
Are you looking to go back to school for a Masters degree but do not want to break the bank? Great, check out our 20 most affordable graduate schools listed below. Earning your masters degree or doctoral degree should not cost you an arm and a leg.
We are here to help. It is not easy finding the most affordable grad school, but we have done our best to present our best list.
Rank | School | Location |
---|---|---|
1 | 1. Fort Hayes State University | Hays, Kansas |
2 | West Texas A&M University | Canyon, Texas |
3 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Georgia |
4 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, Wyoming |
5 | University of Montana | Missoula, Montana |
Here are the 20 Most Affordable Grad Schools
1. Fort Hayes State University
Located in Hayes, Kansas, FHSU is one of the best values in higher education today. It offers many programs both online and on-campus, so it is incredibly flexible for people in all stages of life and their careers. Programs include History, Business, Speech Language Pathology, and many others. Check out their programs today.
West Texas A&M University
You would be hard pressed to match both the cost and the quality of graduate education offered by West Texas A&M. WTAMU has more than 30 graduate programs, including 2 doctoral programs, on offer.
University of North Georgia
UNG is a regional multi-campus institution and premier senior military college that offers a diverse selection of graduate programs. Study Public Administration, Accountancy, Cyber Security, Nursing, teaching, and more.
University of Wyoming
Our first entry from Big Sky country! Become a Cowboy today by enrolling at the University of Wyoming Graduate School. Study Atmospheric Science, Food Science & Human Nutrition, Soil Science, Statistics, or check out all their other offerings online today.
University of Montana
Wyoming and Montana not only share some beautiful scenery, but also affordable and well-respected universities! At the University of Montana, you enjoy a great value for your dollar. Not only will you receive an excellent education, but you can count on a return on your investment!
University of West Georgia
Another university in Georgia, but we cannot help that they are a great quality choice! UWG has a diverse graduate courses, offered online and in-person, to help you on your path to an advanced degree.
University of Nevada – Reno

Just a stone’s throw from beautiful Lake Tahoe, the University of Nevada-Reno is a great place to earn your graduate degree, either in person or online. They have programs in over 80 different disciplines with several programs being nationally ranked. The University is classified as a Carnegie R1 institution which shows the very high level of research activity.
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University offers low-cost, high-quality graduate education that is flexible enough for anyone’s life! Based in Jonesboro, this thriving campus is an ideal place to spend a few years, if you are pursuing your degree in person. Sticking to online? No problem! ASU offers plenty of online degrees, as well.
East Tennessee State University
Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, ETSU is a highly-respected part of the Tennessee University system with the graduate programs to match their reputation! Get your graduate degree in Allied Health, Clinical Nutrition, Human Services, and Sports Management, to name just a few!
University of the Cumberlands
This beautiful college is home to an entirely-online graduate school with unique and affordable programs. Earn you degree from University of the Cumberlands in Coaching, Digital Forensics, Business Administration, and much more. Get online and check their website out today.
Wichita State University
Based out of one the largest cities in Kansas, Wichita State University is a fantastic university with comprehensive online and in-person graduate programs. There are many degrees offered and the strong online offerings make this an ideal institution for working professionals and parents.
Dakota State University
Whether you are looking to earn an MBA, Masters of Computer Science, or Masters in Cyber Defense (to name just a few!), look into Dakota State University. DSU prides itself on helping students achieve their best by offering world-class programs at an excellent price.
Indiana University – Southeast
Indiana University – Southeast is one of best campuses within the IU system! Located in New Albany, IUS offers graduate degrees in Mental Health Counseling, Nursing, Liberal Studies, Strategic Finance, and Business, and more!
New Mexico State University
Earn your graduate degree at New Mexico State today! We put NMSU on our list because of its expansive graduate program offerings, almost all of which can be earned online. Choose from Wildlife Sciences, Physics, Kinesiology, Finance, Family and Consumer Science, Criminal Justice, Communication Studies, and many more programs. Affordable, quality education that is definitely offers a great return on investment.
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University is not just located in beautiful Boca Raton, but it also happens to be one of the cheapest graduate schools on our list! How about that for a wonderful combination? FAU offers degrees in the departments of Computer Science, Nursing, Multicultural Education, to just name a few. Whether you want to move to the beach or are more interested in moving to the beach — FAU is an excellent destination for your graduate education.
CUNY – Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is one of the pillars of the CUNY system. It is an incredible well-respected institution with lots to offer potential graduate students. CUNY-Brooklyn College offers 74 graduate programs to date, meaning there’s a course of study for just about anyone. Notably, they offer several graduate degrees for K-12 educators and plenty of MFA degrees for those of you who have always wanted to pursue your creative side!
California State University – Los Angeles
Whether you plan on attending class online or want to move out to sunny Los Angeles, Cal State-LA has you covered in terms of affordability and quality of education. Similar to some of the programs offered at CUNY – Brooklyn, CSU-LA has many creative degree options, but that is not all! You can also earn a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Special Education, Information Systems, Spanish, and Nursing!
North Carolina A&T
Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina A&T offers affordable graduate education across several different programs. You can study Adult Education, Applied Mathematics, Bioengineering, Food and Nutritional Sciences, or Social Work. Whatever your goals, NC A&T probably has a program that matches your ambitions.
University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley
UT-Rio Grande Valley boasts a huge catalog of graduate programs, from doctoral programs to masters degrees to graduate certificates. This includes several accelerated online programs, with classes lasting just 7 weeks! Some of the programs available for accelerated study include Accountancy, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Social Work.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is one of the nation’s best value universities across the board, so no surprise it ended up on our list. From Chemistry to Classics to Computer Science to Geology, UC offers a comprehensive catalog of programs that fit your ambitions.
We hope that our list has been helpful in guiding your research into graduate school and programs. Our list does not include any paid or preferred listings. It is prepared subjectively, using several metrics, including (but not limited to): tuition per credit hour, acceptance rate, number of programs offered, and availability of funding. If you are a representative for a university and want to contact us about a) your schools ranking or b) the fact your school is not included, please feel free to get in touch. We welcome feedback and input. Thank you for reading our list!