Although online education is growing, some institutions facilitate online education better than others. Online higher education is booming with explosive growth. According to the Babson Survey Research Group , 33% (or 7.1 million) of the 21.3 million students enrolled in higher education courses are enrolled in at least one online course. Compare that to 2002 when just 11% (or 1.6 million) of the 14.6 million students enrolled in higher education courses were enrolled in at least one online course. Though the total enrollment of college students has grown over the past 12 years, the rate of growth of online higher education is much higher than that of traditional higher education.
Studies suggest that students choose online education because of the increased ability to balance school with other responsibilities, the flexibility of learning from anywhere at any hour, a quicker completion time, access to more programs, and potentially a lower costs. As the demand for online education has grown so has the technology to personalize the experience. Needless to say, online education is a viable option for all those considering higher education.
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Eastern University
Eastern University is a private Christian school with a main campus in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia. There are also Eastern campuses or programs affiliated with Eastern in three other location in Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Valley Forge) as well as in Ripley, WV and Rwanda. The university has nearly 4,300 students and is known for integrating faith, reason, and justice. Eastern is affiliated with the American Baptist Church. The university offers one online associate’s degree, three online bachelor’s degrees, 10 online master’s degrees, and three online doctoral degrees. The online degree offering includes fields such as leadership, business, education, urban studies, therapy, and youth ministry. While the school does not have 24 hour a day, seven day a week technology support for online students, online instructors are expected to respond to inquiries within 24 hours. Tuition for online undergraduate degrees starts at $510 per credit. Online graduate tuition starts at $650 per credit. The U.S. News and World Report ranks Eastern University #127 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #98 on the Regional Universities (North) list. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides accreditation for Eastern University.
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St. Louis University
Founded nearly 200 years ago, St. Louis University is a private, Catholic university that is affiliated with the Jesuit order. The school has about 12,500 undergraduate students and a little less than 5,000 graduate students enrolled. St. Louis University offers seven online bachelor’s degrees, two online master’s degrees, and two online accelerated bachelor’s to master’s bridge programs. The school also has an offering of 14 minors and certificate programs. The online degrees are in fields including but not limited to aviation management, criminal science, nursing, leadership, and computer science. Tuition per credit is $610 for online undergraduate programs and $745 for online graduate programs. The Open Education Database ranks St. Louis University #10 on the list of Top Online Nursing Programs. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the school #93 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #90 on the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs list. The university is also #81 on Kiplinger’s list of Best College Values in Private Universities and #36 on Forbes’ top colleges in the Midwest list.
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Utah State University
Utah State University is a public research university in Logan, Utah. The school was originally founded as Utah’s agricultural college in 1888. However, the university now offers a wide range of programs in liberal arts, economics, business, engineering, natural resources sciences, and education. Utah State has just under 28,000 students enrolled and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. USU offers eight online bachelor’s degrees and five online master’s degrees as well as a handful of associate’s degree, certificates, and minors. There are over 1,500 students enrolled in online bachelor’s programs. Tution is based on state of residence and the number of credits a person takes. A resident of Utah taking 12 credits can expect to pay $256 per credit for an undergraduate program and $297 per credit for a graduate program. A student who does not reside in Utah who is taking 12 credits will pay $761 per credit for undergraduate programs. and $967 per credit for graduate programs. Washington Monthly ranks Utah State #23 on the National Universities Rankings list. Forbes places the school at #57 on the list for best schools in the west. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school #48 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #70 on the Best Online Graduate Education Programs list.
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University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a public research university with an enrollment of approximately 32,000 undergraduate students and approximately 10,700 graduate students. The traditional programs at UC have a student to faculty ration of 15 to 1. The campus is about two and a half miles north of downtown Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission/North Central Association. UC offers three online associate’s degrees, eight online bachelor’s programs and 15 online master’s programs. The school also has a couple dozen online certificate programs. Students pursuing online degrees at UC can find programs in fields like education, healthcare, fire science, and business. Tuition per credit starts at $389 for undergraduate degrees and $640 for graduate degrees. Three of UC’s online programs are ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The online undergraduate programs are #87. The online graduate education and nursing programs are ranked #18 and #37 respectively. Forbes ranks the University of Cincinnati #92 among colleges in the Midwest.
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Concordia University Chicago
Situated 10 miles west of Chicago in the town of River Forest, IL, Concordia University is a private liberal arts university that is affiliated with the Lutheran Church. The institution is a member of the 10 unit Concordia University System. This particular campus has approximately 2,300 students enrolled. Concordia University Chicago offers 26 accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The school also has five endorsement and certificate programs. Degrees are offered in fields such as to business, education, leadership, and management. The undergraduate classes offered in the online format are capped at 18 students per class. Per credit tuition for online degrees starts at $475. The university is ranked by U.S. News Report at #97 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. All undergraduate and graduate degree programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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DePaul University
Serving nearly 25,000 students, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the nation. The university was founded in 1898 and has five campuses in the Chicago area. School officials boast that 85% of bachelor’s degree recipients have a job or are in graduate school within six months of graduation. Depaul offers five online bachelor’s degrees, 15 online master’s degrees, and nearly 30 certificate programs. The degree offering for master’s degrees include the fields of communication, business, software engineering, healthcare, and more. The faculty who teach online courses are trained specifically for facilitating learning in the online format. Tuition starts at $570 per credit for undergraduate programs, starts at $600 per credit for online graduate programs DePaul is ranked #77 for college in the Midwest by Forbes. Moreover, U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s programs #48. The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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Saint Leo University
Located in Saint Leo, Florida, 30 miles north of Tampa, Saint Leo University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university. There are over 16,000 students enrolled in the university from all 50 states and from more than 60 countries. The traditional programs have a 15 to 1 student to faculty ratio. Saint Leo has more than 3,000 students enrolled in online programs. The school offers four associate’s degrees, 10 bachelor’s degrees, 10 master’s degrees, one doctoral degree, and 10 certificate programs. The programs include but are not limited business, education, criminal justice, and religion. Saint Leo offers technology support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cost of online degrees is $470 per credit for undergraduate programs and $436 – $673 per credit for graduate programs. The U.S. News and World Report ranks two of the university’s online programs. The online graduate business programs are ranked #106. The online graduate education programs are ranked #87. Saint Leo University is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university where nearly 21,000 students are enrolled. The main campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky and there are three extension campuses in Glasgow, Owensboro and the Elizabethtown area. The traditional programs have a 17 to 1 student to faculty ratio. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides accreditation for the university. The university has 28 online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Approximately 2,500 people are enrolled in the online bachelor’s programs in fields like consumer science, sociology, and business, to name a few. A sample of the master’s programs offering includes an MBA, an MHA, a biology degree, and a sports management degree. Online bachelor’s programs cost $463 per credit hour. Online graduate programs cost $618 per credit hour. Forbes ranks WKU at #153 on the list of best colleges in the South.U.S. News and World Report ranks the university’s online bachelor’s programs #87, the online graduate business programs #136, and the online graduate education programs #166.
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Liberty University
Sitting in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the town of Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University is a private Christian university. Liberty is the largest Christian university in the world, with over 100,000 traditional and online students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides accreditation for the university. Liberty University has a vast offering of programs. The school offers nearly 90 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The school also offers 12 online associate’s degrees and over 40 online certificate programs. The most popular online bachelor’s programs are in the fields of psychology, philosophy, religious studies, business, and education. Tuition for Liberty University’s online degrees starts at $360 per credit for undergraduate degrees, $520 per credit for master’s degrees, and $550 per credit for doctoral degrees. Forbes ranks the university #180 on the list of top colleges in the south. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s programs #141. The publication also ranks the online graduate programs in business, education, and nursing #122, #97, and #75 respectively.
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Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University is a private university with its main campus located in the rural community of Fayette, Iowa. The school has a total of 6,271 students enrolled. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of schools. As of fall 2014, the university offers 24 online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The online bachelor’s programs include fields such as public administration, business, human resources, technology, and emergency management. Bachelor’s programs in the online format are capped at 17 students per class. The online graduate degrees are Master of Business Administration, Master of Higher Education Administration, Master’s of Education, and Master of Public Administration. The tuition is $325 per credit for online undergraduate degrees and $425 per credit for online graduate degree. The U.S. News and World Report ranks UIU #61 on the Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #99 on the Online Graduate Business Programs list.
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Florida Institute of Technology
Located in Melbourne, Florida on 130 subtropical acres, the Florida Institute of Technology, is a private research university. The school offers courses in five academic colleges: the College of Engineering, the College of Science, the College of Aeronautics, the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, and the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business and Department of Extended Studies. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges provides accreditation. The university began offering online courses in 2000. Now, FIT has 11 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Combined with specializations, associate’s degrees, and certificate programs, the school offers over 60 online programs. The enrollment of the online programs totals nearly 3,500 students. The online courses are offered in 8-week terms and 16-week semesters, Standard tuition per credit starts at $510 for undergraduate programs and $777 for graduate programs. The Times Higher Education ranks Florida Institute of Technology at #197 on the World’s University Rankings. Forbes ranks the university #94 in the South. Finally,U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s program #48.
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Champlain College
Established in 1878, Champlain College is a private college located in Burlington, Vermont. There are additional campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. The school has nearly 3,000 undergraduate students enrolled and over 300 graduate students enrolled. Champlain offers 12 accredited online undergraduate degrees and handful of certificates in the areas of business, computer science, cyber security, and healthcare. The college also offers eight online graduate programs. Tuition per credit starts at $613. Each course is taught in an accelerated, seven week format. Champlain College is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges. The U.S. News and World report ranks Champlain #97 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #131 on the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list.
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Southeast Missouri State University
Positioned just a few blocks off the banks of the Mississippi River in the town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Southeast Missouri State University is a public university with just under 12,000 student enrolled. The university also has regional campuses located in Sikeston, Malden, Kennett and Perryville. There are 951 international students from 56 different countries studying at Southeast. The university is fully accredited by the North Central Association. Southeast Missouri State University has 17 online bachelor’s and master’s degrees and four online certificate programs. The areas of study include business, education, criminal justice, technology, nursing, and more. There are 565 students enrolled in online undergraduate degrees. The tuition for online undergraduate degrees starts at $198 per credit for students who live in-state and $375 per credit for out-of-state students. Likewise, the tuition for online graduate degrees starts at $254 per credit for residents of Missouri and $474 per credit for non-residents. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s programs #65. The publication ranks the online graduate business programs and the online graduate education programs #87 and #75 respectively.
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University of Minnesota Crookston
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a public university located in Crookston, Minnesota. It is one of five campuses in the University of Minnesota system. The school has approximately 1,100 students on-campus and approximately 700 students online. The university was established in 1966. UMC offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, six minors, and three professional certificates in the online format. The degrees are in the fields of business, management, health sciences, and communication. Tuition for the online degrees at the university is $385.77 per credit hour. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation. The U.S. News and World Report ranks University of Minnesota Crookston #69 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. The publication also ranks the traditional programs of UMC at #40 on the Best Colleges in the Midwest list.
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Troy University
Established in 1887, Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama. The university is a member of the Alabama State University System. Troy has approximately 20,500 students enrolled and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Troy university has a broad range of fully accredited online degrees. Indeed, 46 online bachelor’s and master’s degrees are offered. The school also offers two online associate’s degree programs. The most popular online bachelor’s programs are criminal justice, psychology, and business. There are also degrees in fields like anthropology, technology, hospitality, and political science, to name a few. Tuition for undergraduate courses is $326 per credit hour. Tuition for graduate courses is $488 per credit hour. The university is ranked by Forbes’ #181 on the list of top colleges in the south. U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s program #74, the online graduate nursing program #52, and the online graduate education program #79.
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Florida State University
With a campus in the state of Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee, Florida State University is a public research university. The school has 32,500 undergraduate students and 8,400 graduate students enrolled. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges provides accreditation. Florida State offers 15 online bachelor’s and master’s. Online graduate degrees are offered out of the College of Business, the College of Communication and Information, and the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. The most popular online bachelor’s degrees are in the fields of public safety, criminal science, computer science, and social sciences. Residents of Florida can expect to pay $215.55 per credit for online undergraduate programs and $479.32 per credit for online graduate programs. The per credit tuition for students who live outside of Florida is $721.10 for undergraduate programs and $1,110.72 for graduate programs. The Open Education Database ranks FSU #6 on the Top Online Criminal Justice Degrees. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the online graduate nursing program #10 and the online graduate business program #43. FSU is ranked #47 on Forbes’ list of top colleges in the South, #19 on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges list, and #69 on Washington Monthly’s National Universities Rankings list.
34
Limestone College
Established in 1845, Limestone College is a private, liberal arts college in Gaffney, SC. Over 3,300 students from 34 states and 20 countries are enrolled in the school. Financial aid is awarded to 98% of the student body. Limestone offers five online associates degrees and 12 online bachelor’s degrees. There are just under 1,300 students enrolled in an online bachelor’s program and the classes are capped at 30 students. The most common majors are the fields of business, management, and liberal studies. The school offers other online programs in fields that include but are not limited to computer science, social work, and psychology. Tuition for online degrees start at $390 per credit. U.S. News and World Report ranks Limeston’s traditional program #64 on the Regional Colleges in the South Rankings and ranks the online bachelor’s programs at #93. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation.
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Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University is a research university located in Richmond, Kentucky. The school also has extension campuses throughout Kentucky in Corbin, Danville, Hazard, Lancaster, Manchester, and Somerset. Undergraduate enrollment is approaching 14,000 and graduate enrollment is just over 2,000. The Southern Association of Schools and Colleges – Commission on Colleges provides accreditation. The online programs at EKU are taught by the same professors as the traditional programs. There are 54 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees offered by Eastern Kentucky. The school also offers approximately 20 certificates and three associate’s degrees online. EKU has programs in a variety areas. The most common online bachelor’s programs are the fields of corrections, fire prevention, and psychology. Online program tuition per credit starts at $398 for undergraduate programs, $490 for master’s programs, and $610 for doctoral programs. U.S. News and World Report ranks EKU’s online bachelor’s program at #77, the online graduate education program #93, and the online nursing program #79. Furthermore, Forbes places the university at #189 on the list of best colleges in the South.
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Belhaven University
Belhaven University is a private, Christian liberal arts university located in Jackson, Mississippi. Though the school loosely affiliated with the Presbyterian denomination, it is independently governed by a Board of Trustees. Belhaven University has over 4,000 students enrolled and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The accredited online degree offering at Belhaven totals three associate’s degrees, seven bachelor’s degrees, and seven master’s degrees. The school also offers a handful of certificates. Online degrees can be earned in areas like psychology, biblical studies, business, healthcare, education, and beyond. The online bachelor’s programs have just under 400 students enrolled and have a maximum class size of 16 students. Online undergraduate programs are $350 per credit. Online graduate programs range from $480 to $525 per credit. The U.S. News and World Report ranks Belhaven at #74 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. The publication also ranks the university #65 on the Best Regional Colleges in the South.
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University of St. Francis
Founded in 1920, the University of St. Francis is a private, Roman Catholic university that is affiliated with the Franciscan religious order. The main campus is located in Joilet, Illinois. There are also two more Joilet campuses, a campus in Albuquerque, NM, and one in Miami, FL. The university has nearly 3,800 students enrolled in their on-campus and off-campus learning programs. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation. The University of St. Francis has three online bachelor’s programs, nine online master’s programs, and two online doctoral programs. The majority of online bachelor’s students are in the fields of education, business, or healthcare. The maximum class size of online bachelor’s classes is 20 students. The per credit tuition rate for online undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees starts at $599, $724, $655 respectively. The online graduate education program is ranked #36 by U.S. News and World Report. The publication also ranks University of St. Francis’ online bachelor’s programs at #81, the online graduate business programs at #80, and the online graduate nursing programs at #86.
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Ball State University
Ball State University is a public research university in Muncie, Indiana. Approximately 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students enroll each year. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation. The university offers 22 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as a hand full of associate’s degrees and certificates. The online bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees are in business, education, and health care. The doctoral programs focus on education or nursing. Tuition per credit for residents of Indiana who are enrolled in online programs starts at $284 for undergraduate programs and $315 for graduate programs. Non-residents can expect to pay $499 per credit for online undergraduate programs and a minimum of $530 per credit for online graduate programs. Ball State is ranked #3 on the Top Online Business Programs list compiled by Open Education Database. U.S. News and World Report ranks the online graduate business, education, and nursing programs #17, #11, and #19 respectively. The publication also ranks the online bachelor’s program at #29.
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Regis University
Founded by Jesuits 1877, Regis University is a private, Roman Catholic university with a main campus in Denver, Colorado. The school has extension campuses in a couple of locations in Denver as well as in Broomfield, Colorado Springs, Loveland, and Thorton. Nearly 10,000 students are enrolled in the university. Regis is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Regis offers 54 online bachelor’s and master’s degrees from four different academic colleges: College of Computer & Information Sciences, School of Education, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the School of Management. With a cap of 15 students, online undergraduate classes allow students to receive the attention they need to succeed. The standard online tuition per credit starts at $395 for undergraduate programs and $412 for graduate programs. The U.S. News and World Report ranks five of Regis’ online programs. The online graduate programs in computer science ranks #20. The online graduate nursing program ranks #37. The online graduate business and education programs ranks #128 and #61. Finally, the online bachelor’s programs rank #65.
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University of Missouri
Instituted in 1839, the University of Missouri is a public research university located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the oldest public institution of higher education west of the Mississippi River. The campus sits on 1,262 acres and is designated as a botanical garden. The school, also known as Mizzou, has approximately 35,000 students enrolled and graduates about 8.000 students per year. Mizzou offers 54 accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees out of 14 colleges. The colleges are as follows: College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, College of Arts & Science, Trulaske College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering, Health Management & Informatics, School of Health Professions, College of Human Environmental Sciences, School of Journalism, Sinclair School of Nursing, Truman School of Public Affairs, Public Health, and College of Veterinary Medicine. The online bachelor’s program ensures classes are no larger than 25 students. Tuition for the online degrees at Mizzou is dependent upon the degree and place of residence of the student. Online bachelor’s programs start at $274 per credit for residents of Missouri and $500.90 per credit for non-residents. Online graduate degrees start at $347.30 per credit for residents and $562.80 per credit for non-residents. With a 11.41 to 1 ratio student to faculty ratio and 72% job placement rating, the online education program ranks #4 by Open Education Database. Other notable rankings for the online programs include #48 on the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Online Bachelor’s Program list and #75 on the same publication’s Best Online Graduate Nursing list. Forbes’ ranks Mizzou’s flagship campus at #45 in the Midwest.
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University of Illinois at Springfield
The University of Illinois at Springfield is located in Springfield, Illinois. It is one of the three campuses of the University of Illinois sytem. The school enrolls over 5,000 students and averages 15 students per class. The university offers 16 fully accredited online undergraduate and graduate degrees degrees and 12 certificates. The two most popular online undergraduate degrees are in the fields of business and computer science. The school also offers degrees in other fields including but not limited to history, English, public health, and political science. The tuition for online undergraduate degrees begins at $358.50 per credit. The online graduate degree tuition begins at $352 per credit. The University of Illinois at Springfield is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The U.S. News and World Report ranks the online programs of the University of Illinois at Springfield in three areas. The online bachelor’s program is ranked #31, the online graduate business program is ranked $43, and the online graduate education program is ranked #54.
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Drexel University
With its primary campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Drexel University is a private research university with a total student population of 26,132.. The school also operates out of several extension campuses in Pennsylvania a campus in Sacramento, California and globally through online degrees. Drexel was founded in 1891 by the philanthropist and financier Anthony J. Drexel. The the Middle States Commission on Higher Education provides accreditation. Drexel offers 69 fully accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, which is tied for third on this list for most online degree offering. The most popular online bachelor’s degrees are in the fields of nursing, general studies, and business. That being said, Drexel offers online graduate and undergraduate degrees in a wide range of other fields such as criminal justice, engineering, and technology. The tuition rate for online programs is anywhere from $440 per credit to $843 per credit. The online programs have almost 1,800 undergraduate students enrolled and just under 3,500 graduate students enrolled. U.S. News and World Report ranks Drexel University #37 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. The publication also ranks the university for online graduate programs in the fields of education, engineering, and nursing at #48, $29, and #24 respectively. Forbes ranks Drexel at #123 on the Best Colleges in the Northeast list.
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Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870 by the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus, also known a the Jesuits, Loyola University Chicago is a private university located in Chicago, Illinois. The school operates three campuses in Chicago, one campus in Rome, Italy, and globally via online education. Total enrollment of the university is slightly under 16,000. Loyola offers 23 bachelor’s competition degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees online. The degrees are in Art & Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Business, Education, Law, Nursing, and Pastoral Studies. The school also has 17 certificate programs in a variety of areas. The online undergraduate classes are capped at 25 students and tuition starts at $630 per credit. Forbes ranks Loyola University Chicago at #74 on the Best Colleges in the Midwest list. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school #28 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. Loyola University Chicago is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
24
Huntington University
Huntington University is a private liberal arts university that was founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The school has 1,124 students enrolled and is located in Huntington, Indiana. Traditional students say they chose Huntington because of a spiritual atmosphere, astute career preparation, high quality of faculty, high quality of intended major, and the academic reputation of the institution. The university offers seven online bachelor’s degrees: Business Administration, Not-for-Profit Leadership, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Social Work. Huntington also has online master’s degree programs in Global Initiatives, Global Youth Leadership, Pastoral Leadership as well as hybrid master’s degree programs in Education and Youth Ministry Leadership. Online undergraduate classes are capped at 24 students. Tuition for online degree starts at $358 for undergraduate programs and $387 for graduate programs. Washington Monthly ranks Hunting University at #90 Best Value Baccalaureate Colleges Rankings. The online bachelor’s program is ranked at #87 U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, Forbes puts HU at #96 on the Best Colleges in the Midwest list. Huntington University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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Concordia University St. Paul
Concordia University St. Paul is a liberal arts university that was founded in 1893 by the Lutheran Church and located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The institution is a member of the 10 unit Concordia University System. This particular campus has approximately 2,800 students enrolled. The school offers 48 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the online format. The most common online undergraduate majors are in the fields of business, child development, human development, and human resources. Online undergraduate classes are no larger than 24 students large. Online undergraduate and graduate degrees start at $420 per credit hour and $368 per credit hour respectively. The school is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Higher Learning Commission. This university’s online programs are ranked in three areas by the U.S. News and World Report. The online bachelor program is ranked #56, the graduate business program is ranked #131, and the graduate education program is ranked #55.
22
California Baptist University
Founded in 1950, California Baptist University is a Christian liberal arts university located in Riverside, California. This private school has 5,797 undergraduate and 1,347 graduate students enrolled. The university is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). CBU has 20 bachelor’s degrees and nine master’s degrees offered online with several options in concentrations and specializations. The most common online undergraduate degrees are in psychology, business, liberal studies, and interdisciplinary studies. Classes in the online undergraduate programs are capped at 25 students. Tuition at CBU starts at $511 per credit for online undergraduate programs and $531 for online graduate programs. The U.S. News and World Report ranks CBU at #37 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. Moreover, the publication ranks CBU’s online graduate programs in the fields of business and education at #110 and #123 respectively.
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University of Nebraska
Considered to be Nebraska’s oldest university, the University of Nebraska is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nearly 25,000 students are enrolled in this research university. UNL’s claims that the school is the birthplace of the discipline of ecology. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. With over 100 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees offered in the online format, UNL tops our list in terms of the amount of online degree options. The vast majority of those degrees are online graduate degrees. The degrees operate out of seven colleges: Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Business Administration, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Architecture, Journalism and Mass Communications, Arts and Sciences, and Law. Online tuition at University of Nebraska varies with the program and the students’ places of residence. The per credit cost starts at $250 for in-state and 463.50 for out-of-state online undergraduate degrees and $245.25 for in-state and $685 out-of-state online graduate degrees. UNL is ranked by a few different reputable publications. The school is #83 on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges list and #65 on Forbes’ Best Colleges in the Midwest list. Moreover, U.S. News and World Report ranks the online bachelor’s program at #74, the online graduate business program at #6, the online graduate education program at #11, and the online graduate engineering program at #41.
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Northeastern University
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Northeastern is a research university that was founded in 1898. The university offers advanced degrees at campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina and Seattle, WA. There are currently over 20,000 students enrolled in the school. Northeastern is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Northeastern offers nearly 50 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Moreover, the school has over 20 online undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. The most popular degrees for undergraduates are in the fields of business, engineering, and healthcare. Online undergraduate programs start at $369 per credit. Online graduate programs range from $488 per credit for a Master’s in Education to $1,420 per credit for the MBA program. Bloomberg BusinessWeek ranks Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business at#19 on the Best Undergraduate Business Schools list. Forbes ranks Northeastern at #90 on the Top Colleges in the Northeast list. Furthermore, the Times Higher Education ranks the school at #184 on the World Universities Ranking list.
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University of Arkansas
Nestled in the hills of the Ozark Mountains in the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas, the University of Arkansas is a public research university. Over 25,000 students from all 50 states and more than 120 countries attend the school. The U of A is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. U of A offers three online bachelor’s degrees, 16 online master’s degrees, and four online doctoral degrees. The school also offers six online certificate programs. The online degrees and certificates are offered from the following six colleges: the College of Education and Health Professions College of Engineering, the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and the School of Law. Tuition for online bachelor degrees starts at $227.44 per credit. Online master’s degrees start at $388.29 per credit. The university is ranked by Kiplinger at #67 on the Best Values in Public Colleges list. Forbe’s ranks U of A #58 in the South. Other notable rankings include U.S. News and World Report ranking the online graduate engineering program #23 and the online bachelor’s programs #56.
18
Rochester Institute of Technology
Founded in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology sits on nearly 1300 acres of wetlands in the town of Rochester, NY. RIT is a private school with over 16,500 students enrolled. The students enjoy a relatively small class size with a student to teacher ratio of 16 to 1. Accreditation for the school is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education RIT offers 14 graduate degrees in the online format in various fields of study such as engineering, business, health sciences, and computer science. The school also has one online associate’s degree as well as one bachelor’s degree. Both the A.S. degree and the B.S. degree are in the field of Applied Arts and Sciences. Finally, RIT offers 11 certificates and advanced certificates. Tuition for online programs starts at $807 per credit hour. Several reputable organizations rank RIT. U.S. News and World Report ranks the online graduate business program at #35. Kiplinger ranks the school #67 on the Best Value in Private Colleges list. Forbes places the institute at #137 on the Top Colleges in the Northeast list.
17
Washington State University
Founded in 1890, Washington State University is a public research university located in the eastern Washington town of Pullman, Washington. WSU also has extension campuses in Spokane, Vancouver, Richland, and has a robust online offering. Nearly 28,000 students are enrolled in school at the main campus. WSU offers 24/7 technology support for their online degrees to insure that students take full advantage of the available resources. The degree offering includes 20 fully accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as 10 certificates. The areas of study include subjects like business, agriculture, engineering, and biosciences. Tuition starts at $570 per credit for undergraduate programs and $587 per credit for graduate programs. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities provide accreditation for the school. Forbes ranks WSU #72 on the Top Colleges in the West list. U.S. News and World Report ranks the school at #7 on the Best Online Graduate Business Program list and #21 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. Furthermore, Washington Monthly ranks Washington State at #100 on the National Universities Rankings list.
16
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago is positioned on the city’s near Northwest side. Nearly 28,000 students are enrolled in the public research university. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association provides accreditation. The university offers 12 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as a number of online certificate programs out of eight academic colleges: School of Public Health, School of Continuing Studies, College of Planning and Public Affairs, College of Nursing, College of Medicine, College of Engineering, College of Education, and College of Applied Health Sciences. Although the university does not offer 24/7 technology support for online students, the faculty members are expected to reply to inquiries within 30 hours. Most online classes are no larger than 20 people. Tuition per credit for online undergraduate and graduate degrees is $494 and $777 respectively. Forbes ranks University of Illinois at Chicago at #85 in the Midwest. The U.S News and World Report ranks the university #9 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #41 on the Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs list. Other notable rankings include the Times Higher Education listing the school at #191 on the World University Rankings list and Washington Monthly listing the school at #86 on the Top National Universities list.
15
University of Alabama
Launched as Alabama’s first public college in 1831, The University of Alabama is research university with a flagship campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Of the 35,000 students enrolled in UA only 53% are Alabama residents. The school is accredited by the South Association of Colleges and Schools. The University of Alabama has 25 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The offering includes fields such as law, human environmental studies, education, business, engineering, and healthcare. In-State tuition per credit for online undergraduate and graduate degrees is $333 and $354 respectively. Online students who do not reside in Alabama can expect to pay $916 per credit for undergraduate programs and $1,000 per credit for graduate programs. The Open Education Database ranks UA #1 on both the Top Online Business Schools list and on the Top Online Engineering Schools list. The publication also ranks the online nursing program #2. The online graduate business program is ranked #12 on U.S. News and World Report.
14
Norwich University
Norwich University, also known as The Military College of Vermont, is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont. Founded in 1819, It is the oldest private military college in the United States. Students do not need to be in the military to attend the school. The university offers nine fully accredited graduate degrees in the online format. The graduate programs include areas of study like business, engineering, military history, and nursing. Norwich also offers two online bachelor’ degrees: a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a B.S. in Strategic Studies & Defense Analysis. Online undergraduate degrees start at $275 per credit hour. Master’s degrees start at $616 per credit hour. Norwich is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. – the nation’s oldest regional accrediting body U.S. New and World Report ranks four of Norwich University’ online programs in the top 100 in their areas. The online undergraduate program is ranked #37 on the best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. Furthermore,the graduate programs in business, engineering, and nursing are respectively ranked #58, #46, and #68.
13
Oregon State University
Situated 90 miles south of Portland in the small town of Corvallis, OR, Oregon State University is a leading public research university. Nearly 30,000 students from all 50 states and 100 countries are enrolled in the school. OSU has a robust online degree offering with over 800 classe in nearly 30 fully accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students can choose from online degrees in fields such as agricultural sciences, computer science, horticulture, human development, and more.Undergraduate tuition for online programs starts at $271 per credit. Graduate tuition for online programs starts at $512 per credit. Forbes ranks OSU at #62 on the Top Colleges in the West list. The online bachelor’s program ranks #46 with U.S. News and World Report. Washington Monthly ranks the university at #78 on the Top National Universities list. Oregon State University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
12
Colorado State University – Global
With a main office in Greenwood Village, Colorado, Colorado State University – Global was the first independent, fully-accredited, 100% online university in the country. The school has 5,578 undergraduate students and 1,824 graduate students enrolled. The student to teacher ratio is 26 to 1. The university is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. CSU-Global offers 26 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees that are delivered completely online. The degrees cover a broad range of subjects such as business, communication, criminal justice, human resources and healthcare. Classes are launched every four week to minimize delay. The tuition rates per credit are $350 for undergraduate programs and $500 for graduate programs. Forbes ranks CSU-Global #60 on the Top Colleges in the West list. The school is also ranked by U.S. News and World Report in various areas such as #16 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #67 on the Best Online Graduate Education Programs list.
11
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public research university with a flagship campus located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has four traditional four-year campuses and four additional campuses that award associate’s degrees and online bachelor degrees. There are 24,180 undergraduate students and 7,784 graduate students enrolled in the university. SC offers nearly 40 accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The online bachelor’s degrees are in the fields of business, human services, criminal science, education, and nursing. The online graduate degrees are in the fields of education, engineering, management, healthcare, and beyond. The per credit tuition rate for online undergraduate programs is $388 for residents of South Carolina and $776.50 for non-residents. Furthermore, the tuition for online graduate degrees starts at $450 per credit for residents of South Carolina and $625 per credit for non-residents. The online bachelor’s programs have classes that are no larger than 20 students. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation. The flagship campus of South Carolina is ranked #35 on both Forbes’ list for top colleges in the South and on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges list. The U.S. News and World Report ranks SC’s online programs at #15 for online graduate education programs, #16 for online graduate nursing programs and #36 for online graduate engineering programs.
10
University of Denver
Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. There are 5,517 undergraduate students and 6,261 graduate students enrolled in the university. The online degrees are housed in the school’s University College, the college of professional and continuing studies. Tuition at the school is $535 per credit for undergraduate degrees and $571 per credit for graduate degrees. University College offers 16 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as over 30 certificates. The degrees cover many areas such as healthcare, communications, leadership, and geographic information systems. Online classes at the University of Denver have the same academic outcomes and follow the same 10 week quarter system as the traditional classes. The school is regionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Kiplinger ranks the University of Denver #53 on the Best Value in Private Colleges list. Forbes ranks the school #26 on the Top Colleges in the West list. The university is ranked by the U.S. News and World as #13 on Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list, #36 on the Best Online Graduate Business Programs list, and #22 on the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs list.
9
Boston University
With the main campus located in the heart of historic Boston, Massachusetts, Boston University is a leading research university. The university is a part of the a highly regarded group of schools in the United States called the Association of American Universities. Nearly 32,500 students are enrolled in the school. Boston University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. Boston University offers an abundance of accredited online master’s and doctoral degrees as well as an extensive online bachelor’s degree completion program. The school also offers 22 accredited and non-credit certificates. Tuition for part-time students in the online programs are $650 for the undergraduate completion program. Furthermore, tuition starts at $715 for online graduate degrees and $1,428 doctoral degree. Students participating in online programs are organized into small groups that simulate a classroom experience. Each group is coordinated by an expert facilitator who leads discussions,answers questions about the course content, and supports students with their studies. The United States Distance Learning Association awarded Boston University’s School of Social Work with a Platinum Award for Best Practice for Distance Learning Programming. The U.S. News and World Report has the university at #2 on the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs list. Forbes ranks the school #43 on the Top Research University list. Furthermore, Kiplinger ranks the school #53 on the Best Value in Private Colleges list. The World University Rankings puts Boston University at #50 on the list for top world universities.
8
University of Massachusetts
Established in 1863, the University of Massachusetts, known as UMass, is a research university with a flagship campus in Amhurst, Massachusetts. Total, there are four universities in the UMass system as well as a satellite center. The Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges provides accreditation for the system. UMass provides approximately 70 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as 58 certificates online. The programs have the same high quality professors as the traditional in-class programs. The degrees are the in fields of education, liberal arts, nursing, business and management, information technology, public health, and more. The online per credit tuition starts at $365 for undergraduate programs and $490 for graduate programs. TheU.S. News and World Report ranks UMass Amhurst at #3 on theBest Online Graduate Nursing Programs list and #27 Best Online Graduate Business Programs. The publication also ranks the online bachelor program at the Dartmouth campus #69. The online nursing program at UMass is ranked #7 by the Open Education Database. The flagship campus is ranked #70 on Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges list and #70 onForbes’ list for best colleges in the northeast.
7
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a public university located in Cullowhee, NC and is a member of the University of North Carolina system. The university has 10,107 total students enrolled. Of the number, around 1,400 are enrolled in online undergraduate programs. The university provides around 17 accredited online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as seven online certificate programs. Degrees are offered in engineering, education, business, health care, and beyond. Student who are residents of North Carolina pay $143.03 per credit for undergraduate programs and $228.58 per credit for graduate programs. Out-of-state tuition starts at $494.16 per credit for undergraduate programs and 738.73 per credit for graduate programs. U.S. News and World Report ranks WCU #34 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #82 on the Best Online Graduate Business program list. Western Carolina University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
6
Pace University
Pace University is a private university with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, NY as well as a robust online offering. The school has a total enrollment of 12,624 of which 250 are enrolled in an online undergraduate degree program. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools provides accreditation. The university offers approximately 19 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees online as well as 23 certificates. Online courses are taught in five schools: the Dyson College of Arts & Sciences, the Lubin School of Business, the College of Health Professions, School of Education, and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science & Information Systems. The online undergraduate classes are capped at 20 students. Forbes ranks Pace #168 on the Top Schools in the Northeast list. The U.S. News and World Report ranks Pace as #3 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list and #16 on the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology list.
5
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has over 34,000 students enrolled and a faculty of approximately 8,000. Accreditation is provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university offers 44 online bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. The online degrees, certificates, and teacher licensure programs are offered out of the university’s core academic strengths, which include engineering, technology, science and education, among other academic disciplines. The Wall Street Journal names NC State graduates in the top 20 most desired by recruiters. The Princeton Review ranks the school #4 Best Value Among Public Universities. Furthermore, Kiplinger’s ranks the university #16 on the Best Values in Public Colleges list and Forbes ranks the school #30 of the colleges in the south. The U.S. News and World Report ranks NC State’s online programs in a few areas. Three of the online graduate programs are ranked in the top 10 in their fields. The online graduate Business program is #6, the online graduate CIT program is #4, and the online graduate Engineering program is #9. Also notable, the online graduate education program is #16 and the online bachelor’s programs are ranked #81.
4
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The main campus has 20,534 undergraduate students and 6,307 graduate students. The University offers classes on their main campus, at nearly 40 extension campuses all over the United States, and online. Online students can choose from approximately 15 accredited bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as over a dozen graduate and undergraduate certificates. The degrees are in programs such as business, education, administration, leadership, and nursing. Many of the degrees offer a spectrum of specializations. The maximum class size for online undergraduate classes is 25. The standard course fees per credit are $387 for an online undergraduate program and $510 for an online graduate program. U.S. News and World Report ranks Central Michigan University #1 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Program list, #3 on the Best Online Graduate Education Program list, and #17 in Best Online Graduate Business Program list. Forbes ranks CMU as #153 on the Top School’s in the Midwest list. Central Michigan University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
3
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university. The school offers degrees from the main campus in Tempe, Arizona, several extension campuses, and online. There are approximately 7,500 students enrolled in their online bachelor’s degree programs. Arizona State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. The university offers approximately 69 fully accredited bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees as well as approximately 15 undergraduate and graduate certificates. The degrees are offered in a vast array of fields such as engineering, education, design, business, nursing, and beyond! Online graduate and undergraduate degrees start at $480 per credit. Online students are granted access to all of ASU Libraries’ resources through the Libraries’ website . This includes e-books, electronic journals, research databases, and other research material. If students need help with library resources there is a librarian available 24/7 for chat and email through ASU’s Ask a Librarian service. ASU is ranked in many areas by various reputable sources. The Open Education Database ranks ASU as #2 on the Top Online Engineering Colleges list. Washington Monthly ranks ASU #28 on the Top National University list. The Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks Arizona State at #146 university in the world. U.S. News and World Reports ranks the online program in five areas such as #9 in Best Online Bachelor’s Programs and #2 Best Online Graduate Business Programs.
2
Pennsylvania State University World Campus
There are 13,829 students are enrolled in online degree programs at Pennsylvania State University. The headquarters of school is in University Park, PA. The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools provides accreditation. Penn State World Campus offers around 63 accredited bachelors, master’s, and doctoral degrees online as well as approximately 51 certificates. Degrees are offered in the areas of business, management, education, engineering, health services, homeland security, law, turfgrass, and more. Penn State is highly ranked in many areas. U.S. News and World Report ranks the university as #3 on the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list, #6 on the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs list, and #5 on the Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs list. Penn State is #53 on Kiplinger’s Best Value in Public Colleges list, #76 Forbes Top Research University list and #49 on Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking.
1
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers degree programs at two main residential campuses (Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona), at over 150 centers around the world, and online. The worldwide campus boasts of having an enrollment of 9,789 undergraduate students and 4,775 graduate students. Online students can choose among approximately 22 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The school also offers five online associate’s degrees and two online certificates. As the name of the school indicates, most of the degrees are in the areas of aeronautics, aviation, transportation, and engineering. However, the school also offers degrees in areas like communications, leadership, and administration. The tuition per credit is $335 for an undergraduate program and $560 for a graduate program. Forbes ranks Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach campus as #135 on the Top Schools in the South list. The Prescot, AZ campus is ranked #93 by Washington Monthly’s Top Baccalaureate College Rankings. U.S. News and World Reportranks the university #5 Best Online Bachelor’s Program list and #70 Best Online Graduate Business Program list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, including Daytona Beach, Prescott and Worldwide Campuses, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
