Rating of online degree programs

All the colleges on our Optimal Choice list offer low tuition, high alumni salaries, and a wide range of online bachelor's degrees. We have manually researched tuitions at every college to provide accurate, up-to-date information for over programs. Want to know what students and graduates really think about a college? Learn which schools are worth it, which degrees actually lead to great careers, and what students wish they had known before choosing their college. Interested in online education but not sure where to start?

We have guides on financial aid, accreditation, and where to even begin as a new online student. We also have an online magazine where we publish expert editorials and up-to-date news. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know to prepare for the online learning experience, from the types of classes you can take to transferring credits.

This guide to financial aid will give you an overview of different types of aid available, direct you to helpful scholarship and loan sites, and answer your most important financial aid related questions.

This guide will explain what accreditation is, why it matters, what the different types mean, and how you can be sure that your school has this important stamp of approval.

Local colleges provide a lot of great benefits for online students including discounted tuition, relationships with local employers, and an accessible campus where students can talk to school representatives in person if needed. We have scholarships for online students, community college students, and undergraduate students. Richard Vedder, distinguished higher education change advocate, serves as a board advisor for OnlineU, advising on content and contributing editorials.

As an advisor, he supports Optimal's core mission of adding data-driven information to the higher education space and setting students up for career success. Views and opinions expressed in board advisor's writing are their own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Optimal. Search results include only our partner colleges, which are marked with the word "Ad. Optimal Choice Online Colleges We researched over 1, online schools to highlight the ones that provide students with the best value for their tuition dollars.

Master in Education - Educational Leadership. Potential Benefits Online classes work around your lifestyle and provide more options. Having the ability to attend classes on your own schedule is ideal if you work full time, have family obligations, or time constraints that make it challenging to attend traditional classes. With a wider selection of programs, you're more likely to find the best program to fit your career goals and budget without having to move to a different location.

An online bachelor's degree could significantly increase your lifetime earning potential. Online degrees are becoming widely accepted in the workplace, which means that getting a college education online will likely lead to the benefits of earning a degree in general, including access to higher-level, better-paying jobs.

This average salary is based on earnings from 48, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Aerospace Engineering. This average salary is based on earnings from 3, bachelor's graduates at 60 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 6, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 7, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 9, graduates of all degree levels at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 3, bachelor's graduates at 96 colleges. Art History. This average salary is based on earnings from 24, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 3, bachelor's graduates at 56 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 71, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from , bachelor's graduates at 1, colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from certificate graduates at 6 colleges. Chemical Engineering. This average salary is based on earnings from 9, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Child Development. This average salary is based on earnings from 13, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Christian Counseling. This average salary is based on earnings from 1, graduates of all degree levels at 61 colleges.

Civil Engineering. This average salary is based on earnings from 73, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Computer Engineering.

This average salary is based on earnings from 50, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Conflict Resolution. This average salary is based on earnings from master's graduates at 23 colleges. Construction Management. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 56 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 48 colleges.

Counseling Psychology. This average salary is based on earnings from 18, master's graduates at colleges. Creative Writing. This average salary is based on earnings from 8, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 63, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 1, bachelor's graduates at 49 colleges. Data Science. Not reported. Dental Assistant. This average salary is based on earnings from 16, certificate graduates at colleges.

Dental Hygiene. This average salary is based on earnings from 3, bachelor's graduates at 71 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 7, doctoral graduates at colleges. Early Childhood Education. This average salary is based on earnings from 53, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 26, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

Educational Leadership. This average salary is based on earnings from 6, doctoral graduates at colleges. Electrical Engineering. This average salary is based on earnings from 14, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Elementary Education. Emergency Management. This average salary is based on earnings from 1, bachelor's graduates at 33 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 10, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

Engineering Management. This average salary is based on earnings from 1, master's graduates at 47 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 30, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Environmental Science. This average salary is based on earnings from 17, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 36 certificate graduates at 1 colleges.

Exercise Science. This average salary is based on earnings from 35, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 55 colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 37, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Fire Science. This average salary is based on earnings from 1, bachelor's graduates at 24 colleges. Forensic Accounting.

Forensic Psychology. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 62 colleges. Forensic Science. Geographic Information Systems. This average salary is based on earnings from 4, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Graphic Design. This average salary is based on earnings from 20, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Health Education. This average salary is based on earnings from 11, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 19, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

Healthcare Informatics. This average salary is based on earnings from master's graduates at 26 colleges. Healthcare Management. Holistic Medicine. This average salary is based on earnings from 5, graduates of all degree levels at 70 colleges. Homeland Security. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 51 colleges.

Hospitality Management. This average salary is based on earnings from 12, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Human Resources. Human Services. This average salary is based on earnings from 23, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 8, certificate graduates at colleges. Industrial Engineering. This average salary is based on earnings from 4, bachelor's graduates at 85 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 4, bachelor's graduates at 75 colleges.

Interior Design. This average salary is based on earnings from bachelor's graduates at 8 colleges. Landscape Design. This average salary is based on earnings from graduates of all degree levels at 47 colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 51, graduates of all degree levels at colleges. Law Enforcement. Legal Nurse Consulting. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, certificate graduates at 49 colleges. Library Science. This average salary is based on earnings from 81 bachelor's graduates at 3 colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 47, bachelor's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from , master's graduates at colleges. Mechanical Engineering. Medical Assistant. This average salary is based on earnings from 97, graduates of all degree levels at colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 24, certificate graduates at colleges. Medical Office Administration. This average salary is based on earnings from 82, graduates of all degree levels at 1, colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, master's graduates at 99 colleges. Network Administration. Nurse Practitioner NP. This average salary is based on earnings from 55, master's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from , bachelor's graduates at colleges.

Occupational Safety. Occupational Therapy. This average salary is based on earnings from 15, doctoral graduates at colleges. Organizational Leadership. This average salary is based on earnings from certificate graduates at 38 colleges.

Personal Training. This average salary is based on earnings from 45, graduates of all degree levels at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 22, doctoral graduates at colleges. Pharmacy Technician. This average salary is based on earnings from 62, certificate graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 3, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

This average salary is based on earnings from 3, certificate graduates at colleges. Physical Education. Physical Therapy. Physician Assistant. This average salary is based on earnings from 12, master's graduates at colleges. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at colleges. Political Science. This average salary is based on earnings from 29, bachelor's graduates at colleges.

Project Management. Public Administration. This average salary is based on earnings from 2, bachelor's graduates at 61 colleges. Distance students have access to an online management system, library resources, career opportunity services, and an online registration program. UF is known for its large research program and is recognized by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for their scholarly research efforts.

FSU is proud to provide nationally renowned faculty members and academic programs. As an accredited university, FSU students, whether online or on campus, are given the maximum attention for success through high standards, quality assurance, and continuous improvement to make courses better and better. Missouri offers more than 90 online degrees and certificate programs including nine various bachelor degree programs such as Hospitality Management, Educational Studies, Health Sciences, and Radiography.

Some programs require students to participate on campus for tests or hands-on learning. Online classes are taught by the same on-campus faculty. Semesters range from eight to sixteen weeks depending on the course offered, but all online classes are self-paced. Missouri uses three different course management systems including Blackboard, Moodle, and Sakai to allow students easy access to their classes. Oregon State University is a place of purpose; making a difference in the quality of life, natural resources, prosperity, and more!

Oregon State University is a regionally accredited school with online courses taught through the same requirements for reading, research, and examinations as on-campus courses. Most programs are offered on an accelerated paced schedule. Upon admission, many students can meet with an assigned advisor who will help create a graduation plan so students can finish as soon as possible.

At Oklahoma, all online programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and designed to accommodate working individuals. Utah State University has been offering distance education for over 90 years; they now provide complete online degree programs, and individual classes for those not looking to earn a full degree.

Mississippi State University is ideal for graduate students; they offer 25 varying masters and doctoral degrees. This online university also offers four undergraduate degrees including the only online Elementary Education program in the state.

The University recognizes up to 61 credits for students transferring from another accredited university. The online courses are organized through Blackboard, an online systemization program. Alabama is one of the best online universities because students have access to the career resource center, the writing lab, and scholarships. Students are required to arrange a proctor at a UA approved testing location.

Some courses are also offered through video conferencing. Classes are offered every four weeks, and several specialization courses are offered to allow students to customize their learning. There are no set start times for classes, giving students plenty of flexibility in their schedule. This online university also works with students to transfer as many credits from previous accredited universities as possible.

At Old Dominion University, they create and provide classes for you, the student. Liberty University is a private Christian school with classes taught through a Christian worldview. There are more than online programs available through Liberty University including certificate, associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs.

Over 95, students around the globe are able to delve into the education Liberty University and enjoy the same quality education as those that visit campus each day.

If you cannot be on campus, however, online students receive the same perks of meeting with counselors, and other on-campus services, over the internet. NAU offers several bachelor degree programs including Business, Hospitality and Engineering, and several more.

The asynchronous online platform offers students great flexibility in their schedule at this online university. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognizes the university for their high research activity and also holds accreditation from the Northern Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

A member of the University System of Ohio, the University of Cincinnati offers more than 70 online degree and certificate programs. Several online undergraduate degrees include early childhood education, radiation science technology, criminal justice, and substance abuse counseling, among others. Several general education courses and online certificate programs are also available.

Online students have access to an online orientation, academic advising, library resources and tutoring. Boston University is a non-profit organization offering programs across 18 different colleges and schools. This online university is known for having one of the largest cooperative programs that prepare students for careers post-graduation. This system provides students the opportunity to build a large network of colleagues and contacts.

Drexel also offers various study abroad opportunities that are available to online students. Arizona State online university offers six different start dates for online students making it convenient for students to start when they are most available. Most classes have specific deadlines for assignments, and some require students to log in at designated times of the day or week. Online students are given the same opportunities that on-campus students have with access to enrollment counselors and academic advisors.

The University of Minnesota offers 17 different online undergraduate programs including Accounting, Management, and Communications.

These degrees can be completed entirely online, but the school also offers several hybrid programs where students can complete their education partially online and partially on-campus. Online students have access to academic advisors and several other resources offered through the Digital Campus online system.

CMU is all about research for the future; from discovering new ways to treat diseases, to advanced ways to improve teaching and learning, and more!

Central Michigan University has 20, students enrolled on campus and 7, online students. Since students have had the opportunity to take part in the Penn State environment without having to travel to campus. As a pioneer to eLearning, Penn State has evolved to include many enhanced learning experiences to help improve the way students learn.

Washington State offers nine different undergraduate programs including Accounting, Psychology, Management, and Social Sciences.