Many employers require their employees to hold at least a bachelor's degree.
However, for some people, it can be hard to find the time or the money to earn that degree.
Luckily, many colleges and universities in the United States now offer online degrees with affordable tuition.
Keep reading to discover some of the best affordable online degrees in the United States.
Featured Online Degree Programs in the US
There are several colleges and universities in the United States that offer online programs at an affordable tuition rate. We've featured some top programs below in alphabetical order.
1. Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University is a private Methodist university in Fayette, Missouri. It offers online programs through its College of Graduate and Extended Studies.
Online programs run for eight or 16 weeks.
Nearly 30 undergraduate degrees are available at Central Methodist University in fields like:
- Business
- Education
- Healthcare and Nursing
- Social Sciences
Online tuition at Central Methodist University is $270 per credit, which comes out to about $8,100 per year before additional fees.
2. Colorado State University Global
Colorado State University Global is the global campus of the public Colorado State University system. It offers multiple online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Bachelor's degrees at Colorado State University Global are available in areas of study such as:
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Healthcare
- Technology
Undergraduate credits cost $350 each, which works out to approximately $10,500 per year when taking 30 credits. Colorado State does not charge additional fees to online students.
3. Columbia College
Columbia College of Missouri is a private college in Columbia, Missouri. It offers online associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
Over 30 online bachelor's degrees are available at Columbia College.
Students can earn degrees in areas of study like:
- Business
- Computer Science
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
Per credit, online bachelor's degrees cost $375. For students studying full-time, that comes to approximately $11,250 per year.
4. Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University is a public university based in Portales, New Mexico. It offers highly affordable online undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Online bachelor's degrees are available through the following colleges within the university:
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Fine Arts
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
New Mexico residents studying full-time pay $3,369 in tuition and fees per semester or $6,738 per year. Non-residents pay $4,359 in tuition and fees per semester or about $8,718 per year.
5. Purdue Global
Purdue Global is the online branch of Purdue Global, a public research university in Indiana. It offers flexible online degrees from the associate to the doctorate levels.
Bachelor's degrees at Purdue Global are available in fields of study like:
- Business
- Health Sciences
- Information Technology
- Psychology
Indiana residents pay $280 per quarter credit, or $12,600 per year, while non-residents pay $371 per quarter credit, or $16,695.
Some programs are available in Purdue Global's ExcelTrack format, which costs $2,500 per 10-week term, during which you can take as many credits as you can handle.
6. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University is a private university in Manchester, New Hampshire. It's well-known for its large variety of online programs.
Bachelor's degrees at Southern New Hampshire University are available in fields such as:
- Business
- Healthcare and Nursing
- Social Sciences
- Technology
Undergraduate credits cost $330 each, which works out to $9,900 per year. The university also accepts up to 90 transfer credits, so your previous college experience doesn't go to waste.
7. Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University is a public university in Trenton, New Jersey. It offers dozens of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees online.
Students can earn online bachelor's degrees in areas of study like:
- Business and Marketing
- Engineering
- Liberal Studies
- Technology
Full-time New Jersey residents pay a flat rate of $3,319 per term, or $6,638 per year, while full-time non-residents pay $4,299 per term, or $8,598 per year.
8. University of Maine at Augusta
The University of Maine at Augusta is a public college in Augusta, Maine. It's part of the University of Maine system and has been offering online programs for over 30 years.
Over a dozen online bachelor's degrees are available in fields such as:
- Business
- Computer Information Systems and Cybersecurity
- Liberal Studies
- Social Sciences
Undergraduate residents of Maine are charged $252 per credit, which works out to $7,560 per year. Non-residents are charged $329 per credit or $9,870 per year.
9. University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin is a public university in Odessa, Texas. It's part of the University of Texas system and offers several online bachelor's and master's degrees.
The university offers online bachelor's degrees in areas of study like:
- Business
- Humanities
- Industrial Technology
- Social Sciences
The university charges the same rate for in-state and out-of-state online students. Tuition is $219.22 before additional fees, which is approximately $6,576.60 each year.
10. Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a private university based in Millcreek, Utah. It offers exclusively online programs in a self-paced format.
Students can earn bachelor's degrees in fields such as:
- Business
- Education
- Health and Nursing
- Technology
Tuition ranges from $3,575 to $4,685 per six-month term depending on the program. Because these degrees are self-paced, many students complete their degree in less than four years.
What Is the Cheapest Online College in the US?
The cheapest online degree depends on several factors, such as what state you live in and the financial aid you qualify for.
As a result, it's impossible to say what the cheapest online college is, as this answer can vary between students.
Additionally, community colleges are often cheaper than larger colleges and universities but typically don't offer bachelor's degrees.
How Much Does an Online Degree Cost in the US?
Online degrees are usually the same or a little cheaper than traditional degrees.
According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the average annual tuition for an undergraduate degree is $17,251.
How To Pay for an Online Degree in the US
There are many financial aid options to help pay for an online degree, such as grants, loans, and scholarships.
Filling out your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is a great way to figure out what financial aid you're eligible for.
Find an Online College in the US Today
Many excellent online colleges in the United States offer affordable tuition. Check out the featured programs above to find the perfect fit for you today!
Select a state below to find an affordable online college near you:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
