While one constraint students face is the inability to afford quality education and as there are a lot of bachelor’s degree programs made available on-campus, not all are of them affordable and convenient to engage in. Fortunately, there are cheap and quality degree programs online for anyone who aspires to gain one. Through a cheap online bachelor’s degree program, the success of any individual could happen right in the comfort of their homes and at their own pace. The coursework under a cheap online bachelor’s degree program varies depending on the student’s choice of a field of study. Any competitive online bachelor’s degree program lasts within a reasonable duration, and students pay under $300 per credit hour. These top 20 online affordable bachelor’s degree programs are all recognized as quality providers in the field of online education services.
Featured Schools
An online bachelor’s degree can be a great next step in your career and a much more feasible option than brick and mortar classes on a fixed schedule, which can be daunting with work and family obligations. The schools in this list offer multiple degree options (only a sampling are listed below) and additional services specifically tailored to the needs of online students. Online learning requires a specific skill set different from what traditional classes require, so find a brief online assessment and see if this is right for you. It also requires certain technological skills, but if you can access this article, you could most likely handle the level of technology required for online study. The top 20 online bachelor’s degree programs included on this list are all nationally recognized for their online programs.
#20 Westfield State University
Westfield, MassachusettsPoints: 21.5Enrollment: 6,496Tuition: $15,203 in-state, on average per year
Westfield State University offers cheap online bachelor’s degrees you can take. They are unique on this list in that their online bachelor’s program is a completion program open to those who already have a two-year degree or qualifying coursework in the field. They offer six courses of study and four minors. Their student to faculty ratio is a respectable 17:1.
Online Bachelor’s in HistoryBachelor’s in Psychology OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in SociologyBachelor’s in Business Management Online
#19 – New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Points: 23.5Enrollment: 15,490Tuition: $10,501 in-state, on average per year New Mexico State University is the Land of Enchantment’s land-grant university, and they see their mission as encompassing education, research, and public service. They offer several majors online, including harder to find fields like Women’s Studies. Their student to faculty ratio is 16:1, which is very good. Online students at New Mexico State are eligible for the same student advising and academic services as brick and mortar students.
Online Bachelor’s in Information and Communication TechnologyBachelor’s in Women’s Studies OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Criminal JusticeBachelor’s in Sociology Online
#18 – University of West Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Points: 24Enrollment: 12,763Tuition: $10,282 in-state, on average per year The University of West Florida offers cheap online bachelor’s degrees that you can take. It has been serving the Panhandle of the Sunshine State for 50 years. What makes it exceptional from other schools is their offer of an out-of-state tuition waiver to online students. Active duty and reserve military members located outside of Florida are eligible for a 100% out-of-state tuition waiver, and undergraduate students who live outside of Florida are eligible for a 75% out-of-state tuition waiver. The following are the online courses this school offer to its virtual students.
Online Bachelor’s in Health SciencesBachelor’s in Exceptional Student Education OnlineOnline RN-BSN in NursingBachelor’s in Information Technology – Network Systems Operation Online
#17 Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, Texas
Points: 24.5Enrollment: 20,031Tuition: $11,872 in-state, on average per year
Sam Houston State University’s online division stresses the three core values of credibility, flexibility, and possibility. They understand the role online education can play in the lives of busy people who nonetheless want to get ahead. Furthermore, this school offers nine majors for its online bachelor’s degree program. This school has stood out as a military-friendly school. Sam Houston State University has four terms a year: fall, spring, and two four-week summer sessions. Also, below are the online courses available to the students.
B.A. or B.S. in Criminal Justice OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in HistoryB.A. or B.S. in Sociology OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Psychology
#16 Lamar University
Beaumont, Texas
Points: 25Enrollment: 14,965Tuition: $12,157 in-state, on average per year Lamar University has been educating east Texas and western Louisiana for over 90 years. It offers 16 areas of study for its online bachelor’s program. With a student to faculty ratio of 19:1, Lamar University provides tutoring services specifically for online students and separate services for veterans and those with disabilities. There are people available for career counseling.
Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration with Three ConcentrationsBachelor’s in Communication OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Industrial EngineeringRN to BSN Online
#15 University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Points: 25.5Enrollment: 14,551Tuition: $12,055 in-state, on average per year The University of Southern Mississippi has been educating people from all over the country for more than 100 years, so their extension into the online arena was a natural one. It offers bachelor’s degrees in eleven fields that can all be completed online. The programs it offers are recognized for being military-friendly. This school offers a price break, in that you can take up to 18 credit hours of classes for the same price as 12 hours of classes.
Online Bachelor’s in Construction Engineering TechnologyBachelor’s in Child and Family Studies OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Elementary EducationBachelor’s in Library and Information Studies Online
#14 Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Points: 26Enrollment: 13,410Tuition: $11,896 in-state, on average per year Arkansas State University had its beginnings as an agricultural school in the Natural State. In the century since its founding, it has developed into a cutting-edge research institution. One facet of that is online instruction. Arkansas State University offers cheap online bachelor’s degrees you can take. The school’s online bachelor’s program boasts nearly a dozen degree possibilities. The in-state and out-of-state tuition rates are very competitive, and they keep class sizes down with a student-to-faculty ratio of only 17:1.
Online RN to BSNBachelor’s of Criminology OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Political ScienceBachelor’s in Strategic Communication with Social Media Management Online
#13 University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Points: 26.5Enrollment: 62,953Tuition: $14,366 in-state, on average per year The University of Central Florida offers 21 majors in their online bachelor’s program and 31 minors, which is extensive and also affordable. It also offers five additional certificate possibilities with the degree. The University of Central Florida waives some campus-based fees for online students only. Although this limits access to on-campus services. First-time-in-college students are not eligible to enroll full-time with UCFOnline. They may take some online courses in concert with on-campus courses.
Online Bachelor’s in AnthropologyBachelor’s in English OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Criminal JusticeBachelor’s in Health Services Administration Online
#12 Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Points: 27Enrollment: 11,987Tuition: $11,566 in-state, on average per year Southeast Missouri State University also adopts the newest trend in online education, A new tuition pricing tier for online-only students, regardless of residency. Starting in December 2016, online undergraduate students at Southeast Missouri State University will pay $265 per credit hour. It also offers a demo course to allow prospective students to experience the learning management system for course delivery, Moodle.
Online RN to BSNBachelor’s in Technology Management OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Social ScienceBachelor’s in Healthcare Management Online
#11 North Carolina Central University
Durham, North CarolinaPoints: 27.5Enrollment: 8,011Tuition: $9,793 in-state, on average per year
North Carolina Central University prides itself on being a community-engaged enterprise and that can cause real-world career networking on your behalf. NCCU offers a tutoring service specifically for online students and special services for veterans, those with disabilities, and career services to get you on your way when you are finished with school.
Online Bachelor’s in Criminal JusticeBachelor’s in Early Childhood Education OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Tourism and Hospitality AdministrationRN to BSN in Nursing
#10 Great Basin College
Elko, NevadaPoints: 28Enrollment: 3,149Tuition: $10,221 in-state, on average per year
Great Basin College covers, through satellite campuses, a region that touches Oregon, Idaho, Utah, California, and Arizona, from its home in Nevada. So branching out into online learning was a natural next step for them. Great Basin College’s per hour tuition rate for online students must be seen to be believed, and they do not charge out-of-state tuition to online students during the summer session, a perk we have seen nowhere else. They offer seven online bachelor’s degree options and a standard range of services for online students.
Online Bachelor’s in Land Surveying/Geomatics EmphasisBachelor’s in Graphic Communications OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in EnglishRN to BSN Online
#9 – Clayton State University
Morrow, Georgia
Points: 29Enrollment: 7,012Tuition: $10,862 in-state, on average per year As an online student at Clayton State University, you are eligible for all the student services available to traditional students, plus a live tutoring service that is available when the on-campus tutoring center is closed. This school has a center for veterans’ services. You are open to cheap 14 different bachelor’s degree programs and run both 8-week and 16-week courses. The student-to-faculty ratio is very good at 18:1. Online Bachelor’s in EnglishBachelor’s in Technology Management OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in HistoryBachelor’s in Administrative Management Online
#8 Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Points: 29.5Enrollment: 9,179Tuition: $9,290 in-state, on average per year The Northwestern State University of Louisiana does not charge out-of-state tuition fees to its online-only students. Undergraduate online students pay $375 per credit hour for the first 12 hours and $100 per credit hour for every hour above 12. This makes online admission into this school very competitive. This institution of higher learning offers an excellent selection of majors at the bachelor’s level. Online Bachelor’s in Social WorkBachelor’s in Accounting OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Computer Information SystemsBachelor’s in Business Administration Online
#7 South Texas College
McAllen, Texas
Points: 30Enrollment: 34,371Tuition: $1,306 in-state, on average per year South Texas College’s in-district tuition per credit hour is $70. This cheap rate applies to four online bachelor’s degree options, and their website says they plan to add more degree options. South Texas College has a solid student-to-faculty ratio of 24:1. Services available to online students include advising, financial aid, career counseling, and the bursar’s office. They also have services for veterans and the disabled. Online Bachelor’s in Computer and Information TechnologiesBachelor’s in Medical and Health Services Management OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Technology ManagementBachelor’s in Organizational Leadership Online
#6 Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
Points: 30.5Enrollment: 3,354Tuition: $10,756 in-state, on average per year Besides being a top destination for Canadian students, Minot State University is a vital part of the state public education system that is an enormous source of pride in the Roughrider State. Nationally recognized for quality and value, Minot State University also offers seven cheap online bachelor’s degree options and a separate BSN completion option for those with existing college credit. They have jumped on the flat rate bandwagon of tuition for online students, regardless of residency, and their rate per credit hour is under $300 as of this writing. Online Bachelor’s in General StudiesBachelor’s in Management Information Systems OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in International BusinessBachelor’s in Marketing Online
#5 West Texas A&M University
Canyon, Texas
Points: 31Enrollment: 9,489Tuition: $12,232 in-state, on average per year West Texas A&M University has a noble approach to keeping college costs down. Besides offering in-state tuition to counties bordering Texas, this school offers a plan to lock in your current year’s tuition rate for your entire term of study at the institution. This can be a help in planning expenses. Their online bachelor’s degree program has received special recognition for its veteran friendliness. West Texas A&M University offers four paths to a cheap online bachelor’s degree and a further three options to those with previous college credit. Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration with four concentrationsBachelor’s in Criminal Justice Administration OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in General StudiesBachelor’s in Health Sciences Online
#4 University of Alaska – Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Points: 31.5Enrollment: 8,638Tuition: $8,741 in-state, on average per year The University of Alaska – Fairbanks is partaking in the trend where schools charge in-state tuition to their online-only students. Their per credit hour rate varies depending on the level of the class you are taking, but all their undergraduate fees are under $300 an hour. They also have dedicated staff to support the unique needs of online students. They have received additional recognition for their military support programs and also, through their cheap online bachelor’s degree programs. Online Bachelor’s in PsychologyBachelor’s in Business Administration OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementBachelor’s in Justice Online
#3 Murray State University
Murray, Kentucky
Points: 32Enrollment: 10,998Tuition: $10,034 in-state, on average per year Murray State University offers a tiered tuition system. The school also offers cheap online bachelor’s degrees you can take. There are the standard in-state and out-of-state rates, and they innovate by offering a middle tier for residents of Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Tennessee. Murray State University offers six different online bachelor’s degrees. They have the highest rankings collectively of any school on this list, and their tuition is cheap. They also boast a student-to-faculty ratio of only 15:1. Online Bachelor’s in Business AdministrationBachelor’s in Computer Information Systems OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Logistics and Supply Chain ManagementRN to BSN Online
#2 Fort Hays State University
Hays, Kansas
Points: 32.5Enrollment: 14,210Tuition: $11,890 in-state, on average per year Fort Hays State University offers 22 different courses of study in their cheap online bachelor’s degree programs, some with multiple concentration options. If that is not enough for you, they also have a very flexible and cheap online Bachelor of General Studies that you can work with an advisor to customize to your career needs. Fort Hays State University maintains a separate tuition schedule for its Virtual College students and their rate is $207.24 per credit hour for online instruction, regardless of residency, which is highly competitive.
Online BSN to RNBachelor’s in Computer Science OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in MarketingBachelor’s in Philosophy Online
#1 Troy University
Troy, Alabama
Points: 33Enrollment: 17,765Tuition: $9,350 in-state, on average per year Troy University distinguishes itself from the pack, first with a whopping 31 majors available in their online bachelor’s program. The second distinction is their Troy Military and Family scholarship that pays all tuition costs above $250 a credit hour for any currently serving member of the United States military, National Guard, and Reserve. Spouses and dependents are eligible for between 25 and 50 percent off of tuition. Their tuition for non-military students is competitive at $338 per credit hour. Troy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Online Bachelor’s in Applied Computer ScienceBachelor’s in Human Resource Management OnlineOnline Bachelor’s in Political ScienceBachelor’s in Resource and Technology Management Online