Best Online Colleges to Start Anytime of 2025
Are you ready to discover your college program?
There’s a lot to consider when you apply for college. Should you enroll online or attend in person? How much can you reasonably afford to pay for school right now? When do you need to apply to start the following semester?
Online colleges that start anytime help you check that last question off your list. These schools have flexible start dates — often monthly or quarterly — so you have more control over when you can apply and begin coursework. For example, schools with monthly start dates may let you apply in January to start your first class in February.
Schools design their online programs for flexibility, and open enrollment is another way they give students more wiggle room to create their ideal educational environment. Explore this guide to learn what to expect from online colleges with start-anytime programs.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
10 Best Online Colleges You Can Start Today
University of Maryland Global Campus
Adelphi, MD- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,488
- Out-of-state$11,976
- In-State$9,252
- Out-of-state$11,862
- Retention Rate43%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled55,838
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Purdue Global
- West Lafayette, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$13,356
- In-State$9,472
- Out-of-state$10,524
- Retention Rate17%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled45,125
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
University of Arizona Global Campus
- Chandler, AZ
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$12,240
- Out-of-state$12,240
- In-State$12,645
- Out-of-state$12,645
- Retention Rate30%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled34,190
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-Chico
- Chico, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled13,999
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment72%
- AccreditationYes
National University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,320
- Out-of-state$13,320
- In-State$15,912
- Out-of-state$15,912
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled18,631
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Weber State University
- Ogden, UT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,471
- Out-of-state$16,164
- In-State$8,089
- Out-of-state$17,923
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled30,536
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Charter Oak State College
- New Britain, CT
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,656
- Out-of-state$10,056
- In-State$9,288
- Out-of-state$9,720
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,602
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Bellevue University
- Bellevue, NE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,040
- Out-of-state$8,040
- In-State$11,340
- Out-of-state$11,340
- Retention Rate51%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled13,841
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment96%
- AccreditationYes
Wilmington University
- New Castle, DE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,970
- Out-of-state$11,970
- In-State$9,216
- Out-of-state$9,216
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled14,020
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment88%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Dakota
- Grand Forks, ND
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,237
- Out-of-state$13,856
- In-State$11,963
- Out-of-state$17,944
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled14,172
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Reality Check: Are Online Degrees Respected?
Yes, accredited online degrees are widely respected by employers. You’ll often take the same courses as on-campus students, and your diploma won’t specify that you earned your degree online. However, accreditation is crucial to ensure the quality of your education.
4 Benefits of Open Enrollment and Flexible Start Dates
Imagine finding the college program of your dreams, only to find out that the deadline has passed to enroll for the fall semester. You’ll now need to wait to apply until enrollment opens for the spring semester — or possibly the following fall.
An online college with start-anytime programs offers more start dates throughout the year, allowing you to apply and begin when you’re ready. Many of these colleges also offer open enrollment, creating a simpler and more accessible application process.
Below are a few top benefits of online colleges with start-anytime programs.
1. Start Your Degree When It Works Best for You
Are you ready to attend college now and dive into your career faster? Start-anytime programs allow you to enroll outside of the traditional semester or quarter system to begin your degree on your own time.
2. Start Fresh
Many online colleges that allow you to start at any time maintain open enrollment policies and only require a high school diploma or GED for admission. Without selective criteria, you can start fresh without being weighed down by your past GPA or standardized test scores.
3. More Time to Finalize Financial Aid
A start-anytime college can give you time to budget for your degree or wait for your financial aid determination.
For example, say you apply in July to start the fall semester in August, but your school can only finalize your financial aid package in September. A program with monthly start dates lets you begin in September or October after receiving your financial aid instead of waiting until the spring semester to enroll.
4. Shorter Course Lengths
Although not always the case, programs with flexible start dates often have shorter term lengths than traditional semester-based courses, with classes often running just 4-8 weeks.
How Online College Works: Understanding Schedule and Class Structures
If you’re wondering when online classes start, you’re in luck — most online colleges offer flexible start dates. However, they do so within a clear scheduling structure. Some online schools use a traditional semester system, while others use trimester or quarter systems.
You can typically begin taking online courses at the start of any term. However, schools without start-anytime programs may require you to start in the fall. Online colleges with start-anytime programs offer several flexible options, such as monthly start dates and self-paced programs.
Multiple Start Dates
Many online college courses offer multiple start dates. Individual departments or programs usually set these dates at various times during the academic year. Accelerated degree programs often use these start dates to accommodate the varying needs of busy learners, but some traditional and self-paced classes also offer them.
Online colleges with weekly start dates are rare — they are usually only offered for certificate or vocational programs. It’s more common to see monthly or quarterly start dates for degree programs.
Self-Paced Programs
Self-paced programs let you move through your coursework on your own schedule. Although there’s usually a completion deadline for each course or program, it’s up to you how quickly you finish. You’ll have 24-7 access to your assignments, so you have complete control over when you study and flexibility to work around other obligations.
Course Structure
Online colleges that start anytime may offer synchronous or asynchronous courses. While asynchronous classes usually work best for learners with busy schedules, synchronous classes are often a better fit for students who want more structure.
Synchronous Courses
- Requires scheduled online live attendance, much like an in-person class
- Offers the ability to interact with your instructor and ask them questions in real time
- Provides the opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow students outside of scheduled classes
- Is a good choice for students who excel in a structured learning environment
Asynchronous Courses
- Provides self-paced learning through prerecorded lectures and assigned reading materials
- Offers little interaction between you and the teacher
- Allows you to participate in discussion boards and schedule group work when convenient
- Is the ideal learning format for working students or those with busy schedules
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Schools With Open Enrollment
Bellevue University is the cheapest online college with open enrollment on our ranking list. Bellevue charges the same tuition rate for both in-state and out-of-state students, at around $8,040 per academic year.
Other affordable schools on our list include California State University-Chico and Weber State University. California residents can access Chico State’s competitive in-state tuition rate of $5,742 per year, and Oregon residents can access an in-state tuition rate of $5,471 at WSU.
Residents of certain states can also access exchange programs to get lower tuition. For example, the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program gives residents of over a dozen Western states a lower tuition rate at many universities in the participating states.
