2014-05-13



Online degrees offer a variety of benefits for students and are becoming increasingly popular because whether you live in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Tennessee, Oregon, West Virginia – doesn’t matter! One of the main advantages of attending school online, rather than on a physical campus, is affordability. Online programs tend to be more cost-effective than traditional degree programs, as online classes require fewer resources. Cutting back on classroom use and teaching materials gives colleges and universities the opportunity to charge online students lower tuition rates, which makes online degrees more affordable and allows students to more readily pursue higher education.

Because affordability is such an important factor in students’ decisions to pursue online education, we have put together a list of the top 20 affordable online colleges and universities. Affordability does not define quality; many schools that offer low tuition also offer high-quality education. All of the schools on this list are accredited and reputable, despite their low costs.

Liberty University Online

More than 90,000 students are enrolled in Liberty University’s 187 online programs, making it one of the largest providers of online education worldwide. Additionally, Liberty is a not-for-profit institution and, as a result, offers some of the lowest tuition rates in the online education arena, ranging from $340 to $520 per credit hour. Military discounts and various scholarships are available as well. While Liberty is affordable, it does not sacrifice quality. The online student-to-faculty ratio is a low 17 to 1, and several of its programs are ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Governors University

Thanks to the university’s “Competence-Based Learning” model, students at Western Governors can apply past educational and professional experiences toward their degree, saving valuable money and time. Serving more than 40,000 professionals around the country, the school’s many online programs also come with a strong reputation. Western Governors University has received widespread acclaim for its innovative approach to professional education, with praise from The New York Times, NPR, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Time. And as a non-profit, tuition rates are low, falling between $2,890 to $3,250 per term.

Saint Leo University

As an established and reputable Catholic university, St. Leo has been responsible for quality educations for over a century. The school is currently ranked among the best Southern universities by U.S. News & World Report. More recently, however, the university has become a pioneer in affordable distance education. Its online certificate, associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s programs are flexible and affordable, with tuition ranging from $470 per undergraduate credit hour to around $600 per graduate credit. It is with active and former military members and their families that St. Leo is truly a deal. They provide military discounts of up to 50% of tuition prices for undergrads, making St. Leo one of the top providers of education for the U.S. military.

Keiser University

With campus locations in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa, and several other cities, Keiser is one of Florida’s largest career universities, and is ranked 57th best in the region by U.S. News & World Report. Online associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are available in the fields of business, criminal justice, healthcare, IT, and law. As the fourth college on this list, Keiser offers affordable rates without sacrificing quality; its 2012-13 tuition was only $15,664 per semester, and almost 90% of classes had fewer than 20 students.

Southern New Hampshire University

For more than 80 years, Southern New Hampshire University has been providing accessible professional education through over 200 affordable online certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs. Today, the university has 20,000 students, and its tuition rates are low: $320 per undergraduate credit and $627 per graduate credit. Deep discounts are available for active and past military service members, and students with high GPA qualify for up to $18,000 in grants and scholarships. Online degree graduates also benefit from a reputable name, with Southern New Hampshire University regularly receiving acclaim from The Chronicle of Higher Education, Fast Company, and others.

University of North Carolina

Residents of North Carolina will not find a better deal for a quality online education than the University of North Carolina. This public institution comes with a world-renowned reputation, with several campuses ranking among the best in the nation. For busy professionals and parents, UNC offers over 300 online degrees, serving over 70,000 students. Tuition varies by program, but North Carolina residents pay as little as $119 per undergraduate credit hour.

Colorado State University Global Campus

Colorado State is a world-class public university, ranked as one of the best schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. For working professionals around the world, Colorado State offers 25 fully-online bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and everybody pays a low tuition of $350 per undergraduate credit hour and $500 per graduate credit hour. Courses are designed to be as flexible as possible while still maintaining high standards. Class schedules start every four weeks and are taught by certified instructors with special training in distance learning and online adult education.

University of Southern California

As a major research university, this Los Angeles based school is ranked 23rd best nationwide by U.S. News & World Report. For busy professionals seeking online education, the university maintains the same high standards. USC’s online master’s programs in information technology and engineering were ranked first and fourth best nationwide, respectively. Altogether, there are nearly 50 graduate-level degrees to choose from, all aimed at enhancing students’ careers. Tuition rates vary by program and are similar to on-campus rates, but departmental scholarships are available, and more than 60% of USC students receive some form of financial assistance.

Norwich University

A non-profit military college nestled in rural Vermont, Norwich University has made a name for itself as a leading provider of high-quality, affordable online education. With an online student population of just 1,200, two bachelor’s degrees and nine master’s degrees, Norwich can focus on quality. Its online programs in criminal justice, business administration, and strategic studies are ranked among the best by U.S News & World Report, and the university receives high acclaim for its technology services. This quality comes at an excellent price, with tuition ranging from $250 to $790 per credit, depending on the program.

University of the Southwest

As a small Christian institution, University of the Southwest offers a handful of online bachelor’s, master’s, and licensure programs with a lot of individual student attention and affordability. The student to faculty ratio is just 10 to 1, and online tuition per credit hour is $395 for undergraduates and $544 for graduate students. Plus, unlike other schools, there are no added distance education or technology fees. However, the University of the Southwest is selective, with just a little over half of applicants accepted.

Ohio University

With over 22,000 students and a history going back to 1804, Ohio University is a major institution. As a public university, it offers some excellently priced online degrees, not to mention a solid reputation. U.S. News & World report ranks the school 135th among all national universities. For online students, there are several master’s and bachelor’s degrees to choose from, offered either fully or partially over the internet. For undergraduate courses, both in-state and out-of-state online students pay roughly the same low tuition of $240 per credit. The price of a graduate degree varies by program.

Northeastern University

This Boston-based university is a rising star in U.S. higher education; it shot up the rankings over the last decade and was named the 3rd most up and coming university by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to a long history as a brick-and-mortar university, Northeastern offers over 45 online bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Most online degrees are tied to thriving industries like health informatics and information technology, helping online alumni earn a good return on investment. Tution differs by degree program, with master’s degrees costing between $42,000 and $71,000 total, and bachelor’s around $59,000 to $60,000. For a world-class university, ranked 49th best nationwide, these prices are a steal.

University College

With over 6,000 undergraduate students and a 103 acre campus near Los Angeles, University College is a leader among evangelical Christian institutions. The university is regularly ranked among the nation’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report, but still offers excellent tuition rates. There are 30 distinct online degree programs that can be completed full-time or part-time, and tuition ranges from $547 to $722 per credit. Among the benefits of University College are that online students study with the same faculty as traditional students and have full access to campus resources and religious events.

Marylhurst University

Marylhurst has been innovating in online education since the 1990s, and today it offers ten distinct graduate and undergraduate degrees that can be pursued either entirely online, on-campus, or through a mix of both. The university offers an excellent price for the quality. Undergraduate tuition for online students is $451 per credit hour, and $595 for graduate students. Online bachelor’s degree students can save even more money by earning credits for past knowledge, which they can demonstrate through tests or through the Prior Learning Assessment program.

New England College

With just over 2,600 students total on campus and online, New England College brings an affordable, small school experience to distance education. Four out of five classes have fewer than 20 students, and the college’s online business and education programs are ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report. Six associate’s and bachelor’s degree, as well as an MBA program, are available completely online. Tuition ranges from just $532 to $646 per credit hour.

Strayer University

Strayer is a private, four-year university dedicated to providing affordable education to working adults. With a dedicated catalogue of online-only courses launched in 1996 and 90 campuses across the country, Strayer is also one of the largest post-secondary institutions in the county. The institution also continues to grow, nearly doubling its campuses in the last five years alone. With tuition broken down by course ― $1,420 per undergraduate course and $2,325 per graduate course ― Strayer is able to provide affordable and flexible courses and credits, allowing students to work towards a Strayer degree as they see fit.

Georgetown University

The 20th best university in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report, this Washington, DC Catholic university comes with a stellar reputation, not to mention a good collection of online options. These include master’s degrees in finance and several nursing specializations. While Georgetown is not as cheap as some other schools on this list ― tuition ranges from around $21,000 to $32,000 per year for the online nursing programs ― earning a degree with the Georgetown name is sure to yield serious financial rewards after graduation.

The George Washington University

With a campus just blocks from the White House in Washington, DC, George Washington is an elite private university. It is ranked 52nd best nationwide by U.S. News & World Report and enrolls over 10,000 undergraduate students. For busy professionals, George Washington offers several online master’s and certification programs in healthcare, business administration, education, publishing, law, and other fields. Some of the programs require short residencies in Alexandria, VA, while others do not require students to ever step foot on campus. Tuition ranges from around $600 to almost $1,000 per credit, depending on the program.

University of Cincinnati

As a public institution founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati has been providing distance education since 1984. Today, the university has around 24 fully or partially online associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs, and its education and nursing master’s programs are ranked among the very best online by U.S. News & World Report. As a public university, tuition rates are very good for the school’s reputation and quality, but Ohio residents get the best deal. For a graduate nursing degree, for example, state residents pay almost 50% less than non-residents.

Robert Morris University

In addition to the roughly 4,000 undergraduate students studying at the downtown Pittsburgh, PA campus, Robert Morris University offers a number of fully-online bachelor’s and master’s degrees for busy professionals. Students can study nursing, management, human resources, and internet security assurance, to name just a few. Online classes are designed to be as flexible as possible and are taught by the same professors who teach in the classrooms. Tuition for online undergrad programs is $695 per credit hour and between $790 and $850 for online master’s degrees.

The post Most Affordable Online Colleges & Universities of 2014 appeared first on The Best Colleges.

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