Paying for a college education at many U.S. institutions can be almost as expensive as buying a home, especially when you factor in campus fees and room and board alongside tuition. Online colleges are an affordable option for students who want to significantly reduce their expenses without limiting their academic options. In fact, eliminating housing fees can often reduce the cost of your education at an in-state public institution by half. Beyond reducing costs, online learning allows students to study in a comfortable, no-pressure learning environment of their choice. Most online programs feature asynchronous courses, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace while using online forums and chat groups to communicate with their peers. Distance learning is an ideal option for students who work full-time or have children because affordable online colleges typically offer more convenience and flexibility than their on-campus counterparts.
Featured Online Schools
Find Affordable Online Colleges
Because affordability plays such an important role in deciding to pursue online education, we have assembled a list for prospective college students of the cheapest online colleges and universities. Keep in mind that even the cheapest online college can offer a high-quality education. We have rounded up online colleges with tuition that is less than $500 per credit hour.
We have rounded up online colleges with tuition that is less than $500 per credit hour.
| 1 |
Purdue Global University |
Purdue Global University provides nontraditional learners with access to a prestigious degree at an affordable price. Purdue Global's 180 degree options offer flexible schedules as well as two ways for students to save on tuition. The competency-based ExcelTrack allows students with career experience or prior college credits to complete a degree in an accelerated time frame. With this option, students spend less time on coursework they already know and concentrate on filling in knowledge deficiencies with available courses. They take as many classes as necessary while paying one flat tuition rate regardless of course load. Another way students can save on tuition is through Open College at Purdue Global – Open College. This option allows students to earn credits toward an Open College degree via prior learning assessment, Purdue Global courses, and open courses from any institution (commonly called MOOCs). All learners at Purdue Global enjoy no-cost tutoring in subjects such as math and science and engage in hands-on learning via interactive online classrooms. They prepare for life after college with free counseling that helps learners plan their careers, search for jobs, and network. |
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| 2 |
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA |
Liberty University is now the nation's fifth largest university. With more than 500 online and residential areas of study, Liberty offers programs from the certificate to doctoral level. Because Liberty's online format provides the same quality course offerings as Liberty's on-campus program in Lynchburg, Va., you can be confident that you will receive an academically sound education. Liberty University's tuition rate for an online undergraduate program is $390 per credit hour. |
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| 3 |
Keiser University Fort Lauderdale, FL |
With campus locations in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa, and several other cities, Keiser is one of Florida’s largest career universities, and is ranked 57th best in the region by U.S. News & World Report. Online associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs are available in the fields of business, criminal justice, healthcare, IT, and law. As the fourth college on this list, Keiser offers affordable rates without sacrificing quality; its 2016-17 tuition for an online undergraduate program is $17,488 per academic year, or $388 per credit hour assuming a 45-credit hour academic year. |
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| 4 |
Capella University Minneapolis, MN |
Online students at Capella University can pursue bachelor’s, master's & doctoral degrees in disciplines including business, information technology, nursing and more. Capella University is an accredited online university dedicated to providing an exceptional, professionally-aligned education. Our degree programs are designed to meet standards established by professional associations and accrediting bodies — so you gain skills and knowledge that are immediately applicable to your career goals. As a Capella student, you'll benefit from a competency-based curriculum that combines foundational theory with real-world application and through our online campus, as you work with experienced faculty and your classmates in highly interactive course rooms. |
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| 5 |
Herzing University Milwaukee, WI |
Herzing University is an accredited nonprofit University that offers a wide range of programs that provide flexibility to work with today’s busy lifestyle. Herzing University ranks among the best Online Bachelor’s, MBA and MSN programs by U.S. News & World Report for 2017. That means our students are engaged, our faculty is credentialed, and our student services and technology rank among the best in the nation. Earn your degree in some of today’s fastest-growing career fields including nursing, healthcare, technology, business and public safety from your home, work, or wherever it’s convenient. |
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Student Debt is on the Rise
Further driving the increase of affordable online colleges is the upward swing of tuition prices at many schools. It may not be surprising that college tuition is both expensive and can incur years of debt post-graduation, reaching an all-time high in recent years. As of 2015, nearly 70% of college graduates faced a debt of at least $30,000, compared to less than half of students with debt among their predecessors’ generation in 1993.
In 2016, the average amount of student debt for college undergraduates continued its steady climb, totaling $1.3 trillion in the U.S. alone. The majority of students can expect to owe at least $300 per month for ten years just to repay the funds they borrowed to put toward a college education.
The largest number of college students who graduate with debt enter into what is called a Level Student Loan Repayment Plan, to be paid off in less than ten years. While admirable, this type of repayment plan is overly ambitious for many students, who struggle to meet minimum monthly payments and repay their loans while also starting their careers in the first ten years post-graduation. The second-most concentrated borrower group enroll in Income-Based Repayment (RBI), a type of plan that caps monthly payments at 15% of the student’s discretionary income over the course of 25 years, at which point any remaining debt is forgiven. Though 10 to 25 years may seem like a lifetime to owe payments on college loans, it is the reality for most college students who did not graduate from cheap online schools.
How Much Does it Cost to go to College Online?
As with on-campus study, the tuition costs for even the cheapest online colleges depends on a variety of factors, including the type of school, degree, and number of credits needed to complete the program. Private schools typically cost more than public state schools, as these private school do not have access to the same amount of funding that can be used to subsidize the costs of tuition. Additionally, online school are even more affordable than schools that offer both on-campus and distance learning programs. They type of degree you plan to pursue can also affect cost because of the amount of time it takes to complete the program. For example, a four-year bachelor's degree will cost less to earn than a six-year graduate degree. In some cases, online universities offer accelerated programs that can be completed in less time, which can help save money on tuition fees.
| University | Cost per Credit |
|---|---|
| Kaplan University | $371 |
| Liberty University | $390 |
| Keiser University | $388 |
| Walden University | $272 |
| Full Sail University | $475 |
Saving Money with Cheap Online Colleges
The term “cheap” can sometimes be interpreted as negative, though in this case, we view it as being interchangeable with “affordable.” Just because cheap online colleges cost less than an expensive, Ivy League, private school, it does not necessarily make them any less reputable or effective in providing a high-quality education experience.
Attending the cheapest online college that offers your program of choice also provides additional benefits apart from the financial. Online learning allows extra flexibility beyond traditional programs for students who have full-time or part-time jobs. Completing online coursework from a distance can help the many college students who are working, allowing them to continue earning money to pay for living expenses for themselves and/or their family while going to school, versus having to work around strict classroom hours and commuting to and from campus.
In addition, many programs offered by cheap online colleges can be completed in an accelerated format, allowing students to complete a full course load and earn a degree in a shorter amount of time. Students may also be eligible to test out of basic prerequisite courses, thus reducing the number of courses — and cost of tuition per unit — required to complete their degree.
What Makes a College Affordable?
With skyrocketing tuition costs and campus-based fees, students in traditional programs are subject to countless additional charges, for everything from using the library, to living on campus, to maintaining the rec center facilities. This is where online programs can help save students from excessive fees and expenses. Degrees are available at many cheap online schools for a fraction of the cost of traditional programs offered on campus. Many have a price tag similar to in-state tuition, which tends to be more affordable than out-of-state tuition. In some cases, even online programs that verge on the pricier side still cost less than traditional programs for students from out of state.
Can I Save Money by Earning my Degree Online?
Earning a degree online is one of the biggest ways that cheap online colleges reduce the overall cost for students, as distance learning eliminates the need for room and board. Beyond room and board, there are several other costs that online learning eliminates and that can lead to a noticeable difference in overall cost, including:
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Commuting costs:
Distance learning means no need to commute to class, resulting in saved money on gas and car maintenance costs and no need for an expensive parking permit.
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On-campus fees:
Many schools will waive their mandatory campus amenity fees for online students who are unlikely to use any of the campus facilities, such as gyms and recreational space.
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Childcare savings:
Having to hire a babysitter to attend class can quickly become prohibitively expensive for the average student. The flexibility of online learning allows parents to study and attend class at home on a schedule that works around their child’s needs.
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eBook rentals:
Online learners are spared the expense of having to buy expensive textbooks for their classes and can instead rent eBooks at a reduced cost. In some cases, online schools even provide laptops to their students with all necessary materials preloaded.
Financing Your Online Education
Regardless of whether you plan to study online or on-campus, you are probably concerned about how you will finance your education. The first step for all students is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who complete the FAFSA and meet the general eligibility criteria can receive federal financial aid in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships.
Grants and scholarships are the most desirable forms of financial aid, as they are free money that does not need to be paid back. The most common type of grant is the Federal Pell Grant, which currently offers just under $6,000 for the 2017-2018 academic year. Pell grants are awarded to undergraduate students who are in need of financial aid. Scholarships vary from school to school and can be based on academic performance, financial need, or other criteria. Student loans often make up at least some portion of a financial aid package and can include subsidized federal loans, such as Perkins loans, that have low interest rates and do not accrue interest while the student is in school.
In addition to loans, scholarships, and grants, many larger companies offer tuition reimbursement as part of their benefits package to attract and retain talented employees. Students who have already entered the workforce should check with their human resources office to see they can take advantage of this benefit as well.
Scholarships
- Get Educated Distance Learning Scholarship
- This $1,000 scholarship is awarded twice a year (in October and March) to U.S. residents who are completing an accredited online degree program. This scholarship is awarded based on merit, financial need, and a 500-word essay on "what an online college degree means to me."
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation (AKA EAF)
- AKA EAF offers two one-time scholarships to undergraduate college students who are sophomores or beyond. The merit-based award requires that students have a GPA of at least 3.0 and the needs-based award requires students to have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants for both awards should also have demonstrated community involvement and service to be considered.
- eLearners Military Scholarship
- Applicants for this $1,000 one-time scholarship must be active duty military personnel, an honorably discharged veteran, or a spouse from any branch of the military. This scholarship is awarded based on a 250-word response to the question “how has your military service better prepared you to enhance your education?”
- Association for Non-traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE)
- ANTSHE offers several scholarships in various amounts to non-traditional students attending an accredited college or university degree program. Applications must be at least 23 years old and meet at least one of several non-traditional student criteria, such as being a parent, working part-time, or having a low income.
*The schools listed above are sponsored. Sponsored school listings are distinct paid advertisements and are clearly marked with a "SPONSORED" or "FEATURED" tag to distinguish them from editorially ranked schools. Learn more about how rank schools or contact us with questions.