Most Popular Online Colleges
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Are you ready to discover your college program?
Advances in online learning bring the college classroom to you. Online students can learn from highly qualified professors and receive the same rigorous education as on-campus students. Many of the country’s top schools offer a catalog of online degrees and programs.
You’ll find yourself in good company if you choose to earn a degree online — about 15% of all college students learn this way, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
The best online universities will provide the same high-quality education as traditional colleges, with affordable tuition, academic support, and career services.
Featured Online Colleges
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Most Popular Online Colleges
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,000
- Out-of-state$15,000
- In-State$18,900
- Out-of-state$18,900
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled145,533
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Adelphi, MD
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,344
- Out-of-state$11,976
- In-State$9,072
- Out-of-state$11,862
- Retention Rate52%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled55,323
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment93%
- AccreditationYes
The Pennsylvania State University
- University Park, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,400
- Out-of-state$25,084
- In-State$23,189
- Out-of-state$39,248
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled88,914
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Purdue University Global
- West Lafayette, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$13,356
- In-State$8,730
- Out-of-state$9,700
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled43,458
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,721
- Out-of-state$16,529
- In-State$8,912
- Out-of-state$21,393
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled56,664
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,477
- Out-of-state$25,694
- In-State$10,770
- Out-of-state$27,335
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate30%
- Students Enrolled55,781
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
George Mason University
- Fairfax, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,510
- Out-of-state$32,970
- In-State$13,035
- Out-of-state$34,347
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled38,628
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Kennesaw State University
- Kennesaw, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,450
- Out-of-state$15,704
- In-State$5,238
- Out-of-state$19,188
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled42,899
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri
- Columbia, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,017
- Out-of-state$28,992
- In-State$9,950
- Out-of-state$27,245
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled31,401
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Florida Atlantic University
- Boca Raton, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,522
- Out-of-state$14,374
- In-State$5,467
- Out-of-state$16,695
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled30,155
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
How We Chose These Schools
At TheBestSchools, we pride ourselves on our proprietary ranking methodology to help prospective students like you find the best fit. Our ranking system uses official government data to present schools without bias, taking into account key factors like academic quality, online offerings, and affordability.
For this page, we’ve ranked colleges by their online enrollment numbers. Learn more about how our formula works on our ranking methodology page.
Pros and Cons of Online College
The most popular online colleges feature a wide variety of accredited degrees, certificates, and classes for you to choose from. Other advantages may include the ability to take classes asynchronously, meaning you can take classes and watch lectures at your own time — a plus if you work while in school.
However, even popular online schools may not offer everything you need for academic and career success. Review these pros and cons closely to find out which learning style meets your needs.
Pros of Online College
You can attend a great school from anywhere.- Online programs prepare you for a career by offering the same academic quality as on-campus programs.
- Online students qualify for the same financial aid programs, such as scholarships and grants.
- The flexibility allows you to schedule school around your job, family, or other responsibilities.
Cons of Online College
You may learn better in an in-person environment surrounded by like-minded peers.- Professors may take longer to respond to questions and concerns than if you learned on campus.
- Some popular online degrees cost as much as if you earned the degree in person.
- Learning at home requires discipline and an ability to self-study.
How to Choose an Online College: 5 Tips
The best online college for you will vary depending on your educational goals, budget, and preferences. Use these five tips to help you choose the right online college.
1. Define Your Goals
You need to define your academic and career goals before researching online colleges. Consult with friends, family, coworkers, and mentors to find out which path works best for you.
Do you want to increase your expertise? Advance to a higher position? Quality for a higher salary? All of these goals can influence the school you choose.
2. Choose Your Degree
Knowing your career goals makes choosing a degree a straightforward process. Your goal may require an advanced degree, such as a master’s or doctorate. Fortunately, many popular online universities offer graduate degrees.
Understanding the degree you’d like to pursue, the subjects you want to specialize in, and how long you’d like to be in school will all influence which online college is best for you.
3. Look for Accreditation
The best online colleges hold legitimate accreditation from one or more independent agencies. You can check a school’s accreditation status by visiting the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website. Its free database offers detailed information about thousands of U.S. colleges and universities.
Accreditation is essential for applying to graduate programs, earning employment, and qualifying for professional licensures.
4. Set a Budget
Many factors make up your total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, textbooks, and other education-related expenses. You may also qualify for scholarships or grants. Create a budget with this information so you can determine how much you can contribute toward your education annually.
Fortunately, many online programs offer cost savings compared to on-campus degrees. You can learn more about these discounts on school websites.
5. Talk With Representatives and Alumni
The most popular online colleges produce satisfied alumni and employ qualified faculty. Reach out to alumni and staff to learn more about the school’s educational opportunities, culture, and career-planning resources.
You may find that a school on your shortlist does not offer what you need for academic and career success.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online College
Employers and other universities respect online degrees as long as the school issuing them holds proper accreditation. Accreditation acts as a seal of approval, showing that a school’s academic requirements result in a quality education. An online degree from an unaccredited school may not prepare you adequately for a job or graduate education.
Check with the Department of Education or CHEA to find the latest accreditation information for all schools on your shortlist.
Properly accredited online colleges require the same rigorous academic experience on-campus students receive. Expect to complete identical coursework and meet the same expectations as traditional on-campus programs.
Although the most popular online colleges expect the best from their learners, the convenience of online learning may make earning a degree easier. Asynchronous programs let you complete coursework around your busy schedule. Other advantages may include 24/7 access to student services.
Enrolling over 76,000 online degree-seekers, the University of Phoenix ranks as the largest online school in the United States. This figure does not include the many learners enrolled in certificate programs or individual online classes.
Consider more than a school’s size before enrolling. Figuring out your short- and long-term goals can help you identify the majors and student support services you need for academic success.
Some popular online colleges let you earn an associate degree in just one year. You can also graduate sooner than your peers if you have transfer credit. Transfer advisors can help you plan the easiest path to graduation.
An online degree can feel easier if you feel passionate about the subject or already hold some background knowledge. Try to find a major aligning with your interests and career goals.
Harvard University’s Extension School offers online classes, certificates, and degrees. You can enroll in the fully online bachelor’s-completion program if you hold an associate degree or at least 64 transferable credits. Some of the university’s 23 online graduate degrees include American literature, biotechnology, and business economics.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by TheBestSchools. Page last reviewed January 30, 2023.
