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Best Value Badges 2023 01

Want low tuition? Convenience and flexibility? And a college loan debt that doesn’t keep you up at night? The College Consensus ranking of the best value online colleges is here!

This is an excellent time for people seeking value in online colleges and degrees, but it’s important to realize that different colleges often cater to different needs when it comes to online programs. For example, depending on where someone lives, they may want to choose one of the regional public colleges. Regional public colleges will usually have lower tuition costs for applicants who live in the region where the college is located. On the other hand, an affordable private college will offer many of the same benefits as attending a private college offline. Those benefits can include a more hands-on approach, a religious or ideological grounding, or unique and unusual degree choices.

In addition, the online college landscape also contains numerous working-adult-focused colleges. These institutions typically offer programs specifically designed to work with people who have jobs, kids, or other adult responsibilities. People who want to attend online college courses have a lot affordable choices available to them, but just because a college is affordable doesn’t mean your degree will give you a good return on investment. That’s why College Consensus – the authority on college rankings – has put together a definitive ranking of the best value online colleges.

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Ranking the Best Value Online Colleges 

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create a unique college meta-ranking. This approach offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective missing from other college rankings. Visit our about page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year’s consensus rankings.

Our ranking of Best Value Online Colleges & Universities features schools with above-average Consensus Scores, at least three fully-online bachelor’s degree programs, and the lowest full-time, out-of-state tuition rates. See also our ranking of the Best Online Colleges & Universities.

50.7
College Consensus
83.2
Student Consensus
18.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$8,367
61.6
College Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
46.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$15,240
66.7
College Consensus
75.7
Student Consensus
57.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$15,661
46.5
College Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
19.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$16,684
58.3
College Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
43.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$17,324

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57.2
College Consensus
75.4
Student Consensus
39
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$17,324
62.5
College Consensus
74.3
Student Consensus
50.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$18,963
77
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
75.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$20,622
54.4
College Consensus
59.3
Student Consensus
49.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$21,303
63.7
College Consensus
75
Student Consensus
52.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$22,467

Recommended Online Degree Programs

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58.5
College Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
48
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$22,627
64.5
College Consensus
79.6
Student Consensus
49.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$23,017
55.4
College Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$23,574
57.3
College Consensus
74.8
Student Consensus
39.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$24,080
71.9
College Consensus
71.6
Student Consensus
72.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$24,764
63.1
College Consensus
72.2
Student Consensus
53.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$25,213
61.7
College Consensus
68.9
Student Consensus
54.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$26,376
62
College Consensus
73.2
Student Consensus
50.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$26,491
68.2
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
57.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$27,166
68.1
College Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
70
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$28,034
68.7
College Consensus
70.5
Student Consensus
66.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$28,532
77.3
College Consensus
78.6
Student Consensus
76
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$28,635
82.1
College Consensus
79.5
Student Consensus
84.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$28,659
67.5
College Consensus
78.1
Student Consensus
56.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$28,924
48.2
College Consensus
67.3
Student Consensus
29
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$30,450

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47.8
College Consensus
76.8
Student Consensus
18.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$30,602
41.5
College Consensus
76
Student Consensus
7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$31,613
53
College Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
26.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$31,664
55.3
College Consensus
67.9
Student Consensus
42.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$31,986
66.4
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
53.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$34,310
54.6
College Consensus
74.1
Student Consensus
35
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$34,600
69.2
College Consensus
80.6
Student Consensus
57.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$35,472
46.8
College Consensus
68.5
Student Consensus
25.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$36,476
57.8
College Consensus
79.6
Student Consensus
36
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$36,579
59.5
College Consensus
76.3
Student Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$36,657

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

57.7
College Consensus
80.8
Student Consensus
34.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$38,746
55.6
College Consensus
80.4
Student Consensus
30.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$40,080
65.7
College Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
60
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$40,134
64
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
56.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$43,062
52.8
College Consensus
78.7
Student Consensus
27
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$43,116
56.7
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
34.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$45,900
46.9
College Consensus
70.6
Student Consensus
23.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$47,808
53.6
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
28.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$48,824
46
College Consensus
67.6
Student Consensus
24.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$54,819
57.7
College Consensus
77.9
Student Consensus
37.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
Tuition & fees
$59,870
61.1
College Consensus
80.5
Student Consensus
41.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
51
College Consensus
74.6
Student Consensus
27.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.1
College Consensus
79.4
Student Consensus
36.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
66.7
College Consensus
79.1
Student Consensus
54.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73.7
College Consensus
74
Student Consensus
73.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
48.8
College Consensus
69
Student Consensus
28.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60
College Consensus
81.4
Student Consensus
38.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
86.1
College Consensus
81.5
Student Consensus
90.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
48.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
47.2
College Consensus
73.5
Student Consensus
20.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.5
College Consensus
73.6
Student Consensus
63.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.6
College Consensus
78.6
Student Consensus
44.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.1
College Consensus
76
Student Consensus
42.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.3
College Consensus
70.1
Student Consensus
48.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.3
College Consensus
78
Student Consensus
38.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.7
College Consensus
74.9
Student Consensus
42.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
56.8
College Consensus
78.2
Student Consensus
35.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
57.1
College Consensus
79.2
Student Consensus
35.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67
College Consensus
82.5
Student Consensus
51.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
54.7
College Consensus
83
Student Consensus
26.3
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

58.3
College Consensus
69
Student Consensus
47.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
73
College Consensus
79.7
Student Consensus
66.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
52.7
College Consensus
74
Student Consensus
31.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
77.4
College Consensus
79
Student Consensus
75.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.3
College Consensus
80.9
Student Consensus
37.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
48.6
College Consensus
69.3
Student Consensus
27.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.6
College Consensus
75.2
Student Consensus
31.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
62.5
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
49
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
72.8
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
63.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.5
College Consensus
70.2
Student Consensus
46.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

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77.9
College Consensus
83.9
Student Consensus
71.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
70.1
College Consensus
83.6
Student Consensus
56.7
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.3
College Consensus
75.7
Student Consensus
58.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.6
College Consensus
77.3
Student Consensus
39.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.6
College Consensus
78.7
Student Consensus
58.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
68.4
College Consensus
80
Student Consensus
56.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
44.9
College Consensus
83.2
Student Consensus
6.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
85
College Consensus
84.8
Student Consensus
85.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
51.5
College Consensus
73.9
Student Consensus
29.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.9
College Consensus
78.9
Student Consensus
40.9
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.7
College Consensus
76.6
Student Consensus
52.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
63.2
College Consensus
66.2
Student Consensus
60.2
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
50.5
College Consensus
76.1
Student Consensus
24.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
79.4
College Consensus
80.7
Student Consensus
78.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.4
College Consensus
79.3
Student Consensus
27.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
61.8
College Consensus
72.3
Student Consensus
51.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
58.3
College Consensus
70.2
Student Consensus
46.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
51.6
College Consensus
71.4
Student Consensus
31.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
67.1
College Consensus
80.2
Student Consensus
54
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
55.9
College Consensus
77.4
Student Consensus
34.4
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
53.8
College Consensus
71.8
Student Consensus
35.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
59.7
College Consensus
76.7
Student Consensus
42.8
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
64.2
College Consensus
82
Student Consensus
46.5
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
39.7
College Consensus
68.7
Student Consensus
10.6
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023
60.1
College Consensus
71.1
Student Consensus
49.1
Publisher Consensus
Last Accessed: March, 2023

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Explore our featured online programs to find the right match for you today.

Are Online Colleges a Better Value than Traditional Colleges?

These days, listings, databases, and various other resources exist to guide people towards just what they’re looking for. A search online will populate with numerous results that include updated reviews and pricing information for online colleges. If you’re paying for college yourself, it’s essential to do your homework.

When it comes to online college vs traditional college costs, people often assume online colleges always cost less than traditional colleges. In truth, just as with traditional colleges, online college costs can vary widely. Each institution will have a different pricing method based on their own criteria.

Most colleges that offer online courses will have tuition calculators or average cost breakdowns. People are often surprised to find out some universities charge the same price for their courses whether online or off. Some places charge even more for their online programs than their equivalent on-campus ones.

The online college vs traditional college cost question has no clear answer. As with all things college-related, it depends. This should drive home why researching the value of an online college is so important.

The average cost online bachelor’s degree will vary as well from place to place and student to student. For those who want to figure out the average cost online bachelor’s degree or any other degree program for themselves, a net price calculator can help.

How Do Online Colleges Provide Value?

When seeking a best value online college, it’s important to look at the stated dollar amounts. Finding the cheapest online college per credit hour can help once someone has already narrowed their search to the places that interest them.

However, saving money with involves a few other factors as well. Places that offer low tuition and fast degrees aren’t necessarily the best value in the long run. As previously stated, applicants must consider the net price of attending.

Because students aren’t attending a campus, many places will offer lower tuition. That’s not a given, but it’s worth searching for. Speedy courses also don’t require as many ongoing fees as a longer traditional course.

Related: 

Best Scholarships for Online Students
Online Colleges with the Best ROI
Top 25 Best Online Degrees Most Likely to Get You A Job
Highest Paying Online Bachelors Degrees
College With Free Laptops
Most Affordable Online MBA Programs

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