Purdue’s online graduate programs make Forbes’ list of Best Online Master’s Programs for Service Members

Purdue University’s catalogue of online master’s programs recently made Forbes’ 2026 list for Best Online Master’s Programs for Military Service Members. To create the list, Forbes evaluated over 3,600 schools and considered factors such as affordability, student outcomes and student experience.

Purdue was ranked the most affordable school on the list. In their justification article, Forbes found that Purdue was over $1,500 less expensive than the next most affordable institution, Texas A&M University – College Station. They also noted that Purdue offers a wide variety of online master’s programs in high-demand fields like engineering, education, business and health care, and that many online programs are GI Bill approved. Additionally, Purdue’s graduate program application fee is waived for active-duty service members.

“Being recognized by Forbes as a top online master’s provider for military service members reflects Purdue University’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible education,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, senior vice president for partnerships and online at Purdue. “We are especially proud to be named the most affordable institution on the list, ensuring that those who have served our country can pursue advanced degrees in high-demand fields without compromising on value or academic excellence.”

In addition to online master’s degrees and graduate certificates in business, engineering and more, Purdue also offers fully online doctoral degrees like its Doctor of Technology program, as well as an online associate degree in veterinary technology. All of Purdue’s online programs meet military learners where they are by providing flexibility and ease of access, and some of them were designed with military learners in mind, like the new Master of Science in Strategy in Security and Defense Technologies and online Graduate Certificate in Strategic Defense Technologies. Both programs are aligned with Purdue’s innovative FORCES Initiative, which promotes research and education related to decision making in national security and defense.

“FORCES is one of the educational engines behind Purdue’s defense innovation work, connecting strategy, technology and the social sciences in a way that is both rigorous and practical,” said Sorin Matei, Purdue University professor and director of the FORCES Initiative.

“Our MS program is competency-based and experiential by design: students build the strategic, analytical and ethical capacities that matter in the real world, then demonstrate them through applied projects and capstone work tied to authentic defense challenges.”

Purdue also offers an online professional development certificate in strategic defense and a strategic defense concentration in its online Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering program. These programs provide service members with multiple avenues to grow their careers and build skills in leadership, engineering, strategy and more— all at an affordable price point.

“Since our founding, Purdue has supported those who serve the Nation,” said Kelvin Gumbs, executive director of military education and strategic partnerships at Purdue. “Access and affordability matter because they directly enable readiness, allowing uniformed personnel to gain a high-quality education during and after service, ultimately strengthening the force and the nation.”

From its founding to the present day, Purdue University has built a military legacy defined by supporting service members and their families in accessing educational opportunities and making giant leaps. Purdue holds a Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana Award — Indiana’s highest distinction for supporting service members.

In total, Purdue offers over 150 online master’s degrees, graduate certificates, microcredentials and professional development courses. Online graduate programs are designed and delivered from Purdue’s West Lafayette, Indiana flagship campus, and taught by the same faculty who teach on campus.

For more information on Purdue’s online graduate programs, certificates and professional development courses, visit the university’s online program webpage.