How Long Does a Master’s Degree Take?

A master’s is a graduate degree that typically takes 18 months to two years of full-time study to earn, but several factors can increase or decrease that timeline. With a master’s degree, you can open doors to new job prospects and increased earning potential thanks to the specific subject knowledge you'll study and the higher-level coursework you'll take.

Let’s explore several factors that might impact degree length so you can choose the education pathway that’s right for you.

How many years is a master’s degree? Key factors

There are several reasons why a master's degree may take more or less time to earn, including what you choose to study, whether or not your program requires a thesis or capstone project, and your status as a student. Let's look at each factor more closely.

Curriculum

Most universities use credit hours to measure how many credits you’ll earn from a course, which are based on how long you spend in class each week during the semester. Most master’s degree programs require you to take 30 to 60 credit hours of coursework. Some programs involve as many as 72 credit hours. 

It’s possible to complete a 34-credit Master of Applied Data Science degree in as little as twelve months. A 72-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA), on the other hand, will likely take two to three years for full-time students.

Final project requirements

Some master’s programs require you to complete a final project like a thesis paper, internship, or capstone project. Master’s programs in research-heavy fields like mathematics or psychology often require a master’s thesis. Writing this scholarly paper involves a significant amount of independent research and lab work over and above the normal course load. 

Some non-thesis degrees have an internship or capstone project as part of their program requirements. This is more common for fields where hands-on experience is beneficial, like computer science or business.

Part-time vs. full-time enrollment

Choosing to enroll full-time or part-time will determine the duration of your degree experience. Each option comes with its own advantages and challenges.

• Full-time students taking a full course load (typically around nine credit hours per semester) can expect to finish their degree faster than part-time students. However, studying full-time can make it challenging to keep up with work, family, and other commitments.

• Part-time students may find it easier to balance their studies with these other commitments, and it can ease the financial burden as well. However, this improved work-life balance also means it will take longer to complete your master’s program.

Online vs. in-person classes

Students today have more flexibility than ever before in how they pursue their education. Some online master’s programs give you access to the same curriculum and faculty as their on-campus counterparts and let you study at the world’s best universities without having to move.

While on-campus programs have a rigid class schedule, some online programs allow you the flexibility to learn at your own pace and schedule your classwork around your life. When not restricted to a fixed schedule, you might find you’re able to handle a heavier course load. Taking more course credits at once equals completing a master’s degree in less time.

Learn more: Online Colleges: Your Degree and Learning Guide

Accelerated and dual-degree programs

If you’re considering earning your bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s, consider an accelerated master’s program (sometimes called a five-year or four-plus-one program). These programs allow you to work toward two degrees so you can graduate with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as little as five years. With this type of degree, learners with well-defined career goals can shave a year off a typical master’s program.

In a dual-degree program, you can pursue two degrees—commonly two graduate programs or a graduate and a doctoral degree—at the same time. This typically takes longer than earning a single master’s degree but less time than it would take to finish two degrees independently. Combinations could include a law degree and an MBA or a master of public health and a doctor of pharmacy.

Is a master’s degree worth the time?

Whether it takes one year or three, pursuing a master’s degree represents a significant time commitment. Before you decide whether one of these programs is right for you, it’s important to evaluate your career goals. 

Some fields require a master’s for an entry-level job. In other professions, having a master’s isn’t required but can increase your upward mobility within a company or along your career path. This is typically the case in fields such as business, education, health care, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

Most of us work in order to support ourselves, so earning potential can be a big factor in determining the value of a degree. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, median weekly earnings for master's degree holders were $1,574 compared to $1,334 for bachelor’s degree recipients and $781 for those with only a high school diploma [1].

If you’re a working professional considering a master’s degree, you might qualify for employer sponsorship or reimbursement. Some companies, recognizing the value of a highly-skilled employee who already knows the company landscape, offer some form of tuition assistance.

Learn more: Is a Master's Degree Worth It?

Try-before-you-buy models

For some master’s degrees, you can get a feel for the program by completing coursework for credit before you ever apply. 

Some programs, like the iMBA from the University of Illinois or the Master of Computer Science from Arizona State University, offer open classes, letting you experience a program by taking a course alongside degree-seeking students. If you decide to apply for the program later, you’ll earn academic credit for the work you’ve already completed. 

Alternatives to grad school

Earning a master’s degree can help you advance in your career, break into a new field, or draw a bigger salary. But a master’s degree may not represent the best use of your time. As you evaluate what’s best for your unique career goals, you might find that an alternative program with less time commitment is a better fit. Let’s take a look at some of these grad school alternatives.

Individual courses

Depending on your professional field and personal goals, one or two classes might adequately equip you with the specific skills you need to advance. Whether you want to learn data analysis, public health, cloud computing, or something else entirely, online learning platforms like Coursera make it easy to learn from top experts from the comfort of your home (and at your own pace).

Professional certificates

With a professional certificate, you gain focused training for a specific career. By earning one of these designations, you can show potential employers that you have the skills necessary to perform a specific job. 

I didn’t have any background in IT and couldn't apply to entry level jobs. After completing this program, I got the chance to interview and landed a job as an IT Support Specialist! -Md Abu Sadat, Google IT Support Professional Certificate Student

Some programs geared toward those just starting out in a new field require no specific experience. Others help you build on your current skill set to advance in a field or work toward an industry-recognized certification. These certificates tend to take months rather than years to complete. Here are a few to consider:

• Google Data Analytics

• Meta Social Media Marketing

• Google IT Support

• IBM Data Engineering

• Google UX Design

• Google Project Management

Bootcamps

Bootcamps are typically short-term, immersive, and extremely intense programs designed to bring you up to speed on a given skill set quickly. This is a particularly common model for computer-centric skills like coding and SEO. While bootcamps are relatively short some are full-time, which could make it difficult to learn and work at the same time. 

Get started with Coursera

With a variety of course lengths and learning methods, earning a master’s degree might be more attainable than you think. If you’re interested in learning more about how a master’s degree fits into your life, take a look at the variety of online master’s degrees and other graduate-level courses available from top universities through Coursera.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)