How many years does it take to earn a master's degree?

The specific length of a master's degree varies, but it normally takes one to three years of full-time study. In the education and business fields, two years is a common time frame. In humanities programs, it can take one to three years to finish a master's degree.

Not all students take a master's program full-time. Some, especially in business, complete their degrees part-time while working full-time. It may take closer to three to five years to finish a master's program part-time. A fast-track option is to complete a five-year program that combines a bachelor's degree and a master's degree into one.