2019 Most Affordable Online Colleges & Degrees

Georgia Southwestern State University offers online undergraduate degrees in a number of majors, including criminal justice, nursing, business administration, and information technology. Their online business administration degree has three specializations: management, accounting, and human resources. They also offer a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and an online graduate certificate in computer information systems. GSW provides academic support services, a writing center, and an academic skills center for all distance-learning students. Online courses cost $199 per credit hour for undergraduate degrees and $257 for graduate degrees.

Aspen University offers online bachelor's degrees in business, criminal justice, health, nursing, and education. Their criminal justice program allows students to complete a traditional criminal justice program or specialize in a major such as crime investigation procedure or criminal justice administration. There is also a criminal justice completion program, which allows students who have received an associate's degree or 60 undergraduate credit hours to complete their bachelor's degree. Aspen University also offers a variety of master's programs in subjects such as business administration, education, and nursing. Their bachelor's programs start at $150 per credit hour and master's programs start at $325 per credit hour, making these programs affordable for many students.

Fort Hays State University in Kansas has a number of online associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Students seeking an associate's degree can choose from Applied Technology and General Studies. Bachelor's degrees include organizational leadership, tourism and hospitality management, human health and performance, information networking and telecommunications, and agricultural business, among many others. For students who are interested in receiving their master's degree online, they can choose from history, business administration, nursing education, special education, and more. A multitude of services are available to online students including technical support, academic advising, and career services.

Valdosta State University offers affordable online undergraduate and graduate degrees in a number of programs. Bachelor's degrees include organizational leadership, Spanish, emergent media and communication, among others. They have a wide range of online graduate degrees, including healthcare administration, instructional technology, special education, and English studies for language arts teachers. Valdosta State also has a unique undergraduate focus area program, which allows students who are unsure of what they want to major in the ability to discover their interest in a number of different fields like business, humanities and education, health professions, and arts and design. Tuition for undergraduate programs is $226 per credit hour and $293 per credit hour for graduate programs.

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus offers online Bachelor of Science degrees in computer science, sociology, communicative disorders, criminal justice, and many more. Their online Bachelor of Arts degrees include religion, Spanish, history, and sociology. They currently have 22 master's degrees in subjects such as pedagogy and learning, financial planning, career and technical education, business administration, and sports administration. There are also a number of certificate and endorsement programs that are offered online for busy students. Distance students can take advantage of an online writing center, counseling program, library services, and an online bookstore.

Ohio Christian University offers accredited, accelerated degree programs geared toward busy adults in fields including agribusiness, healthcare management, ministry, and psychology. Degrees are offered fully online and classes are asynchronous, allowing students the utmost flexibility while earning their degree. OCU, a non-profit university, is able to offer competitive tuition rates and 80% of adult graduate students receive financial aid that completely covers their tuition. Degree programs are 60 credits for an associate, 120 credits for a bachelor s, and 36 credits for a master s. Tuition ranges from $380/credit for associate degrees, $416/credit for bachelor and RN-BSN degrees, $530/credit for MBA and MA Leadership degrees and $338/credit for a MA in Ministry. Active military members are given a discounted rate of $250/credit.

Southern Utah University strives to provide educational opportunities for their students with a focus on academic excellence, technology, and experiential engagement. Their online school collaborates with SUU s academic departments to create programs that help students reach their academic goals, while providing the flexibility and convenience they need to balance their responsibilities. Their online offerings include certificates, associate degrees, bachelor s degrees, and master's degrees across fields such as business administration, education, cyber security, and social work. Tuition for online-only students residing outside of Utah is $3,003 per term for undergraduate programs and $2,783 per term for graduate programs. SUU has a generous scholarship program and offers a scholarship estimator for prospective students on their website.

Marshall University offers fully online undergraduate and graduate degrees in a diverse range of fields including nursing, geography and mathematics. Online courses are asynchronous and do not require any on-campus attendance or scheduled class times. Distance students have access to services such as career planning, online tutoring, academic advising, and library resources. Program length varies depending upon the degree and field. Part-time tuition rates are $294.25 per credit hour for undergraduate students, and $405.75 per credit hour for graduate students. Marshall is committed to ensuring that cost is not an obstacle to students wanting to pursue an education. To this end, they offer financial assistance through scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs.

The University of the Cumberlands is a liberal arts school that has been been providing high quality educational programs enriched with Christian values for more than 120 years. Their accredited online program offerings include certificates, associate, bachelor s, and graduate degrees covering a variety of fields including business, education, counseling, and Christian studies. All programs can be completed at the student s desired pace, and distance learners will benefit from the use of the latest technology to learn and communicate with instructors and peers. Tuition for undergraduate online programs is $199 per credit hour and course length will vary by program. Online graduate tuition and course length varies by program and can be found on the school's website.

As one of the first online universities, Columbia Southern University has been delivering distance education for more than 20 years. CSU offers an extensive online program catalog including certificate, associate, bachelor, master and doctorate degrees in a variety of subject areas such as business, criminal justice, public health, and fire science. They strive to provide an affordable, quality education that facilitates learning and career advancement. While students complete coursework at their own pace, CSU faculty and staff are readily available to supply academic and support services to help them succeed. Tuition is $225 per credit hour for undergraduate courses, $300 per credit hour for graduate courses, and $375 per credit hour for doctoral courses.

Columbus State University offers online certificates, endorsements, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in fields such as nursing, education, business, and computer science. Online courses follow the same term schedules as on-campus courses. Due to state and federal laws, CSU may be limited in its ability to offer educational programs to students residing outside of the state of Georgia. Before applying, a prospective student can visit CSU s Program State Authorizations and Approvals page to find out whether their desired program is available to them in their location. Tuition for online undergraduate courses range from $243-$253 per semester hour, while tuition for online graduate programs range from $240-$1,109 per semester hour. Course length will vary depending upon the program.

Kennesaw State University delivers a first-rate education to distance learners, with the added convenience and flexibility of an online program. Their online offerings include certificates, fully online courses and degrees, and hybrid degrees across a variety of fields including business, engineering, and education. Courses are created and taught by KSU faculty who have gone through online teaching certification programs and are held to the same academic standards as those taught on campus. Distance learners are provided with technology and student support services to ensure their success. All online classes are charged e-tuition rates, which are the same regardless of a student s location of residency. Undergraduate tuition is $232 per credit hour, graduate tuition is $383 per credit hour, and student fees are $355 per semester.

Briar Cliff University, a Catholic liberal arts school, offers several online degree completion programs to allow students to continue their education while managing other responsibilities. Students interested in their degree completion program must already have an associate degree or a certain number of college credits. These programs are offered in the fields of accounting, business, health sciences, nursing, operations management and social work. The programs range from 30-47 credit hours and students are able to apply previous coursework and tests toward their degree. Tuition is $451 per credit hour, but the school is committed to helping students in need find a way to fund their education through different financial aid packages. They offer financial and academic advising to any prospective students.

Western Governors University offers over 60 degree programs from four online colleges: Teachers College, College of Health Professions, College of Information Technology, and the College of Business. Their convenient programs start on the first of every month, so students can begin their coursework as their schedule allows. WGU is the first university to offer competency-based degrees, so students progress as soon as they have mastered a subject, and they may also be able to apply previous college credits toward their degree. WGU is a non-profit university and has a flat-rate tuition that allows students to complete as many courses as they can in a term, at no extra charge. Tuition varies by program and ranges from about $6,500 - $8,000 plus fees, per year.

Minot State s award-winning online program includes certificates, undergraduate, and graduate degrees across a variety of fields including business, nursing, and education. Their online courses are offered in both synchronous (classes have scheduled days/times that students must attend online) and asynchronous (no scheduled days/times so students complete coursework at their convenience) formats. Students can begin during any of the three open registration periods throughout the year, and total program length will vary by degree. MSU Online is one of the most affordable programs in the country with undergraduate tuition priced at $294.32 per credit, and graduate tuition priced at $369.72 per credit. Online students have access to a number of services such as academic advising, the library, and online tutoring.

The University of North Alabama s online program offers courses, undergraduate, and graduate degrees in popular fields like business, nursing, and education. Online courses and exams are delivered through the school s learning management platform, Canvas. Distance learners have access to support services including the library, tutoring, financial aid, and tech support. Program length varies depending on the degree chosen Undergraduate tuition is dependent upon how many hours a student takes per semester. Undergraduate tuition for 1-11 hours is $277 per hour, 12-18 hours is a flat rate of $4,155, and 19 or more hours is the flat rate ($4,155) plus an additional $277 per hour. Graduate tuition for the MBA program is $425 per hour, while the remaining graduate programs are $326 per hour.

Missouri State University has an extensive online program that includes minors, certificates, undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs in areas such as nursing, business, cyber security and communication. MSU is committed to providing distance learners the same level of support that on-campus students receive. To this end, they offer services such as career counseling and degree exploration, help with financial aid, and access to the school library. The programs are developed with busy students in mind and can be completed at the student s own pace, as their schedule allows. Tuition varies depending upon the program chosen, but most programs range between $295-$430 per credit hour. Information on program length can be found on the specific program s website.

William Woods University offers accredited degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Their undergraduate program includes degrees in fields such as business, cybersecurity, and nursing, while their graduate program offers degrees in business and education. Their online programs are challenging, but they also place a high value on supporting students throughout their academic career. The courses follow an 8-week format and offer flexibility, so students can complete coursework as their schedules allow. Their tuition package is very affordable and the rate is locked as long as the student stays enrolled. Tuition rates are $225/credit hour for undergraduate degrees, $350/credit hour for graduate degrees, and $425/credit hour for education specialist degrees.

Southeast Missouri State University offers a number of online bachelor's and master's degrees that might appeal to a wide variety of distance learners. Some of its undergraduate majors include computer information systems, healthcare administration, interdisciplinary studies, technology management, and more. The university currently offers 17 online master's programs, including teacher leadership, sport management, exceptional child education, elementary or secondary school administration, and applied behavior analysis, allowing students to choose from a diverse array of majors and subjects. Tuition for undergraduate programs is $284 per credit hour and tuition for graduate programs is $347.25.

McNeese State University offers two online associate's degrees, eight bachelor's degrees, and 12 master's degrees. Their online associate's degrees are in Paralegal Studies and General Studies. Their bachelor's degrees include criminal justice, management, nursing (RN to BSN), sociology, and more. McNeese State University also offers a Master of Arts in Psychology, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education, and a Master of Science in several different fields. Undergraduate programs start at $7,559 per year and graduate programs start at $6,556 per year.

Grantham University provides a variety of online master, bachelor, and associate degrees for distance learners, as well as online certificates and GSA approved certificates. Programs are offered in business, the arts and sciences, nursing, engineering, and computer science. Tuition for active military, veterans, first responders, and civil servants are a flat $250 per credit hour, with bachelor programs at $265 per credit hour and graduate degrees at $325 per credit hour. Grantham University offers a variety of scholarships and grants for online students as well as a number of academic and career services.

The American Public University System currently offers online bachelor's degrees in emergency and disaster management, human development and family studies, military history, reverse logistics management, and many other majors that might appeal to a wide variety distance learners. Their online master's degrees are also very robust and include majors like environmental policy and management, international relations and conflict resolution, public administration, security management, and quite a few more. Undergraduate students can expect to pay $270 per credit and graduate students pay $350 per credit hour.

Chadron State College offers bachelor's degrees in psychological studies, interdisciplinary studies, business, and applied sciences in technical occupations, among others. The college also offers 24 online master's degrees including a Master of Arts in Education, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Education, and a Master of Science in Organizational Management. The Master of Education degree has a number of specializations, including Career and Technical Education, Educational Technology, Mathematics, Physical Education, and Reading Specialist PK-12, among others. Undergraduate degrees cost $279 per credit hour and graduate degrees are $348.75 per credit.

Northern Illinois University has a range of affordable certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs in fields like marketing, education, nursing, and engineering. Some of these programs, which vary in length, are offered fully online, while others are blended and require some on campus or in-person attendance. NIU provides all students a variety of support services, including library access, technology support, online tutoring, and career services. Students enrolled in NIU online programs pay the same tuition, regardless of their location. Tuition rates vary depending upon the program and range from $454.84-$504.84 per credit hour for undergraduate programs and $470-$896.11 per credit hour for graduate programs. Financial aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships, is also available.

Graceland University s award-winning online program offers accredited degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. Degrees are available in fields such as business, criminal justice, education, and nursing. Students enrolled in their online programs are able to complete their coursework at their convenience, giving them the ability to balance work and family responsibilities. Programs are offered fully online and don t require any on-campus visits, with the exception of the graduate nursing and seminary degrees. The classes are delivered through an intuitive platform and tech support is available 24/7. Tuition and fees vary by program and range from $290 per semester hour (plus fees) for the Master of Arts in Religion to $825 per semester hour (plus fees) for the Doctor of Nursing Practice.