Best Online Art History Master’s Degree Programs in 2026: Our Top Picks

Key Takeaways:

• ​Only a small number of schools currently offer an accredited online art history master’s degree, so the pool of legitimate options is narrow by design.
• Estimated program costs for the two programs below range from about $17,945 to $23,300, with no separate out-of-state pricing at either school.
• The right fit depends less on the program title and more on whether the curriculum supports museum work, teaching, or further doctoral study.

Choosing a graduate program in art history is trickier than it looks on paper. Two schools can offer what sounds like the same degree, yet one prepares you for a museum career while the other leans toward theory and criticism. GetEducated has spent years helping students sort through exactly this kind of confusion, maintaining a directory of accredited art and liberal arts master’s programs so you can compare options instead of guessing. Here’s what’s actually available right now, and what to check before you commit.

Comparing the Programs

Right now, there are two accredited schools offering a fully online art history master’s degree: one from Lindenwood University and one from Azusa Pacific University. Both run 36 credits, and both are delivered 100% online, but they lead in noticeably different directions. Here’s a side-by-side look before we get into specifics.

Lindenwood University: Master of Arts in Art History & Visual Culture

Lindenwood’s program looks at how artwork has been made and understood across different eras, covering both traditional and modern approaches to visual culture. It’s built for students who want breadth rather than a narrow focus on one period.

• Credits: 36
• Estimated Cost: $17,945
• Format: 100% Online
• Admission: Bachelor’s degree, official transcripts, resume, and statement of purpose
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Electives cover ground like Baroque art, the history of photography, and the history of costume and fashion design, so you can shape the degree around what actually interests you. Past graduates have gone on to work as archivists, museum curators, art directors, and art teachers.

Azusa Pacific University: Master of Arts in Modern & Contemporary Art History

Azusa Pacific takes a narrower, more focused approach centered on modern and contemporary art. The program blends art history with theory and criticism, and it’s taught through a Christian worldview, which is worth knowing going in if that framework matters to your decision.

• Credits: 36
• Estimated Cost: $23,300
• Format: 100% Online
• Admission: Bachelor’s degree, transcripts, letters of recommendation, resume, and statement of purpose
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission

Coursework moves past basic appreciation and into scholarly analysis, which makes this a reasonable stepping stone if you’re eyeing a doctorate later. Graduates have gone on to work as museum educators, auction house managers, curators, and postsecondary teachers. You can review current costs on APU’s tuition and fees page before you apply.

Match the Program to Your Career Goal

The catalog description rarely tells you what matters most: what the program actually requires you to do. Some programs lean toward original research, while others are built around coursework alone with no thesis or residency requirement. That structural difference matters more than the degree title.

• If you want to work in museums: Curator and archivist roles typically call for a master’s in art history or museum studies, so look for coursework in collections management, archives, or public history, and ask whether internship access is built in. GetEducated’s guide to online museum studies master’s programs covers a related path worth comparing against a straight art history degree.
• If you want to teach: An art history master’s is not a teaching license on its own. If a classroom is the goal, GetEducated’s art education master’s guide breaks down how a licensure-focused degree differs from a general art history MA.
• If you’re aiming for research or a PhD: prioritize a program with a thesis and methodology coursework, since these signal that scholarly preparation is taken seriously. A program without them may still be a great fit, just not for someone planning to publish or apply to doctoral study down the line.

Art administration is another common landing spot for art history graduates, particularly those drawn to gallery or nonprofit management. GetEducated’s arts administration master’s overview is worth a look if that direction appeals to you more than a research-heavy track.

What to Check Before You Apply

Once you know your direction, run every program through the same short checklist. It’s easy to compare tuition and miss the details that actually shape your experience.

• Confirm institutional accreditation. This is the baseline screen that separates legitimate programs from degree mills, and it affects financial aid eligibility and transfer credit down the line.
• Compare curriculum focus, including period or geographic strengths, elective options, and whether a thesis or capstone is required.
• Calculate the real total cost, not just the advertised tuition rate. Factor in fees and any required in-person components.
• Check the delivery format and pace, including whether classes are live or self-paced and whether part-time enrollment is realistic alongside a job.

Career outcomes for art history graduates vary widely depending on which of these boxes a program checks. GetEducated’s roundup of high-paying art careers is a useful reference if you want a sense of where the degree can actually lead before you commit two years and several thousand dollars to it.

Online Art History Master’s Degree FAQ

Here are answers to some of the most common questions students ask before applying to an online art history master’s degree.

Will employers and doctoral programs respect an online art history master’s degree?

Yes, as long as the school holds recognized institutional accreditation. Both Lindenwood and Azusa Pacific meet that standard through their regional accrediting bodies. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a searchable database you can use to verify any school’s status, and CHEA notes that accreditation is necessary but not always sufficient on its own, so program reputation and curriculum still matter to admissions committees and employers.

What career paths are available with this degree?

Curator and archivist roles are among the most common outcomes, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that these positions typically require a master’s degree, often specifically in art history or museum studies. Other graduates move into teaching, art direction, auction house management, or gallery and nonprofit administration.

Do these programs require a thesis, internship, or campus visit?

It depends on the school. Lindenwood’s program builds around elective coursework across historical periods, while Azusa Pacific’s leans into theory and criticism with a stronger scholarly analysis component. Neither program’s page indicates a required on-campus residency, but always confirm directly with admissions before enrolling, since requirements can shift between cohorts.

Is this degree enough to teach at the college level?

It depends on the institution. Community colleges sometimes hire instructors with a relevant master’s degree, but four-year college faculty roles generally require a PhD. If doctoral study is the long-term goal, a program with a strong thesis or research component gives you a head start on that application later.

How much does an online art history master’s degree cost?

Based on current programs, an estimated total cost runs from about $17,945 at Lindenwood to $23,300 at Azusa Pacific, both for the full 36-credit degree. Neither school charges a separate out-of-state rate for its online program, which simplifies the comparison compared to degrees with in-state and out-of-state tuition tiers.

Compare Your Options Before You Commit

With only two accredited programs currently available, the choice comes down to fit rather than a long list to filter through. Lindenwood suits students who want flexibility across historical periods, while Azusa Pacific fits those drawn to a focused, theory-heavy track in modern and contemporary art. Either way, confirm accreditation, check the real total cost, and match the curriculum to where you actually want this degree to take you. For a broader look at related graduate paths, GetEducated’s directory of online art and liberal arts master’s programs is a good next stop, and its ranking of affordable online master of liberal arts programs offers useful cost context if you’re weighing a broader liberal arts track against a specialized art history degree.