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U.S. Online Degrees IN General Studies (BA/BS)

Jun 30, 2023

The Best Online Bachelors Degree Programs in General Studies

School Tuition* Acceptance Rate Graduation Rate Financial Aid % Placement Services Career Services Accepts
1 Northwestern State University of Louisiana $8768 82% 44% 97% Yes Yes AP / ACE Credits
2 Louisiana State University-Shreveport $7327 84% 31% 94% Yes Yes AP Credits
3 Northeastern State University $6915 100% 33% 93% Yes Yes AP Credits
4 Lamar University $8494 84% 34% 82% Yes Yes AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits
5 Wichita State University $8299 92% 50% 89% Yes Yes AP / ACE Credits
6 University of Nebraska at Kearney $7701 85% 56% 94% Yes Yes AP / NCCRS Credits
7 University of North Dakota $9736 81% 61% 92% Yes Yes AP Credits
8 Arkansas State University-Main Campus $8900 80% 53% 97% Yes Yes AP Credits
9 University of the Cumberlands $9875 80% 44% 99% No Yes AP Credits
10 Dakota State University $9536 77% 43% 93% Yes Yes AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits
11 University of South Florida-Main Campus $6410 48% 75% 93% Yes Yes AP Credits
12 University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee $5587 24% 47% 84% Yes Yes AP Credits
13 South Dakota State University $9114 90% 56% 93% Yes Yes AP Credits
14 West Texas A & M University $8135 69% 45% 90% Yes Yes AP Credits
15 Madonna University $23100 75% 60% 97% Yes Yes AP Credits
16 Morehead State University $9290 78% 46% 100% Yes Yes AP Credits
17 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus $9028 70% 65% 90% Yes Yes AP / NCCRS Credits
18 University of Mary $19074 74% 60% 98% Yes Yes AP / NCCRS Credits
19 University of Missouri-Columbia $10477 81% 71% 89% Yes Yes AP Credits
20 Southeast Missouri State University $7800 86% 50% 96% Yes Yes AP Credits
21 Eastern Kentucky University $9876 94% 45% 98% Yes Yes AP Credits
22 Minot State University $7592 67% 45% 90% Yes Yes AP / ACE Credits
23 University of Idaho $8304 78% 56% 96% Yes Yes AP Credits
24 Tennessee State University $9012 No Available Data (2019-2020) 32% 91% Yes Yes AP / ACE Credits
25 University of Louisiana at Lafayette $10382 68% 51% 96% Yes Yes AP Credits
26 University of Louisiana at Monroe $8974 80% 47% 98% Yes Yes AP Credits
27 Youngstown State University $8949 67% 41% 98% Yes Yes AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits
28 Webster University $28700 57% 58% 96% Yes Yes AP / NCCRS Credits

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

*Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Essential Information

Similar to a major in liberal studies or liberal arts, a general studies degree does not train students for a specific career upon graduation, but it provides them with highly valued job qualifications, such as leadership, communication and critical thinking. Students can find these programs at many traditional four-year schools as well as some private online institutions. Most programs are fully available online, and they can lead to either a bachelor's or an associate's degree.

Several universities give students credit toward the online general studies program for military service, work experience, completed college certificate programs or successful completion of exams, such as Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP) and Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES).

Bachelor's in General Studies

Online bachelor's degrees in general studies can vary widely depending on the school, but students can typically tailor programs to their interests and goals. Some programs offer distance learners the option to focus their studies in multiple areas, such as business, education, sociology or English, among others.

Schools usually require students in these programs to complete general education coursework, two to three minors and then fulfill the rest of the degree requirements with electives. Bachelor's degrees take around four years to earn, but some programs will award an associate's degree in general studies after two years of study.

Course Topics

Curricula in general studies programs encompass a wide range of disciplines. Students usually take one or more classes in arts and humanities, behavioral sciences, business administration, education, science and mathematics. A sample curriculum might include:

  • Classical studies
  • Philosophy
  • Biology
  • College mathematics
  • History
  • Economics
  • Sociology
  • Political science

Online Learning

Most distance learning general studies programs can be completed totally online. Schools often target working adults when designing these programs, which can allow flexibility with not only course options but also scheduling. For instance, online classes may be offered for a standard 16 weeks or in a more condensed 8-week format; others may be self-paced. These courses are usually interactive, allowing students to communicate with classmates and the instructor and submit assignments electronically via Blackboard or a similar content management system.

In online bachelor's degree programs in general studies, students have the opportunity to get a broad liberal arts education with a focus on a particular discipline of interest. The distance learning format is ideal for students with external scheduling constraints, like a full-time job.

Find the best online general studies degree programs at an in-state school near you:

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