Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Updated September 7, 2023
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Over 40 million Americans have some college credits but no degree, according to 2021 data from National Student Clearinghouse. Finishing your degree can mean more job opportunities and a higher salary. And online degree completion programs make it easier to graduate.
You can save time and money by transferring credits to an online college. Some degree completion programs take as little as 12 months. Ready to get started? Learn more about the best online degree completion programs to finish your degree.
Featured Online Bachelor's Programs
What Are Degree Completion Programs?
Degree-completion programs allow students with college credits to finish their bachelor's degree. During the program, you may complete coursework in a variety of disciplines, including business, the social sciences, the humanities, and the natural sciences.
Most degree-completion programs accept 60-75 credits toward the degree, meaning you can finish a bachelor's degree in 1-2 years. Depending on the program, you may pursue a specific major like English, economics, or psychology. Some programs offer more general options, like a general studies degree.
Many learners prefer online degree-completion programs for the flexible schedule they provide. During an online bachelor's degree, you can often meet graduation requirements at your own pace. Many programs offer part-time or accelerated options to fit your specific needs.
The Best Online Programs to Complete Your Bachelor's Degree
To determine the best online degree completion programs, we considered several factors, including school reputation, accreditation status, the number of programs offered, and transfer credit policies. We also looked at per-credit tuition rates and admission requirements.
Note that the schools below may not specify their bachelor's programs as degree completion programs, but all of them accept transfer credits toward select bachelor’s degree.
These rankings include
#1 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Boston University
Boston, MA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Complete your bachelor’s degree by taking 12 online courses with Boston University’s online degree completion program. Transfer up to 80 credits and then take courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The program strengthens analytical and creative skills.
The flexible curriculum leads to a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies. You’ll graduate with a strong liberal arts foundation and in-demand abilities. Contact an enrollment advisor to get started. You’ll need at least 40 transfer credits to join the program.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $520
- Completion Time: 15-36 months
#2 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ - 4 years
- Online
ASU offers over 150 online majors. And the public university has pathways for students returning to college to finish a degree. Choose from degree completion options in general studies, interdisciplinary studies, or organizational leadership. Or see how many of your credits transfer toward a different major.
Want the fastest route to graduation? ASU’s interdisciplinary studies and liberal studies programs accept up to 90 transfer credits, which is higher than the cap for other majors.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: Varies by program
- Completion Time: 1-2 years
#3 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Finish your bachelor’s degree online at OSU. The multidisciplinary studies degree completion program lets you individualize your coursework. Or choose from over a dozen other online degrees, depending on your interests and career goals. You’ll join a student body of over 35,000 studying online and in-person.
If you’ve got at least 60 credits or an associate degree, you’ll qualify for admission with a minimum 2.0 GPA. As a public institution, OSU offers a major tuition discount for Oklahoma residents.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $181 for Oklahoma residents; $695 for non-residents
- Completion Time: 1-3 years
#4 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus
University Park, PA - 4 years
- Campus
Earn the same Penn State diploma as on-campus students while finishing your bachelor’s degree online. You can choose from over 40 online bachelor’s degrees, including unique majors like enterprise technology integration and turfgrass science. Or choose the multidisciplinary studies major to customize your degree.
Penn State does not limit your number of transfer credits, so you can maximize your prior education. You’ll need to earn at least 36 credits from Penn State to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $671
- Completion Time: 1-2 years
#5 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL - 4 years
- Online
Finish your bachelor’s degree by choosing a fully online program at the University of Florida. The public institution offers 24 online majors in fields like advertising, criminology, health education, and sports management. It’s also one of the most affordable options if you live in Florida.
UF offers a pathway for upper-division transfer students. If you have 60 or more transfer credits, you’ll need a minimum 2.0 GPA for admissions.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $129 for Florida Residents; $553 for non-residents
- Completion Time: 1-3 years
#6 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Choose from dozens of online degrees offered by Oregon State. The public university is an affordable option to finish your degree, and the generous transfer credit policy means you’ll graduate faster. You can major in business, the social sciences, or the humanities. Or choose a unique major like sustainability or kinesiology.
Use the transfer course search tool to see how many credits you can apply toward your Oregon State degree. If you graduated from a West Coast community college, you can most likely transfer your associate degree.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $350
- Completion Time: 1-3 years
#7 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
CUNY City College
New York, NY - 4 years
- Campus
The City University of New York is known for high-quality, affordable programs. And CUNY offers programs for adult learners, including online degree completion programs. You can transfer academic credits and receive credit for work experience.
Design your own degree with the interdisciplinary studies option, or finish your degree with a program through the School of Professional Studies. Many of the CUNY schools offer options, so reach out to the university for more information.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $305 for New York residents; $350 for non-residents
- Completion Time: 1-2 years
#8 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Take classes from any Indiana University campus while finishing a bachelor’s degree online. The IU online programs prioritize flexibility and quality, with courses taught by on-campus faculty. You’ll also graduate with an IU diploma. You can study accounting, computer science, or communications. Or, you can choose a unique major like artificial intelligence.
Transfer up to 90 credits earned at a four-year university toward your bachelor’s degree or up to 64 credits from a community college. Use the IU Credit Explorer to see how many of your credits will transfer.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $250-$390 depending on the program and residency status
- Completion Time: 1-3 years
#9 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO - 4 years
- Online + Campus
The University of Missouri system has a strong reputation. As a transfer student, you can finish a bachelor’s degree online with multiple options for your major. You can study business administration, educational leadership, health science, information technology, or psychology. You can also customize your major with an interdisciplinary studies degree.
Mizzou incorporates career-building opportunities into its online programs. And the same professors develop the online and on-campus programs. You’ll need to earn a minimum of 30 credits at Mizzou to graduate.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: Varies by program
- Completion Time: 1-3 years
#10 Best Online Degree-Completion Programs
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Customize a plan to finish your degree with the degree completion programs at the University of Arizona. You can transfer up to 75 credits toward an interdisciplinary studies or applied humanities degree. After submitting your transcript, you’ll create an individualized graduation plan.
Choose from concentrations in science and technology, media and entertainment, or social behavior. You can also pursue business administration, fashion studies, or public health. Outside of the degree completion path, transfer students can choose from dozens of other online bachelor’s programs.
Fast Facts:
- Cost per Credit: $500-$600
- Completion Time: As fast as 18 months
Who Should Consider an Online Bachelor's Degree Completion Program?
If you have credits from a previously unfinished degree, an online degree completion program may be a great fit for you. These online programs may be especially appealing if you have work and family obligations. Many online degree-completion programs let you complete coursework and assignments on your own schedule.
Online degree completion programs can also help you save money. By choosing to pursue a bachelor's degree online, you can compare schools across the country to find the most affordable option. If you're attending an accredited degree-completion program, you also qualify for federal financial aid opportunities.
Featured Online Bachelor's Programs
The Benefits of Pursuing a Degree Completion Program Online
A bachelor's degree can help you advance your career and increase your earning potential. Many career paths require a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions, and professionals with a bachelor's degree earn over $30,000 more per year than those with only a high school diploma.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 60% of undergraduate students earn their bachelor's degree within six years, meaning 40% of students do not complete their bachelor's degree. Some students leave college because of work or family obligations, while others face financial barriers.
Online degree completion programs offer flexibility and accessibility. The flexibility of an online learning format lets you arrange coursework around professional and personal responsibilities.
Additionally, online learning allows you to choose from programs throughout the country without needing to relocate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Degree Completion Programs
What is the difference between a bachelor's program and a bachelor's degree completion program?
Both a bachelor’s program and a bachelor’s degree completion program lead to a college degree. But degree completion programs admit students with prior college credits. In a degree completion program, you’ll create an individualized graduation plan based on your transfer credits.
Depending on your prior coursework, you can earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one year. Most online colleges accept transfer credits, so you can turn any bachelor’s program into a degree completion option by transferring credits.
How does a degree completion program work?
Degree completion programs admit students with prior college experience. You’ll receive transfer credit for previous courses at other schools. Then, you’ll take the courses required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
While many online colleges offer degree completion programs, you can also finish your degree with any bachelor’s program that accepts transfer credits. Submit transcripts for a transfer credit evaluation to learn how many credits you’ll need to graduate.
How do I find an online degree completion program?
You can find online degree completion programs by visiting college websites. Many online colleges offer degree completion programs or pathways for returning students.
You can also reach out to colleges to see whether your transfer credits apply to other majors. If, for example, you have an associate degree in liberal arts but want to earn a business degree, you might be able to apply your transfer credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in two years.
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