re: The Masters degrees with highest earning potential. We all know what #1 is

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Getting an online MBA from a top tier school is not the same at all as getting a full time MBA from a top tier school. Acceptance rates for online are higher and you miss out on the primary advantage of attending a top tier business school - the networking and on campus recruiting opportunities you are exposed to. Otherwise, just an MBA isn't really going to get you anywhere. Now granted, if it's free it can't really hurt to pursue. Just saying that's a lot of debt to incur and the benefit often doesn't outweigh the cost.

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I actually didn't even realize anyone in the top 25 offered online degrees, but sure enough, IU and UNC do. No one I would consider top tier does, but I was even a little surprised that those two did. I certainly wouldn't do an online degree, partially for some of the reasons you mention, and I wouldn't advise anyone to as well, but if someone else is paying for it and the person already has a locked in career path, then go for it.

I've advised friends who are looking into it to get into the highest-rated program they can no matter what and try to do whatever they can to go there. Ranking, prestige, et al matters a whole hell of a lot more for an MBA than it does for undergrad. There are some exceptions to that rule, but it's a pretty good rule of thumb.