In today’s economy, it’s hard to build a career or even make a living without a college degree. A traditional education on campus, in the classroom, isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re busy with work, caring for a family or looking to earn a specific degree that’s only offered far from home, online education may be the best option for advancing your career and improving your life.
Knowing you want to earn your degree online is one thing, but figuring out how to go about it and what school to attend is another. You want your degree to be affordable, but more importantly, you want it to be a good value: a quality education from a respected, accredited school. Our list of the top 25 cheapest online bachelor’s degree programs consists exclusively of schools that have earned regional accreditation, so you know that every one of these institutions meets the high standards of one of the major regional accreditation organizations in the country. Many of them have earned recognition from publications like U.S. News & World Report, and several have features like support services, accelerated courses and career or adult learning focuses that set them apart.
These 25 online colleges prove that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great education, or a great value.
1. Winston-Salem State University
For residents of North Carolina, particularly those with some college or vocational training already, there may be no better value in online undergraduate education than Winston-Salem State University. The public research university offers only a few fully-online bachelor’s degree programs, but these programs fulfill specific niches at an unmatched price. WSSU’s online undergraduate degree programs include:
- Bachelors of Science – Clinical Laboratory Science, for students who have already finished an accredited Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program but want the additional skills and qualifications of a bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN), in which registered nurses can complete the requirements to earn a bachelor’s degree and advance their careers
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, for students who have already completed two years of college but not enough credits to earn a bachelor’s degree. This program offers a broad, well-rounded education in the arts and sciences, as well as the opportunity to develop communication, problem-solving and creative and critical thinking skills.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked WSSU highly, naming it 15th among historically black colleges and universities, 25th among the top public schools and 60th among regional universities. The school has separate tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students, even when it comes to distance learning. Students who live in North Carolina will pay $106 per semester hour (plus a $51.50 charge if they take over 11 credit hours per semester), for a grand total of under $3,300 per year. Out-of-state students pay $428 per credit (again, with a $51.50 charge to take over 11 credit hours per semester), or around $12,942 for the year.
Cost: $106 per semester hour, or $3,289 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
2. Fort Hays State University
One of the schools with the “best online bachelor’s programs” across the nation – at least, according to U.S. News & World Report – is also among the most affordable. Fort Hays State University is a rural Kansas public institution that offers 25 fully-online bachelor’s degree programs in majors such as business education, management, health studies, nursing, education, information networking, philosophy, sociology and other traditional subjects in the arts and sciences. On the off-chance that you can’t find a major to match your interests or career aspirations, you can customize your own curriculum while earning a Bachelor of General Studies degree – completely online, of course, through FHSU’s Virtual College.
Regardless of which degree they choose to pursue, all undergraduate students enrolled in FHSU’s Virtual College pay the same low tuition rate – just $115 per credit.
Cost: $115 per credit, or $3,450 for one year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
3. Thomas Edison State College
As an adult student, you need something different from your education than what a kid fresh out of high school might want. You want flexibility, relevant information that will enhance your career as well as your personal knowledge and a self-directed learning style that allows you to discover knowledge for yourself instead of just mindlessly copying down lecture notes. Trenton, New Jersey-based Thomas Edison State College, which bills itself as “exclusively for adults,” can provide you with a distance learning education worthy of your life experiences. In addition to offering online courses, the school awards credit for training and knowledge you already have, even if you gained it outside the classroom, The New York Times reported. The school offers 30 fully-online bachelor’s degree programs in subjects ranging from the humanities to engineering and criminal justice to general business management.
For in-state students who intend to study full-time, the school’s comprehensive tuition plan offers a great value of up to 36 credits per year for a flat fee of just $5,871. Out-of-state residents pay a still reasonable $8,647 for the same plan. Part-time students who pay by the credit — $1,221 per credit, or about $3,663 per class, for in-state students – may end up paying substantially more than their full-time counterparts.
Cost: $1,221 per credit, or $5,871 per year of full-time study (up to 36 credits) with the comprehensive tuition plan (in-state)
Regional Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
4. Western Governors University
Imagine a school cares as much about keeping higher education affordable as you do. That school is Western Governor’s University. The Salt Lake City, Utah-based online school offers 23 different distance learning programs for aspiring teachers, businesspeople, information technology specialists and healthcare professionals. Formed from a collaboration of 19 state governors, the online school was created to emphasize competency-based education, in which working professionals can get credit for the relevant knowledge and skills they already have, saving them time and money.
For years, the cost of college tuition and fees across the nation has increased significantly faster than the rate of inflation. Last year, the cost on average increased between 2.9 percent (for public institutions) and 3.7 percent (for private institutions), according to The College Board. Yet Western Governors University hasn’t raised tuition since 2008. The school actively tries to keep college affordable, and it succeeds. Students enrolled in undergraduate online programs in business, teaching and information technology pay just $2,890 per term and can take as many as 12 competency units in a semester. Even the more costly nursing programs ($3,250 to $4,250 per term) are a great value.
Cost: $2,890 per term, or $5,780 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
5. Baker College
If advancing your career is your primary reason for pursuing a degree, you want to choose a school that’s as career-focused as you are. Baker College, which prioritizes real-world experience and provides all students with access to employment experts, is one such school.
A private institution based out of Flint, Michigan, Baker College offers 20 fully online bachelor’s degree programs. Whether your interests lie in business, health and nursing, computers and information technology, psychology or criminal justice, you can rest assured that the school was ranked among the best online bachelor’s programs by U.S. News & World Report. Students pay the same tuition, just $230 per credit, for all undergraduate online courses. The Lifetime Employment Assistance program provides graduates with additional value that includes free help with networking, résumé writing and interview preparation throughout every state of their careers.
Cost: $230 per credit hour, or $6,900 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
6. Ball State University
Indiana residents, in particular, will find a great value in a degree in business, education or nursing from Ball State University. The public institution’s campus is in Muncie, Indiana, but it also offers four fully-online degree programs for students who already have some college education:
- Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree
- Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education Degree
- Bachelor of General Studies Degree
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (RN to BS)
Each offering is a degree completion program, designed to help students who started but never finished college finally get their degrees. The flexible, 100 percent online format and support from academic advisors make it easier even for working students who are busy balancing professional and family responsibilities to get the degrees they need to advance their careers. Even though Ball State University offers just a few completely online undergraduate programs, those programs are highly rated and well-respected. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Ball State University 34th on its list of the best online bachelor’s programs across the country, as well as including the college on its lists of the best schools for education, nursing, psychology and other subjects.
Ball State University has separate distance learning tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state residents. Indiana residents can choose to pay $284 per credit (up to the first 11 credits) or a flat fee of $3,694 a semester for up to 18 credits. Out-of-state students pay $499 per credit for the first 11 credits. Full-time out-of-state students pay the same $3,694 flat rate as in-state students plus an additional $215 per credit hour.
Cost: $284 per credit/$3,694 for up to 18 credits, or $7,388 per year of full-time study
Regional Association: Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
7. Norwich University
If you already earned your associate’s degree but now find that you need a higher degree to get ahead in your career, Norwich University could be the right choice for you. The private Northfield, Vermont-based institution offers three fully online bachelor’s degrees:
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security
- Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis
Each degree path builds upon the education and professional knowledge the student already has, so it’s not like starting back at square one. In addition, online students at Norwich University have a full support network of advisers, program directors, tech support staff and distance learning librarians to whom they can turn for help.
In addition to making U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s best online bachelor’s programs, Norwich University also earned recognition among the best regional universities and took 29th place on the list of the best colleges for veterans.
Students in the Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis degree program will pay just $250 per credit, while those pursuing undergraduate degrees in criminal justice or cyber security pay $375 per credit in tuition. Active military personnel are eligible for a tuition discount of more than $100 per credit on a criminal justice or cyber security degree.
Cost: $250 per credit, or $7,500 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
8. Charter Oak State College
If you’re a nontraditional student, perhaps a nontraditional college is exactly what you need. Charter Oak State College is a small public institution in New Britain, Connecticut. The school understands that learning happens in many different formats and situations, not just through formal lectures in a college classroom. Students can earn credit toward their bachelor’s degrees through online classes, standardized tests, military or civilian professional training and independent and experiential learning. Online degree offerings include:
- Cyber Security
- Health Care Administration
- Health Information Management
- General Studies, with a choice of more than a dozen concentrations in fields like business, psychology, political science and public administration
Charter Oak State College charges different in-state and out-of-state tuition rates even for distance learning students. Connecticut residents will pay $263 per credit, while students in other states will pay $346 per credit. The education is a great value either way, especially considering that U.S. News & World Report ranked Charter Oak State College among the best online bachelor’s programs in the country.
Cost: $263 per credit or $7,890 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
9. Graceland University
Students who want to earn an undergraduate degree in business or healthcare may find their perfect academic match at Graceland University. The small, private Lamoni, Iowa-based institution offers five fully-online bachelor’s degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership Program
- Bachelor of Arts in Health Care Management
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN
- Bachelor of Arts in Online Dual Major in Business Program
U.S. News & World Report has recognized Graceland University as among the best online bachelor’s programs as well as the best regional universities. Tuition varies by degree program. Undergraduate business students will pay $295 per credit hour, while health care management students pay $395 and nursing students pay $465.
Cost: $295 per credit, or $8,850 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
10. American InterContinental University
For students with an interest in business, information technology, criminal justice or healthcare management, studying at American InterContinental University will allow you to earn a bachelor’s degree in a specialized field of study with a tuition cost of less than $10,000 per year. The Schaumburg, Illinois-based school prides itself on providing an industry-focused education that gets students the right knowledge for their careers from instructors with plenty of real-world professional experience. American InterContinental offers 27 fully online bachelor’s degree programs.
Business students can choose from 11 specializations, from marketing to accounting and finance to project management. Healthcare management students can specialize in health services administration or gerontology. Information technology includes degrees in digital investigations, network administration, information assurance and security and software analysis and development. Criminal justice students can major in forensic science, law enforcement, corrections and case management, homeland security and crisis management or general criminal justice. All undergraduate online programs cost just $302 per credit.
Cost: $302 per credit, or $9,060 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
11. University of Massachusetts Online
At the University of Massachusetts Online, undergraduate students can choose from 32 distance learning programs in subjects of study as diverse as information technology and gender studies. Whether you’re looking to advance a nursing career, climb the corporate ladder in the business world or major in a general field like liberal arts, global affairs, general studies or English, you’re sure to find a degree path to help you get ahead.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Massachusetts locations at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell highly. The school’s various campuses have placed on lists such as:
- Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
- National Universities
- Regional Universities
- Top Public Schools
- More than a dozen individual subject areas
The cost of earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Online varies from one major to another. Undergraduate tuition at the University of Massachusetts ranges from $125 to $1,980, but online programs generally cost anywhere from $304 to $525 per credit.
Cost: $304 per credit, or $9,120 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
12. Capella University
Unlike the typical student fresh out of high school, you have real-world professional and life experience. You deserve credit for the things you already know and a flexible learning environment that will let you study at your own pace. After all, you’re not just sitting in a classroom and taking notes while an instructor drones on in a monotonous lecture. You’re actively learning through interactive modules and assignments, and balancing it all with your work and home responsibilities. Capella University is a primarily online institution that awards competency-based credit and allows students the freedom of its FlexPath self-paced learning style (note: Capella University’s FlexPath option is available for certain programs, not all).
Undergraduate students at Capella University can choose from more than a dozen degree paths in subject areas like business and information technology, healthcare, nursing, and psychology. The per-credit tuition for Capella University’s online bachelor degree programs ranges from $336 to $394, depending on the major and course level. Often, lower-level courses in the 1000 to 2000 level cost around $336 per credit, while upper level courses (3000 to 4000 level) cost $394 per credit. This means the cost of education may increase by as much as a couple thousand dollars toward the end of the student’s academic career.
Cost: $315 per credit, or $9,450 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
13. Southern New Hampshire University
Even though you’ll have to work independently to earn your degree online, you don’t have to do it all alone. Some schools, like Southern New Hampshire University, offer a wide range of support services to help students succeed. SNHU is a private, nonprofit institution based in Manchester. With more than 80 online bachelor’s degree offerings in business and the liberal arts, students are sure to find a program to fit their academic and career needs. Whether you want to study accounting or creative writing, economics or American history, nursing or Web development, there’s a degree path for you.
No matter which major you choose, you will pay the same, affordable tuition cost when you earn an online degree from Southern New Hampshire University. Students pay just $320 per credit, or $960 per class. Active-duty military personnel get a discount of nearly $100 per credit, making this school an especially great value for those currently serving our country in the armed forces. Adding to the value of an education at SNHU is the breadth of support services available to students. From the admissions counselors that help students choose the right majors to the career advisors that help students make the most of their education and career preparation, students will have help throughout the process of earning their degrees.
Cost: $320 per credit, or $9,600 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and College
14. Colorado Technical University
The path you have taken in your private and professional life is personal – shouldn’t your education be, too? At Colorado Technical University, it can be. The Colorado Springs-based school features adaptive learning technology it calls Intellipath that personalizes your academic experience so that you spend less time rehashing the information you already know and more time learning valuable new knowledge and skills.
Colorado Technical University, which U.S. News & World Report ranked among the best online bachelor’s programs, offers degree paths in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, cyber security, healthcare management, information technology, project management, psychology and nursing. Within these degree programs, students can choose from numerous concentrations. Business administration students have 12 concentrations to consider, ranging from organizational behavior to digital marketing. Criminal justice students can study cybercrime, homeland security or human services. IT students can specialize in web development, security, data management and software application programming, among other possibilities.
The wealth of options available mean that students can earn the degree that will be most relevant to their careers and interests – and with tuition costing just $325 per credit, regardless of degree program, they can do it without breaking the bank.
Cost: $325 per credit, or $9,750 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
15. California University of Pennsylvania
Some students already know what they want to do, and that a specific degree is necessary to reach their goals. They don’t need a plethora of general degree programs to choose from, but they do need a high-quality program in a specific niche. At the California University of Pennsylvania, distance learning students can choose to study the following 100 percent online bachelor’s degree programs:
- Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Language and Culture
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice (Homeland and International Security)
- Bachelor of Arts, Jurisprudence in Land Management
- Bachelor of Arts, Jurisprudence in Legal Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN – BSN)
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology: Social Deviance
- Bachelor of Science in Wellness and Fitness
The school has earned national recognition for its online programs in particular. U.S. News & World Report not only ranked California University of Pennsylvania among the best online bachelor’s programs in the country, but also awarded high rankings to the school’s online graduate programs in education and nursing.
Undergraduate students enrolled in one of the Cal U Global Online degree programs can expect to pay tuition of $332.20 per credit if they live in Pennsylvania or $347.20 if they live out-of-state, though this is the minimum tuition charge. Some programs may cost more.
Cost: $332.20 per credit for in-state students
Regional Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
16. Removed
17. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
If you know your interests lie in the field of psychology, why not choose a school that specializes in the subject? The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers fully online Bachelor of Arts degrees in general psychology and in the following four concentrations:
- Child and adolescent psychology
- Business psychology
- International psychology
- Social services
The private, nonprofit institution is primarily a graduate school, offering undergraduate degrees exclusively online to help working students get started on an education in psychology. No matter which concentration you choose to pursue, you will pay a reasonable tuition cost of $385 per credit hour to earn your degree online.
Cost: $385 per credit hour, or $11,550 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
18. Adventist University of Health Sciences
Seeking a career in healthcare? At the Adventist University of Health Sciences, based in Orlando, Florida, students who already have some college experience can earn an online undergraduate degree in subjects like:
- Nursing (R.N. to B.S.)
- Radiologic Sciences
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography
All of these distance learning bachelor’s degree programs are degree completion programs, meaning that they’re designed to help students who have started but never finished college succeed in earning their degrees. Often, students who have completed a few semesters of school elsewhere already can transfer their credits to Adventist University of Health Sciences and complete their remaining degree requirements is as little as five terms. The undergraduate cost per credit hour at Adventist University of Health Sciences is $395.
Cost: $395 per credit or $11,850 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
19. Bellevue University
Among the best advantages of earning a degree online is freedom. Not only do you have the flexibility to study where and when it’s convenient for you, but you have the freedom to choose any major you want from among countless colleges. One school that offers online students plenty of freedom is Nebraska-based private institution Bellevue University. At Bellevue University, students can choose from nearly 50 fully online bachelor’s degree programs.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Bellevue University among the best online bachelor’s programs, also ranking the school’s graduate programs highly. Distance learning undergraduate students at Bellevue University will pay tuition costs of $395 per credit during the 2015 to 2016 school year – a modest increase of just $10 per credit from the previous year, so students don’t have to worry too much about massive tuition jumps from one year to the next.
Cost: $395 per credit hour, or $11,850 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
20. New England College
New England College, a small, private liberal arts institution in rural New Hampshire, offers the following eight fully online programs at the bachelor’s degree level:
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting
- Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration
- Bachelor of Science in Human Services
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Though the Henniker, New Hampshire-based school may not offer dozens of degree options for distance learning students, the programs that it does offer 100 percent online have earned national recognition for their quality. U.S. News & World Report named New England College among the best online bachelor’s programs in the country. Students in all undergraduate online programs pay the same tuition cost of just $395 per credit hour.
Cost: $395 per semester hour, or $11,850 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
21. Eastern Kentucky University Online
At Eastern Kentucky University, distance learning students can choose from 10 fully online bachelor’s degree programs ranging from the very general to specific niche programs of study:
- Corrections and Juvenile Justice Studies
- Fire, Arson & Explosion Investigation
- Fire Protection Administration
- Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology
- General Studies
- Homeland Security
- Nursing (RN to BSN)
- Occupation Safety
- Police Studies
- Psychology
The school also offers a partially online hybrid program in Paralegal Studies/Paralegal Science, in which students can complete most of their work through distance learning courses but must take at least ten semester credits of traditional format legal specialty courses. The Richmond, KY-based school has earned high marks for quality. U.S. News & World Report ranked Eastern Kentucky University among the best online bachelor’s programs, the top public schools, the best colleges for veterans and the best regional universities.
Tuition for most online degree programs at Eastern Kentucky University is $400 per credit. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree pay slightly more, $425 per credit hour.
Cost: $400 per credit hour, or $12,000 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
22. University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is among the most well-known online colleges, and for good reason. The school offers plenty of options for undergraduate students, with more than 70 bachelor’s degrees available in the arts and sciences, business and management, criminal justice and security, education, nursing and healthcare, psychology and technology. Many of the University of Phoenix distance learning degree paths offer students the opportunity to pursue specific concentrations or earn certificates in addition to their bachelor’s degrees, adding something extra to their résumés.
During the early years of their education, students will pay $410 a credit for their lower division courses. The tuition cost for upper level courses increases slightly, to $435 per credit.
Cost: $410 per credit, or $12,300 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
23. Herzing University
When you consider various colleges, part of you decision process should include how much time you want to spend in school each semester. At some schools, the overall cost for a full-time student is significantly cheaper than that for part-time students. If you plan to study full-time, you can save hundreds of dollars per credit at Herzing University. The career-focused Madison, Wisconsin-based college offers more than two dozen fully online bachelor’s degree programs in fields like business, design, healthcare, information technology and public safety. Herzing University provides both quantity and quality, with U.S. News & World Report ranking the school among the best online bachelor’s programs in the nation.
Tuition: Estimated expenses for academic year 2019-2020 (IPEDS): $14,200 (Tuition and fees)
Regional Accreditation: Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413, www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400.
24. Removed
25. Benedictine University
Benedictine University is proof that it’s sometimes better to excel at just a couple things than to do an unremarkable job at many things. The private Lisle, Illinois-based school offers just two online bachelor’s degree programs – the Bachelor of Arts in Management and the Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership – but it still ranks among U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best online bachelor’s programs in the country. The school also offers a free Success Strategies course to help enrolled students get acquainted with the online education process and platform.
Online students at Benedictine University will find their first two full-time years of school, in particular, to be affordable, with a tuition cost of just $430 per credit. Once students complete 60 credits and are taking upper level courses, though, they’ll face a tuition increase to $630 per hour.
Cost: $430 per credit hour, or $12,900 per year of full-time study
Regional Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Conclusion
Just as there’s more to a school than the cost of its tuition, there’s more to your college decision than numbers. In addition to weighing the tuition charge – along with the other costs that aren’t included in this list, like various fees and supply expenses – you should consider what factors are the most important to you personally.
If you already work in the field in which you want to earn a degree, you might find competency-based courses to be a bigger priority. On the other hand, if you’re concerned about splitting your attention between multiple classes at once, the opportunity to take an accelerated course schedule might matter to you. No matter which of these schools you choose to explore further, you can rest assured that all of them are legitimate, regionally accredited institutions, and that all of them provide a great value for your money.
For Further Reading:
Top 10 Graduate Degree Programs in Criminal Justice
What Classes Will I Take in a Criminal Justice Degree?
What Is the Benefit of a Degree in Cybersecurity vs. Network Security?
