2019 Best Online Colleges & Degrees

George Washington University offers more than 100 online programs to students who want to pursue an online degree at any level. Online classes have a student-faculty ratio lower than on-campus classes, allowing online students to interact more with their professors. GWU's online offerings are highly rated, particularly the Homeland Security program. Among the unique courses offered are a Master's of Engineering in Climate Change and Policy and a BA in Police and Security Studies. Undergraduate tuition is $1,575 per credit. Graduate tuition varies by program but most are about $1,700 per credit. Because of GWU's location in the nation's capital, many of the faculty have close connections with government, agencies and cultural organizations.

Illinois Institute of Technology was one of the first universities to provide their courses online, serving distance learners since the 1970's. The Office of Digital Learning provides students with a robust learning environment with a curriculum that follows the same rigorous curriculum as on-campus courses from the same world-class faculty. While their online courses are flexible, their faculty still set deadlines for coursework to be completed. The programs offered include Food Process Engineering, Materials Chemistry, and Intellectual Property Management. The innovative Many Voices, One Vision program is refocusing IIT's degree programs to produce the kinds of engineering and technical professionals needed for the 21st century, and online programs are a key aspect.

Texas A&M-College Station is the oldest public institution of higher learning in Texas and offers degree programs at many levels, including two bachelor's degrees and more than 70 graduate degrees. These programs cover a wide variety of subjects such as agriculture, engineering, technology, and science. Students can earn their degrees or certificates from the comfort of their own home on their own schedules and have the access to same resources as on-campus students. Texas A&M University is dedicated to helping prepare students to serve society and assume roles in leadership.

The University of Massachusetts-Lowell online offers more than 50 degree and certificate programs for distance learners. Online courses are taught by expert faculty in their fields and by adjunct faculty, who bring real-world experience to class discussions as practicing professionals. Students have 24/7 access to online technical support as well as to academic advisors and program coordinators. Online undergraduate degrees at UMass Lowell are an affordable option and cover subjects such as English, Economics, Philosophy, History, and more. Master's degrees that are offered online include a Master's degrees in Homeland Defense, Cyber Security, and Critical Infrastructure Protection. With roots in training technicians for Lowell's historically significant textile industry, UML educational programs continue to strongly focus on careers and professions.

The University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign offers over 90 online programs, including degrees, certificates, and endorsements. Their degrees include those at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, and are taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus courses. The university has a diverse online student profile, with 72,385 students enrolled from all over the globe. Furthermore, their students come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including traditional and non-traditional, part-time and full-time, as well as high school students and working professionals. Illinois Online offers 40 degrees in a variety of fields, including business, engineering, education, and information technology. Their certificate program is even more plentiful, with 49 certificates available.

George Mason University Online offers more than 50 graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs, enrolling more than 33,000 students from all over the world. The online programs use the same curriculum that is offered on campus using an online format, maintaining the same academic integrity and rigor as on-campus classes. Therefore, students are able to complete the degree programs at their own pace and convenience. GMU s proximity to Washington DC naturally leads to a focus on policy, administration and the new global economy. Bachelor degree programs cover subjects such as Computer Game Design and Sport Management. Master's degree offerings include programs in Biodefense, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and Gifted Child Education. GMU is Virginia's largest research university.

New York University is a private nonprofit research university that offers a variety of online programs, all designed by the same faculty that create on-campus courses. They offer over two dozen programs, the majority being master's degrees. Most of these degrees are also available in a part-time format, providing flexibility for working professionals. Students are supported by a structured pathway for their degree, so they can stay focused on the classes they need to take in order to to graduate on their timeline. NYU also offers short, on-campus intensive workshops for online students who want to get to know their peers and faculty.

University of Alabama in Huntsville offers 21 rigorous online programs, each of them customized to meet the needs of their students. Programs are available at the bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels, and include options such as engineering, education, and nursing. They offer a variety of resources for online learning, including tutorials intended to help prospective students develop the skills required to be successful in an online course. All student support services, such as an online library, a technology help center, and a counseling center, are also made available to distance learners.

The University of Washington - Seattle is a nonprofit public research university. Their online campus offers approximately 100 programs and degrees, including bachelor's, master's, and certification options. All classes are taught by the same faculty that teach on-campus courses. Their master's programs range from one to six years, with some flexibility in duration. Their certificates require professional experience and are designed to accommodate the full schedules of professionals working full-time. Students attending the online campus at UW Seattle have access to dedicated academic advising as well as technical support.

The online campus at Oregon State University provides a wide variety of degrees to 23,000 students from around the world, with over 100 subjects available for study. They offer 50 online graduate and undergraduate degrees, complete with online tutoring, technical support, and library support chat. They also provide ample support for military members, helping veterans maximize their military education benefits. Prospective students are also able to preview the online learning platform at OSU to make an educated decision about whether online learning at this institution is right for them.

Drexel University offers over 140 online degrees and certificate programs, built by the same faculty who designed the curriculum for on-campus courses. They provide options for bachelor's, master's, doctorate, and certificate degrees, and reduced rates are available for military members, alumni, and other partners. Online students can also find support in various resources, including 24/7 tech support and access to an online library. After graduating, students can find career support through their Career Development Center. Drexel also offers a test drive for prospective students who want to know whether the online platform at Drexel will suit their needs.

DePaul University offers a variety of online programs at the bachelor's, master's and certificate levels. Their programs cover a wide range of topics, from a bachelor's degree in Psychology to a master's degree in Sport, Fitness and Recreation Leadership. Some of their programs allow transfer students to complete their degrees, and provide access to advisors to help design a personalized degree completion plan. Many of their programs are similarly structured to their in-person courses, with more flexibility in terms of time and location. Some programs also accept applications on a rolling basis, allowing more flexibility in terms of begin date.

Auburn University has an online campus that utilizes a variety of delivery modes, with program options including undergraduate, graduate, professional credit, and professional enrichment programs. Bachelor degrees are offered from a variety of colleges at Auburn University, such as Human Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Liberal Arts. Many of their programs are flexible, allowing students to work at their own pace. They offer online program advisors, so students can find support in the pursuit of their degree. Students also have access to technical support.

North Carolina State University's distance program offers over 85 degrees, including bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificates. Prospective students can select a program that suits them from a variety of colleges, including Design, Management, and Natural Resources. All programs are taught by the same faculty who teach courses in-person at NCSU, and provide flexibility with course schedules and program dates. Additionally, all online students have access to the same support resources as on-campus students, such as degree advising.

Washington State University is a public non-profit university with a wide worldwide alumni network. In addition to personal academic assistance, their Global Campus also offers a Global Connections program, which allows distance learners to participate in extracurricular activities. Their bachelor programs offer many support services to undergraduate students, including a dedicated student services staff and free online tutoring. Their master programs offer services such as 24/7 tech support and an academic advisor. WSU also offers online certificates through their Digital Academy program, geared especially towards self-growth and professional development.

The online campus at University of Maryland University College degrees at the bachelor, master, doctoral and certificate levels. Over 90 programs are available, with degrees in fields such as education, data analytics, and public safety. Their courses offer flexibility in terms of time, allowing students to log in at their preferred times to complete coursework. This flexibility extends to their overall scheduling as well, as UMUC offers rolling admissions and frequent session start dates throughout the year. They also provide application support for military members and federal employees, making the application process a seamless experience.

University of Minnesota Online offers over 40 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in a variety of disciplines, such as health care, business, finance, and more. Their courses are available to any student for the in-state tuition rate, regardless of residency. Online students will also find a variety of resources to support their learning, including technology help, university library access, and online tutorials/workshops. They also offer a variety of online training materials to develop the skills necessary to excel as a distance learner.

The University of Bridgeport was the first university to offer an online master's program in the state of Connecticut, beginning in 1997. They offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in a variety of subjects. Their online programs include bachelor's and master's degree options in dental hygiene, a master's in degree in analytics and systems, and a doctoral degree in educational leadership. Students who are accepted into the distance learning program can expect a dedicated academic advisor who will support them through the pursuit of a degree, from acceptance to graduation.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs online campus is a fully accredited institution with a number of degree options and over 12,000 enrolled students. They offer seven online bachelor's degrees, 23 master's degrees, and over 25 certifications, with options such as philosophy, criminal justice, and sociology. Distance students at UCCS have access to the writing center and bookstores, and can expect to attend online orientations. They also provide a number of services to military service members and veterans, with a focus on helping such students transition through financial, social, and academic support.

The University of Texas at Arlington is a research university with a large student body. Their online campus offers accelerated online programs that cover a variety of subjects, including nursing, education, and public affairs. Their nursing and teaching programs are notable in particular, as UTA partners with health care providers and school districts to provide affordable learning for nurses and teachers through the Academic Partnerships program. For example, nurses can complete their BSN or MSN while working, with programs that are constructed with their busy schedules in mind.

Arizona State University offers over 175 online degree programs, with over 30,000 enrolled students. They have a wide alumni network, with more than 500,000 graduates and 20,000 more graduating each year. They offer flexible scheduling to provide convenience to distance learners, with a total of six start dates throughout the academic year. 87% of ASU graduates are able to secure a job offer within 90 days of graduation. Students can obtain degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and certificate levels, with options in disciplines such as digital photography, clinical research management, and criminal sentencing and sentencing advocacy.

The University of Massachusetts is a fully accredited public research university where Amherst is just one of five campuses, and the entire university system is the largest producer of highly-skilled workers in Massachusetts. They offer a variety of degrees across their five campuses at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate levels, all fully available to take online. Some options for the Amherst campus include engineering management, soil science, and information security. Graduates of UMass can participate in a network of more than 260,000 alumni.