100 Most Affordable Online Colleges & Degrees

For most, the Bachelor’s degree is a students first step towards extending their education and knowledge beyond that of the standard K-12 education.  It is also the first time that students get to experience a greater deal of autonomy over their own educational and occupational destiny.

Through the pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree, students can send themselves down whatever path they so choose to learn about whatever topic may interest them in order to prepare for whatever career they see fit.

This may seem like a lot of choices to make and that’s because it is! Deciding what Bachelor’s degree is best is a personal and tricky decision to make. To complicate things further, students are faced with so many different universities and colleges to attend in order to pursue their degree.  To help alleviate that problem, we’ve compiled a list of our top 100 colleges and universities to attend for an online Bachelor’s degree.

These are all accredited universities and colleges that we’ve found to be up to our standards, and we’ve ranked them for you by the out-of-state tuition rate per credit.  We hope that this ranking will help you find the university or college that is best suited to your needs.

1. University of Texas – Arlington

Originally named Arlington College, the University of Texas – Arlington was established as a private school that focused on first through tenth grade students.  Initially underfunded, the school eventually received a substantial donation from Edward Emmett Rankin.  However, this money was not enough to keep the school’s doors open and eventually it was shut down in 1902 and reopened as the Carlisle Military Academy.  This school eventually folded as well and was then reopened as the Arlington Traning School which was later renamed to Arlington Military Academy.

By 1917, the school had been incorporated into the Texas A&M University system.  Finally, in 1967 the school was renamed to its current name, the University of Texas – Arlington.  Located in Arlington, Texas, the University of Texas  -Arlington now enrolls nearly 40,000 students. University of Texas – Arlington is a public institution.

Tuition: $147:non-resident

2. Western Governors University

In a 1996 meeting of the Western Governors Association, Governor of Utah Mike Leavitt, proposed the creation of a school that would be designed to serves the northwest United States.  The plan was to create a school that was built around a competency-based learning model that would focus primarily on providing high-quality distance education.  By focusing on distance education, the school would be able to serve more students across a larger area.

Known as Western Governors University, the school was able to control costs and reach a large student base.  Founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, Western Governors University also operates satellite campuses in Missouri, Nevada, Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, and Washington with a combined student body of 77,000 students. Western Governors University is a private institution.

Tuition: $192:non-resident

3. Fort Hays State University

Founded in 1902, Fort Hays State University was originally named the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School.  Originally established as an extension of the growing Kansas State Normal School, Western Branch of Kansas State Normal School quickly grew to become more than just a simple extension campus.  Established on the site of a former frontier military installation known as Fort Hays, the school quickly outgrew the grounds and a new campus was needed.  It was decided that the school would establish a new campus closer to the town of Hays in order to serve a larger population of students.

Today, Fort Hays State University has grown to become Kansas’ third-largest public university with a student body of a approximately 11,200 students.  Fort Hays State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $213:non-resident

4. Western New Mexico University

Opening its doors on February 11, 1893, Western New Mexico University began enrolling its first class of students in a rented space in the town’s Presbyterian Church.  Named the New Mexico Normal School at its establishment, the school was located in what was then the Territory of New Mexico.  After four months of operation, the New Mexico Board of Regents called for the creation of an official school building in the nearby town of Silver City, New Mexico.  In 1896, construction on the school’s first building, the Old Main, was completed.  After just twenty years of operation, the school’s population had grown to five-hundred students.

Currently, Western New Mexico University is still located in Silver City, New Mexico, and enrolls a student body of about 3,500 students.  Western New Mexico University is a public university.

Tuition: $226:non-resident

5. Eastern Oregon University

Nestled amongst the vibrant and beautiful stretch of the Blue Mountain range between Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Oregon, Eastern Oregon University was founded in the scenic town of La Grande, Oregon.  Initially created to serve as the area’s teachers college, Eastern Oregon University underwent a variety of name changes and curriculum overhauls over the coming years.  By 1997, the Oregon State Legislature had settled on the school’s current name of Eastern Oregon University.

Now, Eastern Oregon University is home to a student body of 1,700 students at its La Grande campus with an additional 15,000 students enrolled online through the school’s distance education program.  Students are able to enroll in over one-hundred different degree programs.  Eastern Oregon University is a public institution.

Tuition: $232:non-resident

6. State University of New York – Delhi

Initially created as a farming and agricultural studies school, the State University of New York at Delhi was founded in the small mountain town of Delhi, New York.  Designed to serve the area as a agriculture and mechanical arts school, the school operated under this sole mission for the next few decades until it was eventually added into the State University of New York School System sun 1913.  However, the curriculum at the school was not expanded beyond agricultural and mechanical arts until the mid-1920s.  It was at this point that general education courses as well as a litany of other degree programs were then offered.  In the 1960s, business classes were incorporated into the school’s programs, forever changing the trajectory of the State University of New York – Delhi.

Located in Delhi, New York, the State University of New York at Delhi is home to a student population of just over 3,000 students.  State University of New York at Delhi is a public institution.

Tuition: $235:non-resident

7. Ohio University

At the Confederation Congress, the Congress of the United States called for the establishment of Ohio University in the Articles of Confederation through the Ordinance of 1787.  Under the mandate that “Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary for good government of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be encouraged,” Ohio University was created as the example of the kind of dedication to higher education and knowledge that the United States would stand for.  Known originally as the American University, Ohio University became a shining example globally of higher education.

Founded by Manasseh Cutler and Rufus Putnam, Ohio University is located in Athens, Ohio, and currently enrolls a students body of just shy of 40,000 students.  Ohio University is a public institution.

Tuition: $240:non-resident

8. Amberton University

During the Sixties, the Abilene Christian University was undergoing a period of extreme growth and the school was beginning to struggle to accommodate the ever-growing student population and their needs.  Wanting to provide these students with a place of higher education, Abilene Christian University quickly established an extension campus in the nearby town of Mesquite, Texas in 1971, creating the footprint for what would eventually become Amberton University.  After three years at its Mequite, Texas location, the school was then moved to Garland, Texas at which location it began to thrive.  By 1982, the school was renamed to Amber University and then renamed once more to Amberton University in 2001.

Focusing primarily on adult education, Amberton University quickly became a leader in this type of education.  Now, Amberton University is home to thousands of students who are enrolled on-campus and online.  Amberton University is private institution.

Tuition: $265:non-resident

9. University of Central Missouri

Eventually becoming the University of Central Missouri, the Warrensburg Teachers College was established in 1871.  In the coming years, the school would change and grow in scope, ultimately leading to an increase in student population and educational opportunities offered at the school.  By 1919, it was decided that the school would be renamed to the Central Missouri State Teachers College.  This was the first in a series of name-changes.  Named Central Missouri State Teachers College, then Central Missouri State College in 1945, then Central Missouri State University in 1972, the school was finally named the University of Central Missouri in 2006.

Established in the city of Warrensburg, Missouri, the University of Central Missouri enrolls almost 15,000 students and offers 150 different major to choose from.  University of Central Missouri is a public institution.

Tuition: $265:non-resident

10. Southeast Missouri State University

The State of Missouri determined in the 1870s that the state was in need of a new state university.  As word traveled throughout the state that the State Legislature was looking to fund a new school, cities across the state began campaigns to attract the new school.  Hoping to lure in the state legislature, a group of business owners and politicians in the city of Cape Girardeau began working to convince the state to build the new school in their city.  Their campaigned worked and Southeast Missouri Normal School was established in Gape Girardeau, Missouri.  The school experienced massive growth over the coming years, a lot of which can be contributed to the construction of Interstate 55.

Today, Southeast Missouri State University is home to a student body of nearly 12,000 students and offers students over 200 different areas of study.  Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $272:non-resident

11. West Texas A&M University

In 1910, the Texas House of Representatives called for the establishment of a school in western Texas that would eventually be known as West Texas A&M University.  Opened as the West Texas State Normal College, the school was originally created to act as a training facility for teachers within the state that would then go out to work in the state’s public school system.  One of seven state-funded colleges, West Texas Normal College was eventually renamed to West Texas A&M University after it was incorporated into the Texas A&M University system.

Founded just outside of Amarillo, Texas, in the city of Canyon, Texas, West Texas A&M University offers over 100 different degree programs and enrolls almost 10,000 students.  West Texas A&M University is a pubic institution.

Tuition: $284:non-resident

12. Columbia College

The Christian Female College, what eventually would become Columbia College, was established in 1851 by the Missouri State Legislature in order to better serve women in the area and provide them an opportunity for a higher education.  At its founding, Columbia College was the only women’s college west of the Mississippi River.  The school operated as a women’s-only institution for the next century and eventually became coeducational in 1970.  Founded in close affiliation with the Christian Church, Columbia College still operates a Christian College.

Enrolling 2,1000 students currently, Columbia College is located in Columbia, Missouri and offers over seventy-five different programs of study.  Columbia College is a private institution.

Tuition: $290:non-resident

13. Bemidji State University

The first class of students enrolled in Bemidji State University in 1919.  Originally named the Bemidji State Normal School, the school was eventually renamed to Bemidji State Teachers College.  After some time, the school’s name was shortened to Bemidji State College and then finally renamed to Bemidji State University in 1975.  In 1999, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System urged the school to change its named to Minnesota State University-Bemidji in order to better mirror the systems naming scheme, but students and faculty opposed the decision.

Named for its location in Bemidji, Minnesota, Bemidji State University has a student body of over 6,300 students and offers a variety of different programs of study for its students. Bemidji State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $296:non-resident

14. University of Southern Indiana

Established as a regional extension campus for the already established Indiana State University, the University of Southern Indiana was founded in 1965.  Construction began on the new campus in 1968 and its first class of students were enrolled in 1969.  Over the coming two decades, the school continued to operate as an extension campus for Indiana State University.  During this period of time, the school underwent a large amount of growth.  By 1985, it was decided that the school should be spun-off into its own school.  Later that year, the University of Southern Indiana was officially chartered.

Now, the University of Southern Indiana is home to a student body of 11,000 students at its Vanderburgh County location, and offers students eighty different degree programs. University of Southern Indiana is a public institution.

Tuition: $297:non-resident

15. Lamar University

Originally known as South Park Junior College, Lamar University was founded in 1923.  Established by Louis R. Pietzsch, the school originally operated out of the third floor of the South Park High School.  Working out of this location for the next three years, the State of Texas Legislature eventually granted the school the ability to give degrees and it was renamed to Lamar College.  Named for Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second President of the Republic of Texas, Lamar College was soon moved to its own campus.  By 1942, the school was out of South Park High School and operating independently.

Incorporated by the state in 1995, Lamar University is currently located in Beaumont, Texas and enrolls a student body of 15,000 students.  Lamar University is a public institution.

Tuition: $308:non-resident

16. Rogers State University

Accepting its first class of students in 1909, Rogers State University was founded as the Eastern University Preparatory School.  Offering its first courses in the Claremont Building, now the school’s oldest building, Eastern University Preparatory School operated for the next eight years until it was shut down and reworked into the Oklahoma Military Academy.  The newly opened Oklahoma Military Academy soon began to offer four years of high school education alongside its two years of junior college.  Due to declining attendance rates brought upon by the Vietnam War, the school was overhauled and began to offer undergraduate and graduate programs.

Named to honor Clement Vann Rogers, Rogers State University currently enrolls a student body of 4,300 students Rogers State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $309:non-resident

17. Indiana University East

Needing to provide additional facilities for its ever-increasing student body, Earlham College founded an extension program that would eventually become Indiana University East.  Operated in a joint-partnership between Earlham College and Indiana University, this new program grew to eventually include the nearby Purdue University into the partnership of this brand-new extension program.  In due time, the program had grown to become so large that the Indiana General Assembly saw it fit to spin it off into its own program.

By 1971, the Indiana University East was officially established.  Located in Richmond, Indiana, Indiana University East is home to approximately 4,500 students.  Indiana University East is a public institution.

Tuition: $315:non-resident

18. Colorado Christian University

The Denver Bible Institute was established in 1914, setting the stage for what would eventually become Colorado Christian University.  Originally, the Denver Bible Institute was created independently of the state of Colorado, but this plan was eventually abandoned and a charter was sought for the new school.  At this point the school was renamed from the Denver Bible Institute to the Denver Bible College and began to grant degrees to students.  Over the coming three decades, the school operated on its own and eventually merged with the Western Bible Institute to form Rockmont College.

In 1989, Rockmont College was renamed to Colorado Christian University.  Now home to 7,400 students, Colorado Christian University is located in Lakewood, Colorado.  Colorado Christian University is a private institution.

Tuition: $315:non-resident

19. Southern New Hampshire University

The New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science was established in 1932 and laid the groundwork for what would transform to become Southern New Hampshire University.  Operated by husband and wife, Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro, the New Hampshire School of Accounting and Secretarial Science was founded in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire.  For the next thirty years, the school would operate at this location but then be forced to move to its current location on the borderline of Hooksett and Manchester.  During this move, the school was renamed to the New Hampshire College of Accounting and Commerce.

Now known as Southern New Hampshire University, the school is home to 3,000 students on-campus and an additional 60,000 students online.  Southern New Hampshire University is a private institution.

Tuition: $320:non-resident

20. Utah State University

Upon receiving funding from the federal government through the Morrill Act, the State of Utah began searching for a site upon which it could establish its first public institution of higher education.  Already having its capital in Salt Lake City and the Insane Asylum in Provo, it was decided that the new institution of higher learning should be located in the town of Logan, Utah.  In 1888, the Agricultural College of Utah was chartered and in 1890, the first group of students began enrolling in classes.

Consolidating with nearby schools over the coming years, now Utah State University is home to over 28,000 students and offers a wide variety of different degree programs from which to choose from.  Utah State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $325:non-resident

21. Dakota State University

For the past twenty years, Dakota State University has maintained a well-earned reputation for being on the cutting-edge of technology use in the classroom.  Beginning in the early 2000s, Dakota State University began offering all of its students a tablet and a laptop computer in order to aid with their educational experience.  Along with this computer, all students were required to enroll in a either an introductory programming or computing class.  Because of this dedication to technology, Dakota State University earned the designations of “National Center of Academic Excellence in Research” and “National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations”.

Established in 1881, Dakota State University was originally known as Madison Normal School. Today Dakota State University is home to nearly 3,000 students at its Madison, North Dakota campus.  Dakota State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $335:non-resident

22. Granite State College

One of the cornerstones of the University System of New Hampshire, Granite State College was established with the distinct goal of providing flexible options of higher education to adult students.  Established in 1972 in Concord, New Hampshire, Granite State College still operates out of its original campus.  However, due to growth, Granite State College has added additional satellite campuses as well as greatly expanded its online campus.

Dedicated to offering students additional educational opportunities, Granite State College offers most of its classes online in order to cater to non-traditional students.  Today, Granite State College offers over fifty different programs of study.  Granite State College is a public institution.

Tuition: $335:non-resident

23. University of South Dakota

The Dakota Territorial Legislature called for the establishment of the University at Vermillion in 1826.  The precursor to the University of South Dakota, the University at Vermillion was one of the oldest educational institutions in the state of South Dakota and is also older than of the educational institutions in the state of North Dakota.

Established in the city of Vermillion, South Dakota, the University of South Dakota has become the center of the city.  Operating the only medical and law schools in the state, the University of South Dakota currently enrolls a student population of nearly 10,000 students and offers 270 different programs of study to choose from.  University of South Dakota is a public institution.

Tuition: $335:non-resident

24. University of Alabama

After entering into the Union, the newly formed General Assembly of Alabama called for the creation of an institution of higher-learning within the borders of the state.  This school would eventually evolve to become the University of Alabama.  The first classes were held at the University of Alabama in 1820, making it one of the oldest public institution of higher education in the entire country.  The school’s campus was modeled heavily after the designs created by Thomas Jefferson for the University of Virginia campus.

Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, close to the state’s capital, the University of Alabama enrolls almost 37,000 students.  The University of Alabama is a public institution.

Tuition: $335:non-resident

25. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Founded in 1867, Clarion University of Pennsylvania was originally named the Carrier Seminary of Western Pennsylvania.  After four years, the school was finally up and running.  Accepting its first class of students in 1871, the Carrier Seminary of Western Pennsylvania operated independently of the state for sixteen years until the school received backing from the state.  It was at this point the school was renamed to Clarion State Normal School.  By the 1980s, the school had been incorporated into Pennsylvania’s public education system and had received university status, resulting in the school’s name being changed once more to Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Founded and still located in Clarion, Pennsylvania, Clarion University of Pennsylvania has a student body of over 5,000 students.  Clarion University of Pennsylvania is a public institution.

Tuition: $337:non-resident

26. Saint Joseph’s College

Located along the shore of Sebago Lake in the small town of Standish, Maine, Saint Joseph’s College was founded just outside of Portland, Maine’s largest city.  Originally established as the Portland Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy in 1912, Saint Joseph’s College was created as an institute for the education of women while also providing students a background in Catholic teachings and history. The school operated as a women’s-only institution for the coming decades until becoming coeducational in certain programs in 1970.

Currently, Saint Joseph’s College is the only Catholic School in the state of Maine.  Enrolling over 1,000 students, Saint Joseph’s College offers students forty different degrees to choose from.  Saint Joseph’s College is a private institution.

Tuition: $345:non-resident

27. Colorado State University

Through a key piece of legislation, then Governor of the Colorado Territory Edward M. McCook called for the establishment of a brand new state university designed with the purpose of serving the newly settled area.  In 1870, Colorado State University was established.  Running into a variety of different developmental issues in the beginning, the school eventually secured funding and a plot of land.  Originally named Colorado Agricultural College, the school was eventually added to the Colorado State University system and was renamed Colorado State University.

Located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Colorado State University enrolls a student body of approximately 3,400 students.  Colorado State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $350:non-resident

28. Washburn University

In conjunction with the Congregational Ministers and Churches of Kansas, the State of Kansas issues a charter that called for the creation of Lincoln College in 1865.  After receiving a generation donation of a plot of land by the abolitionist John Ritchie, construction began on what was then Lincoln College but would soon become Washburn University.  Renamed in 1868 to Washburn College, the school was named to honor the legacy of Ichabod Washburn, a famous abolitionist from the town of Worcester, Massachusetts who pledged $25,000 to the fledgeling institution.

Established on a foundation of progressive ideals, Washburn University is located in Topeka, Kansas and enrolls a students body of approximately 6,600 students.  Washburn University is a public institution.

Tuition: $352:non-resident

29. Jacksonville State University

Governor Edward O’Neal called for the established of the State Normal School at Jacksonville in 1883, laying the necessary groundwork for what would grow to become Jacksonville State University.  Originally occupying facilities that once belonged to the defunct Calhoun College, the State Normal School at Jacksonville originally operated as a state preparatory school for teachers.  By the 1920s, the curriculum of the school had shifted towards becoming a four-year institution and the name of the school was changed to the State Teachers College at Jacksonville.  The name was changed twice more.  Once to Jacksonville State College, and then finally to Jacksonville State University.

Established and still located in Jacksonville, Alabama, Jacksonville State University is currently home to approximately 8,700 students.  Jacksonville State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $359:non-resident

30. Old Dominion University

Initially, Old Dominion University was created out of humble beginnings as an offshoot campus of the nearby College of William and Mary.  Wanting to create an extension campus in the nearby city of Norfolk, Virginia, officials from the College of William and Mary began buying up buildings, land, and hiring professors that would eventually work at the new campus.  In 1930, the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary opened its doors to students.  The school grew quickly over the coming decades.  By 1962, the school had grown so large that it was deemed necessary to spin the school off into it’s school known as Old Dominion College.

No longer known as Old Dominion College, Old Dominion University now operates two additional campuses and has a student body of over 25,000 students.  Old Dominion University is a public institution.

Tuition: $369:non-resident

31. University of Wisconsin-Platteville

In 1959, officials from the Wisconsin Institute of Technology and Wisconsin State College decided that it would be best to merge the two institutions into one.  This newly formed institution was renamed the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  Its origins dating back all the way to 1866, the oldest component of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville was Platteville Normal School, an institution dedicated to the education of teachers.  This school was eventually renamed to Platteville State Teachers College and then to Wisconsin Institute of Technology, Platteville.

Currently, still located in Platteville Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is home to approximately 9,000 students.  University of Wisconsin Platteville is a public institution.

Tuition: $370:non-resident

32. Belhaven University

Doctor Lewis Fizhugh chartered Belhaven College in 1894.  Originally, the school was incredibly small and operated entirely out of a tiny residence located on Boyd Street in the small town of Jackson, Mississippi.  Unfortunately, this building burned down in a fire and construction was soon underway on a brand new location.  Tragedy struck again in 1904 when Doctor Lewis Fizhugh passed away at which point ownership of the school was transferred to his colleague Doctor J.R. Person.  Person continued to operate the school in Doctor Lewis Fizhugh’s vision until, after five years, another fire claimed the school.

The school reopened in 1911 under guidance from the Presbyterian Church.  Today, Belhaven University is home to 4,300 students.  Belhaven University is a private institution.

Tuition: $370:non-resident

33. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

On a plot of land originally owned by a local family known as the Bullards, Northwestern State University of Louisiana was officially established in 1856.  Initially, a convent and a school were built at this location.  Due to its incredibly early date of establishment, Northwestern State University actually predates the Civil War.  Established by the Louisiana State Legislature, the school was originally named the Louisiana State Normal School.  The school grew over the coming years and with that growth came a series of name changes.  In 1921 the school was renamed to Louisiana State Normal College and then to Northwestern College of Louisiana in 1944.

Today, Northwestern State University of Louisiana is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana and enrolls a student body of over 9,000 students. Northwestern State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $375:non-resident

34. Northeastern University

In 1868, the precursor to Northeastern University, the Evening Institute for Younger Men, opened its doors in 1868.  From its creation, Northeastern University focused primarily on providing students in the area with a wider variety of options when it came to education.  Northeastern University wanted to provide more flexibility when it came to earning a higher-education.  Founded in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern University currently operates satellite campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina; Seattle, Washington; and Silicon Valley, California.

Today, Northeastern University has the designation of having “High Research Activity” from the Carnegie Classifications Institute of Higher Education and enrolls a student body of approximately 25,000 students.  Northeastern University is a private institution.

Tuition: $378:non-resident

35. Sierra Nevada College

Starting from very humble beginnings, Sierra Nevada College opened its doors to its first class of students which included just twenty-three enrollees.  One of the unique goals of the new college was to incorporate as much of the unique characteristics of the school’s surrounding location in the Lake Tahoe region.  In just six years, the school had earned accreditation and was now offering a much wider variety of different academic programs to its students.  By the 1980s, Sierra Nevada College had added its first Master’s programs to its curriculum.

Located in Incline Village, Nevada, Sierra Nevada College offers students twenty different undergraduate programs as well as a variety of different graduate programs to its student body of just over 1,000 students.  Sierra Nevada College is a private institution.

Tuition: $379:non-resident

36. Baker College

Established in Flint, Michigan, Baker College began enrolling it first class of students in 1911.  Originally named the Baker Business College, the school was designed with the purpose of providing an education to adults who were looking to enter into the workforce immediately upon completion of their degree.  Baker Business College focused on providing students with tangible, real-life work skills.  In order to do so, Baker Business College went to great lengths to integrate real-world experience into their curriculum.  Founded by Eldon E. Baker, Baker College offered students a premier business education.

Having merged with Muskegon College in 1965, Baker College now offers students fifteen different programs of study to choose from.  Baker College is a private institution.

Tuition: $390:non-resident

37. Liberty University

Senior Pastor Jerry Falwell of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, called for the creation of Liberty University in 1971.  Named the Lynchburg Baptist College, the school would undergo series of transformations over the coming decades resulting in the Liberty University of the modern day.  Senior Pastor Jerry Falwell created Liberty University with the distinct goal of providing a high-quality education with a Christian perspective.

Originally named for the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, in which the school is located, the school was renamed in 1985 to Liberty University.  Now, Liberty University enrolls 15,000 students on campus and additional 100,000 online. Liberty University is a private institution.

Tuition: $390:non-resident

38. Charter Oak State College

The Connecticut State Legislature called for the creation of Charter Oak State College in 1973.  As part of a plan to expand the educational offerings within the state of Connecticut, Charter Oak State College was established as one of a few different schools created to remedy the situation.  Founded across the street from the Central Connecticut State University, Charter Oak State College was incorporated into the Connecticut State College and Universities System.

Located in the town of Hartford, Connecticut, the name Charter Oak State College is derived from the state’s famous Charter Oak, a very large white oak tree located in the city.  Now, Charter Oak State College is home to approximately 2,300 students.  Charter Oak State College is a public university.

Tuition: $392:non-resident

39. California State University – Dominguez Hills

In 1960, the Governor of California Pat Brown, called upon the California State Legislature to allocate funds towards the establishment and construction of a brand new school.  Initially, the new school was to be located in the city of Palos Verdes and was to be named South Bay State College.  As plans began to move forward it was eventually decided that Dominguez Hills was a better location for the new school than Palos Verdes.  Being a newer town, the state hoped that by locating the school there it would cause people to move there to help populate the new town.

Currently located in the Dominguez Hills region of Carson, California, California State University, Dominguez Hills is home to student body of approximately 15,000 students.  California State University, Dominguez Hills is a public institution.

Tuition: $396:non-resident

40. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

An integral part of the University of Wisconsin System of schools, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was founded in 1868.  Originally named the Whitewater Normal School, the school was initially founded to act as a training facility for teachers across the state of Wisconsin.  The school operated in this limited capacity for the following fifty years.  In 1927, the Whitewater Normal School was granted the ability to offer students bachelor’s degrees and was renamed to Whitewater Teachers College.  The school underwent a few other name changes: in 1951 to Wisconsin State College-Whitewater, and then the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1971.

Eventually incorporated into the University of Wisconsin system, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater now enrolls a student body of just over 12,000 students.  University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is a public institution.

Tuition: $398:non-resident

41. Briar Cliff University

The Mother Superior of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Dubuque, Mother Mary Dominica Wieneke, and Most Reverend Edmond Heelan partnered together in the late 1920s to begin work on establishing Briar Cliff College.  By 1930, they were ready to open the doors to the newly founded Briar Cliff School, located upon the Briar Cliff.  Originally, the school only offered classes to women but this eventually changes males were allowed to enroll in 1965.  By 1967, residence halls had been added to the campus and students were able to take up residency at the school.

Founded in Sioux Falls, Iowa, Briar Cliff University enrolls just over 1,300 students.  Briar Cliff University is a private institution.

Tuition: $399:non-resident

42. Campbellsville University

Founded as a boys school, Campbellsville University was established as the Russell Creek Academy by the Russell Creek Baptist Association.  In the coming years, the school would undergo a series of changes that would take it from a humble boys school to a full-fledge university.  One of these key changes took place in 1966 when the school had gained university status and began offering college courses and degrees.

Located in Campbellsville, Kentucky, Campellsville Unviersity enrolls a student body of over 3,200 students and offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs to its students. Campbellsville University is a private institution.

Tuition: $399:non-resident

43. Touro University Worldwide

Speaking at the Touro Synagogue in 1970, George Washington gave a stirring speech that would go on to influence the establishment of Touro University.  Listening to the words of George Washington, the Touro family began developing a system of nonprofit schools of higher education that were sponsored by the Jewish faith.  Known as Touro College, the school system eventually consolidated to establish Touro University Worldwide in 1998.  Originally named Touro University International, the school focused on providing students with a wide variety of different distance education opportunities.

Now a leader in the field of distance education, Touro University Worldwide enrolls thousands of students online and offers a wide variety of different educational programs from which to choose from.  Tour University Worldwide is a private institution.

Tuition: $400:non-resident

44. Bellevue University

Bellevue University was originally created with the clear goal of providing working adults with an opportunity to gain a high-quality education.  Named Bellevue College at its founding, the school grew over the coming decades.  By 1975, Bellevue College had grown to become so large that it was then the fourth-largest private school in the state of Nevada.  Years later, the Bellevue College would receive university status and begin to offer Master’s programs to its offerings.

Renamed Bellevue University in 1994, Bellevue University is located in Bellevue, Nevada and enrolls a student body of approximately 10,000 students.  Bellevue University is a private institution.

Tuition: $410:non-resident

45. University of Massachusetts – Boston

In the Sixties, the State of Massachusetts was in an education crisis.  Demand for higher education greatly outpaced the available spots at public universities.  Hoping to remedy this situation, the Massachusetts State Legislature voted in 1964 to establish the university now known as the University of Massachusetts Boston.  A year later, classes began to be held in a newly renovated building in the Park Square area of Boston, Massachusetts.  During this time, construction on the Columbia Point campus was underway and was completed in 1974.  In 1982, the University of Massachusetts Boston absorbed the nearby Boston State College.

Located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts Boston enrolls approximately 17,000 students.  University of Massachusetts-Boston is a public institution.

Tuition: $410:non-resident

46. Buena Vista University

Opened in 1891, Buena Vista University originally held its first classes inside the Storm Lake Opera House. While this arrangement worked at first, soon demand for spots at the university grew so large that the school needed to move out of the Storm Lake Opera House.  This prompted construction on a new campus for the growing school.  Over the coming years, a new campus was erected.  Much of it still remains to this day, although some of it was lost in a fire in 1956.  During the 1950s and 1960s, Buena Visa University experience a period of rapid growth.

Today, Buena Vista University enrolls almost 1,000 students and offers forty-two different programs of study for its students.  Buena Vista University is a private institution.

Tuition: $421:non-resident

47. Brescia University

Originally named Mount Saint Joseph Junior College, Brescia University was established in 1925.  Established by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph at Maple Mount, the school would grow and change to become the Brescia University of the modern era.  Originally, the school operated as a women’s-only school in order to education women and offer them more opportunities.  In time, the school was eventually made to be coeducational after the addition of new campuses.

Named for the Italian city of Brescia from which the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph hailed, Brescia University is now home to a large number of students at its Owensboro, Kentucky campus.  Brescia University is a private institution.

Tuition: $425:non-resident

48. Northern Arizona University

Founded to provide children in Arizona with an opportunity for an education, Northern Arizona University was originally established as the Northern Arizona Normal School in 1899.  Operating as a state normal school for the next six decades, Northern Arizona University was eventually granted the ability to offer Bachelor’s degrees and was renamed to its current name.

Now, Northern Arizona University is one of the state’s premier research universities and has earned the designation of having “High Research Activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.  Enrolling 28,000 students, Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona. Northern Arizona University is a public institution.

Tuition: $425:non-resident

49. Western Kentucky University

A.W. Mell founded the Glasgow Normal School and Business College in the heart of downtown Glasgow, Kentucky in 1876.  In the coming years, the school would eventually grow and transform while also merging with other nearby schools to form Western Kentucky University. After Glasgow Normal School and Business College was formed, the Potter College was established nearby by Pleasant J. Potter.  The Potter College would soon merge with the Glasgow Normal School and Business College, as well as the Western Kentucky Normal College and Teachers College, in the 1930s to form what would eventually be renamed to Western Kentucky University.

Now located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Western Kentucky University enrolls a student body of 21,000 students and offers over one-hundred different programs of study.  Western Kentucky University is a public institution.

Tuition: $425:non-resident

50. Indiana Wesleyan University

Founded in 1890, Indiana Wesleyan University was originally named Marion Normal College.  Indiana Wesleyan University operated under the name of Morion Normal College until 1912 at which point the school was then renamed to Marion Normal Institute.  After eight more years, the school was renamed to Mario College which remained the school’s name until 1980.  It was that year that the school was finally renamed to Indiana Wesleyan University.

Over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st, Indiana Wesleyan University’s curriculum and student body expanded.  Today, Indiana Wesleyan University is one of the largest private universities in the entire state of Indiana, enrolling 16,000+ students at its Marion, Indiana campus.  Indiana Wesleyan University is a private institution.

Tuition: $432:non-resident

51. Keiser University – Fort Lauderdale

Arther Keiser, founder of Keiser University, established Keiser University with his mother Evelyn Keiser in 1977 in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Originally named the Keiser School, Keiser University operated as a career college, mainly focused on teaching students applicable work skills.  The school taught mainly business and healthcare courses in the beginning.  By 1982, the school added course in computer programming and it was decided that the name of the school would be changed to the Keiser Institute of Technology.  Following this change, associate degrees were added into the curriculum and the school was renamed once more to Keiser College.

In 2006, the school began offering students a wide array of degrees as it briefly switched to a for-profit business model under the name of Keiser University.  Today, it is now a non-profit university that offers a wide variety of educational experiences to its students.  Keiser University is a private institution.

Tuition: $440:non-resident

52. Limestone College

Tom and William Curtis, father and son, worked together in a partnership in order to found and establish Limestone College in 1854.  Both scholars from England, Thomas and William Curtis traveled from England to the United States with the vision of creating a school that provided educational opportunities to women.  Settling in South Carolina, the duo set to work on establishing Limestone College as one of the first women’s colleges in the state.  Today, Limestone College is one of the oldest schools in the state of South Carolina and is named for its proximity to a nearby limestone quarry.

Located in the city of Gaffney, South Carolina, Limestone College is still made up of much of its original campus. Today, Limestone College enrolls approximately 1,000 students on campus and an additional 2,500 students online. Limestone College is a private institution.

Tuition: $441:non-resident

53. Upper Iowa University

Hoping to establish a new institution of higher education, community members worked hard with the local branch of the Methodist Church in order to raise enough money through donations to establish what would become Upper Iowa University in 1857.  Led by pioneer Elizabeth Alexander, Upper Iowa University was founded to serve the people of the newly settled Iowa Territory. In partnership with her husband, Robert Alexander, Elizabeth Alexander, worked to get her new school started in the town of Fayette, Iowa.

Today, Upper Iowa University is located along the Volga River in the town of Fayette, Iowa.  Still maintaining its ties to the Methodist Church, Upper Iowa University enrolls a student body of nearly 6,000 students.  Upper Iowa University is a private institution.

Tuition: $441:non-resident

54. City University of Seattle

Founded in 1973, the City University of Seattle was established by its creator Dr. Micheal A. Pastore.  Working to create a school that served working professionals, the City University of Seattle was created by Dr. Pastore with the vision of providing most of its classes through non-traditional delivery formats such as night and weekend classes, as well as distance education.  At the time, Dr. Michael A. Pastore perceived a lack of educational options for working professionals and hoped that his new school would service that gap in the local education system.  He was proven right as the school became a success almost immediately and soon additional campuses began to sprout up all over the city.

Now, the City University of Seattle has a student body of nearly 6,400 students and is located in the city of Seattle, Washington for which the school gets its name.  City University of Seattle is a private institution.

Tuition: $447:non-resident

55. Adventist University of Health Sciences

Growing out of a program started at the Florida Hospital, the Adventist University of Health Sciences was founded in Orlando, Florida.  Originally, Florida Hospital established its nursing program that was receiving students from the nearby Southern Missionary College.  These students would come to the Florida Hospital in order to gain valuable insight and on-the-job experience in order to supplement their education and advance their nursing careers.  As this program grew to be more robust, the Florida Hospital decided to add an in-house Associate Degree in Nursing program.  By 1992, Florida Hospital had consolidated all of its separate nursing programs under one name and began offering students the ability to earn Bachelor’s degrees in 1998.

In 2012, the school was renamed to the Adventist University of Health Sciences and still operates under this name.  Currently, the Adventist University of Health Sciences is home to a student body of approximately 1,800 students. Adventist University of Health Sciences is a private institution.

Tuition: $460:non-resident

56. Stephen F. Austin State University

 

Established in 1923, Stephen F. Austin State University was named after one of the founding fathers of the state of Texas, Stephen F. Austin – for which the state of Austin, Texas also has received its name.  Originally created to serve as a teaching college for public school teachers in Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University quickly expanded the scope of its curriculum in order to service more students and provide more educational opportunities.

Located in Nacogdoches, Texas, Stephen F. Austin State University resides on the grounds of Thomas Jefferson Rusk’s former homestead.  A public university, Stephen F. Austin State University is one of the few public colleges in the state that is not part of the Texas University systems.  Currently, Stephen F. Austin State University enrolls approximately 14,000 students.  Stephen F. Austin State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $467:non-resident

57. LeTourneau University

Husband and wife, R.G. and Evelyn LeTourneau began working on plans for what would become LeTourneau University as World War II came to a close.  The two originally planned to create a university that would work to educate returning soldiers in order to teach them valuable work skills and help them enter into prosperous post-war careers.  By 1956, R.G. and Evelyn LeTourneau were ready to open what was then known as the LeTourneau Technical Institute.

Focusing primarily on teaching students manufacturing skills, the LeTourneau Technical Institute operated out of an old hospital building.  Upon graduation, students were placed into jobs at the nearby LeTourneau Manufacturing plant.  Today, LeTourneau University provides a much broader scope of educational opportunities to its student body of nearly 5,000 students. LeTourneau University is a private institution.

Tuition: $475:non-resident

58. Notre Dame College

Founded in 1922, Notre Dame College was founded in the city of South Euclid, Ohio on Ansel Road.  Originally, Notre Dame College only admitted women.  Over time, the school began to grow and it was determined that the Notre Dame College campus should expand to a fifteen acre campus in South Euclid.  Operating initially as a residential campus only, Notre Dame College added Weekend College programs to its curriculum in 1978.  This was Notre Dame College’s first program that was offered to students in a non-traditional means, laying the groundwork for future distance education programs.

By 2005, it was decided that Notre Dame College would not only admit women, but also begin to enroll men.  Enrollment at Notre Dame College quickly doubled.  Now, Notre Dame College is home to a student body of almost 2,250 students. Notre Dame College is a private institution.

Tuition: $475:non-resident

59. Southwestern College

Through an act of legislation by the Kansas State Legislature, the first steps towards establishing Southwestern College were underway when the bill called for the designation of a small plot of land for what would be the site of what was then known as the Southwest Kansas Conference College.  However, this plot of land remained undeveloped for over a year as plans for the new college were still being ironed out.  Overcoming financial and size concerns, construction finally began and the first class of students at Southwest Kansas Conference College were enrolled in 1886.  In 1909, the school’s name was shortened from Southwest Kansas Conference College to Southwestern College.

Currently, Southwestern College is located in the Kansas town of Winfield and is home to a student body of nearly 1,900 students.  Southwestern College is a private institution.

Tuition: $478:non-resident

60. Jacksonville University

Established in 1934, Jacksonville University was founded by William J. Porter.  Initially established under the name of the William J. Porter University, the school only offered students the ability to earn an Associate’s degree at first.  In its early years, the school did not have its own facilities and operated out of the nearby First Baptist Church.  After a year of operation, the school was renamed to Jacksonville Junior College.  Upon the institution of the GI Bill, Jacksonville University experienced a major uptick in the amount of students enrolling in the school, which afforded the ability for the school to build its own permanent campus.  Construction was completed in 1950 and in 1958 the school merged with the nearby Jacksonville College of Music

Renamed to Jacksonville University in 1958, Jacksonville University is located in Jacksonville, Florida and is home to a student body of nearly 4,200 students.  Jacksonville University is a private institution.

Tuition: $485:non-resident

61. Southern Oregon University

Reverend Henry Skidmore of Oregon’s Methodist Episcopal Church founded Southern Oregon University as the Ashland Academy in 1872.  Operating under its original name of Ashland Academy for its first five years, the school was renamed in 1878 to Ashland College and then to Ashland College and Normal School a few years later.  These name changes were just the first in a series of name changes that the school underwent.  Named Ashland Collegiate Institute then Southern Oregon State Normal School followed by Southern Oregon Normal School, Southern Oregon College, Southern Oregon State College, and then finally Southern Oregon University.

Today, Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon and is home to a student population of approximately 6,200 students. Southern Oregon University is a public institution.

Tuition: $486:non-resident

62. Regis University

In 1877, a group of Italian Jesuits fled to the United States in need of asylum.  Upon reaching the United States, the group settled in the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  There, the group of Italian Jesuits began work to establish Regis University.  Referred to as Las Vegas College at the time, the school operated successfully for the next few years.  At the request of the Bishop of Denver, the Jesuits decided to move their school from the city of Las Vegas, Nevada to Denver, Colorado.  In Denver, the school was merged with the already established Sacred Heart College to form the College of the Sacred Heart.

Renamed to Regis University in 1921, the school was named to honor Saint John Francis Regis.  Today, Regis University enrolls a student body of 8,700 students at its Denver, Colorado campus.  Regis University is a private institution.

Tuition: $490:non-resident

63. University of Saint Mary

Upon settling in the town of Leavenworth, Kansas, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul began work to establish a boy and girls school in 1858.  After a year of work and planning, the St. Mary’s Institute opened as a precursor to the University of Saint Mary.  Originally situated in the downtown-area of Leavenworth, Kansas, the school was moved to its current location just outside the city of Leavenworth in 1870.  It was at this point that the name of the school was changed to St. Mary’s Academy.  In 1923, the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul officially chartered Saint Mary College.  Saint Mary College began offering four-year Bachelor’s degrees in 1974 making it the first to do so in Kansas.

Now known as the University of Saint Mary since 2003, the University of Saint Mary is home to a student population of just over 800 students.  University of Saint Mary is a private institution.

Tuition: $490:non-resident

64. Ball State University

Originally named the Eastern Indiana Normal School, Ball State University was established in 1876.  Over the course of the next twenty-five years, the school operated under the Eastern Indiana Normal School name until it was forced to shutter its doors due to financial issues.  Just a short year later, the school was revamped and reopened as Palmer University.  However, this did not last very long as it was renamed to Indiana Normal College and then shut down in 1907.  Following this series of unfortunate closures, the school was purchased by the Ball Brothers, two local entrepreneurs.  It was at this point that the school reopened and it began to really prosper.  In 1961, to honor the two brothers who breathed a new life into the institution, the school was renamed to Ball State College.

Later renamed to Ball State University, Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and is home to approximately 22,000 students.  Ball State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $492:non-resident

65. University of Wyoming

Inscribed with the Latin phrase “Domi Habit Unde Disceret”, meaning “He need not go away from home for instruction”, the first cornerstone was laid for the University of Wyoming‘s first building, the Old Main, in 1866.  Just one year later, construction had been completed on the new university’s campus and it began enrolling man and women into its courses.  Located on a plot of land known s Prexy’s Pasture, the campus has become renowned for its beautifully serene views that remain to this very day.

Growing over the years, the University of Wyoming is now home to a student body of over 14,000 students.  Referred to as “UW” by most of its students, alumni, and faculty, the University of Wyoming offers students a variety of different undergraduate and graduate degree programs. University of Wyoming is a public institution.

Tuition: $496:non-resident

66. University of Louisville

After the founding of the city of Louisville, Kentucky, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a charter calling for the establishment of a brand-new institution of higher learning for the newly established city in 1798.  Named originally the Jefferson Seminary, the school operated under this name until 1829.  It was at this time that the people of Louisville called for a less “elitist” institution.  Decades later in 1846, the Kentucky Legislature combined the Louisville Collegiate Institute, Louisville Medical Institute, and the new law school to form the University of Louisville.  The aim of the new school was to be much more inclusive and welcoming of the public than its predecessors.

Still located in Louisville, Kentucky, the University of Louisville currently enrolls a student population of approximately 22,500 students. University of Louisville is a public institution.

Tuition: $497:non-resident

67. Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University began in 1971 with the idea that the college-level knowledge adults gain outside the classroom could be measured and applied toward an academic degree. Approved by the New Jersey Board of Education in December 1971, the idea became a reality with the establishment of the University on July 1, 1972. The University was aptly named in honor of Thomas Alva Edison, the New Jersey inventor who gained encyclopedic knowledge of many subject areas without attending college classes.

Presently, Thomas Edison State University enrolls a student body of approximately 17,500 and offers 100 different programs. Thomas Edison State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $499:non-resident

68. University of Maryland University College

Established with the goal of providing working adults with an opportunity to pursue a higher education outside of a traditionally schedules college course of study, the University of Maryland University College was formed as a series of night classes by the University of Maryland.  Commonplace now, the University of Maryland University College was a pioneer in the field of distance education as well as other non-traditional course delivery methods.  Over time, the program grew so large that it was spun-out of the University of Maryland and was renamed to the College of Special and Continuation Studies.

In 1959, the school was renamed to the University of Maryland University College.  Today, the University of Maryland University College enrolls a student body of just over 90,000 students.  University of Maryland University College is a public institution.

Tuition: $499:non-resident

69. Brandman University

Initially located on the former grounds of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Brandman University was established in the city of Irvine, California.  Formed in 1861, Brandman University was originally an additional branch of the nearby Chapman University.  Capitalizing on its location on the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Brandman University initially focused on providing a high-quality education to soldiers.  Operating as a branch of Chapman University for the coming years, the school was eventually forced spin-off into its own school due to size concerns.

Renamed to Brandman University when it was spun-off from Chapman University, Brandman University now operates twenty-five campuses all along the West Coast throughout Washington and California. Brandman University is a private institution.

Tuition: $500:non-resident

70. University of Cincinnati

Name for its location in the city Cincinnati, Ohio, the University of Cincinnati was established in 1819 and has become an integral cultural touchstone of the community ever since.  Initially named Cincinnati College, the college was later renamed to the University of Cincinnati in 1870. Founded on Clifton Avenue in downtown Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati was soon forced to relocate from its original location to the Heights neighborhood in order to accommodate for an explosion of growth.  By 1977, the State of Ohio had designated the University of Cincinnati as a state school.

Presently, the University of Cincinnati has grown to become the second-largest school in the state of Ohio with a student body of over 45,000 students.  Students are able to enroll in over 350 different programs of study. University of Cincinnati is a public institution.

Tuition: $503:non-resident

71. Western Carolina University

Hoping to establish a school that would best serve their community, the people of the town of Cullowhee, North Carolina, came together to forma. Board of Trustees that would soon establish the precursor to Western Carolina University. This Board of Trustees established the Cullowhee Academy. Opening its doors in 1889, the Cullowhee Academy operated as the Cullowhee High School during its earliest years. By 1905, the school was no longer just a high school. Renamed to Cullowhee Normal & Industrial School, the school had been transformed into a state normal school.

Over the coming years the school would undergo a variety of different name changes until it was finally renamed to Western Carolina University in 1967.  Today, Western Carolina University is home to a student body of nearly 9,000 students. Western Carolina University.

Tuition: $505:non-resident

72. Drexel University

One of the founding partners at the investment banking firm now known as J.P. Morgan & Co but then known as Drexel, Morion & Co., Anthony J. Drexel, established the brand new Drexel University in 1891.  Anthony J. Drexel wanted to change the way that universities selected their student body.  Drexel University was to accept student solely on their merit.  The school would not discriminate by sex or background when deciding who should attend, instead the school would look at their intelligence and intellect.  Originally established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University soon added additional campuses throughout the city.

Now, Drexel University maintains campuses in Philadelphia as well as an additional satellite campus in Sacramento, California.  Home to over 26,000 students, Drexel University offers students over 170 different programs of study. Drexel University is a private institution.

Tuition: $508:non-resident

73. Franklin University

From its inception, Franklin University was founded with the goal of providing higher education to adults of all ages.  Hoping to provide education to those that fell outside the norms of what made a traditional student, Franklin University was established as the YMCA School of Commerce in 1902.  Operating under this name and mission for the next three decades, the YMCA School of Commerce eventually outgrew its home as part of the YMCA.  Moving out of the YMCA, the institution was renamed to Franklin University and dissolved its relationship with the YMCA.

Now including an additional satellite campus in Indianapolis, Franklin University enrolls a student body of nearly 8,000 students. Franklin University is a private institution.

Tuition: $509:non-resident

74. Humboldt State University

Hiram Johnson, the Governor of California at the time, established Humboldt State Normal School as a state teacher’s college in 1913.  Named after Alexander von Humboldt, a famous German scientist, Humboldt State Normal School was to focus on educating the people of California in the sciences.  Seeking out a site for the new school, the state of California had to navigate fierce fighting between the cities of California who were vying desperately to have the school located in its city.  Two cities, Arcata and Eureka fought fervently for the new school and ultimately Arcata, California won the contract for Humboldt State Normal School.

Eventually, the school became a full-fledged university and was renamed Humboldt State University. Today, Humboldt State University is home to a student population of 8,500 students. Humboldt State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $510:non-resident

75. Excelsior College

During the 1970s, the New York State Board of Regents began working on creating an external degree program that would serve all of the New York State system of higher education.  Officially established in 1971, the Regents External Degree Program (REX) was founded by the New York State Board of Regents.  Through this small external degree program, students were able to gain an education without the requirement of residing on campus.  Soon, this program became quite popular and it was determined that it should be spun-off into its own institution.

Originally named Regents College, the school was renamed Excelsior College after privatizing.  Today, Excelsior College specializes in distance education and enrolls a student body of nearly 35,000 students.  Excelsior College is a private institution.

Tuition: $510:non-resident

76. Frostburg State University

Representative of Allegany County in Maryland, John Leake, introduced a key piece of legislation to the floor of the Maryland General Assembly in 1898 that called for the creation of a second normal school within the state of Maryland. Originally named State Normal School No. 2, this institution would eventually grow to become Frostburg State University. Construction on the school began in 1899 and the first class of students began enrolling in 1900.  Initially designed to act as a training school for teachers throughout the state, the school began to churn out highly-trained teachers.

Eventually the school was renamed in 1935 to the State Teacher’s College at Frostburg, then to Frostburg State College in 1963, and finally to Frostburg State University in 1987. Today, Frostburg State University, located in Frostburg, Maryland, enrolls a student body of nearly 6,000 students. Frostburg State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $514:non-resident

77. Chatham University

The Pennsylvania Female College was established by Reverend William Trimble Beatty in 1869, laying the framework for what would eventually grow to become Chatham University.  Holding its first classes in the Berry Mansion initially, soon the Pennsylvania Female College grew too large for its initial location. To not be outpaced with its explosive expansion, the Pennsylvania Female College began purchasing neighboring mansions and holding classes in them.  By 1890, the school had rebrand as the Pennsylvania College for Women. Five decades late, the school was renamed to Chatham College in honor of William Pitt, the First Earl of Chatham.

Gaining university status in 2007, the school was renamed to Chatham University. Today, Chatham University enrolls approximately 2,300 students and is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chatham University is a private institution.

Tuition: $515:non-resident

78. University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Opened as the Massachusetts Agricultural College, this institution would eventually grow to be known as the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.  Established in 1863, the Massachusetts Agricultural College received its initial funding federally through the Morill Land Act. Over the years the school grew and grew and in 1932 was renamed from the Massachusetts Agricultural College to the Massachusetts State College. Receiving a surge of applicants towards the end of World War II, Massachusetts State College underwent a period of great prosperity. The school added more programs to its curriculum and was renamed to the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1947.

During the 2000s, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst became the flagship school of the UMass system.  Today, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is home to over 30,000 students and offers them two-hundred different programs of study to choose from. University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a public institution.

Tuition: $525:non-resident

79. Union Institute & University

In 1964, the President of Goddard College assembled nine different leaders of successful liberal arts colleges and universities in order to discuss what the future of education would be as well as any innovations in the field of education.  At this gathering, the group came together to form the Union for Research and Experimentation in Higher Education.  The goal of this group was to work to bring greater innovations to the field of education and teaching.  Leveraging the various strengths of the different members of the group, the University Without Walls was formed.  By 1975, this group had grown to include thirty-four different institutions.

In 1982, the University Without Walls was rebranded as the Union Institute & University.  Currently located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Union Institute and University offers its students a variety of different educational opportunities. Union Institute & University is a private institution.

Tuition: $530:non-resident

80. Pennsylvania State University

Established in 1855, Pennsylvania State University is known to most of its alumni, faculty, and current students as Penn State. Established as the Farmer’s High School of Pennsylvania, the name of the school was eventually changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania after expanding its course offerings to the collegiate level.  This change in scope was result of Pennsylvania State University becoming the recipient of a large donation of land that allowed the school to expand its campus and offer a larger variety of classes. Following this donation the school received additional funding at the federal level through the Morill Act.

Changing its name from Pennsylvania State College to Pennsylvania State University in 1952, Pennsylvania State University is located in State College, Pennsylvania, and enrolls a student body of approximately 100,000 students. Pennsylvania State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $555:non-resident

81. Saint Leo University

To serve those stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, Saint Leo University developed a new type of course delivery format that would allow those deployed to enroll and take classes at Saint Leo University remotely.  Fueled by the desire to help those in Vietnam to continue their education, Saint Leo University inadvertently created the first distance education program and became pioneers in the field. Founded in 1889, Saint Leo University is one of the oldest Catholic Colleges in both Florida and the entire country.

Named for its location in Saint Leo, Florida, Saint Leo University is home to approximately 16,000 students, of which only 2,000 of the students are enrolled on campus.  Saint Leo University is a private institution.

Tuition: $565:non-resident

82. Sacred Heart University

Reverend Walter W. Curtis, the Bishop of the Dioceses of Bridgeport, established Sacred Heart University in the year 1963.  Founded as a Catholic institution, Sacred Heart University eschewed typical Catholic tradition and was run by the laity.  This was unheard of at the time as all Catholic schools up until this point were run directly by the Catholic Church.  Sacred Heart University had pioneered the Catholic school that was run by the local people.  It was believed that having Sacred Heart University run by the community that the school could become more integral to the community that it was a part of.

Today, Sacred Heart University enrolls nearly 9,000 students at its Fairfield, Connecticut campus and offers its students seventy different programs of study. Sacred Heart University is a private institution.

Tuition: $575:non-resident

83. University of Houston-Victoria

Created as an extension campus for the University of Houston, the Coordinating Board of Texas College and University Systems worked to establish the University of Houston-Victoria in order to accommodate for growth within the University of Houston.  Developed to be an off-campus center for the University of Houston, construction began in the early 1970s in the city of Victoria, Texas.  In 1973, students were enrolled and attending classes at the new facility. Over the coming decades, attendance at the off-campus center grew and eventually a tipping-point was reached where it was determined that the school would be spun-off.

Known as the University of Houston-Victoria, the school was located in the city of Victoria, Texas and enrolled a student body of 4,300 students. University of Houston-Victoria is a public institution.

Tuition: $612:non-resident

84. Florida International University

After construction was completed on the new Miami-Date Airport, the older Tamiami Airport that was replaced by the Miami-Dade Airport was decommissioned and was now no longer in use.  Realizing the opportunity on its hands, the city of Miami, Florida, decided that the old Tamiami Airport would be the perfect location for a new public university. Citing a lack of a public university that serviced the southern-part of Florida, Senator Ernest Graham called for the creation of a brand new school in 1943. It three decades, but construction began and was finally completed on the new school at the Tamiami Airport in 1972.  That year, Florida International University accepted its first class of 5,000 students.

Presently, Florida International University enrolls a student body of 54,000 students making it the second-largest public university in Florida and the fourth-largest in the United States. Florida International University is a public institution.

Tuition: $618:non-resident

85. Brenau University

Initially established as a women’s seminary, Brenau University opened to its first class of students in 1878. Operating as a women’s seminary for some years, the school did not start to resemble the Brenau University of today until it was purchased by H.J. Pearce.  Upon purchasing the school, the name was changed to Brenau University.  The name “Brenau” was created through the combination of the German word “Brennen” which means “to burn” and the Latin word “aurum” which means “gold”.  The name Brenau University reflects the school’s motto: “As Gold Refined By Fire”. Privately owned by H.J. Pearce until 1911, Brenau University was then transferred to a Board of Trustees.

Located in Gainesville, Georgia, Brenau University is home to over 3,500 students. Brenau University is a public institution.

Tuition: $624:non-resident

86. Thomas University

On Birdwood Plantation, a home once belonging to the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Thomas University was first established.  Named the Birdwood Junior College after the facility it was located at, Thomas University began accepting first class of students five years after receiving its charter. Enrolling just nine students, the school was run by the Primitive Baptist Church.  However, control of the school was soon turned over to a Board of Trustees in 1976.  This change of control resulted in the school being renamed to Thomas County Community College.

In 1986 the school was renamed Thomas College and then Thomas University in 2000. Today, Thomas University is located in Thomasville, Georgia and is home to a student population of 1,200 students. Thomas University is a private institution.

Tuition: $630:non-resident

87. Saint Louis University

Most Reverend Louis Guillame Valentin Dubourg, the Bishop of Louisiana and Florida, established the Saint Louis Academy in 1818 – what would eventually become Saint Louis University. Originally, Saint Louis Academy was located in someone’s private residence located along the Mississippi River. Two years later in 1820, the Saint Louis Academy was moved to its own facility and was renamed to Saint Louis College. Over the coming decades the school would shift from location to location until the end of the Civil War. After the Civil War, a parcel of land called Lindell’s Grove was purchased and construction began on what is now Saint Louis University’s current campus.

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Saint Louis University enrolls a student body of just over 13,000 students and is one of the oldest universities west of the Mississippi River. Saint Louis University is a private institution.

Tuition: $640:non-resident

88. Champlain College

With the mission statement of preparing men to be ready for the “business cares and responsibilities of life” Champlain College opened last the Burlington Business College in 1878.  Shortly after its founding, the Burlington Business School began enrolling its first class of male students.  Until 1884, the school admitted only men, teaching them skills necessary to enter into the workforce.  After allowing women to enroll in the school, the school was forced to relocated to the Hill Section of Burlington, Vermont in order to accommodate for growth.

Changing its name to Champlain College after moving to its current location, Champlain College is located in Burlington, Vermont and is home to approximately 2,000 students that are able to enroll in over eighty different fields of study. Champlain College is a private institution.

Tuition: $640:non-resident

89. Appalachian State University

Dauphin D. Dougherty and Blanford B. Dougherty, brothers, worked in partnership to lead a group of citizens of the town of Boone, North Carolina, to fund a brand new school that would provide education and training to aspiring teachers to prepare them to teach students in the local area. By 1889, the Dougherty brothers established Watauga Academy.  Running the school successfully for the next four years, the school eventually received funding from the state of North Carolina and was renamed to the Appalachian Training School for Teachers.

By 1967, the school had become a full-fledged university and the name was changed to Appalachian State University.  Located in the mountain town of Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University enrolls approximately 19,000 students and offers 200 different programs of study. Appalachian State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $643:non-resident

90. University of Illinois – Chicago

Founded in 1982, the University of Illinois at Chicago was created when it was decided that the University of Illinois would consolidate two of its campuses into one brand new university.  Upon consolidating the two campuses, the school began to grow rapidly in size.  Known for its research initiatives, the University of Illinois at Chicago has recently received the “Research I” status level from the Carnegie Institute of Classification of Higher Education.

Presently, the University of Illinois at Chicago is the largest public university in the city.  The school enrolls a student body of over 29,000 students and offers them over 300 different programs of study to choose from. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution.

Tuition: $650:non-resident

91. Oklahoma State University

The Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical College was founded in 1890 and would eventually become Oklahoma State University. Through legislation passed by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature, the Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical College was created as a land-grant university through the Morill Act. By 1891, Oklahoma Territorial Agricultural and Mechanical College was holding its first classes. Built around a pond, much of Oklahoma State University’s original campus remains to this day.

Located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University enrolls almost 24,000 students. Oklahoma State University is a public institution.

Tuition: $674:non-resident

92. Troy University

An integral component of Alabama’s system of higher education, Troy University opened its doors as the Troy State Normal School in 1887.  Having its initial campus located in the southern town of Troy, Alabama, Troy University became the center of what grew to become the Troy University System of Schools.  As the school began to grow, Troy University opened additional satellite schools all across the state of Alabama in order to accommodate for growth thus creating what is now known as the Troy University System.

Gaining national attention for its robust curriculum, Troy University has also received international recognition and has an alumni of over 100,000 graduates. Troy University is a public institution.

Tuition: $676:non-resident

93. Goodwin College

Founded as the Data Institute Business School, Goodwin College was established in 1962. At its establishment, the school operated primarily as a small business technology training center.  Working to provide students with the skills and information needed to open their own small businesses, the school operated in this capacity for the following four decades. In 1999, the school was purchased and reimagined as Goodwin College. Upon this purchase, the curriculum of the school was expanded to include a wider variety of educational opportunities.

Today, Goodwin College is located in Hartford, Connecticut, and enrolls over 1,000 students in its wide variety of different degree programs. Goodwin College is a private institution.

Tuition: $707:non-resident

94. East Carolina University

Originally chartered as the East Carolina Teachers Training School, East Carolina University was established in 1907 and began accepting its first class of students in 1909.  Operating for the next decade as solely a teachers school, East Carolina Teachers College then began to offer degree programs and which point the named of the school was renamed to East Carolina Teachers College.  Eventually the school was renamed to East Carolina University. East Carolina University has grown to become one of North Carolina’s largest research universities and has earned the very prestigious designation of being a campus of “Innovation and Economic Prosperity” by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

Located in Greenville, North Carolina, East Carolina University boasts a student body of over 28,000 students, making it one of the largest public universities in the state. East Carolina University is a public institution.

Tuition: $716:non-resident

95. University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh

The third training school for teachers to be established within the state of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh was established as the Oshkosh State Normal School in 1871.  Over the coming years, the school would under go a series of name changes.  In 1927, Oshkosh State Normal School was renamed to Oshkosh State Teachers College and then to Wisconsin State College – Oshkosh in 1951. In 1964, the school was renamed to Wisconsin State University – Oshkosh and, after joining the University of Wisconsin System, was renamed to the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in 1971.

Founded in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is home to almost 14,000 students and offers students a wide variety of different degree programs from which to choose. University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh is a public institution.

Tuition: $741:non-resident

96. Mercy College

Established in 1950, Mercy College was founded by the Sisters of Mercy.  Over the course of the following decade, Mercy College only operated as a junior college.  This all changed in 1961 when the State of New York finally granted the school college-status allowing Mercy College to offer students four-year degrees.  The addition of Bachelor’s degrees into their available curriculum resulted in a major increase in enrollment at the school.  Originally just an all women’s school, Mercy College eventually became coeducational which helped to increase the institution’s enrollment numbers.

Currently, Mercy College is well-known for its nursing program that it added in 1981 and is home to thousands of students at its Dobbs Ferry, New York campus.  Mercy College is a private institution.

Tuition: $761:non-resident

97. Metropolitan State University of Denver

Founded on one of the oldest institutions in the city of Denver, Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver was established on what was once the site of the town of Aurora. Opened in 1965, Metropolitan State University of Denver originally operated as an opportunity school that provided nontraditional students with educational delivery formats that were beyond that of a standard college.  At the outset, the Metropolitan State University of Denver worked to be accessible by all by offering the lowest tuition rates in the state. It was also mandated that the school would enroll a higher-percentage of people of color than other universities and colleges in order to promote diversity of backgrounds and cultures on campus.

Currently located in Denver, Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver is home to a student body of almost 24,000 students.  Metropolitan State University of Denver is a public institution.

Tuition: $785:non-resident

98. Marian University

Established by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg, Marian University began enrolling its first class of students in 1851.  Founded as a liberal arts school, Marian University originally focused on providing its students with the proper education and training needed to go on to become teachers for the state of Indiana.  Named St. Francis Normal School, the school was eventually moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where it experienced a great deal of growth.  Eventually, the school was merged with the nearby Immaculate Conception Junior College.

Renamed to Marian University in 2009, Marian University is currently located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is home to a student body of nearly 3,000 students.  Marian University is a private institution.

Tuition: $795:non-resident

99. Dallas Baptist University

Located only twelve short miles outside of the downtown-area of Dallas, Texas, Dallas Baptist University was founded in the the small community of Mountain Creek Lake, Texas.  Originally established by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the school’s original site was located in the town of Decatur, Texas, on a parcel of land that the Baptist General Convention of Texas purchase. Quickly, the new school proved to be ever popular and eventually it had grown too large for its location in Decatur. In 1965, it was decided that the school would be relocated to the nearby town of Mountain Creek Lake.

Renamed upon its relocation, Dallas Baptist University is still located at its campus in Mountain Creek Lake, Texas.  Home to a student body of approximately 5,500 students, Dallas Baptist University offers students over 120 different degree programs to choose from.  Dallas Baptist University is a private institution.

Tuition: $856:non-resident

100. Indiana University

After the Indiana State Legislature called for the creation of an institution of higher-learning that would service the people of the state of Indiana in 1820, construction began on what would eventually grow to become Indiana University.  After two years of construction, the brand new university was location in the Seminary Square Park region of the city of Bloomington, Indiana. Named the State Seminary for its location in Seminary Square Park, Indiana University accepted its first class of students in 1825, just five years after being chartered.

Renamed Indiana University in 1839, Indiana University has grown substantially over the past years and is now the flagship university of University of Indiana System.  Currently, Indiana University is home to a student body of just under 50,000 students at its campus in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana University is a public institution.

Tuition: $1,214:non-resident

Why Get an Affordable Online Degree?

Students today are faced with more choices than ever when it comes to their college education.  As more and more colleges and universities turn to offering their degrees online, many students who were anticipating pursuing a traditional education are unsure of whether or not an online degree is right for them.

Traditionally, students enrolled full-time on-campus or nearby to receive their education.  But now with the advent of the Internet, many students are wondering whether or not pursuing a degree online is a viable option.

At Degree Query, we believe that pursuing a degree online has many advantages over pursuing a degree on-campus.  To help students better understand some of the ways that they could benefit from taking their education online, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite reasons why we prefer affordable online degrees.

It’s cheaper!

Face it, one of the biggest issues when it comes to deciding to gain a higher education is cost.  As tuition continues to skyrocket in price, students can rest assured that a great way to control costs is to turn to an online degree program.

By enrolling in a program online, students are able to save a great deal of money on their tuition costs.  Colleges and universities are able to cut out the costly overhead that comes with offering a degree on- campus, and in doing so are able to pass off these savings to students.

No longer do students have to be saddled with $100,000+ of debt in order to receive a quality education.

It’s the same!

If something is cheaper, it must be an inferior product, right?  Wrong!  Most colleges and universities that offer a degree on-campus and online typically use the same curriculum in both programs. While the programs are adapted in order to better fit their respective delivery formats, these online degree programs tend to be nearly identical to their on-campus counterparts.  That means students can receive the same education at a fraction of the cost.

It’s more convenient!

Students who choose to pursue their education online have a much greater deal of autonomy over their education.  Freeing themselves of the need to be in a physical location at a specific time in order to attend class, students who are enrolled online become the master of their own schedule.  Students can create class schedule that best suit their needs.

Many students today are juggling more obligations and responsibilities than students of the past.  Whether you’re working a part-time job, are in an internship, or have any other responsibility, enrolling online allows students to create a schedule that works best for them.

Go where you want to!

An often overlooked perk of pursuing an education online is that it opens students up to a lot more options of places to enroll.  When considering an on-campus college or university, most students look at the school’s that are in-state in order to get the best deal on tuition.  By enrolling online, students can expand their horizons and find the program that best suits them, regardless of location.  A lot of times, colleges and universities offer the same tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students online.  And if they don’t, it’s still typically cheaper than going on-campus.

Bottom line

Earning a degree online has many perks and advantages over earning a degree on-campus.  Students can save large sums of money on tuition while receiving what is typically a near-identical curriculum to the on-campus counterpart.  Online degrees allow students to craft schedules that work for them and allow students to enroll in programs at colleges or universities that may have been geographically prohibitive.

By earning a degree online, students are able to gain a greater deal of flexibility in their education while saving money.

Does a Low-Cost Online Degree Mean Low-Quality?

While earning a degree online has a lot of advantages to earning degree on-campus, one of the biggest benefits of pursuing a degree online is the low cost. Earning a degree online is almost always substantially cheaper than its on-campus counterpart. Colleges and universities are able to offer their degree programs online at a fraction of the cost of the on-campus degree because they are able to eliminate much of the costly overhead that comes with providing a degree on-campus.

By going online, colleges and universities have cut costs dramatically and have been able to pass those savings off to the student.  However, with this change, comes some concern.  Often times, people associate something that is inexpensive or cheap with not being of high-quality.  And when it comes to something so important, that takes so much time, and is such a large investment, some students may be worried that saving money on their education may mean they are receiving a subpar education.

At Degree Query, we work to help students find the degree programs that are right for them and try to help students get the most bang for their buck.  To help assuage the fears of some students, we’ve investigated this claim.

Understandably, one might be worried that a university or college offering degree programs to students at a lower cost must be making up that cost somewhere by providing a substandard experience.  If a university or college is cutting costs and passing them onto the student, what exactly is it that the university or college is cutting?

The answer is: not much.  When it comes to the online education space, students are afforded more options than ever before.  That means that due to high competition, universities and colleges must compete with one another for a students dollars.  That means that they need to drive costs down while making sure the quality stays the same or increases.

How are we so sure?

At Degree Query we only feature universities and colleges that are accredited by nationally-recognized accreditation boards. In order to be listed on our website, colleges and universities must be accredited by an independent organization. Becoming accredited is no easy task. Colleges and universities are subject to review on a regular basis at which they must prove to these boards that they are providing an education that meets the requirements that they are promising their potential students.

Accreditation leaves little room for error or shenanigans when colleges and universities are concerned.  These institutions are pressed to work hard to maintain their accreditation status as losing their status will have dramatic effects on enrollment.  These marks of accreditation ensure that the university or college is operating on the up-and-up.

Not only are colleges and universities accredited at an institution-wide basis, they often times also seek accreditation for individual programs.  This ensures that even the individual program is up to industry-standards.

Bottom-line

When it comes to a college education, saving money isn’t a bad thing! It’s just important that students seek out colleges or universities that are accredited by nationally-recognized boards.  If the school is accredited then no need to worry.  And fortunately for you, all of the colleges and universities featured on Degree Query are all schools that have received accreditation for nationally-recognized accreditation boards.

Is it Harder to Get a Job with an Inexpensive Online Degree?

For many prospective students, an online degree program may be much more of an alluring option. By studying online students are able to save money on tuition, create a schedule that best fits their needs, and study at any school regardless of geographic location.  With all these benefits, it’s a wonder why any student might choose to enroll in a program on-campus.

However, one rather pervasive myth regarding inexpensive online degrees is that they are not viewed as highly by prospective employers and as a result make it harder for students to find a job with such a degree. As a website dedicated to helping students find the best online degrees, we’ve decided to look into this myth a little more closely to find out more.

With so many benefits to pursuing a degree online, it may seem too good to be true.  Many potential students of online degree programs worry that their employers are going to look poorly upon their online degree.  According to our research, that is simply not the case for a variety of different reasons.

Often times, the online degree follows the exact same curriculum.

Through our research, we’ve found that most degrees offered online are near-exact copies of their on-campus counterparts.  Universities and colleges tend to offer the curriculum both on-campus and online as it requires less work of the school to craft entirely unique curriculums specific to those enrolled online or on-campus.  The only differences that tend to arise are differences needed to facilitate the differences in delivery mechanism.

Colleges and universities are just as much fans of online degree programs as we are, as it allows them to take the same curriculum offered on-campus and offer it online to a much larger amount of students.

A lot of times, employers don’t even ask.

At the end of the 2000s, there was a glut of online colleges that offered sub-standard education in exchange for a quick-and-easy degree.  These “diploma mills” worried many human resource managers and potential employers, and this caused a stigma to arise around online degree programs.  However, employers demanded higher-quality education from their potential hires and regulation of online colleges tightened, these “diploma mills” failed.

This once pervasive issue has been resolved.  Now, employers are typically more concerned with the institution that you received your degree from rather than whether or not you received your education on-campus or online.  Many employers are growing to understand the realities of the modern student and understand that its not feasible to expect everybody to be able to enroll as full-time, on-campus students.

And if they do ask, it’s not so easy to tell.

If an employer finds themselves so inclined to find out more information about whether or not a student earned their degree on-campus or online, they might find that that information is a little bit harder to come by.  Most schools that offer online degree programs don’t even delineate on their diplomas whether or not the student was enrolled online or on-campus.

Bottom-line

When online degree programs were newer, many employers were original wary of their quality.  This initial fear helped contribute to a myth that having an online degree might make it harder to find a job.  However, as online degrees have become more commonplace and regulation on the industry has tightened, most employers no longer concern themselves with where and how you received your education.  They just want to make sure that you ARE educated.