For busy professionals and working parents, an online master’s degree program can offer flexibility and opportunity without major disruptions. UW Online Collaboratives features programs that support students at every stage of life, whether you’re advancing your career, changing fields, or pursuing a lifelong goal.
Here are some of the key advantages of completing your master’s degree online:
Learning That Fits Your Life
By being able to study anytime and anywhere, your learning can take place beyond the classroom. You won’t need to attend lectures at specific times in most cases, and you can complete weekly coursework on your own schedule. This flexibility was especially valuable for Britni Adams, a student in the MS in Healthcare Administration who has been taking courses while raising her children.
“Everyone’s trying to feed their family but also spend time with their family,” she said. “Or they’re trying to get ahead in their career, but then they’re trying to do this. You don’t have to just pick one. This program is so well-designed to tailor to your personal life and help you achieve your goals.”
Your instructors are also available for support during the busier moments in your life.
“These online courses can move pretty quickly,” said Lisa Grubisha, an instructor in the MS in Applied Biotechnology. “If people are working full-time and if they have a family, especially with small children, they can get caught up in their daily life. I try to make sure that students are staying on track, and I feel like that’s my role, too: making sure that I reach out to students.”
Career Progress Without Pause
Earning a master’s degree doesn’t mean putting your career on hold. Online programs allow you to continue working full-time while advancing your education. In Sierra Erdmann’s case, she completed the MS in Data Science while transitioning from teaching K-12 math to becoming a data analyst.
“Finding this program that I could work on in the evenings, on the weekends around teaching, that I could do at my own pace and not have to go full-time—that was awesome,” she said.
Better yet, many students are able to apply what they’re learning in courses to their current roles and increase their impact at work.
“Many skills from the program have been immediately applicable to my job,” said Marty Weninger, a student in the MS in Information Technology Management and Teaching, Learning and Technology Specialist at UW-Stout. “For example, I used my finance knowledge during staff senate activities and innovation projects. The communication skills I gained have improved my training sessions with staff, and I recently developed a full-day seminar on teaching AI skills to professors.”
Cost-Effectiveness
By staying in your current job and not having to commute to class or pay for on-campus housing, an online master’s degree program can be a more realistic option than a traditional in-person program when going back to school. For Information Technology Management graduate Elizabeth Garfoot, who gave birth during the program, staying close to home made earning her degree possible.
“I had such high hopes, high faith in the Universities of Wisconsin, and I’m in super rural southwest Wisconsin,” she said. “So if I can stay in my home area, keep working for my same company and still be able to get my degree, that was the trifecta. That’d be perfect. It fit my lifestyle, fit my budget, all the boxes. It really worked out for me.”
Tuition costs are the same whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state, and, in most cases, there are no additional course or program fees. This was a major benefit for Austin Hagerty when he chose to enroll in the MS in Data Science program.
“Many [data science programs] were incredibly expensive,” he said. “And for an online program, it didn’t make sense to invest $60,000 or $70,000 just to have the university name. Instead, I prioritized quality and program value. Reputation was also important, and UW has a fantastic reputation.”
Get Program Guide
Learn more about our 100% online degree and certificate programs.
Expand Your Network
Online master’s degree programs can connect you with classmates from around the world. Some programs, like the MS in Data Science, have had students from 45 states and over 20 countries, giving you access to a diverse student body.
By meeting others through online discussions, videos, and emails, many of our alumni have built extensive personal and professional networks. Jason Muljadi, a graduate of the MS in Applied Biotechnology, made the most of his experience by engaging with classmates.
“Everybody here is really friendly, and they are in different aspects of biotech, which is great in itself—just the diversity and the breadth of this group of students that we have here,” he said. “You can really network with them and get to know their experience. And I think, in time, it’ll help to shape your experiences as well.”
UW Online Collaboratives master’s degree programs conclude with a final project that gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and showcase their skills to employers. Whether it’s a capstone or thesis, the project can help you grow in your current role or prepare you for a career change.
Accreditation and Recognition
With courses featuring faculty from program partner campuses, you’ll receive the same high-quality education that you would on campus. Our online master’s degree programs are approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Accreditation ensures your degree meets academic standards and that the skills you gain are valued by employers.
“University of Wisconsin knows how to develop degree programs that count,” said Sheilah Fondren, a graduate of the MS in Cybersecurity. “A UW degree is not a piece of paper from a diploma factory. Earning a degree from UW was a no-brainer for me.”
Access to a Wide Range of Programs
UW Online Collaboratives features master’s degrees in healthcare, technology, management, and more. For MS in Health and Wellness Management student Garrett Stangel, returning to school marked the start of a new beginning for him and his health coaching business.
“I really was coming up on the end of what feels like this chapter,” he said. “My kids are now officially out of the house, and so I took this opportunity to use graduate school to do a little reinvention of myself and to look at my business differently to see what that should look like coming forward.”
If you’re looking to further your career or discover new opportunities, UW Online Collaboratives has a program to support your goals.
Explore Our Master’s Degree Programs:
- MS in Applied Biotechnology
- MS in Biodiversity Conservation and Management
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- MS in Cybersecurity
- MS in Data Science
- MS in Health and Wellness Management
- MS in Healthcare Administration
- MS in Information Technology Management
- MS in Sustainable Management
To learn more about our programs, talk to an enrollment adviser at 1-608-800-6762 or learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.