Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees for 2023

Find The Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges and Highest Paying Careers

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Choosing a career is one thing; finding out which academic path will get you there is another. It doesn’t have to be difficult though; there are many resources available to help you out, including your school’s career advisor and this guide.

High school students considering completing a four-year bachelor’s degree program after earning your high school diploma, whether you are looking for a 100% on-campus program or if you want online bachelor's programs for flexible learning or a 100% distance learning, online degree program, this article can help you determine which type is right for you. You will find loads of information in this guide to help you learn about the types of bachelor degree programs available to undergraduate students, how much they cost, the fields of study (arts and sciences) in these bachelor's degrees, what kind of jobs you can get with each major, the number of years to complete a program, how to decide between popular colleges and universities, federal student aid options, programs for on-campus students and many online programs and online degrees, degree completion programs, and more. You will also be able to find the top 100 online bs degrees offered by colleges and universities across the country.

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What are the Best Online Bachelor's Programs?

Online Bachelor's Colleges

*Minimum 5 Online Bachelor's

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1

University of Florida

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $6,381
    • Out-of-State: $28,659
  • Net Price: $9,809
  • Acceptance Rate: 30%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 55,781
  • Undergrad Students: 34,876
  • Graduate Students: 20,905
  • Diplomas Awarded: 9,464
  • Grads Salary: $75,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of Florida
2

University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $10,720
    • Out-of-State: $38,608
  • Net Price: $13,484
  • Acceptance Rate: 60%
  • Retention Rate: 95%
  • Graduation Rate: 89%
  • Total Enrollment: 47,016
  • Undergrad Students: 34,561
  • Graduate Students: 12,455
  • Diplomas Awarded: 7,751
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
3

Purdue University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $9,992
    • Out-of-State: $28,794
  • Net Price: $14,619
  • Acceptance Rate: 69%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%
  • Total Enrollment: 50,344
  • Undergrad Students: 37,806
  • Graduate Students: 12,538
  • Diplomas Awarded: 8,130
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Purdue University
4

Northeastern University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $57,592
    • Out-of-State: $57,592
  • Net Price: $38,927
  • Acceptance Rate: 18%
  • Retention Rate: 97%
  • Graduation Rate: 91%
  • Total Enrollment: 28,167
  • Undergrad Students: 15,747
  • Graduate Students: 12,420
  • Diplomas Awarded: 4,312
  • Grads Salary: $81,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Northeastern University

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5

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $16,439
    • Out-of-State: $36,964
  • Net Price: $17,291
  • Acceptance Rate: 66%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 84%
  • Total Enrollment: 32,045
  • Undergrad Students: 24,231
  • Graduate Students: 7,814
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,274
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Amherst
6

Ohio State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,936
    • Out-of-State: $35,019
  • Net Price: $19,474
  • Acceptance Rate: 57%
  • Retention Rate: 94%
  • Graduation Rate: 88%
  • Total Enrollment: 61,677
  • Undergrad Students: 47,106
  • Graduate Students: 14,571
  • Diplomas Awarded: 11,529
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Ohio State University
7

George Washington University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $59,870
    • Out-of-State: $59,870
  • Net Price: $31,240
  • Acceptance Rate: 50%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 84%
  • Total Enrollment: 26,457
  • Undergrad Students: 11,502
  • Graduate Students: 14,955
  • Diplomas Awarded: 3,020
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 12:1
  • George Washington University
8

Indiana University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,333
    • Out-of-State: $38,352
  • Net Price: $13,386
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 81%
  • Total Enrollment: 45,328
  • Undergrad Students: 34,253
  • Graduate Students: 11,075
  • Diplomas Awarded: 7,738
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Indiana University-Bloomington
9

Thomas Jefferson University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $43,116
    • Out-of-State: $43,116
  • Net Price: $24,227
  • Acceptance Rate: 78%
  • Retention Rate: 84%
  • Graduation Rate: 71%
  • Total Enrollment: 8,270
  • Undergrad Students: 3,754
  • Graduate Students: 4,516
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,163
  • Grads Salary: $85,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Thomas Jefferson University
10

Drexel University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $57,136
    • Out-of-State: $57,136
  • Net Price: $26,076
  • Acceptance Rate: 83%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 78%
  • Total Enrollment: 23,216
  • Undergrad Students: 14,413
  • Graduate Students: 8,803
  • Diplomas Awarded: 3,150
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Drexel University
11

University of South Florida

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $6,410
    • Out-of-State: $17,324
  • Net Price: $11,419
  • Acceptance Rate: 49%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 75%
  • Total Enrollment: 49,708
  • Undergrad Students: 38,011
  • Graduate Students: 11,697
  • Diplomas Awarded: 10,225
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 22:1
  • University of South Florida
12

Auburn University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,826
    • Out-of-State: $31,986
  • Net Price: $23,873
  • Acceptance Rate: 71%
  • Retention Rate: 93%
  • Graduation Rate: 81%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,526
  • Undergrad Students: 24,931
  • Graduate Students: 6,595
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,730
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 20:1
  • Auburn University
13

University of Utah

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $8,893
    • Out-of-State: $28,345
  • Net Price: $12,972
  • Acceptance Rate: 95%
  • Retention Rate: 87%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%
  • Total Enrollment: 34,464
  • Undergrad Students: 25,826
  • Graduate Students: 8,638
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,437
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Utah
14

George Mason University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $13,119
    • Out-of-State: $36,579
  • Net Price: $18,841
  • Acceptance Rate: 91%
  • Retention Rate: 84%
  • Graduation Rate: 70%
  • Total Enrollment: 38,628
  • Undergrad Students: 26,882
  • Graduate Students: 11,746
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,277
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • George Mason University
15

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $12,570
    • Out-of-State: $35,826
  • Net Price: $19,473
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 73%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,693
  • Undergrad Students: 2,718
  • Graduate Students: 975
  • Diplomas Awarded: 702
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Citadel Military College of South Carolina
16

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $8,548
    • Out-of-State: $19,308
  • Net Price: $10,245
  • Acceptance Rate: 77%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,850
  • Undergrad Students: 2,037
  • Graduate Students: 813
  • Diplomas Awarded: 585
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute
17

University of Iowa

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $9,942
    • Out-of-State: $31,905
  • Net Price: $17,599
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 88%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 29,909
  • Undergrad Students: 21,608
  • Graduate Students: 8,301
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,423
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • University of Iowa

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18

Regis University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $39,610
    • Out-of-State: $39,610
  • Net Price: $27,735
  • Acceptance Rate: 81%
  • Retention Rate: 79%
  • Graduation Rate: 62%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,566
  • Undergrad Students: 2,745
  • Graduate Students: 2,821
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,423
  • Grads Salary: $86,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 10:1
  • Regis University
19

LeTourneau University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $33,490
    • Out-of-State: $33,490
  • Net Price: $25,932
  • Acceptance Rate: 54%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,209
  • Undergrad Students: 2,991
  • Graduate Students: 218
  • Diplomas Awarded: 349
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • LeTourneau University
20

Miami University-Oxford

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $16,704
    • Out-of-State: $37,379
  • Net Price: $24,616
  • Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • Retention Rate: 89%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%
  • Total Enrollment: 19,264
  • Undergrad Students: 17,003
  • Graduate Students: 2,261
  • Diplomas Awarded: 4,115
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • Miami University-Oxford
21

University of Illinois Chicago

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $14,126
    • Out-of-State: $28,476
  • Net Price: $10,725
  • Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 62%
  • Total Enrollment: 34,199
  • Undergrad Students: 22,279
  • Graduate Students: 11,920
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,052
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 19:1
  • University of Illinois Chicago
22

Mercer University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $38,746
    • Out-of-State: $38,746
  • Net Price: $21,164
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 9,009
  • Undergrad Students: 4,941
  • Graduate Students: 4,068
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,193
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Mercer University
23

Penn State World Campus

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $14,338
    • Out-of-State: $14,338
  • Net Price: $24,012
  • Acceptance Rate: 92%
  • Retention Rate: 87%
  • Graduation Rate: 72%
  • Total Enrollment: 88,914
  • Undergrad Students: 73,476
  • Graduate Students: 15,438
  • Diplomas Awarded: 16,675
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Penn State World Campus
24

Saint Louis University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $48,824
    • Out-of-State: $48,824
  • Net Price: $30,096
  • Acceptance Rate: 70%
  • Retention Rate: 89%
  • Graduation Rate: 80%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,474
  • Undergrad Students: 8,745
  • Graduate Students: 4,729
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,650
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Saint Louis University
25

Spelman College

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $28,181
    • Out-of-State: $28,181
  • Net Price: $28,527
  • Acceptance Rate: 51%
  • Retention Rate: 91%
  • Graduation Rate: 76%
  • Total Enrollment: 2,417
  • Undergrad Students: 2,417
  • Graduate Students: 0
  • Diplomas Awarded: 485
  • Grads Salary: $71,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Spelman College
26

University of La Verne

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $45,850
    • Out-of-State: $45,850
  • Net Price: $22,538
  • Acceptance Rate: 72%
  • Retention Rate: 80%
  • Graduation Rate: 69%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,201
  • Undergrad Students: 3,691
  • Graduate Students: 2,510
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,220
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • University of La Verne
27

California State University-Chico

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $7,864
    • Out-of-State: $19,744
  • Net Price: $13,749
  • Acceptance Rate: 85%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 65%
  • Total Enrollment: 15,702
  • Undergrad Students: 14,462
  • Graduate Students: 1,240
  • Diplomas Awarded: 4,124
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 22:1
  • California State University-Chico
28

Washington State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $12,417
    • Out-of-State: $27,733
  • Net Price: $11,877
  • Acceptance Rate: 86%
  • Retention Rate: 81%
  • Graduation Rate: 60%
  • Total Enrollment: 29,843
  • Undergrad Students: 24,278
  • Graduate Students: 5,565
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,226
  • Grads Salary: $77,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • Washington State University
29

University of Arizona

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $12,736
    • Out-of-State: $37,258
  • Net Price: $17,242
  • Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • Retention Rate: 84%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 48,274
  • Undergrad Students: 37,434
  • Graduate Students: 10,840
  • Diplomas Awarded: 7,543
  • Grads Salary: $77,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • University of Arizona
30

Arizona State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,348
    • Out-of-State: $29,438
  • Net Price: $14,934
  • Acceptance Rate: 88%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%
  • Total Enrollment: 77,881
  • Undergrad Students: 64,716
  • Graduate Students: 13,165
  • Diplomas Awarded: 14,794
  • Grads Salary: $75,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Arizona State University
31

Simmons University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $43,062
    • Out-of-State: $43,062
  • Net Price: $19,026
  • Acceptance Rate: 84%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 71%
  • Total Enrollment: 5,984
  • Undergrad Students: 1,748
  • Graduate Students: 4,236
  • Diplomas Awarded: 436
  • Grads Salary: $69,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • Simmons University

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32

North Carolina A&T State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $6,733
    • Out-of-State: $20,243
  • Net Price: $9,145
  • Acceptance Rate: 57%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 53%
  • Total Enrollment: 13,322
  • Undergrad Students: 11,596
  • Graduate Students: 1,726
  • Diplomas Awarded: 2,107
  • Grads Salary: $76,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 19:1
  • North Carolina A&T State University
33

University of Missouri-Columbia

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,475
    • Out-of-State: $30,450
  • Net Price: $18,249
  • Acceptance Rate: 77%
  • Retention Rate: 88%
  • Graduation Rate: 73%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,401
  • Undergrad Students: 23,696
  • Graduate Students: 7,705
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,114
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • University of Missouri-Columbia
34

Oregon State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $12,188
    • Out-of-State: $31,579
  • Net Price: $20,318
  • Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • Retention Rate: 87%
  • Graduation Rate: 68%
  • Total Enrollment: 33,193
  • Undergrad Students: 27,564
  • Graduate Students: 5,629
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,143
  • Grads Salary: $77,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Oregon State University
35

Florida Institute of Technology

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $43,246
    • Out-of-State: $43,246
  • Net Price: $32,314
  • Acceptance Rate: 66%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%
  • Total Enrollment: 7,830
  • Undergrad Students: 3,491
  • Graduate Students: 4,339
  • Diplomas Awarded: 740
  • Grads Salary: $83,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Florida Institute of Technology
36

Oklahoma State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $9,244
    • Out-of-State: $24,764
  • Net Price: $14,603
  • Acceptance Rate: 68%
  • Retention Rate: 83%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%
  • Total Enrollment: 24,577
  • Undergrad Students: 20,216
  • Graduate Students: 4,361
  • Diplomas Awarded: 4,913
  • Grads Salary: $71,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 18:1
  • Oklahoma State University
37

Maryville University of Saint Louis

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $27,166
    • Out-of-State: $27,166
  • Net Price: $24,733
  • Acceptance Rate: 92%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 73%
  • Total Enrollment: 10,596
  • Undergrad Students: 5,685
  • Graduate Students: 4,911
  • Diplomas Awarded: 868
  • Grads Salary: $75,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Maryville University of Saint Louis
38

Florida International University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $6,565
    • Out-of-State: $18,963
  • Net Price: $9,398
  • Acceptance Rate: 64%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 67%
  • Total Enrollment: 56,664
  • Undergrad Students: 46,415
  • Graduate Students: 10,249
  • Diplomas Awarded: 12,680
  • Grads Salary: $68,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 24:1
  • Florida International University
39

Fresno Pacific University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $33,452
    • Out-of-State: $33,452
  • Net Price: $15,350
  • Acceptance Rate: 78%
  • Retention Rate: 72%
  • Graduation Rate: 68%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,524
  • Undergrad Students: 2,686
  • Graduate Students: 838
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,175
  • Grads Salary: $70,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Fresno Pacific University
40

St. Joseph's University-New York

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $46,050
    • Out-of-State: $46,050
  • Net Price: $26,655
  • Acceptance Rate: 80%
  • Retention Rate: 82%
  • Graduation Rate: 68%
  • Total Enrollment: 19,658
  • Undergrad Students: 15,452
  • Graduate Students: 4,206
  • Diplomas Awarded: 953
  • Grads Salary: $79,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 16:1
  • St. Joseph's University-New York
41

University of Arkansas

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $9,574
    • Out-of-State: $26,390
  • Net Price: $15,218
  • Acceptance Rate: 83%
  • Retention Rate: 87%
  • Graduation Rate: 70%
  • Total Enrollment: 29,068
  • Undergrad Students: 24,265
  • Graduate Students: 4,803
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,289
  • Grads Salary: $69,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 19:1
  • University of Arkansas
42

Colorado State University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $12,331
    • Out-of-State: $31,613
  • Net Price: $18,320
  • Acceptance Rate: 90%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 69%
  • Total Enrollment: 32,586
  • Undergrad Students: 24,954
  • Graduate Students: 7,632
  • Diplomas Awarded: 5,195
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 17:1
  • Colorado State University-Fort Collins
43

Syracuse University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $57,591
    • Out-of-State: $57,591
  • Net Price: $43,545
  • Acceptance Rate: 59%
  • Retention Rate: 90%
  • Graduation Rate: 82%
  • Total Enrollment: 21,772
  • Undergrad Students: 14,778
  • Graduate Students: 6,994
  • Diplomas Awarded: 3,364
  • Grads Salary: $78,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • Syracuse University
44

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $7,188
    • Out-of-State: $20,622
  • Net Price: $15,682
  • Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 66%
  • Total Enrollment: 30,448
  • Undergrad Students: 24,116
  • Graduate Students: 6,332
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,133
  • Grads Salary: $73,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 20:1
  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte
45

St. Catherine University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $46,494
    • Out-of-State: $46,494
  • Net Price: $19,252
  • Acceptance Rate: 75%
  • Retention Rate: 76%
  • Graduation Rate: 59%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,904
  • Undergrad Students: 2,585
  • Graduate Students: 1,319
  • Diplomas Awarded: 566
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 9:1
  • St. Catherine University

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46

University of Mary

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $20,290
    • Out-of-State: $20,290
  • Net Price: $19,474
  • Acceptance Rate: 79%
  • Retention Rate: 77%
  • Graduation Rate: 64%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,794
  • Undergrad Students: 2,579
  • Graduate Students: 1,215
  • Diplomas Awarded: 550
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 15:1
  • University of Mary
47

Lewis University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $35,472
    • Out-of-State: $35,472
  • Net Price: $18,312
  • Acceptance Rate: 71%
  • Retention Rate: 75%
  • Graduation Rate: 60%
  • Total Enrollment: 6,183
  • Undergrad Students: 3,907
  • Graduate Students: 2,276
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,119
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 13:1
  • Lewis University
48

Bethel University-Saint Paul

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $40,080
    • Out-of-State: $40,080
  • Net Price: $28,840
  • Acceptance Rate: 89%
  • Retention Rate: 86%
  • Graduation Rate: 74%
  • Total Enrollment: 3,731
  • Undergrad Students: 2,653
  • Graduate Students: 1,078
  • Diplomas Awarded: 677
  • Grads Salary: $74,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 11:1
  • Bethel University-Saint Paul
49

University of Missouri-St. Louis

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,214
    • Out-of-State: $28,532
  • Net Price: $10,525
  • Acceptance Rate: 57%
  • Retention Rate: 73%
  • Graduation Rate: 58%
  • Total Enrollment: 15,189
  • Undergrad Students: 12,347
  • Graduate Students: 2,842
  • Diplomas Awarded: 1,889
  • Grads Salary: $68,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 14:1
  • University of Missouri-St. Louis
50

Texas Tech University

  • Tuition
    • In-State: $11,852
    • Out-of-State: $24,122
  • Net Price: $17,057
  • Acceptance Rate: 68%
  • Retention Rate: 85%
  • Graduation Rate: 63%
  • Total Enrollment: 40,542
  • Undergrad Students: 33,132
  • Graduate Students: 7,410
  • Diplomas Awarded: 6,670
  • Grads Salary: $72,000
  • Student-to-faculty: 21:1
  • Texas Tech University

What is a Bachelor's Degree?


A bachelor’s degree, also known as baccalaureate degree, is an undergraduate degree earned by completing a three-to-seven year course of study at a college or university, which you can either attend online, on campus, or a combination of both (a.k.a. hybrid programs). Undergraduate degree online students enrolled in bachelor's programs and bachelor's degree holders have some of the best opportunities when it comes time to look for an internship or job.

In addition, online bachelor's programs are a step above an associate degree, which takes two years to complete, and is a stepping stone to even higher-level graduate degree such as a professional degree, master’s degree, or doctorate. A traditional bachelor's degree can be earned at some community colleges, but will primarily be available as a four year degree at a university. Most community colleges will offer associate degrees, but some offer undergraduate degrees. Some of the courses that online students will study when pursuing a bachelor’s degree are liberal arts, general education, and electives that change depending on your major or the concentration you select. Online learners will attend online lectures, participate in discussion boards, and complete the same material in their online degrees that on-campus undergraduate programs require. The accessibility to a major may shift depending where you are in the United States, as might admission standards (though online programs require the same admission items as on-campus programs) and what is expected of students while they are in school completing their online bachelor's degree programs. The number of online courses or online programs also changes from school to school. Some schools might offer undergraduate degree completion programs, while others only offer basic bachelor's programs in nursing education, elementary education, information technology, business data analytics, criminal justice, and more. Generally, financial aid offerings are the same for on-campus and online learners.

What Online Undergraduate Major Should You Choose?

The main reason for choosing bachelor’s programs is that many employers require one. However, even if an employer doesn’t require it, if there is competition for a position, most will choose an applicant holding a bachelor’s degree over one who holds an associate's, whether they earned their bachelor's degree as an online degree or not. On-campus students typically do not have significantly better outcomes than those who earn a bachelor's degree online. They must all take the same general education courses, have a high school diploma or GED, fill out the FAFSA for financial aid, and complete all other normal admission requirements for bachelor's programs. You'll find that any graduate program you take is the same way. While online university degrees may require more work ethic to make sure online students stick to their deadlines, the actual requirements are the same for all undergraduate students looking to earn associate or bachelor's degrees.

There are many careers that require bachelor’s degrees and many online programs and bachelor’s degree types that can open the doors to numerous career possibilities, as obtaining your online bachelor’s degree will arm you with the knowledge and skills to take on numerous occupations. The key to finding the best online bachelor's programs lies in the online student's interests and needs, whether this leads them to an online degree in business administration, information technology, or another science degree from an online undergraduate degree program.

Find Your Online Bachelors College

Online bachelor's degree programs are the most popular of all online degree types, by far. In fact, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) calculates that between 2015 and 2016, around 1.9 million students earned a bachelor's degree, which is a 32% increase from 2005. Finding the right online bachelor's degree programs can help online learners save a ton on their bachelor's degree cost, even if financial aid can't provide as much help as you'd like.

There are several different types of online degrees to choose from in various industries that can help to make you an expert in specific areas. In addition, having an online bachelor’s degree shows a lot about your character, in that you put your education first and went the extra mile to earn a rewarding degree and, if you have completed one of these programs, you'll possess valuable skills and knowledge that will appeal to many employers. Some employers don’t care what your degree is in, they just need intelligent people willing to do the work and go the extra mile. Having an online bachelor’s degree will appeal to all employers. But the best online bachelor's degree programs to earn is the one that will help you get into the career you want, whether that's a degree in criminal justice or a science degree.

What are the Most Common Bachelor's Degrees?

There are multiple types of bachelor's degrees that students can earn to qualify for a wide array of jobs. The following are some of the online degrees types that are available:

  • Bachelor of Arts (BA or BA Degree)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS or BS Degree)
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
  • Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
  • What is a better degree BA or BS?

Why Get a Bachelor’s Degree vs an Associate’s Degree?

There are many good reasons why getting an online bachelor’s degree is better than obtaining an online associate degree; here are five of the reasons to strive for a four year degree:

  • An employer will almost always choose an applicant who holds an online bachelor’s degree over one that holds an online associate degree when there is competition for a position.
  • During your studies, you will gain much more knowledge and skills with an online bachelor’s degree course than with an associate’s.
  • With an online bachelor’s you can get right into a master’s, with an associate’s, you are years away.
  • Those who hold an online bachelor’s degree hold more respect.
  • Online Bachelor’s degree holders are more likely to earn higher wages.

Typical Online Degree Requirements

bachelors_degree_requirements To earn an online bachelor’s degree, colleges and universities may require from 120 to 180 college credits or semester hours, but the majority only require 120 credits, which you can earn by completing around 40 college classes. Therefore, it should take full-time students around four years to earn an online bachelor’s degree. However, if you already received your online associate degree, most colleges will allow you to transfer those 60 credits towards earning your undergraduate program online, leaving you with only 60 more hours of study to go that should take around two years.

Please note, in order to obtain a four-year online bachelor’s degree, most colleges require that you study with them for at least half the time, or two years.

There are also accelerated online undergraduate degree programs available that compress the same traditional course into shorter sessions, meaning you would have to work much faster to complete the program but you would earn your degree quicker than in the average college program.

What are the Most Popular Online Bachelor Majors?

According to the NCES, Over half of the 1.9 million bachelor's degrees awarded in 2015 to 2016, were concentrated in the following six areas:

  • Business - 372,000 degrees
  • Health Professions (Nursing) - 229,000 degrees
  • Social Sciences & History - 161,000 degrees
  • Psychology - 117,000 degrees
  • Biology & Biomedical Sciences - 114,000 degrees
  • Engineering - 107,000 degrees

The following online bachelor's degree programs fields of study accounted for the next highest level of percentages with 5% each:

  • Visual & Performing Arts - 93,000 degrees
  • Journalism, Communication, and Related - 92,600 degrees
  • Education - 87,200 degrees

Thus, overall, 18% of the bachelor's degrees were awarded in STEM fields that totaled 355,000.

How to Choose an Online Bachelor’s Program?


Choosing an undergraduate program is not only the most important decision of your career but can also be the hardest one as well. This is mainly due to the fact that this decision will likely affect the rest of your career. Those who are fortunate enough to know what they want early in life don’t have this burden. However, you’re not alone if you’re feeling the pressure. Nearly 50% of students who are undecided also feel stressed about the decision when choosing an academic degree. Still, even those who choose a college degree major early may be part of the estimated 75% who change their major before graduating. Don’t let this scare you out of a rewarding career. It is ok to change your mind later if you feel you made the wrong choice.

The key is choosing an occupation that you will enjoy, despite any apparent lack in salary at the outset. Rather than basing your selection just on potential earnings, filling someone’s shoes, or taking on a challenge just to prove that you can do it, you should decide based on your own future happiness and satisfaction with the work you will spend so much time on. Making the right undergraduate programs choice can mean the difference between staring at the clock anxiously waiting to go home every day or maintaining a healthy life/work balance that will help you enjoy both more.

Find Online BS Programs

What is a Bachelor of Arts Degree?


An online Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is an undergraduate program that can be completed in a number of sciences, liberal arts, or both.

  • What is the average cost for a Bachelor of Arts degree? - $10,000 to $35,000
  • Time to Complete a Bachelor of Arts program - 4 years (Timeframes are trending toward a 5-6 year completion.)

What is a Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree?


An Online Bachelor of Science (BS) degree focuses on science, mathematics, or technology degrees such as engineering, information technology, health sciences, and more.

  • What is the average cost for a Bachelor of Science degree? - $10,000 to $35,000
  • Time to complete a Bachelor of Science program - 4 to 5 years

What is a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Degree?


A Online Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree is a professional education in performing or visual arts. These degrees tend to avoid the hard sciences all together except for general education courses and instead focus on music, art, and literature.

  • What is the average cost for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree? - $40,000
  • Time to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts program - 4 to 5 years

What is a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degree?


The Online Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree contains advanced technical training such as military training, in sciences and liberal arts. It was specifically designed for those who have accumulated college credits but never used them.

  • What is the average cost for a Bachelor of Applied Science degree - $52,000
  • Time to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science program - 4 to 5 years

What is a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree?


Originating in England, the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree is the degree you will have to earn in order to become an attorney.

  • What is the average cost for a Bachelor of Laws degree? - $65,400
  • Time to complete a Bachelor of Laws program - 3 or 4 years

How Many Different Bachelor Degrees are there? What are the Different Types and Abbreviations?


The U.S. Department of Education recognizes over 80 types of bachelor's degrees.

What Can I Do with a Bachelors Diploma?


An online bachelor’s degree is one of the most flexible educational options available to anyone looking to gain a foundation for a career. While there are options for online certificates and trade schools, many of these won’t give you access to future education or many of the huge variety of industries or areas of interest that are available to those with bachelor’s degrees.

An online bachelor’s degree will let you get into the work force right away, get you an internship at your dream job, or prepare you to earn a master’s or PhD. The options you can choose between for your major are practically endless. You could choose business, management, architecture, dance, fine art, marketing, marine or human biology, journalism or communication, psychology or social sciences, or many, many others.

An online bachelor’s degree is a four-year education that sets you on your future path. You can earn an online associate's first if you want to save some money, as this can also be a very expensive option. However, with bachelor’s becoming more important and more expensive, the options to lower your educational costs have also increased. Federal, state, and school-specific scholarships and loans are available, as well as those meant for students who plan to go into specific careers. Associations and institutions also provide scholarships to minorities and the under-represented to try to improve their work force. No matter what degree you’re looking to achieve, you’ll have access to some financial aid help.

Find Your Program

Most Popular Jobs and Careers for Online Students/Graduates


As a bachelor's degree holder you will quickly learn some of the top attributes employers are looking for whether you have an associate degree, bachelor degree, graduate degree or even a doctoral degree. The most common attributes that employers look for from bachelor's degree students are: communication skills, leadership skills, teamwork skills, self-management skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills and computer skills. Most bachelor's degree programs will teach you some or all of these skills, but how you utilize and apply them is what will set you apart from other candidates and help you land one of the following careers.

  • HR Executive: $85,000

    Customer Care Executive: $67,800

    Public Relations Executive: $65,000

    Paralegal: $48,800

    Technical Writer: $60,600

    Editor: $53,100

    Journalist: $40,700

    Staffing Coordinator: $40,400

  • Risk Manager: $87,600

    Software Engineer: $86,400

    Service Consultant: $73,100

    Teacher: $49,400

    Business Manager: - $64,900

    Marketing Executive: $59,100

    Financial Analyst: $61,300

    Accountant: $51,500

    Underwriter: $59,700

    Project Manager: $74,500

  • Legal Secretary: $55,300

    Attorney/Lawyer: $85,700

    Detective: $62,100

Frequently Asked Questions


How long does it take to complete a bachelor's degree?

Earning a bachelor’s degree online or on campus will require 120 college credits. If you have already received your associate’s degree, you can most likely transfer those 60 credits, leaving you with a balance of 60 credit hours. Full-time degree programs will usually mean taking 15 credit-hours per semester, meaning it should take you 4 years altogether to complete your degree. However, if you take less than 15 credits or attend part-time you may find yourself in school for a fifth year. Or you can complete an online program with the same courses but at a faster pace. How fast you earn your degree will depend on how much time you are willing to commit to your studies. This is one of the major advantages of attending college online: you can often complete the coursework as fast or as slow as you want to.

How will a bachelor’s degree help me?

A bachelor’s degree can help you in a myriad of ways. For one, no matter what you earn your degree in, it will make it easier for you to find a job. Even if it’s only a temp job, employers look for employees with degrees, no matter what the degree covers. It will also help you earn more in the work force. Those same employers who are looking for college graduates are willing to pay those graduates more in order to maintain an educated workforce.

Can I complete this degree 100% online?

This depends on the bachelor’s degree you choose. While there are some degrees that you cannot complete entirely online such as nursing education, which requires in-person clinical hours, and teacher education, which requires that you teach a class in person for a semester, there are plenty of degrees that you can complete entirely online. For example, most computer science learning happens in a virtual environment, so it is particularly easy to transfer to an online learning format. The same can be said for most humanities and liberal arts learning such as social sciences, English and literature, history, and more.

Is an online degree just as good as an in-person degree?

No matter what you’ve heard, an online degree is nearly always considered just as good as an in-person degree. In fact, student outcomes from both degree types are nearly equal. The only thing you really need to look out for is degree mills, which don’t offer a quality learning experience. You can steer clear of these by paying attention to accreditation. Any school worth attending will be accredited by a regional accrediting agency approved by CHEA and might have programmatic accreditation for some of it’s degree programs as well.

Does the School Help You With Career Placement?

How much do bachelor’s degree holders make?

According to Payscale.com, bachelor’s degree holders make an average of around $65,000/year. Of course, this is an average, so you should take that into account. How much you make with this degree will depend on the career you enter, how much experience you have, other skills and certifications, and more. A graphic designer earns between $34k and $70k, while a software engineer can earn between $64k and $131k. But, if you consider that an associate degree earns graduates around $56,000/year on average, a bachelor’s definitely ups the ante.

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