University of the People (100 points)
The University of the People is a nonprofit, tuition-free online university. Although it charges no tuition, it is not completely free. There is a $60 application fee, and students must pay an assessment fee for each course completed.
University of North Carolina-Pembroke (97 points)
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers a student-centered online education. The school’s online courses are taught by the same faculty that teaches its on-campus programs.
Ohio University-Ohio Online (78 points)
Ohio Online is the #1 online college in Ohio. The school offers more than 60 online programs and has almost 8,000 students. Ohio Online adheres to the same high educational standards as Ohio University’s on-campus courses.
St. Petersburg College (76 points)
St. Petersburg College is one of the leading providers of online education in Florida. The school offers self-paced courses that allow students to set their own schedules as well as live Zoom web conferences.
Indiana University – Online (72 points)
Indiana University Online offers over 150 online degrees designed with flexibility in mind. The school offers online programs in business, education, health sciences, and more.
Pensacola State College (68 points)
Pensacola State College offers a variety of online programs. Examples include an AS in Accounting Technology, Business Administration, or Criminal Justice Technology and a BSN in Nursing.
University of North Carolina (61 points)
The University of North Carolina-Wilmington’s Office of Distance Education and eLearning offers many online programs for its students. There are programs in criminology, elementary education, and more.
Central Washington University (58 points)
Central Washington University is dedicated to providing individual attention and hands-on learning. The school has online programs in public health, business administration, psychology, law and justice, and more.
Grantham University (58 points)
Grantham University combines flexibility with affordability in its 100% online degree programs. The school has 70 years of experience helping working adults get the most out of their education.
Utah State University – Online (55 points)
USU Online has been working on providing quality online education since 1995, making it Utah’s #1 Online University according to U.S. News & World Report. With 60+ online degrees and programs, students can pursue a degree in a variety of fields. On students also have access to 31+ local campuses around Utah and dozens of online resources to help them cultivate academic success.
Northeastern State University (55 points)
Northeastern State University is dedicated to being the school of choice for its region. The school’s faculty enjoys serving the community, researching, and teaching. Classes are small.
CUNY School of Professional Studies (54 points)
CUNY Online offers students a chance to get the degrees they need without having to leave home. The school’s online programs are affordable, and out-of-state students pay in-state tuition rates.
Valdosta State University (54 points)
Valdosta State University’s online courses allow students to pursue their degrees from anywhere in the word. Students are able to continue working while accomplishing their personal and professional goals.
University of Nebraska (53 points)
The University of Nebraska-Omaha is a metropolitan university that has strong relationships with the community. The school has over 15,000 students and provides learning opportunities that address real-life problems.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (53 points)
Southwestern Oklahoma State University offers online programs that allow busy working adults to pursue their degrees. The school uses Zoom webinars to allow students to meet with instructors in real time.
University of Florida (53 points)
The University of Florida’s online programs remove barriers to make education accessible for as many students as possible. Students who complete their degrees online receive the same education as their on-campus peers.
Florida State University (52 points)
Florida State University is known for educational excellence in the sciences, humanities, and arts. The school has distinguished faculty members and its online programs are both convenient and flexible.
Mississippi University for Women (51 points)
Mississippi University for Women understands that not all students can come to campus to attend classes. For this reason, the school offers a wide variety of online programs.
Kansas State University (49 points)
Kansas State University’s K-State Online offers more than 100 online programs. The school provides outstanding tuition value and has a 97% placement rate. It has more than 50 years of experience in distance education.
University of Maine (49 points)
The University of Maine-Augusta has been offering distance education for more than 30 years, so online education is nothing new. The school offers a variety of online degrees, from business administration to cybersecurity and more.
Fort Hays State University (48 points)
Fort Hays State University is a leader in distance education. The school offers over 200 online certificate and degree programs. Its faculty provides the support students need to succeed.
Southeast Missouri State University – Online (47 points)
Southeast Missouri State University’s Southeast Online helps students succeed in their careers through flexible online degree programs. The school offers an assortment of online bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and certificates.
California State University – Dominguez Hills (47 points)
California State University-Dominguez Hills provides supportive staff, committed faculty members, and strong academic programs. The school is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience.
University of North Carolina-Greensboro Online (47 points)
The University of North Carolina-Greensboro Online offers flexible programs that allow students to learn at their own pace. The school has a committed staff and provides plenty of support to its online students.
Oregon State University Ecampus (45 points)
The Oregon State University Ecampus offers more than 80 online and hybrid programs. The school has more than 24,000 students and offers over 1,500 online courses, including 20+ online chemistry courses.
Western Carolina University (45 points)
Western Carolina University offers online degrees to help students excel in in-demand fields. The school’s professors are committed to helping their students succeed.
Thomas Edison State University (41 points)
Thomas Edison State University provides high-quality online learning opportunities for self-directed adults. The school offers dozens of online degree programs from the associate to the doctoral level.
California State University-Chico (40 points)
California State University-Chico’s Distance & Online Education program provides a way for students who can’t attend classes on campus to complete their degrees. For more than 40 years we have offered high-value, high-quality online courses and support to help our students prepare for a successful future.
Florida Atlantic University (40 points)
Florida Atlantic University offers a top-notch online education with outstanding student support. The school is committed to quality and is careful to ensure that online students receive the same quality education as on-campus students.
Troy University (39 points)
Troy University has been offering affordable, high-quality education for over 130 years and has awarded over 22,000 online degrees to its students. It offers 95 fully online degree programs.
University of Oklahoma (39 points)
The University of Oklahoma Online offers graduate degrees in in-demand fields for students who want to advance their careers. The school’s online courses are taught by top-notch faculty members and industry experts.
Granite State College (38 points)
Granite State College has been committed to offering students an affordable income no matter where they live since 1972. The school is now 100% online and offers plenty of support to help its students succeed.
Colorado State University-Global Campus (37 points)
CSU Global offers a dynamic online education with customized learning paths available to accommodate your educational needs. The school uses data-driven methods to help students succeed.
University of South Dakota Online (36 points)
The University of South Dakota Online offers affordable and flexible graduate and undergraduate programs. Students can advance their careers with programs that easily fit into their busy lives.
University of Illinois-Springfield (36 points)
The University of Illinois-Springfield offers online programs that meet the same high quality standards as its on-campus programs. The school’s online programs are both convenient and flexible.
Georgia Southern University (35 points)
Georgia Southern University incorporates real-world experience into its degree programs, even if you’re learning online. The school’s programs are engaging and help improve the lives of its students.
Moody Bible Institute (33 points)
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian college that offers graduate and undergraduate Bible and ministry degrees online. The Chicago Undergraduate Tuition Grant covers all tuition not covered by financial aid.
Nicholls State University (31 points)
Nicholls Online offers an exceptional online learning environment and deeply committed faculty members. The courses are offered in an accelerated eight-week format.
University of Maryland Global Campus (31 points)
The University of Maryland Global Campus offers more than 90 online degrees and specializations to choose from. The school was founded with working adults in mind.
West Texas A&M University (29 points)
West Texas A&M University offers a variety of online and hybrid programs at every level from undergraduate to doctoral. The school’s online programs are convenient and flexible.
Old Dominion University Online (28 points)
ODU Online helps students find a way to pursue higher education without putting life on hold. The school has online programs in business, communication, computer science, education, and more.
Florida International University (28 points)
Florida International University is one of the 10 largest universities in the United States with more than 50,000 students. FIU incorporates experiential learning to make its graduates stand out.
University of Southern Mississippi (27 points)
The University of Southern Mississippi offers affordable tuition, and the school’s online classes are taught by the same professors as its on-campus classes. Students can complete their courses on their own schedules.
University of West Florida (26 points)
The University of West Florida’s online programs are designed to fit into working adults’ busy schedules. The school offers high-quality degrees for the leaders of tomorrow.
University of Central Florida (25 points)
UCF Online is known for its innovation, and its online programs are both flexible and affordable. Students can earn their degrees without ever leaving the comfort of home.
Purdue University-Fort Wayne (24 points)
Purdue University-Fort Wayne offers a variety of online programs and has the resources to help its students succeed. The tuition is affordable, and the online programs are flexible and convenient.
University of North Florida (24 points)
UNF’s online programs are available in either an accelerated or traditional format. The school provides a quality educational experience with award-winning programs.
State University of New York-Canton (22 points)
SUNY Canton offers 22 online degrees and over 450 online courses. The online programs are accredited and rigorous. SUNY Canton OnLine is committed to academic excellence.
North Carolina State University-Raleigh (22 points)
North Carolina State University’s online programs offer the same curriculum and education as its on-campus courses. The online courses are taught by the same exceptional faculty members.
Our Ranking Methodology
We made a list of schools that offer online degrees and looked up the in-state and out-of-state tuition cost on each school’s website. We used the per semester rates where available. If the cost was given per credit, we multiplied by 12 for a full-time credit load. If the cost was given per year, we divided by two to get the per-semester cost.
After sorting first by the in-state tuition cost and then by out-of-state tuition cost, we assigned points to each school, with a maximum of 50 points for in-state tuition cost (lowest is best) and 50 points for out-of-state tuition cost (lowest is best). We added these two scores to get a final score for ranking.
If you work for one of the schools we ranked and you notice an error in the information we used to rank you, please feel free to contact us and let us know so we can make a correction.
