Best Online Colleges in New York 2021

Roberts Wesleyan College offers degree completion programs in nursing, business and health administration, either 100% online or in a 1-night a week on-campus format. Programs are 15 months in length, and require 36-37 credits, with 124 credits total for completion. Some on-campus time may be required, as with the RN-BS nursing program, which requires students to attend classes for the library practicum, writing lab, orientation and practicum project. The health administration program has a research project requirement, which allows students to work with local health care executives. Business students can add an area of concentration in corporate security management. The admission criteria is similar for all these programs, and includes a minimum of 60 transferable credits, which may include credits for life or professional experience, with a 2.0 cumulative GPA required. Students must also submit college transcripts, write an essay and provide a resume of current professional experience, as these programs require relevant work experience. Nursing students must also have completed an associate degree or diploma program in nursing to be eligible and currently be working as a licensed RN for at least 20 hours a week. The business and health administration students must also have completed freshman composition with at least a "C" grade to be accepted. Courses are typically delivered in an asynchronous format, with required online meetings, presentations, group activities and cohort discussions. In addition to faculty and cohort support, students can also work with the Career Development Office for guidance and assistance in areas such as academic preparation, career development, networking opportunities and job search skills.

The University at Buffalo has several undergraduate degrees that combine on-campus classes with online elements, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and the Bachelor of Science in Computational Physics. Combination degrees in education that allow students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree simultaneously are also available online, with possible on-campus visits required. These are considered accelerated degrees and can lead to New York teacher certification for grades 5-12. Teacher specialization areas include biology, chemistry, Latin, geology, history and mathematics. Another online degree option is the BS-RN track, a bachelor's degree available 100% online for RN's who have already completed an associate or diploma nursing program. This is a 32-credit program that can be completed in 12-24 months, and start time is once a year in May. Admission is highly competitive, and students must apply to both UB and the School of Nursing. Transcripts and completion of the statistics prerequisite course with at least a 3.0 GPA are required, with recommendations, test scores, class ranking, a personal essay and a resume also considered for admission. Rather than mandatory clinical rotations, students are required to work as part-time RNs throughout the program. Service learning opportunities are built into the curriculum, and take place through local community agencies, and students can also join the Nursing Student Organization and Multicultural Nursing Student Organization for further involvement. Resources for nursing students include advisement through the School of Nursing Office, access to an extensive health care database, research opportunities through the Center for Nursing Research and internal scholarships specific to nursing students.

Through its University College division, Syracuse University, a major, private research institution, offers 4 bachelor's degrees that can be earned 100% online. The Bachelor of Professional Studies in Creative Leadership prepares students for management careers in areas such as marketing, administrative services and training and development. The Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration provides students with the skills to supervise and manage technologies needed to protect infrastructures and information systems. Bachelor of Professional Studies in Knowledge Management students learn the skills and practices required to manage the data and technology prevalent throughout all sectors of today's economy. SU's Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree offers students a solid general education foundation in the natural and social sciences, humanities and mathematics attractive to a broad range of employers. All 4 degree programs require completion of 120 credits of general education, major-related and elective coursework with a C grade or better. Up to 90 credits of previously earned college work can be applied toward program requirements, significantly cutting degree completion times. Courses are offered in a synchronous, interactive live session format. While all coursework for these degrees can be completed fully online, students have the option of participating in on-campus courses when available. Online University College students are eligible for the same range of student services and resources available to their on-campus counterparts, including academic advising, financial aid assistance and the online services and resources of the Syracuse University Libraries system.

Touro University Worldwide, the distance learning arm of the Touro College & University System, offers 4 bachelor's degrees that can be earned 100% online. TUW's Bachelor of Business Administration is available with 7 concentrations, including Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Homeland Security EDM. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree, offered with 6 concentration options, prepares graduates for careers in the psychology field, like psychiatric technician and counselor, as well as positions in business, social work, education and technology. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work leads to careers as social workers primarily with state and local government agencies. TUW's Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences prepares students to pursue careers throughout the health care field as community health organizers, facility managers, lab managers, health educators and more. All TUW online bachelor's degrees require completion of 120 credit hours of coursework consisting of general education, major/core and elective courses. Courses are presented in an 8-week format. Students who opt for full-time study (12 courses per semester, 3 semesters per academic year) can finish their degree program in 3? years. Actual completion times vary, however, based on total number of applicable transfer credits and the individual student's chosen course load. Up to 90 qualifying transfer credits can be applied to a degree program. Admission requirements include a high school diploma or GED, or transfer in from another properly accredited college or university. Student services and resources are accessed through TUW's Student Success Center. Services include student orientation, academic and life goal counseling, disability services, networking and job search assistance through Career Resources and access to eBooks, eJournals, educational videos and other digital materials via the Touro College Libraries system.

Fordham University is a major private research institution and the oldest Catholic-affiliated university in the northeastern U.S. Through its School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS), Fordham offers an extensive number of bachelor's degrees that can be earned through a combination of evening, weekend and online classes. There are currently 18 major subjects to choose from, including Business, Communications and Media Studies, International Studies, Philosophy, Political Science and Theology/Religious Studies. These degree programs, as with all others offered by the SPCS, are designed to meet the unique needs of adult learners with evening classes that meet once a week for 3 hours a session, and weekend classes that meet either for 5 hours every other Saturday or Sunday throughout the term or 8.5 hours per session over two weekends each semester. No Fordham bachelor's degrees are available fully online. All of Fordham bachelor's degree programs are degree completion programs, meaning that students enter with some amount of previously earned college credits. Up to 75 credits may be transferred in for prior coursework. Additionally, up to 30 credits may be awarded for the student's life experiences (by way of portfolio submission). A total of 124 credits (including transfer credits) must be completed to earn the degree. Admission requirements are also geared toward the adult learner and based on an overall evaluation of the applicant's qualities and life experiences. Standardized test scores need not be submitted. Support services available to Fordham undergraduate students include career advisement through the Fordham Futures and Career Development Resources programs, and both in-person and remote access to the extensive resources of the Fordham University Librariessystem.

Adelphi University, a private institution, offers a single bachelor's degree that can be earned with online study. AU's Bachelor of Science in Emergency Services Administration is designed to broaden the knowledge and skills in emergency services management of individuals currently working in the profession, as well as to provide a head start for those interested in entering the emergency services field immediately after completing their degree. The program additionally shortens the path to obtaining the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Graduates of the program find employment in a range of industry sectors, including governmental emergency agencies, public health agencies and organizations, hospitals and emergency health care services providers and with the Department of Homeland Security. Earning the AU BS in Emergency Services Administration requires a total of 120 credits of coursework, 50 of which are in the major subject. The program is designed to be completed in 4 years. However, students can transfer in up to 90 credits of previously-obtained college coursework and up to 60 prior learning credits for qualifying public service training to significantly reduce program completion time. This degree program is offered 100% online, meaning that students are not required to come to campus at any time. Courses are presented in an asynchronous format so that lectures can be viewed and assignments worked on at the student's convenience. However, assignments must be completed according to course schedule deadlines. AU's extensive support resources for online students include tutoring services through the Learning Center, technical support from the Office of Information Technology's Help Desk and research and academic resources via the AU Libraries online portal.

New York University, a private, nonsectarian research institution, offers 2 online bachelor's degree completion programs through its School of Professional Studies Division. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Change is designed to provide students with a solid foundational liberal arts education leading to career advancement or continued graduate-level studies. Students in this program develop a keen understanding of organizational theory and its applications, and learn to diagnose organizational systems and apply their skills to meet strategic challenges within organizations. Participants in this program who have completed at least 30 credits at NYU's Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies or another properly-accredited college or university, and who have completed a college algebra course with C or better grade, are eligible to earn their degrees entirely through online study. Students with 2 college-level mathematics courses earned with a C or better grade may complete NYU's Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Management Studies degree in 1 of 3 concentrations 100% online. The 3 concentrations available for online study are Organizational Management and Development, Human Resource Management and International Business. Graduates with this degree are prepared to enter or advance careers as analysts and managers in private business fields such as insurance, finance, marketing and media, as well as nonprofit fields such as education, health care and the arts. Many graduates continue their educations to earn an advanced degree. Both online degree programs require 128 to 130 credit hours of coursework. Degree completion times vary depending on several factors including chosen course load and the number of previously-earned college credits transferred into the program. Online students have access to the same support programs as all other NYU students, including comprehensive career and academic advisement, tutoring services, study abroad opportunities, internships, and the resources of the Jack Brause Library and Information Center.

Pace University is home to 5 bachelor's degree completion programs that offer fully online coursework. Through its iPace program, students can choose from among 4 online bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Studies (with Marketing & Management and Accounting & Internal Auditing concentration options), Bachelor of Science in Professional Communications Studies, Bachelor of Science in Professional Technology Studies (with Business Technology Leadership and Computer Forensics concentration options) and RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Admission into an iPace online bachelor degree completion program requires at least 56 qualifying transfer credits. Students with less than 56 transfer credits may opt for the Associate in Arts in General Arts and Science (A.A.) degree program, also available 100% online, to gain the required bachelor program credits. All courses are presented in an asynchronous format allowing for students to complete their coursework according to their own schedules. In addition to the iPace degrees, Pace University offers a fully-online Bachelor of Science in Professional Technology Studies degree through its Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems in conjunction with the National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL). The degree is available with 2 concentrations: Telecommunications and Business Technology Leadership. The BA in Professional Technology Studies is designed primarily for individuals currently working in the telecommunications business sector who are interested in gaining industry credentials and advancing their careers. Both concentrations require 120 credit hours of coursework consisting of 60-64 transfer credits and 56-60 credits earned through Pace. Pace online students have access to a wide range of support services including tutoring, writing assistance, career advisement and the distance education resources of the Pace University Library.

Nyack College, a private educational institution affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, currently offers 3 bachelor's degrees that can be earned entirely through online study. Nyack's Bachelor of Arts in Psychology provides all of the academic components of a traditional psychology degree curriculum and includes concentration options in the science of psychology and practical application of psychology. Graduates of this program pursue careers in a wide range of occupations, including behavior analyst, rehabilitation specialist, foster care counselor, juvenile detention specialist and pastoral counselor. Students enrolled in Nyack's Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Professional Studies in Organizational Management degree completion programs gain the knowledge and skills to become leaders and agents of change within their organizations. Graduates with these degrees find careers in administrative and supervisory positions in all economic sectors, including government, human resources, nonprofit organizations and private industry. Distance education at Nyack College employs "community learning", in which clusters of 10 to 25 students begin their studies and complete their degree programs together. The purpose of community learning is to promote an interactive and supportive learning environment that helps students stay on course throughout their programs and create lifelong relationships between students. All degree courses are informed by a Christian worldview. Degree completion times vary by specific program, course load and the number of previously earned college credits applied. Students may also be awarded credit for career and life experience. Student support resources at Nyack College include tutoring, writing assistance and career counseling services. Additionally, online students have access to the extensive resources of the Nyack ATS/Bailey/Eastman Libraries system. Nyack College is regionally accredited by the Middle State Commission on Higher Education.

Private, nonsectarian Mercy College offers over 2 dozen bachelor's degrees featuring coursework that can be completed 100% online. Degrees are available in fields such as business, computer science, English, mathematics, nursing, psychology, sociology and Spanish. Of particular note are 8 Behavioral Science options and a Business Administration degree with concentrations in General Business, International Business and Sport Management. Also available are 4 B.S./M.S. programs that allow students interested in teaching careers to earn both their bachelor's and master's degrees in a single program through a combination of online coursework and classroom-based clinical experiences. All regular bachelor degree programs require 120 credit hours of coursework (with the exception of the RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program, which requires 123 credit hours) and are typically completed with 4 years of full-time study. Actual completion times vary, however, depending primarily on the individual student's chosen course load and the number of previously-earned credits transferred into the program. Students can transfer in up to 75 credits from 2-year schools and up to 90 credits from 4-year schools (no more than 90 total from a combination of schools). Support resources available to distance learners include an online learning center, academic advising, financial assistance, career services and database, eBook, eJournal and other resources from the Mercy College Libraries system. In addition, as part of Mercy College's PACT (Personalized Achievement Contract) Program, all undergrads are assigned a personal advisor who helps guide them in deciding on the right major, understanding degree requirements, tracking academic progress, exploring career opportunities and more.