Best Online Colleges, Universities, and Schools

Excelsior University (previously Excelsior College) is a private online university in Albany, New York. It offers more than 35 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, health sciences, nursing, technology, liberal arts, and public service.

Excelsior is committed to helping nontraditional students "pursue your passion and achieve your career goals without putting the rest of life on pause." That means a generous acceptance rate; awarding credit for previous college, work, volunteer, and military experience; and a flexible approach to learning.

Notable Fact: An Excelsior degree can really boost your career. Nearly 60% of Excelsior grads report post-graduation career advancement — and of those, nearly 70% report a pay increase.

Northeastern University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. The Lifelong Learning Network is Northeastern University's school for nontraditional learners. It offers over 200 professional bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificate options and bootcamps.

The Lifelong Learning Network is built with flexibility in mind. You can choose from online, in-person, and hybrid learning channels. Each credential can stand alone or be built into a future degree. You have the opportunity to develop a customized career plan, receive professional support, study an industry-aligned curriculum, and join a large global network of alumni and peers.

Notable Fact: Successful Northeastern alumni include U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, Emmy-award winner and original SNL cast member Jane Curtin, and Challenger space shuttle astronaut Gregory Jarvis.

The University of Massachusetts at Lowell is a public research university located just north of Boston. The school offers nearly 150 undergraduate majors and certificates, as well as 50 master's programs, 28 doctoral degrees, and 31 certificates.

UMass Lowell takes pride in preparing students for "solving real problems and helping real people" by providing a top-notch education. The results of a Lowell education speak for themselves: 96% of the 2021 graduating class are either employed or in graduate school. The school also reports that the average mid-career salary for UMass Lowell graduates is $116,000. 

Notable Fact: Lowell, Massachusetts, is the birthplace of the famous American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac.

The University of North Dakota is the state's oldest and largest public university. It's located in the city of Grand Forks. The school offers more than 225 academic programs. Nearly 40% of UND students attend classes exclusively online.

The University of North Dakota is known for being a leader in engineering, medicine, space, aviation, and unmanned aircraft systems. Student life at UND is about more than studying: the school boasts 17 NCAA Division I athletic teams and has over 250 student clubs and organizations. 

Notable Fact: The first graduating class of UND (in 1889) was made up of two men and six women. One of those graduates was Dr. Cora Smith King, who became the first woman to receive a medical license in North Dakota.

Oregon State University is a public institution located in Corvallis, Oregon. The school offers over 200 academic programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.

Oregon State University is one of only two designated land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant universities in the country. This quadruple honor acknowledges that Oregon State is at the forefront of research projects that address society's most urgent challenges, including climate change. And online students are a part of that effort as well: Oregon State offers some of the best online programs in environmental science, computer science, and horticulture (to name just a few).

Notable Fact: Without Oregon State professors and alumni, we would be without useful inventions like video conferencing, the computer mouse, and the artificial heart valve. 

East Carolina University is a large public university in Greenville, North Carolina. It offers 89 bachelor's degrees and 87 graduate degrees. Currently, ECU has roughly 130 degree and certificate programs approved for online delivery.

East Carolina University is known for providing an affordable education. More than 80% of full-time undergraduate students receive some kind of financial aid. Popular majors at ECU in 2021 included nursing, management, biology, marketing, and psychology.

Notable Fact: In 2019, an ECU archaeology student detected the ruins of a lost colonial tavern in nearby Brunswick Town, North Carolina. The discovery launched a month-long excavation led by ECU's archaeology department.

Kansas State University is a public institution in Manhattan, Kansas. It offers more than 250 undergraduate programs and 165 graduate programs, as well as more than 100 fully online options.

Kansas State University operates according to what it calls the "purple rule" — family comes first. The school puts this mantra into practice by prioritizing student success, embracing diversity and inclusion, and leading with compassion. The American Association of Colleges and Universities recently selected K-State to become a Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center. 

Notable Fact: K-State is also home to the new $1.5 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, which was recently developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The University of Massachusetts Global is a private institution focused on educating nontraditional students. It currently offers over 80 online degrees and certificates for associate, bachelor's, and master's students.

In 2021, Brandman University partnered with the University of Massachusetts to become the University of Massachusetts Global. Students may study fully online or opt for a hybrid learning model by taking some classes at locations in California or Washington. UMass Global is committed to the professional development of adult learners, so most of its faculty have both doctoral degrees and relevant real-world industry experience. 

Notable Fact: A full 90% of UMass Global students are working adults, and 56% of them are parents. It's never too late to build a better future!

The University of Alabama is a large public university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and programs across eight schools of study, and more than 120 graduate programs. Many of its course offerings are available online.

The University of Alabama is devoted to teaching, research, and service. Your peers at UA will be among the very best — the school currently has over 1,000 national merit scholars. The university is celebrated for its highly ranked schools of business, law, and social work. But perhaps more than anything else, the school is famous for its football team — nicknamed the "Crimson Tide" — which has won 16 national championships.

Notable Fact: The UA football team got its name during a rainy 1907 game against Auburn when the muddy field stained the players' white jerseys a dark red. A local newsman wrote that they played like a "crimson tide."

Washington State University is a public university with six campuses across Washington. WSU offers over 350 undergraduate and graduate courses of study through 11 academic colleges.

Washington State Cougars are serious about serving the public good and log around 66,500 student volunteer hours every year. Part of serving the public good also means making sure education is as accessible as possible, which is why WSU students received a total of over $400 million in financial aid and scholarships in 2020. 

Notable Fact: WSU's Vancouver campus was one of the first institutions to use an "interactive electronic classroom" all the way back in 1993. Trendsetters! (Zoom classes would have blown their minds.)

Park University is a private liberal arts school with campuses all over the U.S. The flagship campus is located in Parkville, Missouri, on a wooded campus near the Missouri River. Park offers over 100 associate, bachelor's, and graduate degrees and certificates.

Park University is known for its engaging classes, personable faculty, academic excellence, and commitment to inclusivity. Small classes make learning an intimate, interactive experience. The school is especially popular among international students — it currently has students from over 60 countries.

Notable Fact: Because more than 60% of Park students have some kind of military affiliation, the university recently launched a scholarship to benefit dependents and spouses of disabled or deceased veterans who are not eligible for VA benefits.

The University of Arizona is a public university in Tucson, Arizona. It offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate degrees across 20 colleges. You can study in person, online, or via "Near You Networks'' throughout Arizona.

The University of Arizona is known for being a highly diverse, top-tier research and development university. The school is helping to close gender employment gaps in higher education with a 56% female workforce. Students — including almost 3,000 transfer students in 2021 — come from all over the world to excel as Wildcats. Additionally, the University of Arizona boasts an impressive first-year retention rate of nearly 90%. 

Notable Fact: The University of Arizona helped map the moon so that we could land humans on it for the first time in 1969.

The Florida Institute of Technology is a private STEM institution in Melbourne, Florida. Florida Tech Online provides over 40 completely online degrees for nontraditional students and working professionals.

Florida Tech Online is known for its great instructors and engaging classes. The school ranks highly for the quality of its online bachelor's degree programs, especially in business and psychology. Classes are asynchronous, meaning you can study entirely on your own schedule. And great news: No test scores or application fees are required to apply.

Notable Fact: Florida Tech has lived up to its motto ("To the stars through science") by sending five alumni into space.

Bellevue University is a private, religious university in Bellevue, Nebraska. It offers over 80 career-focused programs with the option for online or hybrid learning. You can pursue associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Bellevue has leaned into the online education model over the past 25 years. In fact, 95% of Bellevue students are online students! Class sizes are small, faculty have real-world experience, and many support services are available to students. You can choose from career-building programs in the humanities, business, education, healthcare, psychology, human services, or STEM subjects. 

Bellevue is especially appealing to many adult learners, thanks to its generous credit transfer policies and robust student support systems.

Notable Fact: Bellevue's online student cohort has representatives from all 50 states, as well as international students from countries across the globe.

Old Dominion University is a public research institution in Norfolk, Virginia. It offers over 90 bachelor's degrees, 50 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. More than 120 ODU degree programs are available online.

Old Dominion University is consistently recognized as one of the best universities in the country and ranks especially well for its IT, education, engineering, nursing, and MBA programs. ODU has a dedicated center for social mobility to ensure the success of students and address systems of inequity. 

Notable Fact: Old Dominion educates leaders. Two ODU alumni — Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria and Republican challenger Jen Kiggans — went head-to-head in the 2022 midterms race for Virginia's 2nd Congressional district. The race went to Kiggans, who won by about 12,000 votes.