We know going back to school can be a tough decision to make. With so many quality online institutions out there to choose from, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But once you decide that online college is right for you, we can help you figure out the rest.

At OnlineCollege.org, we have compiled important information about the best and most popular online schools, a comprehensive list of the best open courses and lectures from top colleges on the Internet, and answers to some of your most pressing questions about being an online student. Consider us your go-to guide to online learning.

Online Degrees by Subject

• Business Degrees
• Criminal Justice & Law Degrees
• Design Degrees
• Education Degrees
• Health & Nursing Degrees
• Liberal Arts Degrees
• Science & Engineering Degrees
• Technology Degrees

Frequently Asked Questions

• How are Online Colleges Different from Traditional Colleges?
• How Do I Know if Online College is right for me?
• What Are the Benefits of Going to College Online?
• What Do I Need to Know About Online College Accreditation?
• Where Can I Find Financial Aid for Online College?

How to Choose an Online School

How should someone select an online school? Just as students have different priorities when choosing physical campuses, they will have different criteria for choosing an online institution. For example:

• Prestige. Some students need a degree from a prestigious university in order to advance in their particular field. Others are not concerned with elite reputations; as long as their program is accredited, it will move them forward.
• Expense. Some students wish to find schools that offer the most financial aid or have low tuition, but others – such as people with education benefits from the military – needn’t take cost into account.
• Pace. Some people want to earn their online degree as quickly as possible. They seek accelerated degree programs or those that will accept their previously-earned academic credits or grant credit for life experiences (e.g., military training). Other people prefer to learn at a slower pace.

Clearly, the variation among individual’s means that there will be variation among any rankings that people would assign to online institutions. At the same time, it is helpful to consider as a starting point another’s list of top online schools. The twenty online schools presented below are all accredited by one of the six aforementioned accrediting bodies. Factors such as tuition, reputation, academic awards, and range of degree programs have also been taken into account.