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Online Master's Degree Programs in Ohio
Ohio residents interested in attending a master's degree program may be able to find suitable online programs offered by one or more of the many public and private colleges and universities with campuses located in Ohio. In addition, students who live in Ohio can explore an even broader range of master's degree programs offered online by schools in others states. This page provides an overview of accredited, non-profit colleges and universities in Ohio that offer online master's degree programs, as well as a selection of other online master's programs offered by institutions in other states that admit residents of Ohio.
Schools in Ohio That Offer Online Master's Degree Programs
The University System of Ohio encompasses 14 undergraduate and graduate degree granting schools, including The Ohio State University (Ohio State) in Columbus, which is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the country. Ohio University, Kent State University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Toledo, and the University of Akron are some of the other larger and more notable schools in Ohio's public school system.
All of these schools offer online degree programs, as do most of the other public universities in Ohio, and many have online master's degree programs. The state of Ohio maintains OhioLearns, a searchable, web-based catalogue of courses, degrees, and certificates that are offered online by public colleges and universities in Ohio.
The table below provides an overview of Ohio's major public universities, their location, and whether or not they offer online degree programs independently or in partnership with other schools in the University System of Ohio.
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Yes
Central State University Wilberforce Yes
Cleveland State University Cleveland Yes
Kent State University Kent Yes
Miami University Oxford Yes
Northeast Ohio Medical University Rootstown Yes
Ohio University Athens Yes
Shawnee State University Portsmouth Yes
The Ohio State University Columbus Yes
The University of Akron Akron Yes
The University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Yes
The University of Toledo Toledo Yes
Wright State University Dayton Yes
Youngstown State University Youngstown Yes
In addition to schools in the University System of Ohio, there are a number of accredited, non-profit, private colleges and universities in the state that offer master's degree programs online. These include Case Western Reserve University, the state's largest private university, as well as the University of Dayton, Ashland University, Franklin University, and Xavier University. Case Western Reserve offers massive open online courses (MOOCs) through Coursera, as well as several online master's in engineering degree programs and an online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) program that is equivalent to a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program.
The five largest private universities in Ohio, based on enrollment data collected by the US Department of Education for its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), are listed in the table below along with their locations and whether or not they offer online degree programs.
Ashland University Ashland Yes
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland Yes
Franklin University Columbus Yes
University of Dayton Dayton Yes
Xavier University Cincinnati Yes
Regional Out-of-State Schools with Online Master's Degree Programs
For Ohio residents who want to earn a master's degree online, there are numerous out-of-state options, including schools in neighboring states and in the region. The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), a publically funded, multi-campus institution that is part of Pennsylvania's Commonwealth System of Higher Education, offers a broad range of online master's degree programs through Penn State World Campus. Drawing on the university's considerable academic resources, Penn State World Campus offers over 150 online degree programs, including online master's degrees in business and management, teaching and education, healthcare and public administration, and cyber and homeland security.
The publically funded Purdue University System in Indiana also has a robust presence in online higher education through Purdue University Online and Purdue University Global. Purdue University Online offers online master's programs in different types of business administration, industrial and mechanical engineering, communication, computer science and information technology, and public health. Purdue University Global offers online master's degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, healthcare administration, human services, nursing, and psychology.
There are two schools in the Baltimore/Washington, DC metropolitan area that offer online degree programs: Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and The George Washington University (GW). Both are large, private research institutions that encompass several campuses and multiples colleges and schools devoted to different academic fields. JHU has campuses in Baltimore and DC, and offers online programs through its Bloomberg School of Public Health, Carey Business School, Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, and its schools of education, engineering, medicine, and nursing. GW has two campuses in DC and one in Northern Virginia. Through GW Online, it offers online master's programs in business, communication, education, engineering, health sciences, legal studies, nursing, public policy, and several areas of professional studies.
Residents of Ohio may also want to explore the online master's programs offered by Saint Joseph's University (SJU), a private, Roman Catholic university that has its main campus in Philadelphia, PA. Through its Erivan K. Haub School of Business, its College of Arts & Sciences, and its Program of Professional & Liberal Studies, SJU provides online master's degree programs in business, criminal justice, education, and healthcare administration, including master's programs in business intelligence, special education, and organizational leadership.
The 15 Most Common Fields for Master's Degree Studies in Ohio
Through an analysis of the most recent IPEDS data, OnlineEducation.com has identified the most common subject areas in which master's degrees are conferred by colleges and universities in Ohio. The subject areas are based on IPEDS classification codes for different types of master's degree programs. While not all the categories represent areas of study in which online master's programs are currently offered, this list of the 15 most popular areas of master's degree study in Ohio provides an overview of the relative demand for particular types of master's degree programs in the state.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
The following sections contain information on online degree programs in most of the fields lists above, including programs offered by in-state and out-of-state schools.
Online Master's in Business Administration (MBA) Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Social Work (MSW) Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Nursing (MSN) Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Accounting and Taxation Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Education Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Healthcare Management and Administration Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Finance Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Counseling Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Public Administration (MPA) Programs in Ohio
Online Master's in Public Health (MPH) Programs in Ohio
The most common type of master's in business administration program is an MBA or Master of Business Administration. In Ohio, students can earn an MBA online through numerous in-state and out-of-state programs.
Examples of in-state programs include Ohio State's Fisher College of Business, which offers a part-time online MBA program tailored for working professionals that can be completed in two and a half years of part-time enrollment. It has five optional specializations: Finance; Organizational Leadership; Marketing; Operations and Logistics; and Strategy. In contrast, the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in twelve months of full-time enrollment. It features seven optional concentrations: Marketing; Healthcare Administration; Healthcare Finance; Healthcare Operations; Healthcare Policy and Regulation; Corporate Taxation; and Individual Taxation. Additional MBA specializations may be offered by online MBA programs at other schools in Ohio.
There are many options for earning an online MBA degree outside of Ohio. Penn State World Campus' online MBA program features a five-day orientation session at its campus in University Park and has ten optional specializations: Accounting Foundations; Advanced Accounting; Business Analytics; Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Finance; General Management; Human Resource Management (HRM); Marketing Analytics; Project Management; and Supply Chain Management. In contrast, the Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins University offers a flexible, part-time online MBA program that most students complete in three and a half years. It has three specialization options that are offered fully online: Financial Businesses; Healthcare Management; and Leading Organizations. It also has several other specializations that require on-campus residencies, including Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Real Estate and Infrastructure.
Ohio State and Case Western Reserve University are two schools in Ohio that offer online master's in social work degree programs. Ohio State's College of Social Work offers a two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) program online that has three optional areas of emphasis: Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Child and Youth Services; and Community and Social Justice. For applicants who hold a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Ohio State has an Advanced Standing Alternative Program that leads to the conferral of an MSW degree in one year of full-time enrollment.
Case Western Reserve's MSSA has four concentrations that students can choose from: Community Practice for Social Change; Direct Practice; Children, Youth, and Families; and Mental Health with Adults. The Case Western Reserve MSSA program also has an Advanced Standing track for graduates from CSWE-accredited BSW programs.
There are numerous out-of-state MSW programs that accept applicants from Ohio. Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT offers an online MSW program with two concentrations: Direct Clinical Practice and Direct Community Practice. Sacred Heart also has an Advanced Standing MSW track that can be completed in one year. Widener University in Chester, PA offers an online MSW program that that provides clinical and community practice training, and that also includes an Advanced Standing track for qualified BSW program graduates.
Note: Students considering an out-of-state online MSW program should confirm that the program accepts students from Ohio before applying and that the program meets the standards set by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board. For more information about MSW programs, visit our Online MSW Programs page.
Registered Nurses (RNs) who want to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree online from a school located in Ohio have a number of options. Ohio State, Cleveland State, Kent State, and the University of Cincinnati are among the state schools that offer online MSN degree programs. Cedarville University, a private university located in the Dayton metropolitan area, also offers an online MSN program.
The Ohio State MSN program offers several NP specializations online, as well as a program for Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs) and nurse anesthetists. It has pathways for RNs with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and for RNs with a non-nursing bachelor's degree.
The University of Cincinnati also has pathways for RNs with a BSN and RNs with a non-nursing bachelor's degree. It provides MSN training in nurse midwifery, and in various types of Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializations. And the Kent State online MSN program offers training in nursing administration and nursing education, as well as in a number of NP specializations.
There are many out-of-state schools offering online MSN degree programs that RNs in Ohio may want to explore. Seton Hall University, Maryville University, and Duquesne University are among the regional out-of-state schools that offer MSN degree programs online. Seton Hall's program includes a Health Systems Administration specialization and an Adult-Gerontology Primary and Acute Care NP specialization. Maryville's program includes the following specializations: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP (AGPCNP); Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP (AGACNP); Pediatric NP (PNP); and Psychiatric Mental Health NP (PMHNP). Duquesne's program includes MSN online specializations in Nursing Education, Forensic Nursing, and Transcultural Nursing.
Note: Many online MSN programs require students to complete clinical hours in order to qualify for licensure. Students considering an out-of-state program should confirm that the program accepts students from Ohio before applying.
There are several options for earning a master's in accounting online through a school located in Ohio. Ohio University offers a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree program online through its College of Business, which includes bridge program for students who do not hold a bachelor's degree in accounting. Miami University has a Master of Professional Accounting degree program that is offered online with tracks for students with a bachelor's in accounting and students with a bachelor's degree in another field. Miami University also has a specialized track for students who want to prepare for CPA licensure. And Franklin University is one of the private schools in Ohio with a master's in accounting program that is offered online.
The University of Akron offers an online Master of Taxation program for experienced accountants and attorneys and others who want advanced training in conceptual and technical aspects of state and federal tax systems. The University of Cincinnati has a Master of Science (MS) in Taxation that is offered online and that can be completed in 12-24 months depending on the format.
Students in Ohio may also want to explore several out-of-state options for earning a master's in accounting online. For students with a graduate degree in accounting, Seton Hall University offers an online Master of Science in Professional Accounting (MSPA) degree program and an online MS in Accounting, which is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than accounting. The University of Scranton, a private Jesuit and Catholic research university in Pennsylvania, offers a MAcc degree program online that includes an optional bridge program for students who did not major in accounting as an undergraduate.
Ohio University offers a range of online master's degree programs for students in the field of education. The university's Patton College of Education has two online master's degree programs for students interested in pursuing a career in administration at the college and university level: a Master's in Higher Education and a Master's in College Student Personnel (CSP). The Patton College also offers a number of other master's programs in education online in the following areas: Coaching Education; Curriculum and Instruction; Early Childhood; Special Education; and Reading Education.
The Ohio State College of Education and Human Ecology offers an online Master of Learning Technologies and an online Master of Arts (MA) in Art Education. Kent State offers a Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Technology program online, as well as online MEd degrees in Special Education and Evaluation and Measurement, and an online MA in Art Education. The university also has an online Master in Music (MM) degree program with a specialization in Music Education.
Wright State University has several specialized degree programs in education that are offered online, including an MEd in Instructional Design for Digital Learning, and MEd programs that provide training for school principals and superintendents. The university also offers an online MEd in Curriculum and Instruction for K-12 teachers.
Ashland University features an online master's in education program that includes MEd degree programs in Adult Education, Educational Leadership, and Curriculum and Instruction. The MEd in Curriculum and Instruction offered by Ashland includes specializations in Educational Technology, Reading and Literacy Instruction, Intervention Specialist, and Talent Development Education.
Ohio residents who want to earn a master's in education online may also want to explore several out-of-state schools that have programs in this field, including Penn State World Campus and Purdue University Online. Penn State World Campus offers MEd degree programs in the following specializations: Curriculum and Instruction; Earth Sciences; Educational Leadership; Higher Education; Learning, Design, and Technology; Adult Education; and Special Education. Penn State World Campus also offers an online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Art Education. Purdue University Online offers MS in Education programs with specializations in Curriculum and Instruction, Learning Design and Technology, and Special Education.
Note: Online master's in education and teaching programs may include supervised internships, practicums, and/or observation hours, depending on the program and the area of specialization. For students who are not already licensed, these supervised classroom hours may be required for state licensure. Ohio residents considering online programs offered by out-of-state schools should check to make sure the programs accept applicants from Ohio and, if needed, check with their state licensing board for specific requirements for licensure.
There are several options for Ohio residents who want to earn an in-state, online master's degree in healthcare management/administration. The University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Science and Carl H. Lindner College of Business offer an online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program designed to prepare students for managerial leadership positions in hospitals and other healthcare organizations. Ohio University offers an online MHA program that allows students to take one course per seven-week term and still graduate in two years.
Ohio residents have numerous options for earning a master's in healthcare administration from schools outside of the state that offer online programs. The Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins University offers an online MS in Healthcare Management that draws on the resources of the university's schools of medicine, nursing, and public health. The University of Scranton also has an online MHA program that accepts students from Ohio.
Students in Ohio can earn a master's degree in finance online from Ohio University. The Ohio University's Master of Financial Economic (MFE) degree program provides applied training in banking, investment instruments, portfolio management, and insurance products. There are also numerous out-of-state schools that offer master's in finance degree programs online. Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University both offer the MS in Finance degree programs online, and Georgetown has an MPS in Real Estate program that is offered online.
Students interested in studying counseling and psychology at the master's degree level through an online program in Ohio may want to explore the University of Cincinnati's Behavioral Analysis Graduate Program, which offers an online MEd in Foundation of Behavioral Analysis degree. This program is not the same as a master's in counseling program but it does provide training in the application of behavioral analysis theories and practices to work in schools and child services agencies.
There are, however, a number of options that Ohio residents have for online master's in counseling programs, including program offered by Northwestern University, Bradley University, and Antioch University. Through its affiliated Family Institute, Northwestern offers an online MA in Counseling. Bradley University, which has its main campus in Peoria, IL, offers an online MA in Counseling with two tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and Professional School Counseling (PSC). Antioch University offers an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) online through its New England campus.
Note: Accredited online master's in counseling programs generally include a minimum of 500 to 700 hours of supervised clinical experience, which is typically required by state licensing boards. As a result, Ohio residents researching programs offered by out-of-state schools should confirm they accept applicants from Ohio and that the programs will fulfill the requirements for licensure in Ohio before applying.
Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs offers an on online Master of Public Administration degree program that has two areas of concentration that students can choose between: Public Leadership and Management, and Non-Profit Management. Another option for students interested in earning an MPA online through a school in the University System of Ohio is Kent State University, which offers a flexible online MPA program designed for working professionals through its Department of Political Science. Franklin University in Ohio offers an online MPA program that can be completed in 17 months of full-time enrollment. It features three optional concentrations: Criminal Justice Administration, Healthcare Administration, and Human Resource Management.
Out-of-state options include Johns Hopkins, which has an MA in public management program that is offered online. It is designed to accommodate working professionals in government and in the non-profit sector by allowing students to enroll full-time or part-time. The College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University offers an online MPA program that features five optional concentrations: Health Policy and Management; Nonprofit Organization Management; Public Service Leadership, Governance and Policy; and Data Visualization and Analytics. And American University in Washington, DC has an online Master of Public Policy & Administration (MPAP) that is offered online.
The College of Health at Kent State University has an online Master of Public Health (MPH) program that offers students two optional areas of concentration: Health Policy and Management (HPM), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS). The HPM concentration focuses on strategies for designing and financing public health projects, while the SBS explores how social, behavioral, and environmental factors impact the implementation public health policy.
There are also many out-of-state schools that offer online MPH programs, including Purdue University, Benedictine University in Chicago, and Creighton University in Omaha, NE. The Purdue University Online's MPH program includes a concentration in Family and Community Health and a Public Health Practicum experience. The Benedictine program gives students the option of earning one or more of four professional certifications in conjunction with their MPH degree by taking elective coursework in health management and policy, emergency preparedness, health education, and/or epidemiology. And the Creighton online MPH program has a Healthcare Management concentration that includes coursework that counts toward a graduate certificate in healthcare management, and a Health Policy and Ethics concentration with coursework that counts toward a graduate certificate in healthcare ethics.