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Colleges by State See Rankings for all States Best Online Colleges in Florida Best Online Colleges in California Best Online Colleges in Texas Best Online Colleges in Georgia Best Online Colleges in New York Best Online Colleges in New Jersey Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania Best Online Colleges in Arizona Best Online Colleges in North Carolina Colleges by Degree Online Associate Degrees Online Bachelor's Degrees Online Master's Degrees Online Doctoral Degrees Online Certificates Colleges by Program Browse All Programs Medical Assistants Business Administration Psychology & Behavior Criminal Justice Early Childhood Education Health Care Management Medical Billing & Coding Nursing Social Work & Human Services Art & Design Business Education Healthcare & Nursing Law & Criminal Justice Social Science Technology & IT Engineering & Construction Liberal Arts & Humanities Vocational Hospitality & Culinary Science Best Online Colleges Resources How to Pay for Online College College Comparison Tool Additional Rankings OC Insights Find the Best Online Colleges For 2019 You may call it “online learning” or “distance education,” but either way there’s no denying that online colleges can be a flexible and convenient option for students. Whether you’re a new or returning student – interested in beginning a degree program for the first time, completing the education you started elsewhere, or improving your career prospects by earning a degree – OnlineColleges.com can help you find affordable, high-quality online colleges that meet your specific needs. FIND ONLINE COLLEGES Select a Degree Level Select a Category Select a Subject Sponsored schools From the experts who also bring you: What are the Best Online Colleges? Here at OnlineColleges.com, your needs are important to us. When we rank online colleges, we place importance on factors that are relevant to nontraditional students – those who are more likely to be interested in attending college online. In addition to tuition costs and graduation rate, we consider factors such as number of fully online degree programs offered, the availability of tuition payment plans, and whether credit is offered for military or life experience. Quick Search Explore Online Colleges Offering Your Chosen Major! Art & Design 6 Online Programs Business 17 Online Programs Education 12 Online Programs Engineering & Construction 4 Online Programs Health Care & Nursing 20 Online Programs Hospitality & Culinary Arts 2 Online Programs Law & Criminal Justice 8 Online Programs Liberal Arts & Humanities 7 Online Programs Science 3 Online Programs Social Science 8 Online Programs Technology & IT 8 Online Programs Vocational 3 Online Programs What Are Online Colleges? What is an online college? Here at OnlineColleges.com, we don’t define an “online college” as a college that only exists on the internet. An online college might have a physical campus, or no campus at all. It might run on a semester system, or a quarter system, or its own unique system. It might offer one online degree program, or a hundred. Every student’s needs are different, and every student should decide what kind of college best meets their individual needs. In order for a school to be featured on our rankings and in our tools, they must meet the following criteria: They must be accredited. Accreditation is vital for knowing whether a college, online or otherwise, is offering legitimate education. Learn more about accreditation here. They must offer at least one degree program that can be completed fully or partially online. At least 1 percent of their student body must be enrolled in distance learning courses. What Should I Know About Online Colleges? Similarities to traditional colleges: Quality of education Rigor of study Credibility of degree Wide range of programs Communicating with instructors Connecting with classmates Advantages to online colleges: Flexibility With fewer constraints on time and place, students can organize their studies to learn whenever and wherever is convenient for them. Affordability If you have your heart set on a school in another city or state, see if that school offers online programs. Attending that school may be easier than you think! No need to move Commuting costs may be less relevant if you are attending school online. Some colleges even charge in-state tuition for online students, regardless of a student’s state of residence. Accessibility Health or mobility issues can make navigating a campus a difficult proposition. An online program can allow a student to focus on their education without such challenges. ONLINE COLLEGES: Who's a Match for Online Colleges? Students with Family Commitments Family priorities such as a child or a sick parent to care for can make it difficult to commit to regular campus attendance. An online program can be a more doable prospect. Returning Students Students returning to school after a long absence might feel more comfortable getting back into academics from the comfort of their own home, rather than in a crowded classroom. Working Professionals Working professionals can have unpredictable schedules, or be sent off on long business trips on short notice. A flexible online program can help with working around a busy career. Students Who Learn Differently Not all students perform well in a rigid academic schedule. For example, students who work better at night might appreciate being able to set their own timetable and change it when necessary, rather than running on school-regulated hours. For more information, check out our article How Credible Are Online Colleges to Employers? Types of Online Degree Programs: Online Certificate Program Undergraduate and graduate options may be available, depending on school and major Usually a year or less to complete Emphasizes real-world skills and career-relevant education Online Associate Degree Program Undergraduate level Usually takes two years to complete Combines major-specific courses with a broad overview of general education topics Online Bachelor’s Degree Program Undergraduate level Usually takes four years to complete Starts with core education and lower-division courses, transitions to upper-division courses Online Master’s Degree Program Graduate level Duration varies Delves into theory and high-level concepts through upper-division courses Online Doctoral Degree Program Graduate level Duration varies The pinnacle of recognized education, focused on in-depth research and critical thought Did you Know? The first fully online college to be accredited was Jones International University, which was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1993. Source Online Course Delivery: Synchronous: Lecture is held at fixed times like an on-campus class, through online chat or video conferencing. This can be useful to students who prefer a regulated class schedule. Asynchronous: Lectures are typically pre-recorded and can be watched online. This can be preferable for students who are looking for full flexibility in their course schedule. Hybrid: Online lectures and assignments are mixed with in-person responsibilities. This may involve going to campus or utilizing a local facility or proctor. *For more information, see our Online Education Glossary . Resources On OnlineColleges.com Best Online Colleges by State Finding the best school for each individual is our mission at OnlineColleges.com. And who knows your needs better than you do? That’s why we’ve developed the following resources, which can help you to find the school with the quality, the programs and the price point you need. It may surprise you to know that 72 percent of online students attend a school within 100 miles of home. After all, with schools around the world only a click away, why stay local? As it happens, there are some good reasons to search for online colleges in your state: You may understand a local college’s reputation, ...