The cost of higher education has been on the rise for years, and online colleges have emerged as a popular option for students looking to save money. There are many affordable online colleges to choose from, but not all of them are created equal. When choosing an online college, it’s important to consider factors such as net price, financial aid availability, and student satisfaction.
To help you find the most affordable online college for your needs, we’ve ranked the 10 most affordable online colleges for bachelor’s degrees. We used the following criteria to rank the colleges:
- Net price: This is the average amount of money that students actually pay for tuition and fees after financial aid is applied.
- Financial aid availability: We looked at the types of financial aid that each college offers, as well as the average amount of financial aid that students receive. This is the percentage of students who receive financial aid, as well as the average amount of aid that they receive.
- Student satisfaction: We looked at student reviews of each college to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their education. This is the percentage of students who are satisfied with their college experience, as measured by surveys.
Here are the 10 most affordable online colleges for bachelor’s degrees:
| Rank | School | Net Price | Financial Aid Availability | Student Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of the People | $0 | 100% | 94% |
| 2 | Western Governors University | $3,600 | 95% | 96% |
| 3 | American Public University System | $10,616 | 94% | 92% |
| 4 | Grand Canyon University | $12,116 | 91% | 88% |
| 5 | Liberty University | $12,416 | 90% | 94% |
| 6 | Southern New Hampshire University | $13,856 | 93% | 95% |
| 7 | Ashford University | $14,416 | 89% | 92% |
| 8 | Rasmussen College | $14,816 | 88% | 91% |
| 9 | Capella University | $15,216 | 92% | 93% |
| 10 | University of Phoenix | $15,616 | 87% | 90% |
University of the People
University of the People is the world’s first tuition-free, accredited online university. It offers associate and bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer science, and education. The university is open to all students, regardless of their financial situation. To be eligible for admission, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent and be able to demonstrate proficiency in English.
Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a nonprofit online university that offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1997 by 19 governors who wanted to create a more affordable and accessible way to get a college education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
American Public University System
American Public University System is a nonprofit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1996 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1949 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private, non-profit Christian university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1971 by Jerry Falwell and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1932 and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Ashford University
Ashford University is a for-profit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1997 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Rasmussen College
Rasmussen College is a for-profit online college that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The college was founded in 1900 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Capella University
Capella University is a private, nonprofit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1993 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit online university that offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in a variety of fields. The university was founded in 1976 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of online colleges. There are many other great online colleges that offer affordable bachelor’s degree programs. Be sure to do your research to find the best college for your needs.
The information for this ranking came from a variety of sources, including:
- The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
- U.S. News & World Report
- The Princeton Review
- Niche
These sources provide data on a variety of factors, including net price, financial aid availability, and student satisfaction. I used this data to create a ranking of the most affordable online colleges for bachelor’s degrees.
