Online colleges and universities have certain advantages over brick-and-mortar schools. They follow the same rigorous standards as their on-campus counterparts while often allowing students to complete their studies on their own time. This flexibility benefits students with full-time jobs, children, and other commitments that may interfere with traditional on-campus studies.
BestColleges.com evaluates the educational quality and student outcomes of online degree programs across the country. This comprehensive guide addresses some of the most common questions and concerns about the online education experience, including cost, the application process, and the challenges associated with online studies. We also include our picks for this year’s top 50 accredited online colleges and universities.
Top Featured Schools
- Southern New Hampshire UniversityAt SNHU, we have one goal – to help you see yourself succeed. With some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation and term starts throughout the year, our 200+ degree programs are flexible, affordable and achievable.VISIT SITE
- University of PhoenixAt University of Phoenix, you can lock in the same affordable tuition from your first class to your last. Our degree programs provide adult learners an efficient educational path that's supportive, career relevant and affordable.VISIT SITE
- Purdue University GlobalBuilding on Purdue's mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience that's tailored to working adults.VISIT SITE
- Ashford UniversityAshford University is where higher education meets technology. Ashford students can earn their degree online while accessing information and interacting with fellow students from anywhere they can take their smartphone, tablet, or laptop.VISIT SITE
What are the Best Online Colleges?
We have reviewed hundreds of accredited online colleges to help you find an online program that best meets your needs. Our final list includes the 50 best online schools in the country. Each ranked school is a fully accredited, nonprofit institution that offers at least ten online four-year degrees and three online graduate programs. We made our assessments using qualitative measures and data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics. Our methodology can be reviewed in full here.
Use this list of the 50 best online colleges to begin your search for a distance learning program that will work with your budget, your schedule, and your learning style. Each entry includes information about available subjects and majors, as well as notable student outcomes for that school. Below our ranking of the best online colleges, you can learn more about choosing an online school that fits your unique needs.
Accredited Online Colleges and Universities
| 1 | University of Florida | RANKING SCORE89.79 | COST | GRADUATION RATE87% | LOCATIONGainesville, FL |
The University of Florida was launched in 2014 to provide both new and transferring students full-time, high-quality baccalaureate degree programs. Prospective Gators have an opportunity to study in one of 200 online programs with flexible learning options, world-class faculty, and a worldwide alumni network of 415,000 Gators.
Florida offers bachelor's of arts degrees in anthropology, biology, criminology, geography, geology, psychology, and sociology. Students can also pursue BS degrees in fields such as business administration, computer science, environmental management, fire and emergency services, nursing, public relations, sports management, and telecommunication, media, and society.
Florida has a comprehensive list of master’s degree offerings, including programs in art education, business administration, educational leadership, aerospace engineering, fire and emergency services, and gerontology. Notable online programs include the 30-credit master’s in veterinary forensics science, a program for professionals working in veterinary medicine and forensic science. Areas of study include animal crime scene processing, scientific and legal principles of forensic evidence, cruelty to animals, and interpersonal violence. The school’s 32-credit master of science in pharmaceutical sciences has several areas of emphasis, including forensic science, pharmaceutical regulation, and forensic DNA and serology. The school also offers a selection of undergraduate and graduate certificates in various fields.
Most courses are delivered asynchronously. Students may enroll full-time or part-time and can even take time away from their studies. Other notable school features include affordable tuition and comprehensive financial aid offerings, virtual career fairs, and access to job boards.
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| 2 | University of Central Florida | RANKING SCORE75.49 | COST | GRADUATION RATE69% | LOCATIONOrlando, FL |
Founded in 1963, this Orlando-based university is the largest postsecondary institution in the United States by overall enrollment, as well as undergraduate enrollment. UCF currently serves more than 63,000 students, many of whom are enrolled in online courses and degree programs through the school's robust distance learning program.
All online courses at UCF are led by the same professors and faculty members that teach the same subjects on campus. A total of 18 fully online bachelor's degrees are available for undergraduate distance learners. These include Bachelor of Arts degrees in core subjects like history, English and political science, as well as niche fields like communication and conflict and Latin American studies. A BSN program is also offered for prospective nurses. In addition to full degrees, online undergrads can also choose from 29 minors in five academic areas: arts and humanities; education and human performance; health and public affairs; hospitality management; and sciences. All of these options are available as '2+2 baccalaureate completion' programs for students who have completed some college in the past without earning a four-year degree. As an extra perk, UCF Online students are not charged administrative fees for resources exclusively used by brick-and-mortar students.
UCF also features 24 fully online master's degrees for graduate-level students. These programs cover a wide range of academic subjects. Master of Arts (M.A.) options include degrees in applied learning and instruction, educational leadership and English-technical communication. Alternatively, online students at UCF can earn Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in fields like criminal justice and digital forensics. UCF also offers web-based master's degrees in seven specialized engineering fields, a dual public administration and criminal justice master's, and an MSN option for nurses. Some UCF Online master's programs are 30 to 35 credits in length, and may be completed in as little as one year of full-time enrollment.
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| 3 | Northeastern University | RANKING SCORE72.14 | COST | GRADUATION RATE86% | LOCATIONBoston, MA |
Northeastern University Global Network is the name given to the school's collective satellite campuses and worldwide research partnerships. The online degrees/certificates themselves are offered through Northeastern University.
Established in 1898, this institution of nearly 25,000 students functions as a private research university. In addition to four Boston-area campuses, the university's 'Global Network' extends to satellite campuses in Charlotte, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Toronto. Northeastern also holds partnerships with education and research facilities in more than 150 countries.
Northeastern currently offers 10 online bachelor's degrees for distance learners. Three management-related bachelor's degrees are offered -- general management, finance and accounting management and health management -- as well as a leadership degree. Other undergraduate degrees are available in human services, information technology, liberal studies, political science, professional communication and psychology. All of Northeastern's online bachelor's degree programs are 120 credits in length, and designed to be completed with four years of full-time enrollment or seven years of part-time enrollment. Each degree follows a comprehensive curriculum consisting of one-credit labs and three-credit foundational, major-related and professional elective courses. The psychology degree program culminates in a senior research seminar. Most of the remaining programs culminate in a final project; human services majors must also complete an on-site practicum course, where they will receive supervised training from experienced professionals at a working human services facility. As of Fall 2016, all bachelor's programs at Northeastern follow a semester-based schedule.
Online graduate students enrolled at Northeastern can choose from 37 master's degree pathways. These include nine degrees in business- and management-related fields, seven in health and human services and five in education. The university also offers several highly specialized programs for online master's students, including tracks in energy systems, geographic information technology, homeland security, security and resilience studies and two degrees concentrated in regulatory affairs. Doctorates in education and transitional physical therapy are also available in a primarily online format. Additionally, two undergraduate certificates and 30 graduate certificates can be earned entirely online within one year of full-time study.
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| 4 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | RANKING SCORE71.99 | COST | GRADUATION RATE53% | LOCATIONBirmingham, AL |
Established as an extension center in 1936, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has added a robust virtual college internationally recognized for academic excellence, research, and innovation. The school offers a comprehensive catalog of fully online and hybrid degree and certificate programs. With working adults in mind, the virtual college offers students flexible learning options. Bachelor’s degrees offered fully online include programs in accounting, criminal justice, marketing, information systems, and finance. The school’s Department of Human Studies offers a BS in community health and human services, a program that prepares students for a career as a community coordinator, outreach specialist, or drug abuse counselor. The BS in industrial distribution has two tracks: engineering and medical equipment and supplies.
Master’s degrees are available in accounting, criminal justice, sociology, and engineering, each with corresponding concentrations. Master’s programs offered in a blended format include the MS in health informatics, the MAED in special education-collaborative teacher, and the MS in health information-executive format. Notably, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s online master’s of public health has several concentrations delivered fully online, including epidemiology, health behavior, industrial hygiene, and occupational health and safety. The 44- to 45-credit master of science in nursing— nurse practitioner provides nurses with specializations in women’s health, family healthcare, and psychiatric-mental health.
UAB's online programs are delivered through Canvas, and eLearners have access to expansive support services such as the Access Success Center, libraries, and technical support. Those graduating from this institution become part of an alumni network of more than 115,000 graduates around the globe.
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| 5 | Liberty University | RANKING SCORE71.63 | COST | GRADUATION RATE51% | LOCATIONLynchburg, VA |
Liberty University is a private, not-for-profit Christian doctoral research university with its main campus located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Launched in 1985, the school's distance learning program, Liberty’s online programs, follows a non-traditional academic timetable. Classes are 8 weeks in length, and there are eight start dates each year.
Nearly all online programs are offered nearly 100% online. Only one bachelor's program requires a one week, on-campus class, and that is the B.S. in social work; the remaining bachelor's degree programs are delivered fully online, and are designed to be completed in four years or less. Liberty’s Online programs bachelor's programs span 16 academic departments, and tout tuition that is considerably lower than the on-campus degree programs at $9,360 instead of the traditional $20,300. The online bachelor's degree programs also have no additional fees, and are completely free to apply.
The school's options for business administration degrees are particularly extensive; students may choose from degree concentrations in 16 different fields, including digital marketing and advertising, entrepreneurship, financial planning, green and sustainable management, marketing analytics and project management. Criminal justice majors may also pick a degree specialization from fields like homeland security, juvenile justice and public administration. As a faith-based university, Liberty’s Online programs also offers degrees in religion (with four concentrations), biblical and educational studies and Christian leadership and management, as well as a Christian counseling concentration for psychology majors. A total of 24 online minors are also available to undergraduates, four of which are focused on Christian studies. There also are undergraduate degrees in aviation, communications, education, history, information technology, nursing, and more.
Graduate students enrolled at Liberty’s online programs also enjoy a wide range of online master's degree selections. Aspiring teachers seeking a Master of Education can choose from more than 15 different degree specializations, including obtaining licensure if needed. The school's MBA programs include 36-hour and 45-hour tracks that have 16 possible specializations. Online counseling options are also quite robust. For example, the master of arts (M.A.) degrees in human services counseling and pastoral counseling each feature 11 possible concentrations. Online grad students pursuing a religious master's can also earn degrees in seven different fields through the Rawlings School of Divinity. Finally, Liberty’s online programs offers web-based and blended doctoral degree programsin business, counseling, education, music, nursing and religious studies. The application fee is $40 for master’s degree programs and $50 for doctoral and postgraduate degrees.
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| 6 | Florida International University | RANKING SCORE71.46 | |||||
| 7 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | RANKING SCORE69.79 | |||||
| 8 | Arizona State University | RANKING SCORE69.05 | |||||
| 9 | Excelsior College | RANKING SCORE68.94 | |||||
| 10 | Regis University | RANKING SCORE68.73 | |||||
| 11 | Brandman University | RANKING SCORE67.12 | |||||
| 12 | Texas Tech University | RANKING SCORE67.01 | |||||
| 13 | Cleary University | RANKING SCORE66.95 | |||||
| 14 | Western Governors University | RANKING SCORE66.61 | |||||
| 15 | Colorado State University-Global Campus | RANKING SCORE66.19 | |||||
| 16 | The University of Alabama | RANKING SCORE65.83 | |||||
| 17 | Dallas Baptist University | RANKING SCORE65.15 | |||||
| 18 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | RANKING SCORE65.13 | |||||
| 19 | Indiana Wesleyan University | RANKING SCORE65.00 | |||||
| 20 | East Carolina University | RANKING SCORE64.92 | |||||
| 21 | Thomas Edison University | RANKING SCORE64.62 | |||||
| 22 | Webster University | RANKING SCORE62.73 | |||||
| 23 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | RANKING SCORE62.12 | |||||
| 24 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | RANKING SCORE62.01 | |||||
| 25 | Kennesaw State University | RANKING SCORE61.31 | |||||
| 26 | Appalachian State University | RANKING SCORE61.19 | |||||
| 27 | Oregon State University | RANKING SCORE60.95 | |||||
| 28 | University of Illinois at Springfield | RANKING SCORE60.19 | |||||
| 29 | Midway University | RANKING SCORE60.08 | |||||
| 30 | Minot State University | RANKING SCORE58.62 | |||||
| 31 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana | RANKING SCORE58.58 | |||||
| 32 | University of Southern Mississippi | RANKING SCORE57.75 | |||||
| 33 | Drexel University | RANKING SCORE57.56 | |||||
| 34 | Missouri State University-Springfield | RANKING SCORE57.37 | |||||
| 35 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | RANKING SCORE57.06 | |||||
| 36 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | RANKING SCORE56.61 | |||||
| 37 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | RANKING SCORE56.53 | |||||
| 38 | Champlain College | RANKING SCORE56.33 | |||||
| 39 | LeTourneau University | RANKING SCORE56.19 | |||||
| 40 | Indiana University-Bloomington | RANKING SCORE56.10 | |||||
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | RANKING SCORE55.93 | |||||
| 42 | California Baptist University | RANKING SCORE55.85 | |||||
| 43 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | RANKING SCORE55.70 | |||||
| 44 | National University | RANKING SCORE54.96 | |||||
| 45 | Arkansas State University | RANKING SCORE54.64 | |||||
| 46 | University of Arizona | RANKING SCORE54.19 | |||||
| 47 | Northern Arizona University | RANKING SCORE54.19 | |||||
| 48 | Bellevue University | RANKING SCORE54.15 | |||||
| 49 | Washington State University | RANKING SCORE54.07 | |||||
| 50 | Eastern New Mexico University | RANKING SCORE53.64 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges
How Do You Choose an Accredited Online College?
Accreditation status is used to measure the legitimacy and overall quality of institutions of higher learning and their degree programs. Students should strongly consider attending an accredited institution because accreditation status can have a significant impact on their ability to receive financial aid or transfer credits to another school if needed.
Prospective students should thoroughly research each potential school to determine if it is accredited. This information should be easily accessible on the school’s official website. Students can inquire about a school’s accreditation status by visiting the sites of accreditation-granting agencies. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) awards accreditation to colleges and universities that offer partially or fully online degree programs. In addition to the DEAC, the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) maintain lists of recognized regional, national, and programmatic accreditation agencies.
Read on to learn more about the accreditation process and the different types of academic accreditation.