As an education hub ranked among the top 10 emerging cities for new college grads (Forbes), Louisville offers abundant opportunities for graduate education across diverse fields. Louisville is home to several highly regarded universities catering to ambitious students seeking a masters degree to accelerate their careers.
Whether you want to transition into healthcare, business, education, engineering or another high-demand field, Louisville has a program to fit your goals. This definitive guide provides an in-depth overview of the most popular masters programs available at Louisville‘s top-ranked institutions.
Understanding Masters Program Options in Louisville
Over 25,000 graduate and professional students are enrolled across universities in Louisville (U.S News). According to data from Louisville Graduate Research Consortium, the most popular fields of study include:
- Engineering (27% of graduate students)
- Health Professions (19%)
- Business (12%)
- Education (8%)
- Arts & Humanities (8%)
Within these broad disciplines, you can find specialized masters programs to build expertise in areas from data science to nursing education, medical physics to nonprofit leadership.
While masters programs were traditionally delivered via on-campus education, many now feature online components or are fully online, enhancing flexibility. Typical program formats include:
- Full-time on campus: Complete the masters in 1-2 years through intensive, on-campus study
- Part-time on-campus: Progress at a slower pace by taking 1-2 evening/weekend classes per semester while working
- Online: Enjoy flexibility through asynchronous or live online classes and minimal visits to campus
- Hybrid: Blend online and on-campus learning, often with online lectures and in-person labs/practicums
I will overview popular online and on-campus masters as well as hybrid programs available at leading Louisville institutions.
Top Masters Programs at the University of Louisville
As a major public research university, the University of Louisville (UofL) offers over 50 masters degrees across several disciplines. We will explore some standout options:
UofL Speed School of Engineering
UofL‘s Speed School of Engineering enjoys a sterling reputation ranked #1 Regional College for Veterans in the South (U.S News). Speed School offers 10 masters programs including:
Master of Engineering in Bioengineering
- Format: On-campus and online
- Duration: 1-5 years
- Cost: $855 per credit hour
- Admissions: Resume, personal statement, 2 letters of recommendation, GRE scores
This 30 credit hour program fuses engineering with biology/life sciences. You gain specialized training in areas like biomechanics, biomaterials, medical devices and regenerative medicine to develop therapeutic solutions. According to UofL, 100% of recent bioengineering graduates entered high-paying careers or continued to doctoral programs.
Master of Science in Computer Science
- Format: On-campus
- Duration: 2 years
- Cost: $855 per credit hour
- Admissions: 3.0 GPA, GRE, resume, essay, letters of recommendation
Develop advanced software engineering and computing skills tailored to industry demand through technical electives in cybersecurity, big data, game development, VR, intelligent systems and more. Benefit from small class sizes (less than 30 students) and opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research. Within 6 months of graduating, 87% of computer science masters students secure full-time employment with median starting salaries of $71,250 (UofL data).
UofL College of Education and Human Development
UofL offers over 20 masters degrees through the College of Education and Human Development spanning areas from teacher education to higher education administration and sport administration.
Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration
- Format: Online and low-residency
- Duration: 2 years
- Cost: $570 per credit hour
- Admissions requirements: Resume, goal statement, 2 letters of recommendation
Develop leadership and policy expertise to advance your higher education career through strategic enrollment management, fundraising, student services and more. Benefit from a balanced curriculum integrating theory and practice. Graduates have secured administrative positions at higher education institutions across Kentucky and beyond.
Master of Education in Special Education
- Format: Online and hybrid options
- Duration: 1-2 years
- Cost: $570 per credit hour
- Admissions: Teaching license, 3.0 GPA, GRE/MAT scores, essay
Prepare for Kentucky teaching certification in Special Education through pedagogical coursework and supervised field work tailored to teaching children with special needs. Build competencies in assessing student needs, designing accommodations, employing assistive technologies, and differentiating instruction for diverse learners. Pave the path to a rewarding career improving outcomes for students with learning, emotional, physical or developmental disabilities.
Graduate Business and Leadership Degrees at Bellarmine University
Boasting an 18:1 student-faculty ratio, Bellarmine University fosters rich mentoring relationships while offering intimate classroom settings. For working professionals, Bellarmine provides flexible and accelerated business, nursing and education masters programs including:
Flex MBA Program
- Format: Low-residency hybrid
- Duration: 16 months
- Cost: $23,400 total
- Admissions requirements: Resume, GMAT score, interview
Designed for professionals with 3-5 years of work experience, Bellamine‘s Flex MBA allows you to maintain your career while earning an MBA on your schedule. You‘ll attend monthly in-person class sessions on Fridays and Saturdays with online coursework in between. With personalized academic and career advising, you can customize your Flex MBA by choosing electives in areas like marketing analytics, healthcare administration and accounting. Within 6 months of completing the program, 100% of Flex MBA graduates secure full-time managerial employment or promotions with average salary lifts of 11.7% (Bellarmine data).
Master of Arts in Leadership Studies
- Format: Online
- Duration: 1-2 years
- Cost: $550 per credit hour
- Admissions requirements: Bachelor‘s degree, 2 letters of recommendation
Strengthen capabilities in ethical leadership, critical thinking and facilitation skills for public, private and nonprofit sector roles through this 30-credit online masters program. Learn how to drive organizational change through evidence-based qualitative and quantitative research. Graduates emerge prepared for leadership or project management careers with 95% employed in the field within 6 months (Bellarmine).
Accelerating Career Success through Sullivan University‘s Professional Masters Programs
Focused squarely on empowering student to succeed as professionals, Sullivan University offers specialized masters degrees blending business fundamentals with tailored technical skills across growing industries:
MS in Cybersecurity Management
- Format: Online and on-campus options
- Duration: 12-16 months
- Cost: $11,418 per semester (full-time)
- Admissions requirements: Bachelor‘s degree, 3.0 GPA
Develop cybersecurity mastery covering threat assessment, data protection, compliance policies and access controls tailored for high-level decision-makers. Aligned with National Security Agency guidelines, Sullivan‘s MS in Cybersecurity fast-tracks you for leadership roles driving information security initiatives across the public and private sector. The program has a job placement rate of 86%.
MS in Hospitality & Tourism Management
- Format: On-campus
- Duration: 18 months
- Cost: $11,418 per semester (full-time)
- Admissions requirements: Hospitality/business resume, bachelor‘s degree
Bringing together business savvy with hospitality operations and marketing, this specialized masters turns professionals into strategic senior-level leaders for hotels, event management firms, tourist destinations and more. Develop fluency analyzing data, managing resources, forecasting and budgeting while honing your ability to delight guests. With the global tourism industry projected to continue record growth post-pandemic (World Travel & Tourism Council), this degree prepares you to capitalize on unprecedented opportunities.
Finding Your Perfect Program Match
Whether seeking accelerated leadership development or a deeper specialization driving innovation, Louisville offers first-rate masters programs across highly sought-after fields. As you evaluate options:
- Research program curriculum, faculty expertise and career outcomes
- Compare program format and flexibility to fit your needs
- Prioritize affordability by understanding tuition rates plus scholarship and assistantship opportunities
- Connect directly with current students and alumni to gauge student experience
- Align programs not just to interests but longer-term goals
Take time to explore all Louisville has to offer. The right masters program can deliver immense professional and personal rewards contributing to lifelong success.