Best Online Colleges of 2025

For many students, online college makes getting a degree more accessible and affordable. With flexible scheduling and little travel, you can earn an online bachelor’s degree without disrupting your work and home life. Moreover, a bachelor’s degree opens the door to higher-paying jobs.

On this page, we look at the top online university rankings and the most popular degrees available. We also explore how you might pay for college and highlight some of the differences between online and on-campus studies.

With so many options at your fingertips, picking the right online bachelor’s program can be difficult. To help guide you, here are some of the most popular online degrees.

Online accounting degrees prepare you for careers in business, finance, and accounting. You’ll study the principles of financial accounting and auditing, plus the accounting information systems that many professionals use.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for accountants and auditors was $79,880 as of May 2023.

Online business degree programs cover a lot of ground, including coursework in accounting, economics, management, and finance. With a business degree, you can work in various entrepreneurial careers, along with roles in the healthcare and information technology sectors.

Per the BLS, in May 2023, business and financial occupations earned a median annual salary of $79,050.

In an online computer science degree program, you’ll gain a foundation in computation and computer systems. You’ll acquire the skills necessary to pursue careers in computer support, networking, information security, and web development.

Earning a degree in computer science can lead to some of the top-paying careers in tech. For example, the BLS reports that software developers earned a median annual salary of $132,270 in May 2023.

An online criminal justice degree program equips you with knowledge of the law and the criminal justice system. You’ll also acquire leadership skills that you can apply to many personally and financially rewarding public safety careers.

For example, in May 2023, police officers and detectives earned a median annual salary of $74,910, according to the BLS.

An online education degree program prepares you for a career in the education system, such as being a teacher or education administrator. You’ll learn about child development, teaching strategies, and how the school system operates.

The BLS reports that in May 2023, educational instruction and library occupations earned a median annual salary of $59,940.

Earning an online finance degree positions you to help people and organizations manage their money more effectively. You’ll study topics like taxation, financial and investment management, and personal and corporate finance.

Finance professionals earn some of the highest wages in the business sector, such as financial analysts, who, as of May 2023, earned a median annual salary of $99,890, according to the BLS.

Professionals with online IT degrees provide computer support and solutions to people and organizations. IT programs teach you to tackle technical challenges using skills in programming, networking, security, and emerging technologies.

According to the BLS, in May 2023, computer and information technology occupations earned a median annual salary of $104,420.

With an online legal studies degree, you can pursue many law-related careers, including paralegal, court reporter, and arbitrator. Your studies will familiarize you with the court and legal system.

You’ll also enjoy competitive salaries in this field, as the BLS reports that legal occupations earned a median annual salary of $99,220 as of May 2023.

Nursing degree programs cover healthcare fundamentals, nursing informatics, and community health, plus clinical training. While your online bachelor’s in nursing can lead to various healthcare roles, the most direct path leads to a career as a registered nurse (RN).

According to the BLS, in May 2023, RNs earned a median annual salary of $86,070.

In a psychology program, you’ll study human development and behavior, counseling, and psychological science. With an online psychology degree, you can access many counseling and social service careers.

The BLS reports that in May 2023, community and social service professionals earned a median annual salary of $52,000.

Attending college on campus usually means you have to attend in-person lectures and classes to complete your coursework. Classes are held on specific days at specific times, and attendance is generally required.

Online colleges usually include prerecorded lectures that you can view at a time that’s convenient for you. Courses are available either at a specific time or any time of your choosing — in other words, synchronously or asynchronously.

Compared to on-campus studies, online degree programs feature considerably less travel. As such, you should expect a less traditional classroom environment. This might include a more independent learning experience with less interaction with instructors and peers. Online programs can also be cheaper than their on-campus counterparts. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), in 2020, tuition rates for online bachelor’s programs were lower, on average, than in-person programs.

Online college costs typically run lower than on-campus programs, but you should still expect to pay a considerable amount for your online degree. How exactly can you pay for online college?

Like on-campus programs, you can pay for your online education through scholarships, grants, and student loans. In fact, many online students qualify for the same financial aid opportunities as traditional students, including federal financial aid. You can also find scholarships and grants through your school.