Imagine launching a high-paying career without ever stepping foot on a traditional campus. We have got a list of the best online degrees that make this a reality. Here's a realistic list of the top online degrees that pay well, including both bachelor’s and master’s programs. These rankings consider the difficulty of each program and the job opportunities available after graduation. These are degrees you could confidently recommend to a friend or relative for career success, focusing on those commonly completed through e-learning.
High-Paying Degrees Online
Online degrees that pay well create abundant job opportunities, often because the supply of graduates is less than the demand. Cybersecurity and HR are two areas where high demand leads to good employment and pay outcomes for graduates. Marketing, Finance, and IT are fields where graduates with strong grades can also do very well.
1. Cyber Security
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is skyrocketing. An online degree in Cybersecurity develops skills to protect networks, systems, and data from cyber-attacks. This is one of the online degrees that pays well and offers outstanding job prospects.
Job titles: Information Security Analyst, Cyber Security Manager
Difficulty rating: Medium. Cybersecurity degrees are widely available and have relatively moderate entry standards.
Average openings per year: 10,000+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for Information Security Analysts in 2023 is $120,360 per year.
2. Human Resources Management
Human Resources (HR) Management is a core function in almost every organisation. HR managers build and coordinate the workforce. An online HR Management degree covers employee relations, recruitment, and strategic planning. Students develop general business skills while focusing on how to manage personnel effectively, making it an online degree that pays well.
Job titles: HR Manager, Compensation and Benefits Manager, Training and Development Manager
Difficulty rating: Easy. HR degrees are often part of broader business programs and do not require many technical courses.
Average openings per year: 7,000+
The median pay for Human Resources Managers is $136,350 per year, according to the BLS.
3. Marketing
Marketing is an online degree that pays well and prepares you to work in fields such as advertising, digital marketing, and market research. In online marketing programs, you learn about consumer behaviour, marketing strategies, and digital marketing tools.
Job titles: Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist
Difficulty rating: Easy. Business programs have moderate entry standards, and marketing is not an especially difficult business major
Average openings per year:.20,000+
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers have a median pay of $156,580 per year.
4. Finance
A degree in Finance is an online degree that pays well and can open doors to lucrative careers in banking, investment, and corporate finance. Online finance programs cover subjects like financial analysis, investment strategies, and risk management.
Job titles: Financial Analyst, Investment Banker, Financial Manager
Difficulty rating: Hard. The finance job market is lucrative but competitive, and high grades are needed to utilise the degree fully
Average openings per year: 15,000+
Financial Analysts have a median annual salary of $99,890.
5. Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) is a broad field with numerous high-paying career opportunities. This online degree that pays well covers topics like software development, network administration, and systems analysis.
Job titles: Software Developer, IT Manager, Network Architect
Difficulty rating: Medium. IT degrees are widely available and typically have moderate entry standards. Not all students are suited to the technical demands of this degree.
Average openings per year: 25,000+
Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers have a median pay of $130,160 per year.
Highest Paid Masters Degrees
You can’t go past an MBA for high-paying degrees since business schools run these programs as essentially finishing courses for managers and executives. Likewise, degrees in healthcare and construction management are high-paying. Other online degrees that pay well at the master’s level are psychology and business or data analytics.
1. MBA
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a versatile online degrees that pay well and can lead to executive and management positions across industries. Online MBA programs typically cover subjects such as leadership, finance, marketing, and strategic management.
Job titles: General Manager, Operations Manager, Business Consultant
Difficulty rating: Medium. Some programs have high entrance standards, but generally, an MBA is accessible to many students. No business background is required.
Average openings per year: 30,000+
General and Operations Managers had a median salary of $101,280 per year in 2023.
2. Health Administration
A Master's in Health Administration (MHA) prepares students for management roles in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics. The online degree that pays well covers healthcare policies, management principles, and health services administration.
Job titles: Health Services Manager, Hospital Administrator, Healthcare Consultant
Difficulty rating: Easy. The degree is structured as a standard management course, making it accessible to health workers.
Average openings per year: 5,000+
Medical and Health Services Managers have a median pay of $110,680 per year.
3. Construction Management
A Master's in Construction Management develops skills to oversee construction projects, manage teams, and ensure project completion within budget and on schedule. This online degree that pays well covers topics like project management, construction law, and sustainable building practices.
Job titles: Construction Manager, Project Manager, Site Manager
Difficulty rating: Easy. This degree is structured as a standard management course, focusing on the construction industry.
Average openings per year: 3,000+
The BLS estimates that Construction Managers have a median pay of $104,900 annually.
4. Psychology
A Master's in Psychology offers advanced knowledge in human behaviour, research methods, and clinical practice. This online degree that pays well can lead to careers in clinical psychology, counselling, and mental health services. You need a strong foundation in undergraduate psychology studies to qualify for entry.
Job titles: Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist
Difficulty rating: Hard. These programs are academically rigorous, typically admitting only high-performing psychology students.
Average openings per year: 4,000+
Psychologists have a median pay of $92,740 per year, according to the BLS.
5. Business Analytics
A Master's in Business Analytics teaches students how to analyse data and make data-driven decisions. The curriculum covers data analysis, statistical methods, and business intelligence tools. It’s one of the online certificate programs that pay well.
Job titles: Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Manager
Difficulty rating: Medium. While technically challenging in parts, it is generally easier than degrees in data science.
Average openings per year: 8,000+
Management Analysts have an annual median pay of $99,410.
Methodology
We looked at salary data for common jobs you can get with each degree and picked out the ones that pay well. We also made sure to knock off points for degrees that are super hard or don’t have great job prospects for most people.
To get a feel for how tough each program is, we talked to Dr. Andrew Lancaster from Lerna Courses. He observed that bachelor's degrees are relatively easy when the entry requirements are modest.
For master’s programs, Dr. Lancaster stated that “courses tend to be easier when they are for general professional development or career switching. Advanced preparation courses in fields such as psychology and data science tend to be harder.” He considers MBA degrees to be straightforward, with the main challenge normally being time management.
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Easy Online Degrees that Pay Well
One of the easier online degrees that pay well is Human Resources Management. This business degree typically contains few technical courses. HR Managers are highly paid and need a relevant degree. According to O*NET OnLine, about 74 per cent of employers require a bachelor’s degree for HR manager positions.
Cybersecurity degrees are well-remunerated and highly doable if you are technically minded and persistent. Marketing is another easy online degree that pays well and produces high pay rates at senior levels.
Master’s degrees in fields like Construction Management and Health Administration are also worth considering. Like MBAs, these programs develop managerial skills and may have limited technical content.
High-Paying Degrees Not Offered Online
An online degree that pays well would not be sufficient to become a nurse, engineer, or dentist, for example. Hence, the lists above avoid degrees where professional, qualifying courses require on-campus attendance.
1. Engineering Degrees
Engineering degrees, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, are known for high salaries and strong job prospects. These programs typically require hands-on labs and in-person collaboration, making them less suited to online formats.
2. Nursing
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares students for registered nursing positions, which are in high demand and offer competitive salaries. Due to the extensive clinical practice requirements, nursing programs are primarily offered on campus.
3. Dentistry
A degree in Dentistry leads to a career as a dentist, one of the highest-paying professions. Dental programs involve significant hands-on training and clinical experience, necessitating on-campus study.
