Best Online College
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best online college
The pandemic fundamentally changed the college experience for many. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of undergrads exclusively enrolled in online college courses jumped from 2.4 million to 7.0 million between 2019 and 2020.
Today, more and more students see online education as the most pragmatic path to career readiness. And with new online programs popping up everywhere, it's important to pick the right online university for the job.
The University of Florida secures the top spot on our list this year thanks to its strong student outcomes, affordability, and excellent online program offerings. UF offers top-tier academics, a 17-to-1 student-to-staff ratio, Division I sports (go Gators!), and many cutting-edge research facilities.
A self-described "university for professionals," Golden Gate University is a great choice for working adults looking to boost their careers. You can choose from online, weekend, and evening classes. GGU is known for its high-quality curriculum, small class sizes, strong career placement support, and robust alumni network. The school is also committed to removing financial barriers to education, with most students receiving financial aid.
Union Institute & University is a private university in Cincinnati, Ohio, that offers 100% online and hybrid options. You can pursue degrees in business and leadership, education, healthcare and mental wellness, or public service and social justice.
The University of Central Florida is a large public research university based in the suburbs of Orlando, Florida. The school offers more than 220 degree programs across 13 colleges. Popular majors for UCF undergrads include psychology, computer science, biology, health sciences, and mechanical engineering.
Florida International University is a public university with campuses in North Miami and West Miami-Dade County. The school offers more than 190 degree programs and certificates, with over 130 available online.
Thomas Edison State University is a public university in Trenton, New Jersey. You can choose from more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate options, most of which are also available online.
The idea behind Penn State World Campus is to make the Penn State educational experience available to people who can't travel to a physical campus. Since 1998, the school has provided a career-focused curriculum taught by experts in business, engineering, tech, healthcare, and more. A degree from Penn State is a big deal: According to the Wall Street Journal, Penn State undergrads are some of the best-prepared on the market.
The University of Missouri is a public university in Columbia, Missouri. It operates as the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System. The school offers more than 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including over 75 online degrees.
Excelsior University (previously Excelsior College) is a private online university in Albany, New York. It offers more than 35 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, health sciences, nursing, technology, liberal arts, and public service.
Excelsior is committed to helping nontraditional students "pursue your passion and achieve your career goals without putting the rest of life on pause." That means a generous acceptance rate; awarding credit for previous college, work, volunteer, and military experience; and a flexible approach to learning.
The Lifelong Learning Network is built with flexibility in mind. You can choose from online, in-person, and hybrid learning channels. Each credential can stand alone or be built into a future degree. You have the opportunity to develop a customized career plan, receive professional support, study an industry-aligned curriculum, and join a large global network of alumni and peers.
The University of North Dakota is the state's oldest and largest public university. It's located in the city of Grand Forks. The school offers more than 225 academic programs. Nearly 40% of UND students attend classes exclusively online.
Oregon State University is one of only two designated land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant universities in the country. This quadruple honor acknowledges that Oregon State is at the forefront of research projects that address society's most urgent challenges, including climate change. And online students are a part of that effort as well: Oregon State offers some of the best online programs in environmental science, computer science, and horticulture (to name just a few).
East Carolina University is a large public university in Greenville, North Carolina. It offers 89 bachelor's degrees and 87 graduate degrees. Currently, ECU has roughly 130 degree and certificate programs approved for online delivery.
The University of Massachusetts Global is a private institution focused on educating nontraditional students. It currently offers over 80 online degrees and certificates for associate, bachelor's, and master's students.
In 2021, Brandman University partnered with the University of Massachusetts to become the University of Massachusetts Global. Students may study fully online or opt for a hybrid learning model by taking some classes at locations in California or Washington. UMass Global is committed to the professional development of adult learners, so most of its faculty have both doctoral degrees and relevant real-world industry experience.
The University of Alabama is a large public university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs across eight schools of study, and more than 120 graduate programs. Many of its course offerings are available online.
The University of Arizona is a public university in Tucson, Arizona. It offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees across 20 colleges. You can study in person, online, or via "Near You Networks'' throughout Arizona.
The Florida Institute of Technology is a private STEM institution in Melbourne, Florida. Florida Tech Online provides over 40 completely online degrees for nontraditional students and working professionals.
Florida Tech Online is known for its great instructors and engaging classes. The school ranks highly for the quality of its online bachelor's degree programs, especially in business and psychology. Classes are asynchronous, meaning you can study entirely on your own schedule. And great news: No test scores or application fees are required to apply.
Bellevue University is a private, religious university in Bellevue, Nebraska. It offers over 80 career-focused programs with the option for online or hybrid learning. You can pursue associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Bellevue has leaned into the online education model over the past 25 years. In fact, 95% of Bellevue students are online students! Class sizes are small, faculty have real-world experience, and many support services are available to students. You can choose from career-building programs in the humanities, business, education, healthcare, psychology, human services, or STEM subjects.
Old Dominion University is a public research institution in Norfolk, Virginia. It offers over 90 bachelor's degrees, 50 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. More than 120 ODU degree programs are available online.
Old Dominion University is consistently recognized as one of the best universities in the country and ranks especially well for its IT, education, engineering, nursing, and MBA programs. ODU has a dedicated center for social mobility to ensure the success of students and address systems of inequity.
In the past, some employers may have been skeptical about the value of an online degree. But today, with more than 70% of students having taken at least one online course and 30% of undergrads studying fully online, online college degrees have become very common.
Christina Payne has covered bootcamps, careers, and higher education for BestColleges since 2019. An experienced writer, Christina also works for a nonprofit organization in Seattle. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in history in 2016.","image":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/images\/c_fill,g_face,f_auto,q_auto,h_60,w_60\/v1659637675\/BestColleges.com\/Christina_Payne-1\/Christina_Payne-1.png?_i=AA","link":"https:\/\/www.bestcolleges.com\/contributors\/christina-payne\/","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/christina-payne-10ba6a191\/","twitter":"","web":"","career":"","subject":"Bootcamps, careers, higher education ","categories":["name":"Writer","slug":"writer"],"interviews":[],"events":[]}],"date":"December 15, 2022","content":"Check out our guide to the best colleges for adult learners and learn more about going back to school.","id":1310},"link":"https:\/\/www.bestcolleges.com\/online-schools\/private-colleges-universities\/","image":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/images\/v1646352766\/BestColleges.com\/BC_Rankings_Academic-Programs_Online-Schools_Private-Colleges-Universities_3.3.22_FTR\/BC_Rankings_Academic-Programs_Online-Schools_Private-Colleges-Universities_3.3.22_FTR.jpg","title":"Best Online Private Colleges and Universities of 2022","author":["id":12076,"name":"Heather Mullinix","description":"Heather Mullinix is an award-winning journalist and writer living in Tennessee. She writes about education, government, healthcare, and the outdoors. She graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.","image":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/images\/c_fill,g_face,f_auto,q_auto,h_60,w_60\/v1659637672\/BestColleges.com\/Heather_Mullinix-1\/Heather_Mullinix-1.jpg?_i=AA","link":"https:\/\/www.bestcolleges.com\/contributors\/heather-mullinix\/","linkedin":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/heather-mullinix-a2095211\/","twitter":"","web":"","career":"","subject":"Education, government, healthcare","categories":["name":"Writer","slug":"writer"],"interviews":[],"events":[]],"date":"September 8, 2022","content":"Online private college and university rankings. Find the right online program for you!","id":24282,"link":"https:\/\/www.bestcolleges.com\/features\/top-online-community-colleges\/","image":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/image\/upload\/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto\/v1\/BestColleges.com\/Bachelors_Computer_Programming.jpg","title":"Best Online Community Colleges","author":["id":12143,"name":"Staff Writers","description":"The staff writers for BestColleges collaborate to deliver unique, student-driven content on topics such as career development, college life, and college planning.","image":"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/highereducation\/images\/c_fill,g_face,f_auto,q_auto,h_60,w_60\/v1668538345\/BestColleges.com\/logo-circle_55998d056d\/logo-circle_55998d056d.png?_i=AA","link":"https:\/\/www.bestcolleges.com\/contributors\/staff-writers\/","linkedin":"","twitter":"","web":"","career":"","subject":"","categories":["name":"Writer","slug":"writer"],"interviews":[],"events":[]],"date":"March 7, 2023","content":"We've ranked the best online community colleges & trade Schools for programs, financial aid, and more. Compare and search for the school that matches your goals.","id":1914]; Explore More College Resources View all Best Online Community Colleges by Staff Writers March 7, 2023 Best Online Private Colleges and Universities of 2022 by Heather Mullinix September 8, 2022 Cheapest and Most Affordable Online Colleges 2023 by Meg Embry March 14, 2023 BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. 041b061a72