Best Online Master’s Programs in DC 2026

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Find the best online colleges in DC ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

Top Online Master's Programs in DC in 2026

Georgetown University
George Washington University
Howard University
+1
American University
–1
Catholic University of America
Gallaudet University
Trinity Washington University
The Institute of World Politics

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

What are DC’s Colleges & Universities?

DC’s Best Overall

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine DC's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in DC 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. Georgetown University
2. George Washington University
3. American University
4. Howard University
5. Catholic University of America
6. Gallaudet University
7. Trinity Washington University
8. The Institute of World Politics
#1
Georgetown University
Washington , DC
#2 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2026 #18 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2026 #18 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2026 #21 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026
Tuition + fees
$71K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
94%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
1470/33
Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University
Cost of Degree: $59,306
Expenses: $23,660
Starting Salary: $110,516
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Real Estate

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Master of Sports Industry Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Master of Technology Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
George Washington University
Washington , DC
#23 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2026 #2 Best Research Universities in DC 2026 #2 Best Grad Schools in DC 2026 #2 Best Private Colleges in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$70K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
83%
Student body
29K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/32
Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University
Cost of Degree: $35,154
Expenses: $19,325
Starting Salary: $96,691
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
Healthcare Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master in Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Human Resource Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Project Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Publishing

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Strategic Public Relations

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Educational Leadership and Administration

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Educational Technology Leadership

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Rehabilitation Counseling

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Secondary Special Education and Transition Services

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Special Education for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Organizational Leadership and Learning

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Engineering in Cloud Computing Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Analytics

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Electrical Engineering

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Engineering Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Systems Engineering

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Studies in Law for Government Procurement Law

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Clinical Operations and Healthcare Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Clinical and Translational Research

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Clinical Research Administration

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Health Care Quality

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Regulatory Affairs

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Clinical Microbiology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Correctional Health Administration

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Immunohematology and Biotechnology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in in Biomedical Informatics

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Laboratory Medicine

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Sciences

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Molecular Diagnostic Science

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences in Translational Microbiology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Sciences Integrative Medicine

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Healthcare Master of Business Administration (Healthcare MBA)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Nurse-Midwifery

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Nursing Leadership and Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of International Policy and Practice

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Political Communications and Governance

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Political Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Executive Master of Health Administration

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Public Health

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Exercise Science in Strength and Conditioning

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Management of Health Informatics and Analytics

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Security Policy Studies

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
Howard University
Washington , DC
#1 Most Influential HBCUs in the US Ranked for 2026 #3 Best Research Universities in DC 2026 #3 Best Grad Schools in DC 2026 #3 Best Private Colleges in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
74%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/25
Career Outlook for degree at Howard University
Cost of Degree: $38,050
Expenses: $21,286
Starting Salary: $69,682
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Public Health (MPH)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MFA in Film

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Accountancy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Social Work

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
American University
Washington , DC
#8 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2026 #2 Best Christian Colleges in DC 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #4 Best Research Universities in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
75%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/30
Career Outlook for degree at American University
Cost of Degree: $33,239
Expenses: $19,632
Starting Salary: $85,458
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
MA in Economics

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Strategic Communication

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Public Administration and Policy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Healthcare Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Promotion Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Human Resource Analytics and Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Measurement and Evaluation

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nutrition Education

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Sports Analytics and Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
The Catholic University of America
Washington , DC
#10 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2026 #15 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2026 #1 Best Small Colleges in DC 2026 #3 Best Christian Colleges in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
76%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at The Catholic University of America
Cost of Degree: $53,220
Expenses: $21,950
Starting Salary: $81,308
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Catechesis

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Catholic Clinical Ethics

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Ecclesial Administration and Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Engineering Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Library and Information Science

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Management

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS Social Work

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Gallaudet University
Washington , DC
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in DC 2026 #2 Best Small Colleges in DC 2026 #6 Best Research Universities in DC 2026 #6 Best Grad Schools in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
901/15
Career Outlook for degree at Gallaudet University
Cost of Degree: $21,510
Expenses: $22,092
Starting Salary: $49,334
Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Hybrid
MA in Education: Advanced Studies

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Sign Language Education

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Hybrid
MA in Summers and Online School Counseling

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Hybrid
Compare school
#7
Trinity Washington University
Washington , DC
#4 Best Christian Colleges in DC 2026 #4 Best Small Colleges in DC 2026 #7 Best Private Colleges in DC 2026 #8 Best Colleges in DC 2026
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Trinity Washington University
Cost of Degree: $15,390
Expenses: $15,190
Starting Salary: $57,561
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Master of Occupational Therapy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Master of Public Health

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
MA in Strategic Communication and Public Relations

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 year
Format: Online
Compare school
#8
The Institute of World Politics
Washington , DC
Student body
<1K
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Arts in Statecraft and Strategy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Professional Master of Arts in Statecraft and Strategy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school

DC’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Master’s Programs in DC 2026

Top Online Master's Programs in DC in 2026

Featured Programs

What are DC’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in DC 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at Georgetown University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at George Washington University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Howard University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at American University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at The Catholic University of America

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Gallaudet University

Online Master's Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Trinity Washington University

Online Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degrees

DC’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest