Online Colleges

7.1 million Americans took for-credit classes online in 2013, with a large portion of these students completing their entire degree from online colleges. Online education is relatively new, but now it’s mainstream. There are more online colleges than ever, increasing competition, offerings, and overall value for students. Skill-based learning is particularly on the rise online, and most employers now report that they don’t see any difference between degrees obtained fully online and those obtained through more traditional methods.

At Best College Reviews we’ve learned over the years what students value the most in online education: affordability, flexibility, and quality support and instruction. We then ranked those 80+ surveyed institutions according to the following metrics:

Best Online Colleges Methodology

Affordability: the average cost of attendance for one semester taking 15 credit hours
Flexibility: the number of bachelor’s degree-granting programs that may be obtained fully online, coupled with the flexibility with which students may obtain a degree
Academic Rigor and Support: the strength and reputation of the online program’s parent institution as well as the range of support services for online college students.
We are discussing only top 5 online colleges for your review.

5. State University of New York / OPEN SUNY

State University of New York / OPEN SUNY

OPEN SUNY is a collaboration between 19 State University of New York system institutions to provide high quality online degree-granting programs in a variety of disciplines. A full 50 bachelor’s level degrees may be completed entirely online, the second most of programs surveyed. OPEN SUNY also excels through the number of support services offered with programs, including day and night tutoring hours, experiential learning opportunities, and prior learning assessments that can accelerate your learning. Per-semester estimated tuition is currently $8,000, the 33rd most affordable of programs surveyed.

4. University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida is a national research university that offers 20 bachelor’s level programs fully online. Online program offerings are comprehensive at the University of Central Florida, with a greater availability of humanities and social science majors than many other online colleges. Per-semester tuition is affordable as well, coming in at $3,270, the fourth ranked rate of programs surveyed.

3. Granite State College

Granite State College

Granite State College offers 29 fully online bachelor’s level degrees that may be completed at full-time, part-time, or accelerated rates. Program offerings are comprehensive, ranging from digital and social media, to nursing, to education. Granite State College is a liberal arts school that is part of the University of New Hampshire system, and offers the 10th most affordable per-semester tuition rate of programs surveyed ($4,575).

2. Arizona State University

Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers 47 bachelor’s degree programs fully online, and a full 80+ programs when specializations and non-bachelor’s level programs are included. Degree offerings are comprehensive, ranging from art, business, communications, culture, education, engineering, health, language, to STEM. 6 start dates are available per year, allowing students to start on their degree when it works best for them. Arizona State University is a national research university that offers affordable tuition online, with an estimated per-semester tuition cost of $7672.

1. Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University offers a full 45 bachelor’s level degreesthat can be completed entirely online. Ranging from hotel & restaurant management, to liberal arts, to computer information technology, mostdegrees offered are skill-centered and geared towards your future career. Northern Arizona University is also one of the most affordable schools of those surveyed, with highly competitive costs for online degrees and NAU’s competency-based programs that are available for an estimated cost of only $2500 per semester. The competency-based is a flat rate subscription, allowing students to take an unlimited number of courses online for a six month period. There are no lab or course fees, and all materials required by the courses are available online.