2027 Best Online Degrees With Scholarship Options
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An online master's degree can fit around work, but the right program is not necessarily the one advertising the largest scholarship. Funding eligibility, required in-person training, and the credential employers or licensing boards expect can change its value. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses - an occupational figure, not a promised return on a nursing degree. This guide helps prospective graduate students compare ten fields, find applicable scholarships, and calculate what an online degree would actually cost.
Key Things You Should Know
- The strongest scholarship choice is a degree that fits your career goal and offers funding you are eligible to receive as an online graduate student.
- Check awards against total cost, including fees and required placements; a scholarship may cover only tuition or may require full-time enrollment.
- Career potential varies by role: the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $133,080 for software developers, but a computer science master's degree does not guarantee that job or wage.
Top 10 Best Online Degrees With Scholarship Options
Business Programs
Online MBAs and specialized master's degrees in accounting, finance, or analytics suit professionals seeking advancement or a defined business skill. Scholarships may come from business schools, employers, or field-specific organizations; some require work experience or particular enrollment levels.
Compare the award with the program's full price and ask whether it renews each term. An MBA is broad, while a specialized degree may make more sense for a specific technical role. Neither automatically leads to management, and some accounting career goals require additional coursework or licensure.
Healthcare Programs
Online master's programs in public health, health administration, and health informatics serve different goals: population health, organizational leadership, and health data, respectively. Look for school and professional-association scholarships that explicitly include your concentration and online enrollment.
A practicum or applied project may add travel or placement costs. An administration or informatics degree does not grant a clinical license. If you want direct patient care, verify the required professional credential before choosing a program based on its scholarship offer.
Information Technology Programs
Master's degrees in information technology, cybersecurity, and information systems typically emphasize implementing and managing technology. They may fit applicants interested in infrastructure, security, or organizational systems more closely than a theory-heavy computer science degree.
Seek graduate STEM awards, employer tuition assistance, and scholarships tied to cybersecurity or public service; check citizenship and employment conditions where applicable. Compare prerequisite requirements if your bachelor's degree is outside computing. Some courses are online but still require scheduled labs, team projects, or live meetings.
Computer Science Programs
An online master's in computer science can support deeper study of algorithms, software systems, or artificial intelligence. It is most useful when that advanced coursework matches your intended role; applicants without computing preparation may need foundation courses.
Departmental scholarships, graduate fellowships, and employer support are possible, but funding advertised for campus-based research students may not apply online. Ask whether the degree has a thesis, project, or coursework-only route. For an entry-level coding goal, compare its cost with a less extensive path before enrolling.
Nursing Programs
Online MSN programs may focus on leadership, education, or advanced clinical practice. Admission commonly depends on nursing preparation and an active RN license, while clinical tracks can require supervised placements in the student's state.
Nursing-school awards and employer assistance can reduce costs, but confirm whether scholarships cover the selected track and clinical terms. For advanced practice, verify programmatic accreditation, state authorization, certification eligibility, and placement support before applying. Earning an MSN alone does not confer an advanced practice license.
Psychology Programs
Online psychology master's programs may emphasize research, applied behavior, or preparation for further study. Scholarships can be available through departments or professional groups, although eligibility may depend on the concentration.
Distinguish a general psychology degree from a clinical or counseling program: the former usually does not qualify graduates to practice independently as psychologists or counselors. If licensure is your goal, check your state board's degree, supervised-experience, and examination rules before counting on an award that funds the wrong pathway.
Education Programs
Online master's degrees in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or special education can serve practicing educators, but not every program leads to initial teacher certification or an added endorsement. District tuition assistance, education foundations, and school awards may favor employees or particular teaching specialties.
Confirm whether an award applies to online study and whether student teaching or fieldwork must be arranged locally. Before enrolling, compare the program with your state's certification rules and any district requirements for salary advancement.
Criminal Justice Programs
An online master's in criminal justice may cover policy, research, leadership, or public safety administration. It can suit experienced practitioners seeking analytical or supervisory preparation, but it is not generally required for entry-level policing roles.
Explore employer education benefits, public-service awards, and school scholarships; ask whether funding has a service commitment. Research projects or internships may differ by program. Compare likely career benefits with the degree's net cost rather than assuming a graduate credential guarantees promotion.
Engineering Programs
Online engineering master's degrees commonly offer focused study in disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, or systems engineering. They may appeal to engineers building expertise while employed. Professional-society awards and employer reimbursement are worth checking, but some research assistantships require campus work.
Ask whether labs, exams, or a thesis require attendance in person. A master's degree does not replace applicable professional engineer licensing requirements; verify your state's education and experience rules if licensure matters to your goal.
Social Work Programs
An online MSW can prepare students for social work practice, but required field education takes place in person. Scholarships may come from social work schools, community organizations, or service-focused programs; some carry post-graduation obligations.
Compare traditional and advanced-standing tracks carefully: advanced standing generally requires an eligible BSW and is not available to every applicant. Check Council on Social Work Education accreditation, local placement arrangements, and your state's clinical licensing requirements. The degree alone does not authorize independent clinical practice.
What Are the Best Online Degrees With Scholarships?
There is no universal best online master's degree with scholarships. The best option is a career-relevant, appropriately accredited program with funding you can actually use and a manageable remaining cost. A large award attached to an unsuitable degree is a poor bargain.
These comparisons show how to prioritize the ten fields covered above. Scholarship availability varies by school and applicant, so treat the funding column as a search starting point, not a promise of an award.
| Career goal | Fields to compare | Funding and program check |
| Organizational leadership | Business, healthcare administration, criminal justice | Check employer benefits and whether the degree fits your sector. |
| Technical specialization | IT, computer science, engineering | Check STEM awards, prerequisites, and any campus requirements. |
| Licensed or field-based practice | Nursing, education, social work, selected psychology pathways | Check licensing alignment and funding during placements. |
If academic workload is a concern, a guide to what is the easiest masters degree can help frame that question. Ease should not outweigh career fit, accreditation, or the amount you would need to borrow.
Start with the financial aid office and department for each program you are considering. Ask for awards open to online students in your exact master's program, then look at employer benefits and relevant professional associations. Some scholarships are restricted by residence, membership, career stage, enrollment intensity, or a service commitment.
Use this sequence to separate genuinely useful awards from appealing but inapplicable listings:
- Request the program's scholarship list and confirm eligibility, deadlines, renewal rules, and whether awards can be combined.
- File the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal aid and any school aid that uses it; follow separate scholarship application instructions.
- Ask whether an award covers tuition only or also fees, summer terms, and required fieldwork periods.
- Compare written aid offers against each program's estimated total cost, not just its advertised tuition.
Never pay to apply for a scholarship that claims to guarantee an award, and verify offers through the awarding organization.
Many online degrees can qualify for federal financial aid when both the institution and the specific program meet federal eligibility rules and the student meets applicable requirements. Delivery online does not, by itself, disqualify a program. Submit the FAFSA and ask the school to confirm the program's eligibility and your aid options.
For graduate students, federal assistance generally centers on loans rather than Pell Grants. Loan availability and limits depend on current federal rules and individual circumstances. A scholarship may reduce the amount you need to borrow, but ask the financial aid office how outside awards affect your complete aid package before making a payment plan.
First verify that the institution is accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Check the school's status in the department's accreditation database or directly with the accreditor; a school's own marketing statement is not enough.
Accreditation applies to the institution, while some career paths also depend on programmatic accreditation.
For example, an aspiring social worker should check MSW accreditation through the Council on Social Work Education. Nursing, educator preparation, and other regulated pathways may have additional program or state-approval requirements.
Accreditation does not automatically establish that an online program meets licensing rules where you live, so confirm both points separately with the relevant state board.
Online master's programs generally require a bachelor's degree and transcripts, but prerequisites depend on the field. Computer science may require computing coursework; nursing programs commonly require nursing credentials; advanced-standing MSW admission generally requires an eligible BSW.
Schools may also request recommendations, a statement of purpose, experience, a portfolio, or an interview. GPA and test policies are program-specific - do not assume an institution-wide admissions description applies to your chosen degree.
Confirm the application deadline and available entry term directly with the department. Even if you are exploring online colleges starting this month, a particular graduate program may admit students less frequently or require prerequisites and placement approvals before classes begin.
Online master's degrees vary in price and duration by required credits, tuition rate, fees, enrollment pace, prerequisite courses, and culminating requirements. Graduate study often takes roughly one to three years, but a clinical placement, thesis, part-time schedule, or course sequencing can extend it.
An advanced-standing route may shorten an eligible student's MSW; it does not shorten the degree for applicants who lack the required background.
To estimate your cost, multiply the tuition rate by the credits you still need, add mandatory and program fees plus any travel or placement expenses, and subtract confirmed grants, scholarships, and employer assistance.
Compare the resulting total - not the per-credit price alone. A guide to cheapest tuition online college can help identify price-conscious schools, but graduate tuition and funding must be checked for the specific program.
Coursework depends on the degree's purpose. Business programs may combine finance and strategy; computing degrees may include algorithms or security; healthcare and education programs may add policy and applied research. Students often choose electives or a concentration and finish with a capstone, project, thesis, or comprehensive assessment.
"Online" describes course delivery, not necessarily an absence of scheduled meetings or local requirements. Nursing, social work, and some education pathways commonly include in-person clinical work, field education, or student teaching.
Ask for a term-by-term course plan showing live-session expectations, required placements, and who arranges them. That plan will reveal scheduling conflicts and costs a course catalog may not make obvious.
Match the degree to an occupation's actual entry and advancement requirements. An IT or computer science master's may deepen skills for experienced technical workers, while an MSN or MSW may support a specific practice pathway only after additional credentialing. Business and criminal justice degrees can support advancement without making a promotion automatic.
For salary context, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $133,080 for software developers and $93,600 for registered nurses. These are wages across each occupation - not the earnings of online master's graduates.
Experience, location, employer, and licensure matter. If you are exploring an entry-level path rather than graduate specialization, compare the investment with an easiest associate degree to get online or another appropriate starting credential.
How Do You Choose a Reputable Online Degree Program?
Shortlist programs only after you know the role you want, the credential it requires, and how much you can spend after confirmed aid. Then request comparable answers from each school on accreditation, scholarship eligibility, total cost, schedule, and required in-person work.
The final checks below address common reasons an apparently attractive online offer disappoints:
- Verify institutional and, where needed, programmatic accreditation and state licensing alignment before paying a deposit.
- Request a written estimate of remaining credits, mandatory fees, and your scholarship's renewal conditions.
- Confirm whether live classes, campus visits, internships, or local placements fit your location and work schedule.
- Ask for a transfer-credit evaluation if you have previous graduate study; acceptance of credits does not mean they satisfy this degree's requirements.
- Compare the program's curriculum with actual job requirements instead of relying on a ranking or advertised salary.
Choose the program whose verified requirements and net cost fit your goal - not simply the one with the biggest advertised award.
Other Things You Should Know About
Yes. Schools and outside organizations may fund online graduate students, but eligibility varies by program, enrollment status, and other conditions. Confirm the rules for each award.
Generally, scholarships are not repaid if you meet their terms. Read renewal, academic-progress, and service-commitment conditions before accepting one.
Often, yes. Report outside awards to your financial aid office so it can explain whether they change your aid package.
No. Some programs require campus activities or in-person work at an approved local site. Confirm every location-specific requirement with the program before enrolling.
- Field of degree: Occupational Outlook Handbook | bls.gov https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/
- Finding and Applying for Scholarships | studentaid.gov https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/scholarships
- 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
- Cost of Attendance (Budget) | 2025-2026 Federal Student Aid Handbook https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2025-2026/vol3/ch2-cost-attendance-budget
- Kansas Promise Act Scholarship | Kansas Board of Regents https://kansasregents.gov/students/student_financial_aid/promise-act-scholarship
- Can You Get Financial Aid for Online College? Finding Out | beal.edu https://beal.edu/can-you-get-financial-aid-for-online-college/
- What Is an Accredited University? Understanding Accreditation | National University https://www.nu.edu/blog/what-is-an-accredited-university/
