Schools with online degree programs

The asynchronous online platform offers students great flexibility in their schedule at this online university. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the university for their high research activity and also holds accreditation from the Northern Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

A member of the University System of Ohio, the University of Cincinnati offers more than 70 online degree and certificate programs. Several online undergraduate degrees include early childhood education, radiation science technology, criminal justice, and substance abuse counseling, among others. Several general education courses and online certificate programs are also available. Online students have access to an online orientation, academic advising, library resources and tutoring.

Boston University is a non-profit organization offering programs across 18 different colleges and schools. This online university is known for having one of the largest cooperative programs that prepare students for careers post-graduation. This system provides students the opportunity to build a large network of colleagues and contacts. Drexel also offers various study abroad opportunities that are available to online students. Arizona State online university offers six different start dates for online students making it convenient for students to start when they are most available.

Most classes have specific deadlines for assignments, and some require students to log in at designated times of the day or week. Online students are given the same opportunities that on-campus students have with access to enrollment counselors and academic advisors.

The University of Minnesota offers 17 different online undergraduate programs including Accounting, Management, and Communications. These degrees can be completed entirely online, but the school also offers several hybrid programs where students can complete their education partially online and partially on-campus. Online students have access to academic advisors and several other resources offered through the Digital Campus online system.

CMU is all about research for the future; from discovering new ways to treat diseases, to advanced ways to improve teaching and learning, and more! Central Michigan University has 20, students enrolled on campus and 7, online students. Since students have had the opportunity to take part in the Penn State environment without having to travel to campus. As a pioneer to eLearning, Penn State has evolved to include many enhanced learning experiences to help improve the way students learn.

Washington State offers nine different undergraduate programs including Accounting, Psychology, Management, and Social Sciences. With degree programs in Alternative Medicine, Construction Management, Aviation Management and more, you can choose an online degree program that is best for you at Everglades University.

All online courses are prepared by staff that creates an interesting, interactive learning environment that can be accessed anywhere through the world wide web.

Both on campus and online courses are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, which means students will be taught with their success in mind. ULM offers over 30 degree programs, resources, and a caring community to help get you through your college degree. University of Louisiana at Monroe online is ranked 14 in the top 50 online schools in the country by GraduatePrograms.

Texas Tech uses Blackboard as the online management system to facilitate forums, file share, and curate live courses. RIT online is staffed with a diverse group of experienced faculty, prepared to ensure a high-quality learning experience for everyone taking classes online.

Whether you are completing a few courses, earning a certification, or doing a complete degree online, the RIT staff are ready to help you succeed. RIT online has been building programs based on real-time employer demand, and business needs for over 30 years.

Discover programs available at RIT online today. Northeastern is a nationally ranked private research university that offers rigorous courses online to help you get ahead. Northeastern provides over 60 degrees and programs completely online. Built in , Northeastern University became a global, experiential, research university with a drive to engage the world and have students do the same. The making of this list was based on undergraduate tuition costs per credit hour where possible and are listed from the least tuition per credit hour to the most.

Please visit our methodology page for more information. We are always looking to make our lists and rankings stronger, so we can provide our readers with the most accurate information.

For more specific information on these programs, please visit the links provided in this article or feel free to contact us with any other concerns. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average American spends about Online and on-campus programs contain the same material, only differing in the methods and time of instruction.

The best online colleges rarely label their online degrees as such, making them indistinguishable from their on-campus counterparts.

Online education can also make it easier for students to access some of the most recognizable and reputable schools in the country. This may lead to even better employment opportunities. Regional accreditation demonstrates that the online college meets robust educational standards.

Programmatic accreditation identifies programs that meet industry standards and expectations for the field. An online degree provides the same level of instruction as a traditional degree, so the two degree types should be considered equal. Online and on-campus students take the same courses and read the same materials.

They often share the same instructors and complete the same assignments, as well. The main difference comes from the format, with online learners watching virtual lectures and communicating with teachers and peers online. While online programs may mirror in-class schedules, some feature asynchronous options. This allows students to access recorded lectures, which adds flexibility but may reduce classroom interaction.

Students may need to demonstrate different characteristics and study habits to find success in online programs. Online courses, particularly asynchronous courses, require more independence and proactivity. Self-motivated and self-disciplined students are likely best suited for online universities. Online colleges are worth it for many students. Online degrees can provide great value for students, leading to many different continuing education and employment opportunities.

The top online colleges provide increased schedule flexibility to students, which can help them maintain a healthier work and study balance. With reduced travel and campus requirements, online schools can be more accessible than traditional schools. Online students can also expand their search parameters, giving them more choices and a chance to be accepted at some of the best universities in the U.

Online colleges can also provide cost-saving opportunities for students. In addition to lower travel, room, and board costs, some online schools even provide tuition discounts for online learners, such as in-state tuition rates for out-of-state learners.

With a greater selection of online schools and programs, degree-seekers may find study options with a lower price tag. Online graduates have access to the same postgraduate opportunities as traditional graduates. Not only can they pursue the same job opportunities after completing their programs, but online learners may have an easier time maintaining employment during their studies.

For this reason, online colleges are often effective options for continuing education. An organization can have its employees upgrade their training and skills outside of traditional work hours.

For these professionals, online degrees can lead to pay increases, more responsibility, and promotions. As with traditional graduates, those with an online degree can also pursue further training. Already experienced in online learning, bachelor's graduates may be able to tackle an online graduate degree with more confidence.

Online school graduates shouldn't have a harder time finding employment than traditional graduates. Degree-seekers can improve their employment odds by selecting a top online college and program with proper regional and programmatic accreditation. Employers can be assured that online graduates from accredited online colleges have received an adequate level of training. DAPIP provides a searchable list of recognized schools and programs.

Prospective students should also look for online schools that offer quality career services and programs. Having access to mentorship programs , job boards, resume-building workshops, and interview assistance can make a big difference in outcomes. The degrees awarded by accredited online colleges are every bit as legitimate as traditional degrees. Online programs follow the same curricula and cover the same material.

In many cases, online students watch the same lectures as on-campus students, either through recorded videos or live webcasts. According to NCES , more than 7 million students took at least one online course in And nearly 3.

This caused many institutions to accelerate the development of their e-learning infrastructures, which could bode well for the future of online learning. Not only should a greater investment in online learning make education more accessible, but it is likely to improve the technology and effectiveness of the training.

View the most relevant school for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to find your college home. Edited by Andrew H. Rice, Ph. Share this Article.

Ready to start your journey? Pros of Online Learning Flexibility in scheduling, attend from the comfort of home Save money on commuting costs and on-campus services Tuition may be less expensive Often includes options to graduate faster Many online school programs offer online student support services and discussion boards.

Cons of Online Learning Lack of in-person support, feelings of isolation Lack of access to on-campus resources May be harder to network and make friends Not all areas of study are available Can be harder to stay engaged and motivated; must have strong self-discipline.

Pros of In-Person Learning In-person interaction and community Full access to campus resources May be easier to network and make friends More options for areas of study May be easier to concentrate. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming. We've ranked the most affordable online colleges in the U. Begin earning a high-quality degree with low annual tuition. Compare and search for the school that matches your goals. Adult students face unique challenges in college. We've listed the best online colleges for working adults that offer supportive services for their needs.

Compare your school options. Transfer credits from regionally accredited schools are typically accepted by both regionally and nationally accredited schools. Transfer credits from nationally accredited schools may only be accepted at other nationally accredited schools. Students attend classes, view lectures, participate in group chats and conversations, and complete assignments according to a pre-set schedule or syllabus.

Students are given regular deadlines for completing assignments, viewing or listening to lectures, and participating in group discussions, but they can complete these tasks at any time before the due date.

MIT calls its platform OpenCourseWare, and on it, you can find free online courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels a rarity among other entities on this list in thousands of topics.

Stanford University has become a household name as potentially the best University in the western United States as well as a leading figure within the technological innovations that have occurred in Silicon Valley. Though MIT offers a much wider range of courses, instructors at Stanford have focused on providing support for communities to learn along clearly defined paths. A range of the most popular MOOCs of all time have been created by Stanford, often covering topics related to in-demand work skills including machine vision, data science, blockchain, algorithms, game theory and more.

Known for their world-class programs in a wide range of disciplines including psychology, nursing, social sciences, library sciences, social work, and more, Michigan is able to offer a different focus on MOOCs than other top universities. Alongside a greater variety of courses not in computing, the University of Michigan is a great place to take free online courses due to the quality control and standardization they employ in their MOOC offerings.

All MOOCs offered by the University of Michigan are fully verified by EdX , meaning they are of commensurate quality with full university course material. Additionally, the University of Michigan has built on these open availability courses to begin offering a number of unique programs constructed of MOOC-like courses. The University of Pennsylvania is routinely ranked as one of the 10 best universities in the world.

A wide range of these courses is offered by the world-renowned Wharton School of Business. The University of Illinois, based in Urbana-Champaign, is one of the finest information sciences, engineering, and business schools in the nation.

A wide range of subjects is available including education, computing, international development, health care, law, and even 3D printing. A range of innovative for-credit programs may be undertaken for a smaller fee than traditional coursework and provides the opportunity for individuals taking MOOCs to pursue a master of business administration or a master of accountancy degree.

School endowments are raised by alumni who do well and love their alma mater. They are also raised by colleges and universities that perform well at a specific activity or academic topic. Schools that are great at sports, or that have great academic programming typically have larger endowments.

So what does this have to do with tuition costs? Well, many of the colleges and universities with the largest endowments have made commitments to use some portion of that money to offset undue costs of education for their students. You may notice that two of these categories — which are the most common arrangements — rely on applicants demonstrating financial need.

So how does this work? For most schools, the FAFSA is used to make yourself eligible for federally-subsidized student loans. Furthermore, some of these schools will meet your demonstrated need without the use of any student loans. These schools are essentially free for those who are below a certain income level. Some utilize student loans, and some cover all expenses through grants and scholarships:. Members of the Work College Consortium may be seen below:.

Brown University is an ivy league university located in the quaint city of Providence, Rhode Island. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to design their own curriculum.

The Open Curriculum model at Brown is different from a typical college curriculum as students do not need to follow a set of courses in order to complete their education. There are more than online degrees in English available at all levels, with a variety of associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate degrees to choose from.

Where computer science focuses on programming and innovation, information technology focuses on building and maintaining existing technologies.

Online learning enables students to prepare for these jobs by earning degrees at every level, from associate to doctoral. There are 1, online degrees available, many in the most popular specializations, such as cloud computing, big data, and cybersecurity.

Online students pursuing undergraduate degrees will find that the coursework generally focuses on business-level information systems, applications, and basic programming. Those at the master's or doctoral level will study advanced IT concepts and practices with a heavy emphasis on research.

IT professionals can also enhance their credentials by earning an online certificate. Learn more about online information technology degrees.

From preventing the spread of infectious diseases to encouraging schools to provide healthier lunches for children, public health professionals aim to improve the wellbeing of individuals, communities, and the population at large. Most public health job opportunities are found in government agencies. These positions generally require a graduate degree, and prospective students have master's and 51 doctoral online degrees to choose from.

Online doctoral programs fall into two categories: the Doctor of Public Health DrPH for those preparing for clinical work in healthcare and policy, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health PhD for those who want to pursue research and academic positions. Online students who opt for one of the undergraduate degrees in public health will be well qualified for entry-level positions in healthcare administration and related fields.

A bachelor's in public health is also a common stepping stone to advanced degrees in law or medicine. Once you've determined the subject and degree you would like to pursue, you'll need to decide which online program to enroll in. There are several important factors to consider when selecting the specific program that will best meet your needs, such as the reputation of the school for teaching that subject, any options for adding a concentration or area of emphasis, and the degree to which you can customize your program through the choice of electives.

Another important factor is your return on investment , meaning the cost of the program as compared to your increased earning potential over the course of your career. On OnlineU. As you conduct your school search, you might also want to investigate the school's virtual learning environment before making your final choice.

Some useful questions to ask are:. Are the courses entirely asynchronous , allowing you to complete work on your own time, or are elements of the courses synchronous , requiring you to be online with the instructor at specific days and times? Does the school require you to come to campus for any live learning events, and will you have the time and resources to attend these sessions?

Will you be able to meet the expected demands of the courses in addition to your other time commitments? Will you have access to financial aid and student support services if enrolled online? Once you've settled on one or more programs, you're ready to apply. Prospective students use the same process to apply for online programs as they do for traditional programs, and they must meet the same admissions standards.

To submit an application for an online degree program, start by visiting the school's website. You may be directed to submit an online application directly to the school, or you may be asked to submit your application through one of the communal college application portals, such as the Common App. If you are applying to an associate or bachelor's degree program, you will probably also be asked for:.

If you are a transfer student continuing with a bachelor's program or applying to an online master's or doctoral program, you will most likely be asked for additional materials, such as transcripts of your previous college coursework and a resume or curriculum vitae. One of the most important factors in choosing an online degree program is ensuring it has been accredited by an approved, independent agency.

Accreditation means that the college or university has undergone a thorough evaluation. In this process, coursework, faculty, and student resources have been determined to meet high standards for quality and value. All of the schools listed on our website have been accredited.

Visit our accreditation page to learn more about specific types of accreditation and how they impact transfer credits and financial assistance. These are important considerations for online students when choosing a specific higher education program or school. The vast majority of online degrees are legitimate, coming from accredited colleges and universities.

Accreditation is the most important indicator that a school—its programs, staff, facilities, and services—have been thoroughly reviewed and found to meet accepted standards of quality and academic rigor set by the U.

Department of Education. The best online college degrees will be regionally accredited, but there are also many reputable online programs available from nationally accredited schools. What all students should avoid is enrolling in a "diploma mill," meaning a business that is awarding degrees that are not legitimate and have no value. Some diploma mills openly sell fictitious degrees, while others try to disguise themselves as legitimate educational institutions.

When conducting a school search for online accredited programs, examine each school's website carefully. Some warning signs to look for are:. Yes, in today's educational landscape, many reputable colleges and universities are offering legitimate degrees through online-only master's programs. As long as your master's degree is from an accredited school, it has the potential to carry the same level of respect as a traditionally earned degree. An online master's degree from an accredited institution shows that you have studied the same curricula, completed the same graduate-level coursework, and demonstrated your mastery of the course materials and skills through assessments and examinations.

Historically, there have been two types of accreditation: regional and national. While many schools are regionally accredited, some—often technical colleges, trade schools, and for-profit online universities—are nationally accredited. Regional accreditation is generally considered to be the more prestigious, indicating the highest academic standards. It is generally best to choose a school with regional accreditation if you are seeking an online degree in an academic subject, intend to apply for financial aid, plan to enter a field that requires licensure or a credential, or think you may want to pursue a higher level degree in the future.

On the other hand, if your goals involve attending an online career school or trade school, you may want to consider both regionally and nationally accredited schools.

Students do not have to take any steps to get their online classes or online degrees accredited. If the school you attend is accredited, your classes and your degree will automatically be accredited. Accelerated programs usually feature up to 12 short four-, six-, or eight-week terms scheduled consecutively year-round, which allows you to complete all of your graduation requirements in about two years.

You'll find that there are accelerated programs available in many fields, including business, marketing, and health, so you can choose among many subjects to study. Depending on your history, you may be able to earn a bachelor's degree in one year.

There are several schools that offer accelerated, one-year degree programs online, but you will need to have some prior college, work, or military experience, and you may need to score well on placement exams to "test out" of some courses.

Using this same approach, there are also online master's, associate, and certificate programs that can be completed in one year. There are a number of master's, associate, and certificate programs that can be completed in six months through accelerated online programs. Even with transfer credits and "earned" credits for life experience, it will probably take at least one year to complete your bachelor's degree online. Yes, you can easily get a four-year degree online.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs through distance education in a wide range of subjects, including sociology, project management, early childhood education, and more. The degrees are the equal of traditional, on-campus degrees, and they typically do not state that they were earned online. At each college degree level—associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral—there are programs available at a wide range of prices. The most expensive component of any online college degree is tuition.

One way to compare tuition across schools is to multiply each school's per-credit tuition rate by the number of credits you'll need to earn to graduate. When checking school websites for these data points, be sure to locate the correct tuition rate for the level of degree you're pursuing.

Some schools charge different rates for on-campus and online students or different rates for in-state and out-of-state residents. Notably, however, many online schools charge out-of-state students the same rate as in-state students, which can cut down the cost when compared to on-campus programs. However, all prospective students need to factor in a number of other expenses when calculating the potential cost of an online degree. Some items to consider include books and supplies, annual and one-time-only fees charged by the school, interest on student loans, childcare costs, and transportation costs related to on-site learning activities.

The cost of an online four-year degree can vary dramatically, mainly due to the wide range of tuition rates among the schools offering bachelor's degrees. Although there are a few online school programs that tout tuition-free degrees, these programs are not really free, as they charge enrollment and testing fees that, when added up, can be comparable to the tuition at some online schools. However, many states, community colleges, and four-year universities offer "last-dollar" scholarships for students whose federal and state aid don't cover the full cost of tuition.

At most schools, online students are eligible for financial aid packages, just like their on-campus counterparts. The most desirable forms of financial aid are grants, scholarships, fellowships, and work-study programs, generally provided by the federal or state government or by the schools themselves.

Aid from these sources does not have to be paid back. Some students may also be eligible for other types of financial assistance. For instance, active duty military and veterans, along with their dependents, are often entitled to tuition discounts. Some schools also have partnerships with organizations, and members or employees of these organizations may gain access to tuition assistance.

Federal and private loans are another useful option, although students will need to pay back the loans with interest. For the vast majority of financial aid programs, the application process begins by filling out the FAFSA form.

Perhaps the one circumstance in which online students will face a different financial situation than traditional students is at the doctoral level. Many on-campus Ph. Essentially, they receive a tuition free education and possibly even a stipend in exchange for teaching and contributing to research projects at the university's research facilities.

Because these fully funded programs require the recipients to be on campus to perform the work, online Ph. We've put together a Guide to Financial Aid for Online Students , where you can find detailed information on the various types of aid available, the application process, tax implications, and additional resources. There are relatively few subjects that aren't covered in online school programs — these include graduate-level study in law or medicine — allowing students to prepare for most occupations through these programs.

People who have earned their degrees online are often equally eligible for jobs requiring a college education as those who've attended college in person. We recently analyzed employment outcomes for alumni of popular online schools , and we found several interesting conclusions:. The BLS has identified quite a few occupations that are expected to grow substantially over the next decade, and many of these require degrees that can be obtained online. For example, some high-growth occupations that require a bachelor's degree include health services manager, information security analyst, mental health counselor, data scientist, and operations research analyst.

Some in-demand occupations also require a master's degree, such as statistician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and speech language pathologist. Most occupations that require only a two-year degree fall into the fields of computer technology, engineering, office support, education, health care, transportation, and law.

Some specific occupations you can prepare for with an online associate degree or certificate program include computer support specialist, electrical engineering technician, bookkeeping clerk, and medical assistant, among others. High paying occupations can be found in many different fields with varying educational requirements, creating numerous opportunities for prospective college students to choose career paths that will be both rewarding and lucrative.

The following is just a sampling of online degree programs to consider, with salary data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale. Getting an online degree can definitely be worth it depending on your personal circumstances. The following are some factors to consider when deciding whether this is the right path for you.

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