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MOST AFFORDABLE ONLINE COLLEGES

This is an excellent time for people seeking affordable online colleges and degree programs, 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 ROI. That’s why College Consensus – the authority on college rankings – has put together a definitive ranking of the most affordable online colleges.

Recommended Accredited Online Schools

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Ranking the Most Affordable Online Colleges 

The College Consensus method takes a lot of factors into consideration, but for the Most Affordable Online Colleges ranking, one factor stands above all: cost. These are the accredited online schools with the lowest undergraduate tuition.

Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$8,550
Online Programs
6
Students Enrolled
1,915
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$8,900
Online Programs
11
Students Enrolled
1,394
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$9,200
Online Programs
28
Students Enrolled
8,751
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$11,369
Online Programs
40
Students Enrolled
8,358
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,000
Online Programs
9
Students Enrolled
852
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,000
Online Programs
12
Students Enrolled
1,062
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,051
Online Programs
7
Students Enrolled
2,396
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,150
Online Programs
27
Students Enrolled
1,009
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,200
Online Programs
20
Students Enrolled
1,180
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$12,992
Online Programs
9
Students Enrolled
500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$13,034
Online Programs
13
Students Enrolled
583
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$13,545
Online Programs
30
Students Enrolled
1,687
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$13,705
Online Programs
7
Students Enrolled
453
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$14,580
Online Programs
15
Students Enrolled
2,821
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$14,647
Online Programs
27
Students Enrolled
1,751
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$15,098
Online Programs
14
Students Enrolled
9,500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$16,188
Online Programs
40
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$17,000
Online Programs
26
Students Enrolled
3,800
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$18,336
Online Programs
22
Students Enrolled
1,000
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$18,525
Online Programs
52
Students Enrolled
3,063
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$18,576
Online Programs
28
Students Enrolled
583
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,080
Online Programs
23
Students Enrolled
194
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,200
Online Programs
178
Students Enrolled
6,604
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,200
Online Programs
7
Students Enrolled
796
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,278
Online Programs
9
Students Enrolled
4,132
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,280
Online Programs
59
Students Enrolled
7,500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,379
Online Programs
85
Students Enrolled
16,412
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,480
Online Programs
13
Students Enrolled
2,500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,754
Online Programs
19
Students Enrolled
600
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,844
Online Programs
24
Students Enrolled
4,516
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$19,950
Online Programs
58
Students Enrolled
3,350
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$20,015
Online Programs
68
Students Enrolled
1,950
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$20,520
Online Programs
101
Students Enrolled
11,481
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$20,659
Online Programs
35
Students Enrolled
1,300
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$20,954
Online Programs
61
Students Enrolled
10,115
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$21,000
Online Programs
39
Students Enrolled
6,218
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$21,255
Online Programs
45
Students Enrolled
6,774
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$21,600
Online Programs
38
Students Enrolled
16,000
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$21,605
Online Programs
66
Students Enrolled
19,289
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$21,807
Online Programs
22
Students Enrolled
2,500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$22,200
Online Programs
65
Students Enrolled
5,987
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$22,727
Online Programs
48
Students Enrolled
3,963
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$23,000
Online Programs
23
Students Enrolled
2,628
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$23,090
Online Programs
5
Students Enrolled
118
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$23,942
Online Programs
64
Students Enrolled
7,469
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$24,024
Online Programs
15
Students Enrolled
1,358
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$24,150
Online Programs
48
Students Enrolled
2,200
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$24,360
Online Programs
21
Students Enrolled
466
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$24,390
Online Programs
14
Students Enrolled
86
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,000
Online Programs
38
Students Enrolled
6,250
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,039
Online Programs
69
Students Enrolled
8,039
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,240
Online Programs
54
Students Enrolled
8,139
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,263
Online Programs
18
Students Enrolled
1,185
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,350
Online Programs
21
Students Enrolled
2,273
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$25,382
Online Programs
34
Students Enrolled
6,087
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$26,100
Online Programs
40
Students Enrolled
1,131
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$26,253
Online Programs
9
Students Enrolled
279
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$26,550
Online Programs
43
Students Enrolled
9,771
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$26,640
Online Programs
53
Students Enrolled
1,309
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$26,925
Online Programs
16
Students Enrolled
5,719
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,000
Online Programs
21
Students Enrolled
1,663
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,000
Online Programs
24
Students Enrolled
1,627
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,600
Online Programs
66
Students Enrolled
4,949
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,900
Online Programs
15
Students Enrolled
601
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,960
Online Programs
10
Students Enrolled
828
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$27,986
Online Programs
15
Students Enrolled
1,124
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,000
Online Programs
12
Students Enrolled
173
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,058
Online Programs
13
Students Enrolled
3,662
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,080
Online Programs
5
Students Enrolled
475
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,100
Online Programs
14
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,200
Online Programs
24
Students Enrolled
8,200
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,455
Online Programs
7
Students Enrolled
600
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,478
Online Programs
38
Students Enrolled
1,729
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,680
Online Programs
52
Students Enrolled
2,853
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$28,800
Online Programs
56
Students Enrolled
6,430
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$29,020
Online Programs
20
Students Enrolled
3,040
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$29,112
Online Programs
30
Students Enrolled
10,408
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$30,000
Online Programs
10
Students Enrolled
170
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$30,000
Online Programs
21
Students Enrolled
10,844
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$30,010
Online Programs
20
Students Enrolled
223
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$30,233
Online Programs
9
Students Enrolled
2,320
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$30,446
Online Programs
80
Students Enrolled
5,720
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$31,250
Online Programs
20
Students Enrolled
2,078
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$31,335
Online Programs
23
Students Enrolled
676
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$31,336
Online Programs
33
Students Enrolled
4,289
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$31,800
Online Programs
10
Students Enrolled
570
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,000
Online Programs
25
Students Enrolled
3,612
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,262
Online Programs
22
Students Enrolled
675
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,303
Online Programs
44
Students Enrolled
10,080
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,345
Online Programs
88
Students Enrolled
8,888
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,400
Online Programs
16
Students Enrolled
453
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,692
Online Programs
63
Students Enrolled
5,800
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$32,805
Online Programs
30
Students Enrolled
9,569
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$33,033
Online Programs
37
Students Enrolled
1,689
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$33,154
Online Programs
28
Students Enrolled
967
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$33,720
Online Programs
27
Students Enrolled
776
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$33,750
Online Programs
56
Students Enrolled
1,500
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$34,185
Online Programs
46
Students Enrolled
5,220
Average Bachelor Degree Program Cost
$34,263
Online Programs
5
Students Enrolled
840
Online Programs
66
Students Enrolled
4,527

Are Online Colleges Cheaper 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 you homework.

When it comes to online college vs traditional college cost, 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 seeking affordable 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 Affordable Online Colleges Save Me Money?

When seeking an affordable 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 affordable online colleges involves a few other factors as well. Places that offer cheap online degrees fast aren’t necessarily the most affordable. As previously stated, applicants must consider the net price of attending. In addition, looking for places things like cheap online colleges without application fees can help as well.

Because students aren’t attending a campus, many places will offer a 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.

The cheapest online per credit hours and the cheap online colleges without application fees can give someone the numbers they need to calculate just how much they can save. People should always look at the numbers when they want cheap online degrees fast, because those accelerated programs can often come with savings they don’t expect.

Are There Any Free Online Colleges?

Free online colleges do exist. A handful of accredited online universities offer tuition-free programs for associates, bachelor’s, and even master’s degrees. The free online colleges do offer degrees. Applicants may have to pay an application fee or other small fees.

Some other institutions offer free courses, lectures, and other learning materials. The free courses and materials can sometimes come with a certificate, but rarely with a credit.

How Do Online College Degree Programs ROI?

People invest their money and time with the hopes their degree will pay off in the future, especially when so many students take out loans to pay for college. This is a return on investment college education, and it’s important for that investment to work. To that end, it’s a good idea to think of the best ROI degrees that can make that happen.

But, what are the best ROI degrees? That all depends on where an applicant lives and which industries have the largest amount of growth.

Figuring our college ROI by major is possible, especially if the major is one that allows an applicant to advance in their career field or get a fair start in a new career. The ability to move forward, earn more, and do more with a college degree is what makes the return on investment college education worthwhile.

Related: 

Best Scholarships for Online Students
Online Colleges with the Best ROI
Best Online Degrees Most Likely to Get You A Job
Highest Paying Online Bachelors Degrees
Most Affordable Online MBA Programs
Top Tuition-Free Colleges in the U.S.
Fastest Online MBA Programs

Ready to start your journey?

Ready to start your journey?