Students can save money and benefit from a flexible learning format with affordable online degrees. An increasing number of schools feature online programs in their academic offerings. Learners can pursue affordable higher education to begin or enhance their careers.
The following ranking highlights the top affordable colleges online. We selected these schools from a thorough research process focusing on what makes an affordable online college degree a worthwhile pursuit. For more information on distance learning, visit our ranking of the top online colleges.
Tuition and enrollment data were sourced from College Navigatorand the online colleges' respective official websites.
Questions About Online College
Q. What is the cheapest online university?
A. Students who are looking for affordable college options should consider looking into in-state or online courses. Students can also make college more affordable by applying for scholarships or grants.
Q. Is getting a degree online cheaper?
A. While some online colleges offer a lower rate per credit than in person courses, often online degrees are cheaper because students do not need to pay for on-campus housing, meal plans, commuting, and other fees that are required when attending school on campus.
Q. Can you get an online college degree for free?
A. There are a few online colleges that offer free online tuition, including University of the People. Students who are interested in taking classes for no credit can also find online courses available for little to no cost.
Featured Online Schools
How Much Does Online College Cost?
According to the Education Data Initiative, in 2021 the average cost of an online bachelor's degree was $38,496, an out-of-state degree was $54,183, and an online private college degree cost $60,593 on average. Students who are pursuing a bachelor's degree online can expect to be in school for about four years, some programs offer accelerated or summer courses which allow students to graduate sooner. While students do not need to pay for on-campus housing, meal plans, or commuting costs, they may need to pay for technology, online materials, or books. Students should also look into any in-person requirements, some programs may require students to attend orientation or a lab on-campus.
Online College vs On-Campus Experience
Students who are interested in online college can benefit from course flexibility. Most online colleges offer both asynchronous and synchronous coursework. Asynchronous courses mean the students can learn at their own pace, generally this means watching videos, viewing seminars, and completing assignments by a designated deadline. Synchronous courses mean the class will meet a designated time every week or other week. Generally students who prefer self paced programs should seek out asynchronous courses, while students who prefer conventional courses should enroll in synchronous courses.
If an on-campus experience is still appealing to students, then a hybrid schedule may work well. Hybrid courses mean students complete part of the course online and then go to campus for a lab or in-person meetings. This type of coursework allows students to still have an on-campus experience, without needing to be on-campus for all courses.
