additional experience or prerequisite requirements. The federal Nurse Corps Scholarship Program can support eligible nursing students in exchange for service at an approved facility; eligibility and funding are competitive. An online classroom does not eliminate clinical placements. Verify programmatic accreditation, state authorization, placement support, and the specific licensure requirements for your intended advanced-practice role before committing.

Psychology Programs

A psychology master's may support research, organizational work, or preparation for doctoral study, but a general psychology degree usually does not by itself qualify someone for independent clinical practice. Counseling and related licensure-oriented degrees have different curricula and supervised-experience requirements. Departmental awards and assistantships may be more relevant than broad psychology scholarships. Check your state board's approved educational pathway before choosing a program, and ask whether required practica, thesis work, or doctoral preparation affect both funding and completion time.

Education Programs

Education master's degrees can focus on teaching, curriculum, special education, or school leadership. A degree designed for licensed teachers may not provide an initial teaching license. District tuition assistance and university awards can help; an eligible TEACH Grant is not a scholarship and can become a loan if its service obligation is not met. Ask whether funding applies during student teaching or part-time enrollment. Verify state approval and any separate classroom-experience requirements if licensure or an administrative credential is your goal.

Criminal Justice Programs

A criminal justice master's may cover policy, criminology, public administration, or research. It can be useful for particular analytical and advancement goals, but many law-enforcement jobs do not require a graduate degree, and agency hiring rules vary. Departmental awards and public-employer tuition benefits deserve attention. Choose research-heavy coursework if you want policy analysis, or applied coursework if you need management skills. Compare the program's cost with your employer's actual promotion criteria rather than assuming the credential brings a raise.

Engineering Programs

Engineering master's programs range from research-focused degrees with a thesis to professional programs built around advanced technical coursework. Research assistantships can be valuable, but they may require substantial lab time and are not available in every specialization. Some programs expect an engineering bachelor's degree; others allow related quantitative backgrounds with prerequisites. If professional engineering licensure matters, review your state board's education and experience rules separately. Compare laboratory access, employer reimbursement, and whether an award covers required research terms.

Social Work Programs

An accredited MSW is a common educational step toward clinical social work, but independent practice also requires state-specific supervised experience and examinations. Applicants with an eligible accredited BSW may qualify for advanced standing, subject to the school's rules; other applicants generally need the standard pathway. Field placements can make a low-tuition program costly in lost working hours. Look for university awards, employer support, and service-based funding, then confirm CSWE accreditation, placement expectations, and your state's licensing requirements.

The best scholarship-friendly degree is the one that offers funding you qualify for, a manageable remaining cost, and a credible path to your intended work. No field guarantees an award. The comparison below shows where prospective master's students can begin looking and the main condition to check before treating funding as affordable.

A shorter program is not necessarily cheaper or easier to fund. Students considering 12 month master's programs online should check whether the advertised timeline assumes full-time study, completed prerequisites, and uninterrupted course availability.

Salary figures help test whether a career goal can justify a program's remaining cost, but they describe workers in occupations, not new graduates or the effect of a master's degree. BLS reports the following U.S. median annual wages for 2024. These occupations have different entry routes and experience requirements, so compare each figure with the job you can realistically pursue.

These medians include workers at different career stages. For a personal return-on-investment check, compare your likely starting opportunities and current earnings with the program's remaining cost, time away from work, and any loan payments. Do not use an occupation-wide median as a promise of your first salary.