best online colleges

Ranking: The top 100 online colleges


Best 100 online colleges ranking by OnlineCollegePlan.com factors in technology used, flexibility and cost.

Today, college students exist in all age groups. Fortunately, with the improvements in technology and communication, online courses keep getting better and better. But in an era when online learning is nearly ubiquitous, which colleges and programs are the best for students who need to balance their jobs, family life, and school?

David Washington, research editor at OnlineCollegePlan.com, investigated to find out which online schools were the best to attend with criteria including technology used for course delivery, flexibility of classes, average cost of attendance, and academic offerings.

The product of his research is the ranking, “The Top 100 Best Online Colleges.”

The top 10 include:

10. Lewis University – Romeoville, Illinois

Lewis University houses 6,800 students through its five colleges and schools. The school’s online program offers bachelor degrees in business administration, information security and risk management, information technology management, and professional studies, as well as seven online master’s degrees in areas of aviation and transportation, business analytics, and organizational leadership. A doctoral in nursing practice is also offered.

9. University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Online – Tuscaloosa, Alabama

UAB has enrolled more than 18,500 students who are pursuing undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The online program offers seven bachelor’s degrees in healthcare management and business topics such as financing and marketing, as well as nearly 20 master’s programs including topics in areas of sociology, civil structural engineering, and elementary education.

8. Florida State University, Office of Distance Learning – Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State has over 42,000 students spread between 16 colleges and more than a hundred facilities, labs, and centers. Through the Office of Distance Learning, the university offers bachelor’s degrees in computer science, public safety and security, criminology and interdisciplinary social science. They also offer nearly 20 master’s degree programs in topics including criminology, business administration, communication disorders, and much more.

7. Fort Hays State University, Virtual College – Hays, Kansas

Fort Hays has about 11,200 students enrolled throughout four colleges. The university offers 40 online degrees through its Virtual College. Students can complete associate’s degrees in general studies and applied technology, as well as two dozen bachelor’s degrees ranging from information networking to business education. Master’s degrees in areas such as health and human performance, liberal studies, and special education are also available.

6. University of North Dakota – Grand Forks, North Dakota

The University of North Dakota has over 15,000 students distributed within 10 academic divisions. They offer more than 220 programs of undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as professional degrees in medicine and law. The online program offers 10 bachelor degrees such as communication, civil engineering, and psychology as well as 20 master’s degrees in programs such as aviation, space studies, and education. On top of that, they offer two doctoral programs in nursing.

(Next page: The top 5 best online colleges)

5. Arizona State University, ASU Online – Tempe, Arizona

Arizona State enrolls nearly 100,000 students across 16 colleges and schools. ASU Online offers a myriad of bachelor’s degree programs such as business, art history, justice studies, and film. They also offer master’s degrees in English, nutrition, legal studies, electrical engineering, and more. Students also have the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in biobehavioral health, innovation, and leadership.

4. Indiana University, IU Online – Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University enrolls more than 110,000 students across nine campuses and two centers. Through IU Online, the university offers hundreds of online classes and more than 100 degree programs. Students are encouraged to explore the variety of associate and bachelor degree programs, as well as their nine degree completion programs such as nursing, political science, and business administration. The online program also offers over two dozen masters degree programs ranging from data science to strategic management. Last but not least, students are able to earn doctoral degrees in nursing science, instructional systems technology, and nursing practice.

3. Northeastern University – Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern is home to over 20,000 students across nine colleges and schools in Massachusetts, as well as graduate campuses in North Carolina and Washington State. Northeastern’s online program offers nearly 20 bachelor degrees in topics such as finance, English, and political science. They offer two dozen master’s degrees such as leadership, taxation, and homeland security, and doctoral degrees in educational and transitional physical therapy. The online program also offers over 20 different certificate programs in various topics.

2. Oregon State University, OSU Ecampus – Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State enrolls more than 30,000 students across a dozen colleges and a graduate school. The university offers more than 900 online courses and a plethora of degree programs. The online program offers nearly 20 bachelor’s degrees ranging from sustainability to anthropology and nine master’s degrees such as counseling and natural resources and doctoral degrees in education. They also offer a number of certificate programs.

1. University of Minnesota Crookston – Crookston, Minnesota

Enrolling nearly 2,000 students, this university offers about 30 undergraduate degree programs through multiple academic departments. The school offers more than a dozen online bachelor’s degree programs such as communication, accounting, and quality management. Students also have the opportunity to pursue a handful of certificates and minors.

For the full list of the Best 100 Online Colleges, click here.

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