Top Accredited Online Colleges, Universities, and Schools
Colleges with online classes offer a flexible option to earn your degree while also balancing many of life's other responsibilities. Check out the most popular online colleges of 2024 below.
Best Accredited Colleges
As the state's flagship university, the University of Alabama educates more than 38,000 students each year through an array of on-campus and online programs. Through "Bama by Distance," students can pursue fully online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields like criminal justice, library and information studies, public health, and social work. Many online classes at UA are available asynchronously, though some require live participation in discussions and group projects. Students may also choose to enroll in a blended program, combining the flexibility of distance education with the structure and support of a traditional classroom experience. Students can also elect to take their exams online or at one of the university's partner testing centers. Online applicants who graduated from high school within the last four years must have a GPA of at least 3.0, while those who graduated more than four years prior to applying must have a GPA of at least 2.5. Prospective students with a GED certificate must have scored at least 510 on that exam.
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Featuring more than 70 fully online and accredited programs, Kansas State University ranks as the best online college in Kansas. In addition to certificates, distance learners can earn bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields such as animal science, electrical and computer engineering, personal financial planning, and youth development. In an effort to make online education even more accessible, K-State offers scholarships specifically for students pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degree online. To receive consideration for one or more of the university's Global Campus Scholarships, online learners complete only one application per year. The university awards scholarships on the basis of financial need and academic merit, and additional funding is available to military service members, teachers, and female students. Admission requirements vary across online programs, but undergraduate applicants typically must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. Some bachelor's programs may also require ACT or SAT scores. Prospective graduate learners generally need a bachelor's degree and may also need to submit letters of recommendation and GRE or GMAT scores.
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The second-largest public institution in the state, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell serves more than 18,000 students each year. Located 45 minutes north of Boston, the city of Lowell boasts a thriving arts scene and 1,000 acres of nearby state forest. On campus, students enjoy numerous dining options, over 250 student organizations, and 16 NCAA athletic teams. UMass Lowell offers more than 150 accredited bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in six colleges focused on the arts, humanities, and social sciences; business; education; engineering; healthcare; and science. Learners can work toward more than 70 certificate and degree options through asynchronous online or hybrid learning. New facilities like the Innovation Hub and the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center provide world-class resources to students, faculty, and community members alike. Prospective first-year students can complete an online or paper application. Required materials include high school transcripts, a personal essay, and a letter of recommendation.
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With nearly 16,000 students, the University of Missouri - Kansas City awards undergraduate and graduate degrees across 12 academic divisions. The school also offers a six-year BA/MD program for aspiring physicians. Learners at the university's Volker campus benefit from numerous housing options that include traditional dormitories and apartments. Like many colleges and universities on this ranking, UMKC hosts an Honors College. Degree-seekers in honors courses enjoy small class sizes, exclusive scholarship opportunities, and an honors internship. In their final year, these learners undertake a senior honors thesis wherein they work closely with a faculty advisor to select a topic, perform in-depth research, and write a paper. UMKC uses GPA and test score cutoffs but accepts learners with minimum GED scores. Some applicants who do not meet all application requirements may still receive conditional admission. The university offers many automatic and competitive scholarships to reduce students' financial burden. UMKC also helps degree-seekers explore outside scholarship and grant opportunities.
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With more than $150 million in annual research spending, North Dakota State University ranks as one of the top public research universities in the United States. This status informs classroom instruction, providing students with access to rigorous and data-driven education in subjects like agricultural economics, crop and weed sciences, landscape architecture, and veterinary technology. The university also offers fully online master's degrees and graduate certificates. Generally, first-year applicants need at least a 2.75 high school GPA to qualify for admission. NDSU also recommends a composite ACT score of at least 22 or an SAT score of 1100 or higher. Transfer applicants who have earned fewer than 24 college credits must also submit ACT or SAT scores. You can lower the cost of your education at NDSU in several ways. The university offers significant scholarship awards to prospective learners who excel academically. A cultural diversity tuition waiver is also available to students of color, refugees, and members of other underrepresented groups.
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Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a public higher education institution located in Alva, just south of the Kansas border. NWOSU emphasizes community engagement, affordability, and access to higher education. The student body represents over 40 states and 20 countries. Students may complete their degree on campus or through NWOSU online. NWOSU offers multiple online degrees, including a bachelor of business administration. This 121-credit program requires 45 general education credits, 46 foundation and business credits, 21 business minor credits, and nine credits of electives. Online programs follow traditional 16-week semesters that consist of two eight-week sessions. Students typically complete four courses each semester. NWOSU uses the Blackboard learning management system to administer distance coursework. Most classes follow an asynchronous format, which allows students to complete the material when their schedule permits. However, some courses follow a synchronous format, which requires live, online attendance. NWOSU holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
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Oregon State University is a public research university located in Corvallis. Annual enrollment typically exceeds 28,000 students, making OSU the largest university in the state. It is one of only four institutions in the country to obtain all four land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant designations. Arguably the best online college in Oregon, OSU offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs designed for distance learners. Dozens of diverse disciplines are represented in OSU's online catalog, including business, education, history, wildlife sciences, and public health. Every online student receives access to vital support services including success coaching, online tutoring, and career guidance. Prospective students must submit transcripts, applicable test scores, and a resume. Additional admission requirements may apply depending on student status and program selection. OSU welcomes postbaccalaureate students seeking a second bachelor's degree. State residency does not impact per-credit tuition prices.
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Washington State University was established in 1890, making it one of the oldest higher education institutions in the state. Over 30,000 students currently attend WSU, many of whom engage in online learning facilitated by Blackboard. Online baccalaureate offerings include sociology, integrated strategic communication, anthropology, and hospitality business management. Distance learners can also enroll in a fully online bachelor of data analytics program. Through a curriculum that synthesizes statistics and computer science, candidates develop the skills needed to evaluate complex data sets and apply findings to drive business decision-making. The school's graduate catalog contains online master's programs in software engineering, molecular biosciences, and health communication and promotion. WSU also offers a master of science in agriculture. Here, candidates can pursue a generalist track, delving into plant pathology, horticulture, and crop and soil sciences. Alternatively, they may choose the food science and management concentration, which prepares them for leadership positions in the food processing and distribution sector. Applicants who want to enroll in the agriculture program should possess a bachelor of science earned with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
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Based in Gainesville, the University of Florida serves over 56,000 students each year, many of whom pursue distance education. The institution delivers fully online certificates and degrees through the Canvas platform. The catalog offers bachelor's degrees in fields like sport management, environmental geosciences, and criminology. Distance learners can also enroll in a business administration program, which comes with specializations in mass communication and travel/tourism management. At the graduate level, online academics cover areas like sustainable design, fisheries and aquatic science, and biostatistics. Students can pursue a master of pharmaceutical sciences, picking from one of 10 specializations. UFL also offers remote doctoral credentials, like a Ph.D. in classical civilization. This flexible program enables high school and community college teachers to advance their careers through intensive research. Admission criteria vary by program, but undergraduate candidates typically need a minimum 2.0 GPA. Graduate applicants should expect to meet a 3.0 GPA requirement. Distance learners pay affordable per-credit tuition prices based on where they reside.
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The University of Central Florida serves over 68,500 students, making it one of the largest higher education institutions in the United States. The school delivers comprehensive academic programs at the main Orlando campus, 10 regional satellite locations, and online through asynchronous classes powered by Canvas. Remote bachelor's programs include anthropology, senior living management, legal studies, and teacher education and industry training. Students can also obtain an English degree, concentrating their curriculum on either creative writing or technical communication. UCF delivers remote master's degrees in social work, healthcare informatics, and forensic science. Students can also enroll in an online civil engineering program, which features concentrations in areas such as smart cities and water resources. For distance learners who want to earn terminal credentials, the university offers doctorates in nursing practice. Undergraduates enroll in online programming on a transfer basis and must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Graduate candidates need at least a 3.0 GPA and adequate GRE/GMAT scores. Financial aid opportunities include scholarships specifically for out-of-state residents and distance learners.
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Florida International University is a public research institution with two main campuses in Miami-Dade County. The school facilitates remote learning opportunities through Blackboard. Offerings include bachelor's degrees like logistics and supply chain management, electrical engineering, Asian studies, and nursing (RN to BSN). Online students can also earn a hospitality management degree, focusing their skill development on the hotel, restaurant, or tourism sector. They may also pursue an event management concentration, which covers essential accounting and operations competencies. Graduate students pick from remote master's programs like public health, global strategic communication, and computer engineering -- network security. FIU also provides an 18-month healthcare MBA that covers legal issues facing providers and federal health policy processes. The university delivers a specialized master's program for international real estate. This year-long track prepares candidates for the ARGUS certification exam. All applicants must submit standardized test scores. Prospective graduate students typically need a minimum 3.0 GPA. In addition to low tuition based on program type, distance learners enjoy individualized success coaching and subject tutoring services.
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Union Institute & University is a leader in distance education, providing comprehensive online degrees to 1,000 students annually. The undergraduate catalog features bachelor's programs for emergency services management, social work, and business management. Childcare professionals can advance their careers by obtaining credentials education and educational administration. The university also offers three online bachelor's degrees in education that lead to initial teacher certification in Florida. Graduate candidates pick from remote master's credentials in fields like health and wellness, clinical mental health counseling, and literature and writing. UI&U also offers a 12-month master of healthcare leadership program that comes with one-on-one mentoring throughout. For students who want to obtain terminal degrees, the university delivers five research-intensive doctoral programs. Any doctoral candidate can take on the Dr. Martin Luther King studies specialization, learning how to transform dysfunctional institutions to advance racial and social justice. Graduate admission criteria vary by program but usually include a minimum 3.0 GPA.
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Located in Philadelphia, Jefferson formed after Philadelphia University merged with Jefferson Medical College in 2017. Jefferson offers eight online bachelor's programs, 12 online master's programs, and three online doctoral programs. Notable areas of study include midwifery, sustainable design, and disaster medicine and management. Tuition costs $605 per credit for undergraduate programs. Graduate tuition costs vary widely depending on the program. All applicants must submit transcripts, and graduate applicants may also be asked to submit a resume. Online students can access various services, including tutoring, IT help, library services, and career services.
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How We Rank Top Online Colleges
Accreditation:
Academic Quality:
Program Variety:
Graduation and Retention Rates:
Student Satisfaction:
Affordability:
Career Outcomes:
Technology and Resources:
The quality of the online learning platform, technical support, and access to resources like libraries, research databases, and academic advising is considered.
Faculty Credentials:
Online Learning Experience:
Factors such as the flexibility of online programs, ease of access, user-friendliness of the online platform, and support for students in the online learning environment are considered.
Student Support Services:
Services like tutoring, career counseling, mental health resources, and support for students with special needs are evaluated.
Global Reputation:
Geographic Reach:
Innovation and Research:
Ethical Practices:
Ethical considerations, such as transparency, fair admissions practices, and commitment to diversity and inclusion, can impact rankings.
Online Colleges Pros and Cons
Pros:
Flexibility:
Online universities offer the flexibility to study from anywhere, at any time. This is ideal for individuals who have work or family commitments and need to fit their education into their existing schedule.
Cost-Effective:
Online programs often have lower tuition fees compared to traditional universities. Additionally, you can save money on commuting, textbooks, and other expenses.
Variety of Programs:
Online universities offer a wide range of programs and courses, allowing you to find the one that best suits your educational and career goals.
Self-Paced Learning:
Many online courses are designed to be self-paced, allowing students to progress through the material at their own speed. This can be advantageous for those who need extra time to grasp concepts or for those who want to accelerate their learning.
Accessibility:
Online education eliminates geographical barriers, making it possible for students to access high-quality education from prestigious institutions around the world without having to relocate.
Cons:
Lack of Face-to-Face Interaction:
Online learning can be isolating, as it often lacks the in-person interactions with professors and peers that can be important for some students' learning experiences.
Self-Motivation Required:
Online students need to be highly self-motivated and disciplined. Without the structure of a traditional classroom, it can be easy to procrastinate or fall behind.
Limited Hands-On Experience:
Some fields, such as laboratory sciences, may require hands-on experience that is difficult to replicate in an online environment.
Technology Challenges:
Access to and proficiency with technology is crucial for online learning. Technical issues, software compatibility, and internet connectivity problems can disrupt the learning process.
Perceived Credibility:
Some employers may still question the credibility of degrees obtained from online universities, although this perception is changing as reputable institutions offer more online programs.
Tuscaloosa, AL
$12,084
20%
