Best Online Degree Completion Programs of 2025
Are you ready to discover your college program?
If you hold college credits or an associate degree, you may be able to finish your college education quickly and efficiently through an online bachelor’s degree completion program.
These degree programs feature generous transfer credit policies, flexible study options, and a short path to graduation.
The National Student Clearinghouse reports that as of July 2022, 36.8 million Americans had college credit but no degree. If that’s your story, a degree completion program may help you advance in your workplace, launch your dream career, or qualify for graduate or law school admission.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
10 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs
Northeastern University
Boston, MA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$59,100
- Out-of-state$59,100
- In-State$26,715
- Out-of-state$26,715
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate6%
- Students Enrolled38,760
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
New York University
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$55,384
- Out-of-state$55,384
- In-State$37,332
- Out-of-state$37,332
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate9%
- Students Enrolled57,335
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Adams State University
- Alamosa, CO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,072
- Out-of-state$15,120
- In-State$7,704
- Out-of-state$10,440
- Retention Rate56%
- Acceptance Rate31%
- Students Enrolled3,141
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
Northeastern State University
- Tahlequah, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,623
- Out-of-state$15,743
- In-State$4,802
- Out-of-state$10,697
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled6,409
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
- Okmulgee, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,574
- Out-of-state$10,184
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate57%
- Students Enrolled2,357
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment83%
- AccreditationYes
Boston University
- Boston, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$61,050
- Out-of-state$61,050
- In-State$61,050
- Out-of-state$61,050
- Retention Rate95%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled36,624
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
Florida International University
- Miami, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,168
- Out-of-state$18,566
- In-State$911
- Out-of-state$2,003
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate59%
- Students Enrolled54,085
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
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
California State University-Long Beach
- Long Beach, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$16,038
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate47%
- Students Enrolled38,190
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Edinburg, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,857
- Out-of-state$20,097
- In-State$7,002
- Out-of-state$14,562
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled31,559
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
What Is a Degree Completion Program?
| Factor | Degree Completion Program | Traditional Degree Program |
|---|---|---|
| Average Length of Time to Complete | One to two years, depending on the number of transfer credits you have | Four years |
| Transfer Credits Required for Admission? | Yes | No |
| Number of Transfer Credits Required for Admission | 30-90 (number varies by school and program) | None |
| Total Credits Required to Earn Bachelor’s Degree | 120 | 120 |
| Degree Earned Upon Graduation | Bachelor’s degree | Bachelor’s degree |
Degree completion programs are designed to help students with college credits finish their bachelor’s degree programs. Most degree completion programs accept 60 to 90 credits toward the degree, allowing you to finish a bachelor’s degree program in one to two years.
Depending on the program, you may pursue a specific major like English, economics, or psychology. Some programs offer broader options, such as a general studies degree.
Many degree completion programs allow you to complete the degree program online, offering greater flexibility. Many also offer part-time or accelerated options to fit your schedule and professional goals.
How Does a Degree Completion Program Work?
Degree completion programs admit students with prior college experience. You’ll receive transfer credit for previous courses you finished at other schools. You’ll then take the courses required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
While many online colleges offer degree completion programs, you can also earn your degree with any bachelor’s program that accepts transfer credits. You’ll submit transcripts for a transfer credit evaluation to determine how many credits you’ll need to graduate.
The Benefits of Pursuing a Degree Completion Program
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 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics marks a difference of over $40,000 a year between the annual salary of a person with a bachelor’s degree and a person who holds a high school diploma.
Removing Barriers to Earn a Degree
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that as of 2021, 64% of undergraduate students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years, meaning 36% did not complete their bachelor’s program. Some students leave college because of work or family obligations, while others face financial barriers. A degree completion program can help these students use prior college credits to earn their degrees.
Why You Should Finish Your Degree Online:
- Complete the degree on your schedule.
- Reduce the total costs of your bachelor’s degree by earning your degree faster.
- Use previously earned credits to advance your career.
- Learn from anywhere on a flexible schedule.
- Increase your earning potential after graduation.
Who Should Consider an Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program?
If you have credits from a previously unfinished degree or you have an associate degree, an online bachelor’s degree completion program may be a great fit for you. Many online degree completion programs let you complete coursework and assignments on your own schedule, making them especially appealing if you have work and family obligations.
Online degree completion programs can also help you save money. By pursuing a bachelor’s degree online, you can compare schools nationwide to find the most affordable option. If you attend an accredited degree completion program, you’ll also qualify for federal financial aid opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Degree Completion Programs
Accelerated degree programs allow students to graduate sooner by taking a higher course load or taking courses year-round. Unlike degree completion programs, accelerated programs typically do not require you to hold and transfer previously earned credits.
Some accelerated degree programs also combine a bachelor’s and master’s degree, allowing you to earn both credentials in around five years. In contrast, a degree completion program allows you to transfer previously earned college credits or to utilize an associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree faster.
