The Best Online Colleges in New York for 2018

Last Updated: February 12, 2018

Increasing numbers of busy New Yorkers are turning to online degree programs to further their education. The state of New York is the fourth most populous state in the U.S. and home to the single largest urban center in the nation. With a whopping 81 public schools and 184 non-profit private institutions populating New York, its residents comprise the fourth highest enrollment total among U.S. states, with more than 578,000 pupils as of 2013. Indeed, these figures add up to one of the largest and most varied systems of higher education in America.

No fewer than ten colleges and universities rank among the very best that the state of New York has to offer for online degrees. These schools offer even the busiest New Yorker the flexibility and convenience of an online education, some even allowing the student to tailor the degree to fit their personal and career goals. How’s that for flexibility?

If you are looking for an online college in New York, we’ve got you covered.

Four reasons to find an online college in your state:

Guaranteed in-state tuition saves you money
Be a part of a university or college you know and love

Get a degree from a school employers know and trust
Be close enough to easily visit when desired

Ranking guidelines for the best online colleges in New York:
We selected the online colleges and universities here based on the quality of their programs, types of courses and degrees offered, faculty strengths, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation, including a strong reputation for online degree programs.

Note: In ranking the best online colleges in New York, giving attention to the variety of degree programs available at the institutions is of utmost importance. For this reason, a more prestigious school in New York may offer one, or a few online degrees, but that may not be enough for that school to rank highly among the best online colleges in the state. In this ranking, we are dedicated to showing who’s leading the way in delivering quality online degree programs in New York.

See who ranks as the best college and university in New York today.
Rochester Institute of Technology, RIT Online and CUNY School of Professional Studies rank among the 100 Best Online Colleges for 2018.

The Best Online Colleges in New York

1Rochester Institute of Technology

(Henrietta, NY)

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a private university founded in 1829, enrolls more than 18,000 students. The school provides adult students with completely online and blended courses, many of which begin several times each year. RIT features a modular approach to curriculum, which allows students to choose building blocks from several disciplines to create a program suited to their professional or personal goals.

Rochester Institute of Technology offers undergraduate degrees in applied arts and sciences and undergraduate certificates in health systems administration and integrated electronics. Students can pursue more than 20 master’s degree and advance certification options including service systems, applied statistics, human resource development, and imaging science.

Online students have access to a “virtual concierge” who can help with enrollment advising and academic support.

Rochester Institute of Technology is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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2CUNY School of Professional Studies

(New York, NY)

City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies, a public university and part of the CUNY System, launched in 2006 and now enrolls over 3,200 students. The school offers many of their programs in a fully online format, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and certificate programs.

Online students at CUNY School of Professional Studies can pursue bachelor’s degrees in areas such as psychology, disability studies, communication and media, business, nursing, and more. Graduate students can pursue master’s degrees in areas such as business management and leadership, data science, nursing education, and more.

The School of Professional Studies is the home to the first online degree programs to be offered at CUNY. Online students from anywhere in the world are given CUNY’s low-cost in-state tuition rate. When enrolled in an online program, students are able to interact with instructors and classmates in a variety of ways and receive the same rigorous instruction that’s taught in the classroom.

CUNY School of Professional Studies is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

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3St. John’s University

(Queens, NY)

St. John’s University, a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university founded in 1870, enrolls more than 21,000 students. St. John’s University offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral degree programs, including more than a dozen online degree programs.

St. John’s University allows students to earn a handful of undergraduate degrees including those in business administration, criminal justice and liberal arts. The university offers master’s degrees in subjects such as accounting, global development and social justice, library and information science, school building leadership, taxation and TESOL, as well as a host of advanced certificates.

Online students have access to a host of services including financial aid, advisement, online registration, library resources, career services and campus ministry. Full-time faculty teach most of the university’s online courses.

St. John’s University is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

St. John’s University is also featured in this article:

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4Roberts Wesleyan College

(North Chili, NY)

Roberts Wesleyan College, a Christian liberal arts college founded in 1866, enrolls about 1,700 students. The college offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and degree completion programs, including online degrees in health administration, criminal justice, business, nursing, and teacher education.

Roberts Wesleyan College’s online offerings include bachelor degree completion programs in organizational management, health administration and nursing. Students with at least two years of professional experience and college credit can earn a bachelor’s degree in 21 months or less. The college’s online graduate programs include strategic leadership, healthcare informatics administration, nursing education, special education, and nursing leadership and administration. Online students can earn their master’s degree in 16 to 20 months. Roberts Wesleyan College also offers online certificate programs in nursing and health administration. The college’s online courses feature weekly assignments and group discussions with no set date or time for meetings.

Roberts Wesleyan College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

Roberts Wesleyan College is also featured in this article:

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5Mercy College, Mercy Online

(Dobbs Ferry, NY)

Mercy College, a four-year, private, non-profit, non-sectarian, liberal arts college founded in 1950, enrolls more than 8,000 students. Mercy College offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs, including more than 30 fully online degree and certificate programs.

Mercy College’s online undergraduate degree options include business administration, behavioral science, computer information systems, English, nursing and psychology. Students can pursue master’s degrees in bilingual education, business administration, counseling, and health services management. The College offers several areas of concentration for students in its business administration programs to help tailor the degree to fit their personal and career goals. The master’s degree in counseling includes a two-week summer residency. The college also offers an online advanced certificate in special education.

Online students also have access to an online learning center, academic advising, financial assistance and career services, and can access course materials any time of day.

Mercy College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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6SUNY Canton Online

(Canton, NY)

The State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton), a public, co-educational college founded in 1906, enrolls more than 3,500 students. The college offers a host of associate, bachelor and certificate programs as well as a handful of master’s degrees. Through SUNY Canton Online, the college allows students to choose from 10 online degree programs and enroll in more than 400 online courses.

SUNY Canton Online offers seven bachelor’s degree programs including emergency management, finance, legal studies and more. The college also offers 2+2 programs in veterinary service administration, nursing and dental hygiene.

Online students have access to resources including financial aid and an online bookstore.

The State University of New York at Canton is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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7St. Joseph’s College, SJC Online

(Patchogue, NY)

St. Joseph’s College, a private, co-educational, liberal arts university established in 1916, enrolls more than 5,000 students. The college offers more than 25 majors leading to a host of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including more than a dozen fully online degree and certificate options through SJC Online.

SJC Online offers bachelor’s degrees in organizational management, criminal justice practice and policy, general studies, health administration and human services. Students also can pursue master’s degrees in human services leadership as well as management with several concentration options such as human resources management. The college also offers dual degrees in organizational management/executive master’s of business administration and human services/human services leadership. Students can also complete a handful of certificate programs. Through its Prior Experiential Learning Assessment, the college also allows students to gain college credit for life experiences.

SJC Online students have access to library resources, technology support and academic advisers.

Online students receive the same degree as their on-campus counterparts. SJC Online’s courses follow an asynchronous format, allowing students to complete coursework on their schedule.

St. Joseph’s College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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8Utica College

(Utica, NY)

Utica College, a private university established in 1946, enrolls about 4,000 students. Utica College offers more than 50 programs leading to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees with online degrees and certificates in four program areas — economic crime prevention, healthcare, business management and cybersecurity.

Utica College offers online bachelor’s degrees in economic crime investigation, nursing and cybersecurity. Students can pursue online master’s degrees in financial crime and compliance management, fraud management, health care administration, cybersecurity, and cyber policy and risk analysis. Students also can complete a master’s degree in business administration with six specializations. Utica College enables students to earn a transitional doctor of physical therapy degree or complete a certificate in financial crimes investigator.

Utica College’s online programs allow students to access course materials any time of the day with no set class schedules, and online students receive the same degree as on-campus students.

Utica College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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9Excelsior College

(Albany, NY)

Excelsior College, a private, non-profit college founded in 1971, offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including six online program areas — business, liberal arts, health sciences, nursing, public service and technology. The college enrolls more than 36,000 students.

Excelsior College’s online undergraduate options include degrees in technical studies, administrative management, liberal arts, criminal justice, military studies, business and management, public health, and more. Online students also can pursue master’s degrees in cybersecurity, public administration, business administration, health sciences and more. The college also offers several specializations, allowing students to tailor their degree to their interests and career goals. Students also can complete a handful of dual bachelor/master’s degrees in business administration, health care management and engineering technology. Excelsior College also offers online certificate programs in cybersecurity management, health care informatics and nursing education. The college offers credit for military training and nursing licenses.

Online students have access to resources including career services and financial aid.

Excelsior College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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10Medaille College

(Buffalo, NY)

Medaille College, a private, nonsectarian, co-educational liberal arts college founded in 1937, enrolls more than 3,000 students. Medaille College offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including nearly a dozen fully online degree programs.

Medaille College’s fully online degree programs include associate’s degrees in business and general studies and bachelor’s degrees in health information management, business administration, information systems, general studies and homeland security. Online students can pursue a handful of master’s degrees in clinical health counseling, business administration, psychology and organizational leadership. Medaille College also offers an advanced certificate in clinical mental health counseling. Medaille College’s online courses follow a seven-week calendar with weekly deadlines.

Online students have access to a host of resources such as financial aid, library resources and career services.

Medaille College is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).

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11Russell Sage Online, The Sage Colleges

(Albany and Troy, New York)

The Sage Colleges, a private educational institution established in 1916, comprises three colleges — Sage College of Albany, Russell Sage College and Sage Graduate School. The school enrolls about 2,900 students. The Sage Colleges offer more than 70 bachelor, master and doctoral degrees, including eight fully online degrees through Russell Sage Online.

Russell Sage Online’s students can pursue bachelor’s degrees in business administration, information technology and cybersecurity, and accounting. Online students can complete master’s degrees in applied behavior analysis and autism, applied nutrition, health services administration, organizational management and business administration. Russell Sage Online also offers two online certification programs — cybersecurity and information technology. Russell Sage Online offers accelerated courses with flexible schedules.

Students have access to financial aid.

The Sage Colleges is regionally accredited by Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE).