Cheapest Online Bachelor’s Degrees 2018
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), one in three students in the USA is now taking at least one class online. With the internet revolution, education online has become easier to access than ever before. Online degrees have become increasingly popular in the last few years and this popularity is only expected to rise in the future. Despite the doubt that surrounds the concept of online education, most of these programs are not in any way inferior to a program offered on-campus. Colleges are under pressure to expand into the online domain and offer affordable options to interested students.
Top colleges
As a lot of people who are thinking of pursuing an online bachelor’s degree are doing it to get a high quality education in a more affordable way, today we have tried to bring you a comprehensive list of most affordable colleges to do your bachelor degree. This list consists of universities and colleges where the tuition fees is below $9000 and have at least 10 bachelor programs that are completely online.
| Rank | College | Annual Tuition | No of online bachelor degrees |
| 1 | God’s Bible School and College | $6,300 | 12 |
| 2 | Western Governer’s University | $6,380 | 24 |
| 3 | Fort Hays State University | $6,399 | 58 |
| 4 | Lee University | $6,420 | 34 |
| 5 | Clayton State University | $6,600 | 22 |
| 6 | ECPI University Online | $6,648 | 26 |
| 7 | Arkansas State University | $7,080 | 19 |
| 8 | The Bapist College of Florida | $7,200 | 25 |
| 9 | University of the Potomac Online | $7,200 | 44 |
| 10 | Kennesaw State University | $7,719 | 14 |
| 11 | Southeastern University | $7,750 | 12 |
| 12 | Central Methodist University | $7,850 | 21 |
| 13 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | $8,000 | 10 |
| 14 | Clarion University | $8,092 | 18 |
| 15 | American Public University System | $8,100 | 131 |
| 16 | Chadron State College | $8,370 | 13 |
| 17 | Peru State College | $8,370 | 13 |
| 18 | University of Maine at Augusta | $8,550 | 39 |
| 19 | Waldorf University | $8,700 | 58 |
| 20 | Southeast Missouri State University | $8,752 | 21 |
| 21 | Athens State University | $8,804 | 12 |
| 22 | Missouri State University | $8,835 | 10 |
| 23 | Bemidji State University | $8,893 | 18 |
| 24 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | $8,910 | 24 |
| 25 | The University of Texas of the Permian Basin | $8,912 | 12 |
There are a number of reasons why someone might choose to do an online bachelor’s degree. Online degrees offer a number of advantages over on-campus programs. Some of the common reasons are as follows:
- The flexibility to study at your own pace. This is especially useful for people who have a job or a family to look after.
- The possibility to do a number of degrees simultaneously.
- You can cut the cost of relocating or commuting to the university.
- The possibility to learn anywhere and anytime you want.
- It is easy to review the lectures as they are always available online.
- It is possible to study at the university you like regardless of whether it is located in your country or close to where you live.
How to finance yourself?
Though the investment is low in the above-mentioned colleges as compared to other online colleges, it is still quite a large amount of money. Studies have however shown that a college education does pay off in the end. Below are some numbers which show how much a college degree can increase your income.
- 35,000$ is the average income of a person with a high school diploma
- 41,500$ is the average income of a person with an associate degree
- 50,556$ is the average income of a person with a bachelor’s degree
- 77,591$ is the average income of a person with a master’s degree
The cost of the degree may in fact vary a lot depending upon the degree level, the major and the university. Apart from the lower tuition fees, you can save money in other aspects such as the cost of relocation or commutation and cost of materials. The flexibility offered by online degrees also gives you the chance to work alongside your studies.
There are also many ways to finance your studies. Most students pay out of pocket or by taking education loans from banks or by getting help from relatives. There are several online colleges that also allow tuition fee payment in zero interest installments under the condition that the entire sum must be paid off by the end of each term. A number of scholarships are also available for students in various colleges. It is best to keep an eye open for these scholarships as they often partially or completely cover the cost of education.
The bottom line
Despite the rapid increase in popularity, there is still doubt surrounding online degrees. A section of employers still prefer traditional degrees over online degrees. The good news is that this is changing fast. 75% of employers do not look at online degrees negatively anymore and some might even look at it positively as it shows the determination of an individual in successfully taking up a number of commitments. Online degrees are the way to go if you are looking for a flexible and affordable option to get educated. It is best to evaluate your interests before taking the plunge as a bachelor degree whether on campus or online is a long commitment.