Weigh Earning a Second Bachelor's Degree Online

Depending on your prior education and job field, a second bachelor's may be less expensive than an online graduate degree.

Deciding what type of online degree or certificate is best for a potential career shift can be challenging.

Online education offers a flexible and convenient learning approach for working adults, but there's still the question of whether to pursue a second bachelor's degree online or a more advanced online credential.

[Explore 10 types of credentials you can earn online.]

Here are three cases when a second undergraduate degree may make the most sense.

1. You are entering a new field. Many online students plan to switch careers. If you don't have the required background or formal education in your area of interest – especially a medical or technical field – you will likely need a second bachelor's to make the switch. Doing this online will allow you to further your education while still working full time.

Check job search sites or call recruiters to learn the extent to which a bachelor's degree in a particular field is required.

2. You want to keep costs to a minimum. Most returning students pursue their next credential online to increase their earning power or prospects of being hired.

If you have earned a bachelor's degree already, you'll likely have half of your second bachelor's degree completed before you even start the online program; most schools will accept a significant number of transfer credits from your first bachelor's degree. You also won't need to pay for room and board.

The number of transfer credits you are eligible for will vary by institution, so shop for the biggest bang for your buck.

3. You want to fast-track to your new career. Are you hoping to start your new career sooner rather than later? While a master's degree program may be appealing, most of those programs require coursework or prior experience in a related field before you can start. Some may waive those requirements if you complete prerequisite courses, adding both to the time and cost of completion.

Most master's programs – including online degrees – require a major research project, like a capstone or thesis, and many operate in cohorts, where you complete courses alongside a set group of students each term at a predetermined pace.

Because online master's programs frequently offer fewer courses – both in number and variety – than online bachelor's programs, if you have to step out of your online master's for any reason, it may be difficult to jump back in at a convenient time. In contrast, the online bachelor's usually allows for a more flexible pathway to completion.

[Discover what to ask about flexibility when picking an online program.]

In contrast, here are two cases when seeking a more advanced credential, like an online master's degree, may make more sense than a second bachelor's.

1. You need federal financial aid. If you need student aid to pursue a second bachelor's degree, and you have already hit your lifetime limit for borrowing for a bachelor's, you won't be eligible for a federal Stafford loan. If you pursue an online master's instead, your lifetime limits essentially start over.

2. Pursuing your dream job requires an advanced degree. If ultimately you are going to need an advanced degree, and you meet the admissions requirements of an online graduate program in your field, you may as well consider jumping in.

The takeaway: When considering a career change, it's important to weigh several factors before deciding whether to pursue a second degree at the undergraduate level or a different graduate credential online. Consider your goals and financial situation to make an informed decision.

Tags: online education, colleges, students, education, careers, second careers

The 100 Best Universities in the World Today

University rankings can focus on many different factors, including attractiveness of campus, satisfaction of students and alums, extracurricular benefits (such as top athletics programs), affordability of tuition, and expected income of graduates.
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See who makes the list—The 100 Best Universities in the World!

But if the focus is on academic prestige, scholarly excellence, and intellectual horsepower, this article provides the ranking you want. At the universities in this ranking, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the brightest faculty and students in the world, developing your knowledge and skills so that you yourself will be in a position to join the world’s elite academics, scientists, and thinkers.

SJTU_LibraryFor this ranking, we looked to the Center for World-Class Universities operated by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (left). This center specializes in ranking universities around the world by academic performance.
Related Articles
TheBestSchools.org Focused Civil DialoguesThe 100 Best Online Colleges 2017The Best University in Each Country

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Accordingly, we identified the 100 best universities in the 2014 Academic Ranking of World Universities, better known as the “Shanghai Ranking.” Taking the Shanghai Ranking as our point of departure, we researched the most important characteristics of each of the top 100 universities on the list in order to reveal why each university appears where it does.

The Most Top 100 Universities, Period:

How do American universities stack up against the competition overseas? Next to each university in our ranking is the country where the university resides. The country that you’ll find overwhelmingly represented is the United States. Indeed, over half of the world’s hundred best universities (52 to be exact) are in the U.S.

As you scan this list, you’ll notice some interesting patterns. Of the top ten universities in the world, the top eight are in the United States. Most of the Ivy League schools are on the list. Also, most of the University of California campuses are on this list as well. Other interesting patterns emerge when looking at this list as a whole.

The Most Top 100 Universities Per Capita:

If one focuses on countries that have the most top-tiered schools per capita, Switzerland tops the list with five of the “100 Best” universities for a population of roughly eight million people. Denmark ranks second per capita with two universities from our list. Sweden, with three listed universities, ranks third per capita; Israel, fourth; and Holland, fifth.

The Cities with Highest Concentration of Top 100 Universities:

New York, London, and Paris tie as the cities with the highest concentration of top 100 universities, with three represented universities in each city. Munich, Germany, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, tied for fourth, housing two universities each from our list.

Top Universities Offering Online Programs:

Some of the best Universities in the world offer distance learning, including many on this list. If distance learning from a top notch University fits your needs, make sure to consult our ranking of the best online colleges in the world. The higher quality the institution, the more you can trust that your online degree will be respected.

Without further ado, here is our list of the world’s 100 best universities. To assist our readers in seeing how American universities compare to themselves, we also include, in brackets, the relative rankings of U.S. universities.

Best Online Degrees

The most recent Survey of Online Learning by the Babson Survey Research Group shows that nearly six million students take at least one course online. Just over one-fourth (28%) of students in higher education are now taking at least one online course, with more and more students taking online courses at major, public non-profit universities.
Students all over the world are taking online degree programs in an array of fields including business, information technology, engineering, healthcare, criminal justice, political science, and more.
If you’re thinking about getting online degrees to enter a new career or to advance at your workplace, which online degree program should you choose?
For some people it’s not an easy decision. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 25 best online degree programs. The list includes a variety of online degree programs leading to rewarding careers.

Featured Schools

1. 

   Walden University

   Campus & Online

   Programs:

   Bachelor of Science in Nursing

   MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling: General (CACREP Accredited)

   Master of Social Work - Advanced Clinical Social Practice

   For more than 40 years, Walden University, an accredited institution, has helped working professionals reach their educational goals.
2. 

   Kaplan University

   Campus & Online

   Programs:

   AAS - Business Administration: Business

   Medical Billing and Coding Certificate

   BS - Nursing: RN to BSN

   Distance learners can earn degrees from Kaplan University online or at one of its more than a dozen campuses. The private university has more than 32,000 students enrolled throughout its system and features over 100 online degree programs in subjects ranging from fire science to law.

Best Online Colleges for 2018–2019

An online college or online university can help you achieve the education you want, often on your schedule and for less money. Fully accredited online colleges have become so attractive, more and more of the best campus-based schools compete for students by offering online bachelor’s degree programs, along with online master’s degrees and even doctoral degrees.

Top Ten Best Online Universities

1. Penn State
2. University of Florida
3. University of Massachusetts
4. Boston University
5. Northeastern University
6. Indiana University
7. Arizona State University
8. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
9. University of Arizona
10. Oregon State University

Because so many top schools now host college courses online, we update our 100 Best Online Colleges ranking annually to help you find the best school online for you.

Need more convincing that online colleges and online universities are the smart choice?
Consider this: students who attend college online report the highest level of satisfaction with their college education experience, twenty-one percentage points higher than students who attend traditionally!^†

Find the Best Online College for You

With 100 online schools in our ranking of the Best Online Colleges for 2018–19, one is sure to fit your needs. And though online education knows no boundaries, the bonuses of in-state tuition breaks, access to campus, and employer readiness to hire graduates from known regional schools may make attending an online college in your state or region a smart consideration. For this reason, we also include our listing of the top online colleges in each state.

Which school is the best online university for you? See our rankings below and find out!

Important Information about Online Colleges

• What do I need to know about accreditation?
• What’s the difference between synchronous and asynchronous classes and programs?
• Can I get credits for previous learning assessments, life and work experiences, and/or job training?
• Can I get financial aid for an online degree?

What methodology is used to rank these top, accredited, online colleges and universities?

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This ranking of the best online colleges and universities is based on extensive research and familiarity with American online education. In formulating this ranking, we looked to such factors as academic excellence, scholarly strength of faculty, online teaching methods, tuition costs, reputation, awards, regional accreditation, financial aid, and range of online degrees offered:

Accreditation

Regional accreditation: the gold standard of accreditation
Regional accreditation is the highest available form of accreditation. There are only seven USDE-recognized regional accreditation agencies, and only six that are both USDE- and CHEA-recognized regional accreditation agencies. CHEA’s endorsement of an accreditation agency has no real bearing on the merit of the agency; it’s an optional extra stamp of approval. USDE-recognition is what really matters.
Schools with regional accreditation give you the best hopes for transferability of credits as well as for acceptance into graduate degree programs. Here are the seven regional accreditation agencies:

• Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
• The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS)
• The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission

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RANKING METHODOLOGY

Methodology for College Rankings

The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:
The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.
To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet—TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):
1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]

• Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
• Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
• Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
• Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
• Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
• Considers range of electives within that discipline
• Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline

2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]

• Considers education background of the faculty
• Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
• Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
• Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
• Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources

3. Reputation [weight = 20%]

• Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • “Freshness” of academic knowledge
  • Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
  • Suitability of graduates for the workplace

4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]

• Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
• Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants

5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]

• Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
• Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business

6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]

• Considers the following of the online classes:
  • Types of online technology used to deliver content
  • Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
  • Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
  • Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
• Considers the following of instructors:
  • Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
  • Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
  • Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
  • Ratio to number of students in a class
• Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.
To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:

• Accreditation
• Public or private status
• Acceptance rate
• Retention rate
• Graduation rate
• ACT/SAT requirements
• Cost in-state / out of state
• Undergrad, grad, or both offered
• Region
• State
• City

Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!
If you have any questions about our ranking methodology.
Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!

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TheBestSchools.org’s 2018–19 ranking of the 100 best online colleges identifies those nonprofit online schools that are currently at the top in delivering a high-quality online education. All are nationally or regionally accredited online colleges or accredited online universities. Note that traditional campus-based schools, however good their reputation may be for delivering instruction in traditional campus-based classrooms, appear here only if they deliver online instruction effectively and offer a wide range of online college degrees.

1 Penn State World Campus

(State College, Pennsylvania)
School Image: Penn State World Campus

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Launched in 1998, Penn State World Campus is the online school of the highly respected Pennsylvania State University.

Penn State World Campus offers an impressive list of online degrees, with more than 120 online programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificate programs.

Offerings include online degrees in fields such as technology, engineering, education, healthcare, business, and more.

Penn State World Campus enrolls more than twelve thousand students. After their initial acceptance into the World Campus, students must receive acceptance into the appropriate college for their chosen major at Pennsylvania State University.

Online students receive instruction from the same world-class faculty members as on-campus students. Online students have access to academic advisers, career services, online tutoring, and library services.

World Campus offers courses in an asynchronous format, so students can complete coursework on their schedule. Students must complete readings, assignments, discussions, and exams by set deadlines. Some of graduate degree programs require a residency period of from a few days to two weeks in length.

Penn State World Campus graduates earn the same degree as traditional Penn State students. Graduates can join the largest alumni network in the United States, another factor that makes this one of the best online schools.

A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Pennsylvania State University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business also received accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

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Accreditation Regional (MSCHE)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Mideast
Acceptance Rate 58.1%
Retention Rate 74%
Graduation Rate 40.6%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $535/$535
Grad: $805/$805
Website Address: 100 Innovation Blvd #128, University Park, PA 16802 USA
2 University of Florida Distance Learning

(Gainesville, Florida)
School Image: University of Florida Distance Learning

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The University of Florida (UFL), a public, Sea Grant, space-grant, and land-grant research university established in 1853, enrolls more than 49,900 students. Consistently ranked among the top universities in the United States, the University of Florida offers more than three hundred undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

A member of the State University System of Florida, the university has sixteen colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. The University of Florida has a membership in the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities).

Recognized for providing high-value education to students, the University of Florida offers a variety of online programs leading to bachelor, bachelor completion, master, specialist, and doctoral degrees. The university also offers a handful of international degree programs.

Undergraduate and graduate degree topics include environmental management in agriculture and natural resources, health education, biology, entomology, industrial and systems engineering, and Latin. Students also can pursue doctoral degrees in education, audiology, philosophy, classical studies, nursing practice, and pharmacy.

Applicants must meet the university’s general admission requirements and those specified by the degree program.

Distance learning students can access a variety of support services, such as an online course management system, library resources, career services, and an online registration system. University of Florida Distance Learning graduates can join the large alumni network.

The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

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Accreditation Regional (SACS)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Southeast
Acceptance Rate 48%
Retention Rate 96%
Graduation Rate 87%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $112/$552
Grad: $112/$552
Website Address: 4211 Southwest 23 Street, Gainesville, FL 32603 USA
3 UMass Online

(Amherst, Massachusetts)
School Image: UMass Online

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The University of Massachusetts (UMass), a public university system established in 1863, enrolls about 71,000 students across five campuses. The University of Massachusetts consists of four universities, a satellite campus, and a medical school.

UMass Online, the online consortium of the highly respected University of Massachusetts system, offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs.

Degree offerings include associate’s degrees in information technology and sustainable food and farming and more than forty bachelor’s degree programs, including degree completion programs in topics such as nursing, applied psychology, criminal justice, and more.

The University also provides more than forty master’s degree programs in topics including gerontology, security studies, and criminal justice; four doctoral programs; and dozens of certificate programs.

Online students receive instruction from the same faculty, earn the same degrees, and attend the same graduation ceremony as on-campus students. UMass Online students have access to a host of services, such as library help, fellowship advising, and academic counseling.

UMass Online received the Excellence in Distance Teaching Education award from the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).

The University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) provides accreditation to the University of Massachusetts branches in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell.

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Accreditation Regional (NEASC)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region New England
Acceptance Rate 58%
Retention Rate 90%
Graduation Rate 65.1%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $525/$525
Grad: $570/$570
Website Address: 785-809 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002 USA
4 Boston University

(Boston, Massachusetts)
School Image: Boston University

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Boston University, a nonsectarian, private research university established in 1839, enrolls about 33,000 students across 18 colleges and schools. Boston University, one of the largest independent, non-profit universities in the United States, boasts more than 250,000 alumni worldwide. Boston University operates one of the strongest private research programs in the United States.

The University offers a variety of bachelor, master, doctoral, and professional degrees. Boston University offers a host of online undergraduate courses, as well as a variety of online degree programs such as an online bachelor’s degree completion program; eighteen online master’s degree programs, including management, taxation law, and art education; and doctoral programs in music education and occupational therapy. Boston University also offers more than a dozen certificate programs.

Boston University’s online students have access to a variety of services, including library resources, career services, and tutoring.

A member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), Boston University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Boston University’s School of Management holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

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Accreditation Regional (NEASC)
Public/Private Private Nonprofit
Region New England
Acceptance Rate 33%
Retention Rate 93%
Graduation Rate 85%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $435/$435
Grad: $830/$830
Website Address: 881 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
5 Northeastern University

(Boston, Massachusetts)
School Image: Northeastern University

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Northeastern University, a private, non-profit research university established in 1898, enrolls about 20,000 students across nine colleges and schools, as well as graduate campuses in North Carolina and Washington State.

Northeastern University offers nearly two hundred programs leading to a variety of undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degrees. The university is a leader in cooperative education and other types of experimental learning.

Northeastern University’s offerings include more than sixty online degree programs, which give students the flexibility to earn their degree on their own schedule.

Northeastern University’s programs include a variety of online bachelor’s degrees including English, finance, and political science; more than two dozen online master’s degrees, including project management, respiratory care, leadership, and homeland security; and doctoral degrees in education and transitional physical therapy. Northeastern University also offers more than twenty certificate programs in a range of topics.

Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Northeastern University’s D’Amore–McKim School of Business also holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

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Northeastern MBAs—REQUEST INFO

Accreditation Regional (NEASC)
Public/Private Private Nonprofit
Region New England
Acceptance Rate 28%
Retention Rate 96%
Graduation Rate 82.1%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $378/$378
Grad: $646/$646
Website Address: 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 USA
6 Indiana University–IU Online

(Bloomington, Indiana)
School Image: Indiana University–IU Online

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Indiana University, a public university system founded in 1820, enrolls more than 110,000 students across nine campuses and two centers. Indiana University, a member of the Association of American Universities (an association of excellent North American research universities), offers a host of degree programs and boasts more than 580,000 alumni. Indiana University–Bloomington attracts students from all over the world.

Through IU Online, Indiana University offers hundreds of online classes and more than 100 online degrees and academic certificate programs.

Students can pursue a variety of associate and bachelor degree programs, including nine degree completion programs such as business administration, mathematics, political science, and nursing.

IU Online offers more than two dozen online master degree programs ranging from strategic management to social work to data science and more. Students also can earn doctoral degrees in instructional systems technology, nursing practice, and nursing science. Online students also can choose from a variety of certificate programs.

IU Online students have access to libraries and technology resources.

Indiana University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) provides accreditation to Indiana University–Bloomington and Indiana University–Indianapolis.

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Accreditation Regional (HLC)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Great Lakes
Acceptance Rate 78%
Retention Rate 89%
Graduation Rate 74.9%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $378/$1372
Grad: $362/$1184
Website Address: 107 S Indiana Ave, Bloomington, IN 47405 USA
7 Arizona State University–ASU Online

(Tempe, Arizona)
School Image: Arizona State University–ASU Online

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Arizona State University (ASU), a public research university founded in 1885, is the largest public university in the United States by enrollment. ASU enrolls nearly one hundred thousand students across sixteen colleges and schools. Arizona State University offers a variety of bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. ASU is one of the world’s top universities for business incubation.

The University provides an array of graduate programs. Arizona State University offers about 140 online degree programs including undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, as well as a variety of certificate programs through ASU Online.Online degree offerings include bachelor’s degrees in art history, business, film, and justice studies. The university also offers master’s degrees in legal studies, nutrition, English, electrical engineering, and more.

Students can pursue doctoral degrees in behavioral health and leadership and innovation.

ASU Online students have access to enrollment counselors, academic advisers, and success coaches. ASU Online offers six start dates each year.

Online students have flexibility to complete coursework on their own schedule. Some ASU Online courses require specific log-on times, and most have set assignments and deadlines.

Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) provides accreditation to Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

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Accreditation Regional (HLC)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Southwest
Acceptance Rate 83%
Retention Rate 84%
Graduation Rate 78%
Requires ACT or SAT None
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $502/$502
Grad: $502/$502
Website Address: 1151 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281 USA
8 University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
School Image: University of Minnesota–Twin Cities

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The University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, a public, land-grant, Sea Grant, space-grant university founded in 1851, enrolls more than fifty-one thousand students. The flagship of the University of Minnesota System, the university offers more than three hundred undergraduate and graduate degree programs across nineteen schools and colleges. The university is a member of the Association of American Universities.

The university offers a variety of online degrees. Students can complete most of the programs fully online, but some programs require on-campus visits.

The University provides an array of online bachelor degrees in topics such as applied health manufacturing management, entrepreneurship, and communication.

Students can choose from a variety of master’s degrees ranging from tribal administration and governance to computer science to and maternal and child health.

The University offers online doctoral programs including in adult health/gerontological clinical nurse specialist, international education, nurse-midwifery and more.

Online students have access to financial aid, technical support and library resources.

The University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

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Accreditation Regional (HLC)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Plains
Acceptance Rate 45%
Retention Rate 92%
Graduation Rate 76.9%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $593/$995
Grad: $676/$1047
Website Address: 3 Morrill Hall, 100 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis MN 55455 USA
9 University of Arizona

(Tucson, Arizona)
School Image: University of Arizona

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The University of Arizona (UA), a public research university founded in 1885, enrolls about 42,000 students. A member of the Association of American Universities, UA offers more than 330 programs of study leading to a host of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.

Through UA Online, the University of Arizona offers more than eighty online degree programs including online bachelor’s degrees ranging from Africana studies to early childhood education to communication as well as online master’s degrees, including those in geographic information system technology; mining, geological and geophysical engineering, and library and information science.

Students can earn their degrees fully online. Students have access to online coursework 24/7. UA Online students have access to technical support and an online orientation.

Some courses follow an asynchronous format, although others may require scheduled discussion sessions or online meetings.

The University of Arizona is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Several of the university’s programs also received specialized accreditation such as from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

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Accreditation Regional (HLC)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Southwest
Acceptance Rate 76%
Retention Rate 81%
Graduation Rate 60.8%
Requires ACT or SAT None
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $492/$475
Grad: $1458/$1296
Website Address: The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
10 Oregon State University–OSU Ecampus

(Corvallis, Oregon)
School Image: Oregon State University–OSU Ecampus

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Oregon State University (OSU), a public research university, founded in 1868, enrolls more than thirty thousand students across a dozen colleges and a graduate school. OSU, a prominent research school, has nationally recognized programs in areas such as agricultural sciences, forestry, fisheries, community health, pharmacy, and wildlife management.

OSU is one of only six educational institutions in the United States with a land-grant, space-grant, and sea-grant designations. OSU also has a sun-grant designation.

Oregon State University, which offers more than two hundred undergraduate and graduate (including doctoral) degree programs, is home to the internationally renowned Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology.

Oregon State University offers more than nine hundred online courses and a host of degree programs through OSU Ecampus. The university’s online offerings include online bachelor’s degrees in topics ranging from anthropology to German to sustainability; online master’s degrees such as executive leadership, counseling, and natural resources; and doctoral degrees in education and counseling. The online school also offers certificate programs, as well as chemistry and foreign language courses.

OSU Ecampus allows students to access course materials on their schedule and earn the same degree as on-campus students. Online students have access to a host of student services such as library resources, career services, 24/7 tutoring help, and counseling services.

Oregon State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) provides accreditation to Oregon State University’s College of Business.

GO TO SCHOOL PROFILE
Accreditation Regional (NWCCU)
Public/Private Public Nonprofit
Region Far West
Acceptance Rate 78%
Retention Rate 84%
Graduation Rate 62.3%
Requires ACT or SAT SAT or ACT
Cost Per Credit
(In-State/Out-of-State) Undergrad: $280/$521
Grad: $280/$521
Website Address: 104 Kerr Admin Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-2106 USA
11 Drexel University–Drexel Online
12 Florida State University–Office of Distance Learning
13 Washington State University Global Campus
14 University of Missouri–Mizzou Online
15 University of Central Florida
16 University of Denver–University College
17 Rochester Institute of Technology–RIT Online
18 University of Alabama
19 Colorado State University–Fort Collins Online
20 University of Cincinnati
21 Kansas State University
22 Rutgers University
23 University of Arkansas Global Campus
24 Liberty University Online
25 Robert Morris University–RMU Online
Top Online Bachelor’s Degree Searches

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26 University of Alabama at Birmingham–UAB Online
27 University of North Dakota
28 Colorado State University–Global Campus
29 University of South Florida
30 University of Illinois at Chicago
31 University of Oklahoma Outreach
32 Ohio State University, Ohio State Online
33 George Washington University, GW Online
34 University of Louisville
35 Texas Tech University
36 West Virginia University
37 University of New Mexico
38 Ball State University
39 University of Minnesota–Crookston
40 Northern Arizona University, NAU–Extended Campuses
41 Florida Institute of Technology–Florida Tech University Online
42 Loyola University Chicago, Loyola Online
43 Creighton University
44 CUNY School of Professional Studies
45 Everglades University
46 University of Illinois–Springfield
47 Western Kentucky University
48 Regis University
49 Mississippi State University
50 Azusa Pacific University
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51 University of Colorado–Denver
52 University of South Carolina–Palmetto College
53 Missouri State University
54 New Mexico State University
55 Southern Illinois–Carbondale
56 University of North Carolina at Greensboro
57 Fort Hays State University–Virtual College
58 University of Louisiana at Monroe
59 Lewis University
60 Huntington University
61 University of Southern Mississippi
62 Indiana Wesleyan University
63 Old Dominion University
64 California Baptist University–CBU Online
65 Regent University–Regent Online
66 Utah State University
67 North Dakota State University
68 Upper Iowa University
69 Champlain College
70 Dakota State University
71 University of Memphis–UM Online
72 Central Michigan University
73 South Dakota State University
74 Dallas Baptist University
75 Lamar University
Top Online Associate’s Degree Searches

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76 Florida International University
77 LeTourneau University
78 East Carolina University
79 Nova Southeastern University
80 Brenau University
81 Central Washington University
82 Western Carolina University
83 Saint Leo University Online
84 West Texas A&M University
85 Charleston Southern University
86 University of Nebraska Omaha
87 University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
88 Sam Houston State University
89 University of North Texas
90 California University of Pennsylvania
91 Kennesaw State University
92 Mississippi College
93 Webster University
94 Eastern Kentucky University
95 Southeast Missouri State University
96 Concordia University, Saint Paul
97 Oral Roberts University
98 University of Nebraska at Kearney
99 Brescia University
100 Saint Joseph’s University
Popular Online Undergraduate Majors

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Honorable Mention
Asbury University
Belhaven University
Columbus State University
Dickinson State University
Fayetteville State University
Indiana State University
Limestone College
Northern Kentucky University
Ottawa University
Rowan University
Troy University
University of Central Missouri
University of Houston–Victoria
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Valley City State University