If you're looking for the best accredited online college, check out our top five that balance affordability with strong reputations for high-quality learning and career outcomes.
Accredited online schools are the only types of online schools held to the national education standards that employers and licensing organizations use to determine whether you have the qualifications to work in a given field.
In our guide, we'll give you a rundown of the costs, the different types of accreditation and why they matter, and what you should expect before enrolling.
Top 5 Accredited Online Schools
Is Online College Worth It?
To determine if online college is worth the cost and time investment, you have to balance the best affordable option for you while also choosing a reputable and accredited college whose education you can leverage into your career goals.
In-Person Vs Online: Costs
Online college can be cheaper than in-person, but that's mostly because you'll be avoiding most of the extra costs that come with being in person, like facility fees, meal plans, transportation, and housing.
Your biggest cost is going to be your tuition, and this usually isn't significantly different for online programs. However, in-state tuition is more affordable for residents of that college's state, sometimes by a few thousand dollars. For example, Arizona State University's in-state tuition is about $1,000 less than out-of-state tuition. This happens because public colleges use residents' taxes to fund the school, so residents receive greater benefits.
Some schools, like Purdue University Global, offer a single rate for all students, regardless of where you live. If you're looking for school options outside your state, schools offering these rates may be your best choice.
Online students are also eligible for financial aid, so fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to see what grants, scholarships, and student loans you qualify for to bring the costs down even more.
Reputation & Career Outcomes
Employers value where you graduate from, as it can indicate your proficiency in your field and job preparedness. Choosing a college with a strong reputation for academic standards and post-graduation job preparedness can help set you apart from other job applicants.
The same goes for online and in-person programs. Online programs from established online schools like Purdue University Global or Western Governors University will carry more weight than online programs at colleges with lower name recognition or lower graduation rates, such as the University of the People.
If you're attending an in-person college's online program, you won't need to worry about your degree saying "online." The only way your employer will see that you completed an online degree is if you attended a fully online school.
If you're looking to dive further into a school's outcomes, you can check out the U.S. government's College Scorecard, which gives you a rundown of a school's graduation rate, costs, and median earnings from graduates.
Why Accreditation Matters
A great way to ensure your degree will be valued is to makesure it's accredited. Accreditation by federally recognized bodies ensures that programs meet national academic standards for Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Different accreditation bodies are responsible for undergraduate and graduate programs. Undergraduate programs are typically accredited as a whole school, whereas graduate programs receive specialized programmatic accreditation.
For example, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredits individual graduate business programs, not the entire college. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will accredit an entire undergraduate college.
Choosing an unaccredited school or a lesser-known for-profit institution carries significant risk. Future employers and agencies may not see value in your degree, and you may be unable to receive financial aid from that school.
How Does Online College Work?
There are a few different modalities for online learning. The three common types of delivery are synchronous, asynchronous, and hybrid. And, there are usually four pacing options for finishing your degree: full-time, part-time, accelerated, and degree completion.
How Your Classes Are Delivered
Synchronous: This method closely resembles an in-person class. You'll meet for a video call at specific times during the week for a live lesson and discussion, and then work on homework after class.
Asynchronous: This is the easiest option for working professionals, since you don't have to be online at a specific time. You can watch lectures on your own and complete the work before your deadlines.
Hybrid: A mix of synchronous and asynchronous. This may look like a live class every so often or a live lab you need to attend.
How Fast Do You Want to Finish Your Degree?
Full-time: You're expected to devote all your efforts to your program, which may require you to pause your employment. As a full-time student, you should expect to take anywhere from 12 to 18 credit hours (about 4-5 classes) per semester. You'll finish in the expected time for a degree (e.g., two years for an associate's degree, four years for a bachelor's degree).
Part-time: These students typically take 3-11 credit hours (1-3 classes) per semester. This is a lighter course load and a popular track for students who don't want school to affect their work hours. Since you'll be taking fewer courses at a time, it will take longer to complete your degree.
Accelerated: Accelerated programs condense your education into a shorter, more intense timeframe. For example, you could finish your associate degree in one year or your bachelor's in 2-2.5 years. It's almost impossible to work while pursuing an accelerated degree, and some programs explicitly forbid it since the workload can be intense.
Degree-completion: These programs are for those who either never finished their degree or have a bachelor's degree and want to switch careers into a new field. You can take up to 90 credits (three years) of school to avoid having to retake your education. However, to qualify for these programs, you have to have at least an associate degree.
What to Expect in Your Courses
You'll be learning online through platforms that host discussion boards, classwork, and recorded lectures. You may be required to download additional software to use the digital labs, but your professor will let you know which platforms you need and whether you need to pay for access.
Some programs require in-person clinical/field hours, such as teaching, nursing, and social work. These online programs require you to complete hours through field placement at a local institution, while all lectures and classwork are held online. On occasion, you'll find a program that requires a visit to campus at least once for a long weekend or week — these are more common for graduate students.
Explore Accredited Online Colleges Near You
Need local school options? Search below to discover the top accredited online colleges and universities in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accredited Online Colleges and Universities
It depends on the college; both are pretty common. On our list, Arizona State University Online charges out-of-state tuition and lower in-state tuition for students, while Purdue University Global and Kennesaw State University charge the same tuition for all students.
