College Choice releases 2015 inaugural ranking of “Most Affordable Online Colleges for Bachelor’s Degrees”
In a unique college ranking based exclusively on total cost to earn an online bachelor’s degree, independent college search and rankings website College Choice has published its first annual ranking of most affordable online colleges for bachelor’s degrees.
Only colleges and universities with at least five regionally accredited online bachelor’s degree offerings were considered for the ranking.
According to Katie Amondson, lead editor for the ranking, “When considering where one can obtain an online bachelor’s degree that will work within a budget, this list will provide a definitive guide to figuring total costs.”
The rankings are based on the total cost to obtain an online bachelor’s degree. Often, determining the actual costs of an online education can be a challenge, as many colleges and programs incorporate fees not directly tied to tuition.
It also takes into account tuition per credit as well as total cost of fees, and is based on a typical 120-credit requirement to complete a bachelor’s degree. Data was taken directly from each school’s website and other publicly available sources.
These fees come in a wide range of types and amounts and when added to the overall cost of attendance, can often total in thousands of dollars. Knowing what these fees are and how they impact the total cost to complete an online bachelor’s degree helps potential students make more fully informed decisions, explains College Choice.
According to the ranking, Brigham Young University-Idaho campus tops the list, followed by Fort Hays State University and Baptist College of Florida.
(Next page: See the other 47 top online colleges)
Other universities that made the top 50 list include:
[Listed in alphabetical order]
- Amberton University
- American Public University System
- Athens State University
- Baker College of Flint
- Belhaven University
- Bellevue University
- Bluefield College
- Chadron State College
- Charter Oak State College
- Clarion University
- Colorado State University Global Campus
- Columbia College
- DeVry University
- Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Ferris State University
- Florida International University
- Granite State College
- Lamar University
- Lee University
- Liberty University
- Limestone College
- Mid America Christian University
- Minot State University
- Mizzou Online
- National American University Online
- Nicholls State University
- Northern Arizona University
- Northern State University
- Ohio University
- Old Dominion University
- Oregon State University
- Rasmussen College
- Southern Illinois University (Carbondale)
- Southern New Hampshire University
- The University of Maine at Fort Kent
- Trident University International
- Troy University
- University of Louisiana-Monroe
- University of Maine (Augusta)
- University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth)
- University of South Dakota
- University of West Florida
- University of Wisconsin-Superior
- Utah State University
- Valley City State University
- Western Governors University
- Wilmington University
College Choice is an independent online publication that aims to help students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that try to make finding the best colleges for different interests easier, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.
The full set of rankings can be viewed here.
Material from a press release was used in this report.
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