Best Online Master’s Programs in North Dakota 2023

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Jan 24, 2023

Find the best online colleges in North Dakota 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 North Dakota

University of North Dakota
North Dakota State University
Minot State University
University of Mary
Dickinson State University
Valley City State University
Mayville State University
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in North Dakota

The majority of the higher learning institutes in North Dakota are public schools and almost all of the schools could be considered small schools, serving less than 5,000 students. The state’s two largest schools, however, the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and North Dakota State University in Fargo, each have a student population around 12,000 students. Tuition at both of these schools comes in just below the national average at $9,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

At UND and NDSU, students can study fields such as engineering, chemistry, law, and education. Additionally, students can attend one of the state’s five private schools, three of which have religious affiliations. Students who attend these schools can pursue degrees in fields like nursing, religious studies, education, and earth sciences. North Dakota also offers a private tribal college, United Tribes Technical College, located in the state’s capital, Bismarck, where students can expect to pay around $4,000 in tuition fees.

As the country’s number one producer of honey and sunflowers, and home to part of the international Peace Garden, North Dakota’s landscape is a thing of natural beauty. This magnificent state also has its fair share of one-of-a-kind attractions, including the Badlands Dinosaur Museum, which features world-class minerals and fossils, and the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center, which gives an inside look at this Native American tribe’s unique culture and traditions. The state also boasts 19 colleges and universities for students hoping to earn a higher education degree.

Discover more about earning your degree in North Dakota by exploring some of the state’s top programs.

What are North Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

North Dakota’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 North Dakota'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 North Dakota 2022

#1
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks , ND
#1 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Research Universities in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Public Colleges in North Dakota 2023
- #1 Best Grad Schools North Dakota 2023
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
62%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/23
Online Master's Degrees
MS in Biomedical Engineering

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

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

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

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
Master of Accountancy

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Applied Economics and Predictive Analytics

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

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

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
MS in Chemical Engineering

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

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

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

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

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

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd Elementary Education

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

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

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Forensic Psychology

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd Instructional Design and Technology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Instructional Design and Technology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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
MS in Teaching and Leadership

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#2
North Dakota State University
Fargo , ND
#2 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #2 Best Research Universities in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Public Colleges in North Dakota 2023
- #2 Best Grad Schools North Dakota 2023
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
65%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1135/23
Online Master's Degrees
MS in Biomedical Engineering

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS/MA in Community Development

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

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Digital Marketing + Innovation

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Human Development and Family Science

Concentrations

Family Financial Planning
Gerontology
Development

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

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

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
Master of Public Policy

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

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Transportation and Urban Systems

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#3
Minot State University
Minot , ND
#1 Best Small Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #3 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
46%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
975/21
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Education

Concentrations

Curriculum and Instruction
English
Secondary Mathematics
Special Education

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Disability Human Services

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

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 Special Education

Concentrations

Deaf or Hard of Hearing Education
Early Childhood Special Education
Special Education Strategist

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Speech Language Pathology

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#4
University of Mary
Bismarck , ND
#2 Best Private Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #2 Best Christian Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #3 Best Small Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #3 Best Research Universities in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
64%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/23
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Health Care Administration Dual Degree MSN/MBA
MBA/MA in Philosophy MBA/MA

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

Concentrations

Catholic Anthropology

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

Concentrations

Curriculum Instruction & Assessment
Physical Education and Athletic Administration
Reading
School Administration
Special Education Leadership
Special Education Strategist
Teacher Leadership

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

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

Concentrations

Nurse Educator
Nursing and Health Care Informatics
Nursing Leadership & Management
Health Care Administration Dual Degree MSN/MBA

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#5
Dickinson State University
Dickinson , ND
#3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #4 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #4 Best Small Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #4 Best Public Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
36%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1001/19
Online Master's Degrees
MA in Teaching

Concentrations

Athletic Educational Leadership Track

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 Entrepreneurship

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#6
Valley City State University
Valley City , ND
#4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #5 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #5 Best Public Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
53%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
975/19
Online Master's Degrees
MA in Teaching

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

Concentrations

Elementary Education
English Education
Library and Information Technology
Teaching and Technology
Teaching English Language Learners
Technology Education

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
#7
Mayville State University
Mayville , ND
#6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #7 Best Small Colleges in North Dakota 2023 #7 Best Public Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Other Rankings
- #9 Best Colleges in North Dakota 2023
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1065/20
Online Master's Degrees
Master of Education

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

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
#8
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Ellendale , ND
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
40%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/21
Online Master's Degrees
MA in Bible and Theology

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Christian Apologetics and Culture

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

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

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

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

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

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Christian Apologetics and Evangelism

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Christian Apologetics and Philosophy

Concentrations

With Electives
With Languages

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Christian Apologetics and Theology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Apologetics and Theology

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Christian Ministry

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

Required Credits: 30-36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

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

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

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

Best Online Master’s Programs in North Dakota 2023

Top Online Master's Programs in North Dakota

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in North Dakota

What are North Dakota’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in North Dakota 2022

Online Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

Online Master's Degrees

Online Master's Degrees

Concentrations

North Dakota’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest