The cost of education is rising, and choosing an affordable online college can be a more affordable alternative to obtaining your desired certificate. Attending online college will allow you to emphasize work along with your study. Since online courses are cost-effective, you can save money for other important expenses, including housing, transportation, or any other additional costs.
However, all the online colleges are not equally good at providing you with quality education with the same academic proficiency as traditional classes. That’s why it’s quintessential to look for ranked as well as accredited colleges that ensure academic excellence, affordability, and on-demand programs of your choice. Look at the following list of the 10 most affordable online colleges of 2023 and earn your degree online flexibly and affordably.
10 Most Affordable Online Universities
Online programs have made achieving a college degree easier for those distance learners. Let’s see all the accredited colleges that ease up your degree-earning process with quality education.
Image caption
#1 Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 Years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
$38,400
Average Graduate Tuition
$28,665
Southern New Hampshire University is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The institution offers online programs for undergraduates and graduates. Almost 128,672 students are enrolled in online programs and taught within the same academic rigor as regular classes.
The average per-credit cost here can be $465. Students enrolled online are eligible for federal financial aid, including the Pell Grant. According to the school’s report, its admission rate is 94%, and 37% of students graduate from its bachelor programs.
Southern New Hampshire University has received accreditation from the New England Commission on Higher Education.
Image caption
#2 University of California, Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$13,401
$43,473
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$13,322
$28,424
The University of California in Los Angeles offers different online programs and around 41,906 students, including distance learners. This public institution ranks high among the most affordable colleges for online learning.
Online students qualify for financial aid such as scholarships and grants that can reduce their educational costs. Every year, undergraduates receive $18,994 in financial support on average. The school offers financial aid in various forms, and 73% of students receive aid and pay for their educational expenses. The school report says its admission rate is 14%, and the graduation rate is 91%.
The University of California holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
Image caption
#3 University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 Years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$19,196
$31,900
The main campus of The University of Florida is in Gainesville, Florida. The school administers online programs along with inviting undergraduate and graduate students. The institution facilitates 49,050 distance learners on an online platform. Online students can easily achieve a college degree at lower tuition fees.
The school qualifies its distance learners for federal financial aid, such as the Pell Grant. The institution provides $11,067 for financial aid to undergraduate students on average. This financial support lowers their education cost, and they pay an average price of $10,075 each year. The University of Florida has a report of a 31% admission rate and an 89% graduation rate for undergrad students.
The University of Florida receives accreditations from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Image caption
#4 Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and its courses are designed for undergraduate and graduate students. L.U. offers cheap tuition rates that grab the attention of online learners. L.U. has a total of 86,390 online learners.
To enroll in their online programs, Liberty University requires an average of $750 per credit. Online students get federal student aid programs like the Pell Grant for financial support. The school has a report of a 50% admission rate, and 54% of the students graduate from the institution.
Liberty University is acknowledged by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Image caption
#5 Florida State College
- Jacksonville
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$3,249
$10,367
Florida State College is located in Jacksonville, and the institution offers one of the cheapest tuition fees for those who want to obtain a bachelor’s degree online. There are 20,717 enrollments for distance learning, and among them, 16,086 attend online classes.
In 2021, Florida State College was announced as one of the winners of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges. By then, the institution was awarded by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. The Culinary Management Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program of Florida State College is accredited up to 2026 by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.
The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Image caption
#6 The University of North Carolina
- Pembroke
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$3,495
$7,495
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$6,775
$19,834
The University of North Carolina is a publicly funded college located in the eponymous Pembroke, North Carolina. It was originally founded for indigenous people. However, the institution now invites distance learners who are non-indigenous.
The college offers 7 bachelor’s degree programs- Accounting, B.S. Business Administration, B.S. Birth-Kindergarten Education (B-K), B.S. Criminal Justice, B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, B.I.S. RN-BSN Sociology, B.A. You can enroll in these courses online, and their website includes a helpful Online Learning Page convenient for distance learning.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges also accredited the University of North Carolina.
Image caption
#7 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign, IL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
$4,664
Average Graduate Tuition
$16,320
*Cost may vary depending on the online programs.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign also ranks among the affordable colleges that administrate online degrees for undergraduates and graduates. There are 50,734 students enrolled in this public school’s programs for online learning.
Distance learners receive grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid and become able to lower their educational expenses. Every year, undergrad students get $16,785 in financial aid. These financial supports help almost 70% of students pay their education fees at a lower rate. According to the institution’s report, its admission rate is 63%, and the rate of graduation is 86%.
The Higher Learning Commission accredits The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Image caption
#8 Louisiana State University
- Alexandria
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
$39000
Average Graduate Tuition
$39,960
Alexandria’s Louisiana State University offers the most affordable bachelor’s degrees online in Louisiana and the southern region. According to the school’s report, a total of 3,771 students enrolled for distance learning in LSUA, and among them, 2926 enrolled online.
The institution also has a comprehensive transfer policy as well as financial aid so that students can obtain their degrees without facing any financial issues.
The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In addition, its individual programs also have additional accreditation that boasts its credibility.
Image caption
#9 Eastern New Mexico University
- New Mexico
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$3,369 (per semester)
$4,359 (per semester)
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
Out-of-state
$2,727.00 (per semester)
$3,613.50 (per semester)
Eastern New Mexico University is located in New Mexico, and it offers several programs obtainable online. ENMU’s online bachelor’s degree programs are convenient for students who need to maintain a study-work-life balance.
A total of 4075 attend ENMU’s online classes. The university offers different online programs, including a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in Computer Science, Arts in Communication Journalism, and many more incredible programs. The university also provides financial aid for added convenience. To check out your compatibility for Federal Student Aid, apply for Federal Student Aid free.
The institution has been receiving continuous accreditations from the Higher Learning Commission.
Image caption
#10 Columbia Southern University
- Alabama
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
$32,400
Average Graduate Tuition
$12,564
Columbia Southern University is located in Alabama and invites students to obtain their degrees online. The institution offers a few bachelor programs online, including criminal justice administration, fire administration, health care administration, emergency medical services administration, and psychology.
A total of 16,412 students have exclusively enrolled in different online programs to earn their degrees while balancing their busy life simultaneously. The institution has financial aid policies in different forms, like grants and scholarships.
Columbia Southern University is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Why Apply to Cheap Online Colleges?
- More affordable tuition feed than in-person college.
- You can work more flexibly.
- You can save money for your regular expenses, including housing costs, commuting, and campus fees.
- Earning a degree online is a trend. In 2021, 59% of students were enrolled online for distance education in postsecondary institutions. In 2022, Western Governors University in Utah was ranked first, and Southern New Hampshire University was second for providing outstanding distance learning opportunities.
Why Accreditation is Important for Affordable Online College?
An educational institution is an accredited reputed body that ensures quality standards of academics, faculty, and support services. It’s better to apply to accredited online schools that ensure you’ll receive a quality education.
An accredited institution ensures students qualify for federal financial aid. It is also important when you need to transfer your college credits to get admission to other institutions.
If you want to qualify for state licensure in various fields such as healthcare and law, then programmatic accreditation is a mandatory requirement for you. To fulfill this prerequisite, you have to complete a program that holds programmatic accreditation.
Visit your school’s official website or any of its specific programs and check out its accreditation status. You can also check the databases provided by the Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation to ensure the institution is accredited.
Cost of the Most Affordable Online Colleges
According to the College Board Research in 2022-2023, tuition fees at public four-year universities were $10,950 on average. The rate has increased by $190, higher than the average costs in 2021-22.
Private colleges require higher tuition fees which have also increased over time. Private nonprofit four-year universities’ average tuition cost is $39,400. This average rate is $1,330 higher than the costs in 2021-22.
Online students may not need to pay the same tuition fees as in-person students. However, you may count additional costs like distance learner fees, charges for laptops and technology, and book copies and supplies.
6 Ways to Make Cheap Online Colleges Even Cheaper
The following tip can help to achieve your online degree in more affordable ways:
Apply for Financial Aid
As a distance learner, you can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA will analyze and fix your eligibility for financial aid, including low-interest federal loans and federal grants like the Pell Grant, based on your needs.
There are several determining factors, including you’re tuition rate of your school, your earnings and assets, your family members, and your college-attending siblings. How much financial aid you’ll get widely depends on these factors.
Besides, you can apply for independent scholarships. Scholarships are like federal and institutional grants, and you’re not required to return the money.
The eligible criteria for College scholarships are vastly different. Before you apply, make sure you’re properly qualified for the scholarship.
Attend an In-State Public School
Tuition fees for public colleges and universities will vary for the in-state or out-of-state residents. Per-credit costs for in-state online colleges might be more affordable than out-of-state colleges.
There are tuition reciprocity programs that offer reduced or in-state tuition rates to neighboring states’ students. Check out your state’s or institution’s reciprocity programs and sign up accordingly.
Prioritize Online Colleges Offering Same Tuition Fees
You’ll find schools like Western Governors University that offer the same tuition rates for all distance learners without considering their residency (in-state or out-of-state).
Earn Credit at a Community College
According to the NCES data, tuition fees for community college is significantly more affordable than for four-year colleges and universities (both online and in-person).
You can attend a local community college for general education classes and transfer the credits to a four-year university.
Apply for Accelerated Programs
Accelerated online programs offered by some colleges are also affordable and time-saving. Look at the University of Michigan-Flint, which has designed online bachelor’s degree programs that can be completed earlier than four years.
Apart from that, there are bachelor’s-to-master’s programs offered by several institutions like Southern New Hampshire University. Here; you’ll be offered many fast-track online degrees that help you earn a bachelor’s degree and facilitate you get some credits so that you can achieve a master’s degree earlier.
Opt for Programs that Allow Part Time
Instead of taking student loans, try to pay for one or two individual courses upfront or by the end of the term (if possible). It will save you from the initial short-term payment load as well as prevent you from paying interest.
10 Most Affordable Online Colleges of 2023: Final Words
Trendy online colleges bring revolutionary changes in the form of education that is more convenient than traditional on-campus classes. Online classes are mostly useful for distance learners and for those who lead a very busy life due to their profession. In addition, these types of programs are more affordable, so you can obtain your desired degree flexibly and in the comfort of your home. Hope this list of the 10 most affordable online colleges of 2023 and you can get your degree and make the most of your hard-earned cash!