Going to grad school could be the key to pursuing the career of your dreams. Holding a graduate degree is recommended for many roles, and absolutely essential for others. You’ll not only be able to advance your career and secure better pay and benefits, but you’ll also become a specialist in your field.
Whether you’re planning to go to grad school directly after completing your bachelor’s or are looking to go back to school to further your career, you’ll need to plan your studies.
So, how long is grad school? Or, how long does it take to get a master’s degree? If you’re like most aspiring grad school students, you probably also want to know if there’s any way you can finish your masters or PhD faster than average.
We’ll cover the answers to all these questions and more in this article, so keep reading!
How Long is Grad School & How Can I Complete my Master’s Degree Faster?
In today’s hyper-competitive job market, the demand for master’s degrees has grown significantly. According to a report by Statista, 833,710 students pursued a master’s in the 2020-2021 academic year in the US, and this figure is expected to expand to 849,000 students in 2027-2028.
There’s no denying that having an advanced degree comes with a set of advantages. For starters, it gives you a leg up in the job market and allows you to stand out from other candidates. More than this, a graduate program allows you to develop a range of skills, from critical thinking to advanced research skills, while becoming an expert in your field.
The good news is that it’s never too late to go to grad school. You don’t necessarily have to quit your job or abandon your business to enroll in a graduate program. In fact, it is easier than ever to enroll in a graduate program, with many institutions offering cost-effective, flexible, and comprehensive programs in a wide range of fields.
In many cases, these programs include online and part-time options which allow you to continue working while furthering your education.
Average Graduate Program Lengths
There is no set answer to the question how many years a master’s degree is, or how long it takes to get a PhD. The length of your master’s or PhD program can vary depending on the institution, field, the program, and factors specific to your situation — however, there are some general rules dictating how long grad school will take.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Master’s Degree?
In most cases, it takes around two years to complete a master’s program, depending on the field.
Some master’s courses are longer than others:
- Most MBA (business school) courses run for two years, but there are some accelerated business school programs that you can complete in just a year.
- Most law degrees take three years to finish and you’ll also find accelerated two-year law courses.
- You should allow four years to finish your medicine, dental, or pharmacy degree, not including your residency post-graduation.
- Across other fields, most graduate programs take between 1.5 and two years.
There are also some specific factors that can influence the length of your graduate program, which we’ll cover later in this article.
How Long Does it Take to Get a PhD?
A PhD is the highest level of academic qualification available at most institutions and involves an extremely in-depth level of study on a specific topic. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that this is the longest type of graduate degree.
According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, the median time that students took to finish a doctorate was 5.8 years in 2019. This varies depending on the program and individual student, with most students taking between five and seven years to finish their PhD, and some taking up to eight years.
In all cases, there’s no denying that a PhD involves a huge time commitment!
What Factors Impact on Grad School Length?
There are a range of other factors that might affect the length of your grad program. These can make the difference between you spending two years at grad school, while your friend may be able to graduate in one and a half. By being aware of these factors, you may even be able to graduate sooner and launch your dream career faster.
Program Credit Requirements
When choosing a grad school, be sure to check the number of credits that the program curriculum requires. The more credits needed to complete the program, the longer it will take you to get your degree. As with many factors, the number of credit hours you’ll need to complete your graduate degree varies between institutions and programs. However, most masters programs require between 30 and 40 hours of course study.
Credit hours are important because they have a major impact on the length of your program and how soon you can graduate.
For example, a master’s degree in financial accounting that requires 30 credit hours of study will take around one year to complete. On the other hand, you’ll need around two years to finish a master’s degree in business administration with 60 hours of course study.
Therefore, looking at the program’s credit hours will give you a good idea of the length of the program.
Part-time vs Full-time Enrollment
Some institutions give students the freedom to decide their pace of study. This means if you are balancing your studies with work you may take three to four years to complete your master’s degree, while other students could finish the same program in a year and a half by studying full time.
This is good news for professionals as well as anyone with family commitments, as this flexibility allows you to balance your work and/or personal life while furthering your education. On the other hand, if you want to finish your course as soon as possible, you can concentrate fully on your studies and complete as many credits as you can each semester.
However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll necessarily be able to take as much time as you like. Unlike undergraduate degrees, most institutions set a time limit for their graduate courses, and you’ll need to finish your studies within this time.
For example, at Brown you need to finish your master’s degree within five years, while students at Stanford must finish their masters within three years, with some exceptions.
Online Learning
Traditional master’s programs are no longer suitable for many students, and so many institutions have started offering master’s degrees online or via distance education. With an online grad school, you can enroll in a leading institute anywhere in the world, attend the classes online, and receive your graduate degree. There are hybrid learning opportunities that allow students to attend lectures both online and onsite.
Both online and hybrid learning options give you a high level of convenience and flexibility, which may mean that you are able to complete your studies in a shorter period of time. You could use this flexibility to fit your studies around work or family commitments, or you may be able to complete more credit hours and finish your degree sooner.
How Long is Grad School Conclusion
We hope you now have a better idea about how long is grad school and how long it takes to get a master’s degree or PhD. Your selected program and institution go a long way to determine the length of your graduation program. Additionally, you’ll need to consider the credit requirements, as well as whether you’re studying part-time or full-time. By studying online you may also be able to complete your studies sooner.
It’s important to consider the length of the program before you decide on your grad school. If you want to use grad school to launch your career or further your existing career, no doubt you want to finish your studies as soon as possible and get started! However, although the length of the program is important, it is even more critical to make sure you choose the best grad school for you, regardless of how long it takes!
If you want to learn more about grad school, check out our ultimate guide to grad school.

Lisa Marlin
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.