With the growth of internet technology over the last couple of decades, students are finding online colleges to be an attractive alternative to a traditional on-campus education. In fact, in 2016, over 6.4 million students (31% of all students) took at least one online course through an online college program. There are also many benefits that online college students enjoy, including more flexibility and the ability to work and fulfill other responsibilities while getting a college education.
This Online Colleges Guide will assist you as you research online degree programs, schools, costs, and application information. We recommend that you use this guide to determine whether or not online colleges are right for you and to answer any questions.
Please note that some online college programs may require prerequisites or in-person requirements. Be sure to consult this guide as well as look at the website of the college you are interested in so you can have all of the materials you need and required tasks completed before applying to colleges.
Education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously or asynchronously. Technologies used for instruction may include the following: Internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communication devices; audio conferencing; and video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with the technologies listed above.
A course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education. Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course from being classified as distance education.
A program for which all the required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses.
Demand for online colleges, also known as distance learning, has grown significantly over the past several years. According to the Online Learning Consortium, the number of online college degree programs has outpaced the growth of traditional higher education.
Research by the Babson Survey Research Group shows higher education enrollments dropped by 3.8% from 2012 to 2016. Alternatively, the survey also reveals that the number of students taking at least one distance education course sharply increased by 17.2 percent over the same period.
– Kathleen S. Ives, CEO and Executive Director of the Online Learning Consortium
Just as there has been a growth in the number of online students, there’s also an increase in the number of colleges offering online courses. Offering classes and programs online has quickly become a priority for many colleges and universities.
The following statistics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) show just how prevalent online colleges are today:
The following ranking lists from Classesandcareers.com show the colleges in the United States that offer the most online certificate and degree programs.
Just as there has been a growth in the number of online students, there’s also an increase in the number of colleges offering online courses. Offering classes and programs online has quickly become a priority for many colleges and universities.
The following statistics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) show just how prevalent online colleges are today:
Online colleges offer degrees at the four main educational levels – associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. Each degree level is designed to provide you with educational training and particular skills that will prepare you for a job in your field of interest.
In addition, some online colleges also offer continuing education courses, such as certificates and professional development programs. These help you stay updated on changing trends within your industry.
Click on each of the degrees below to learn more.
The number of credit hours required to graduate with an online college degree can vary depending on the school and the degree you plan to take. The following are the average credits required for each online college degree:
There are several different types of online learning formats offered at colleges and universities. Some of these programs are delivered completely online, while others require some on-campus class attendance and/or live course participation in addition to online learning. These are known as hybrid programs.
The following are five different online learning formats:
In-person requirements vary depending on the online college. It is important to research whether attendance on-campus is required for an online degree program prior to application and enrollment. While many online schools are exclusively online, others require attending some class sessions or professional conferences hosted by the school in order to graduate.
When deciding on an online college, ask yourself the following questions to ensure you make an informed decision:
Most employers will accept online degrees similarly to on-campus college degrees as long as the online degree program meets a couple of expectations: 1) the online school you attended and the program you graduated from are accredited by a legitimate and recognized regional or national accreditation agency, 2) the online school has a positive reputation that speaks to the quality of the degree program and its graduates; can be verified by other alumni, employers, or online research.
In addition to verifying the quality of your online degree program, employers will also be interested to learn more about why you chose to go to school online, how you performed in class projects and assignments (want to know if you can collaborate with and work well in a team), your GPA, your leadership experience, additional certificates or licenses, work experience, and learned skills.
| AVERAGE TUITION | FULL TIME IN-STATE | PER CREDIT IN-STATE | FULL TIME OUT-STATE | PER CREDIT OUT-STATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | $8,550 | $290 | $11,087 | $387 |
| Bachelor’s | $15,052 | $512 | $18,551 | $660 |
| MASTER’S | $13,237 | $624 | $16,333 | $776 |
Many online college degree programs require you to fulfill prerequisites prior to admission. The following are common ones for many online colleges:
| ONLINE DEGREE TYPE | PREREQUISITE OR IN-PERSON REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|
| Associate | High School Diploma or equivalent |
| Bachelor | High School Diploma or equivalent ACT or SAT test scores GPA |
| Graduate | GRE or GMAT GPA |
The length of time it takes to earn an online bachelor’s degree or an online degree is often similar to the length of time it takes to earn a traditional degree of the same level. The variance in time to graduation for any degree level may be shortened or lengthened, depending on the number of credits you take each semester and how if you take any time off between semesters.
Below are the possible degrees you can earn along with the average amount of time you will need to invest to earn that specific degree level:
The exact amount of time an online college degree will take you will depend on the types of online classes you are enrolled in, the school you attend, as well as your work ethic. For example, some programs will allow you to earn your degree in less time if you are willing and able to take multiple classes at a time.
Online students should expect to spend approximately three hours per week per credit hour to watch lectures and complete coursework. This will vary based on the difficulty of your chosen field of study, your school, and program. The time required for each online course is comparable to its on-campus counterpart course.
The application process for an online college is similar to applying for a traditional college program. Here are the steps to successfully apply to an online college:
Online colleges will provide a web platform for you to log onto from the internet (also called a Learning Management System or LMS for short, such as Blackboard or Canvas). Typically, each week you will be required to review lecture material, read required articles and/or textbook chapters, complete quizzes or other assignments, and/or engage in a class or group discussion (often on a discussion board or group chat). The format and deadlines will vary depending on the school and program.
You will be expected to do the following at an online college:
Affordability is often a critical factor to consider when selecting a college. It is important to search the online college’s website for annual tuition rates, fees, and to learn about any financial aid options the school offers.
The following federal financial assistance programs are available from the U.S. Department of Education as long as your online college is accredited. Click on each of the options to learn more.
These loans are also available, if needed, and do not have to be repaid until after you finish your degree. You’ll be required to participate in loan counseling to understand the terms of repayment and interest rates prior to taking out student loans. Private loans are also available from private lending institutions.
Be mindful of student aid deadlines and give yourself plenty of time to submit your application before the start of the academic year. For more information on student financial assistance programs or to apply for aid via the web, visit http://studentaid.ed.gov. Learn more about financial aid for online colleges, here.
Andrew Selepak, PhD, is a lecturer in the department of telecommunication and the director of the online graduate program in social media at the University of Florida. He has taught several online courses at UF, including Social Media and Society (undergraduate) as well as Messaging Methodologies and the Practice of Conversion Optimization and Messaging Strategy and the Centrality of the Value Proposition (graduate).
Selepak holds a BA in American History from the University of Virginia, an MA in Communications from George Mason University, and a PhD in Mass Communications from the University of Florida. He has conducted research on political communication, media effects, and online and social media including video games, music, television, and websites. He has been interviewed and/or quoted on CNBC, NBC News, Prevention Magazine, USA Today, ESPN, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and more.
Jordyne Carmack is an Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of the Cumberlands. She teaches courses in advertising strategy, social media, introduction to strategic communication, audience insight, careers in communication, digital media in ministry, and public speaking. She earned her BS in Communication Arts and Theatre Arts at the University of the Cumberlands in 2008 and an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications at West Virginia University (an online master’s degree program) in 2014. Carmack joined the faculty of University of the Cumberlands in 2015, after teaching adjunct for two years. Her specialties and passions include strategic communication, social media, print marketing, graphic design, and advertising. She currently teaches in both the online and on-campus format at the university.