10 Most Flexible Online Colleges in California 2025

Having a college degree can make a huge impact on your career path. However, many students aren't able to go to school on campus, especially if they work full-time or have kids or other family to care for. Flexible online degree programs make it possible for these busy students to finish their higher education.

Some of the best flexible online colleges are based in California. These colleges allow students to complete their coursework when it works best for their schedules. Keep reading to discover the most flexible online degree programs in California.

Flexible Online Degree Programs in California

There are several top online colleges in California, and many of these offer flexible online programs. There are even a few accredited self-paced online colleges based in the state. Below, we've highlighted some of the most flexible online colleges in California.

1. University of Massachusetts Global

The University of Massachusetts Global is a private, nonprofit online affiliate of the public University of Massachusetts. It's headquartered in Aliso Viejo, CA, and offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees online. These span fields like business administration, computer science, education, and humanities.

Nearly all courses are asynchronous, meaning that while you have due dates, you'll complete your coursework on your own time, with no set meeting times. Additionally, programs run on an eight-week schedule with six different session start dates throughout the year.

UMass Global also offers several of its business and technology degrees in its self-paced MyPath format. Students go through courses on their own schedule, without set deadlines, and as you complete one section, you'll move on to the next. This provides ultimate flexibility for busy students.

2. National University

At National University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include business, criminal justice, engineering, and public health.

The private, nonprofit university is based in San Diego. It aims to provide flexibility to students through asynchronous courses. Online learning programs run on four-week schedules, with year-round enrollment and new start dates each month.

3. Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide offers online education from the associate degree through the doctoral level in fields like business administration, healthcare, psychology, and social work. The private Jewish institution runs its Worldwide, online campus from Los Alamitos, CA.

The distance learning programs at TUW are highly convenient, with eight-week courses and six start dates each year. The majority of programs are fully asynchronous.

4. Columbia College

Undergraduate and graduate programs are available online at Columbia College. Some common areas of study include business administration, computer science, criminal justice, and healthcare.

Columbia College is based in Columbia, MO, but the private, nonprofit school has several campuses across the U.S., including two in California. Course materials are available online 24/7, offering the flexibility to study when and where it's convenient for you. Online classes run on eight-week terms.

5. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno Pacific University is a private Christian school in Fresno, CA. It offers online bachelor's and master's degrees in fields like business administration, education, liberal arts, and social sciences.

Online classes run on six-, eight-, 12-, and 16-week schedule options, allowing students to choose the pace that works best for them. The university also offers a full range of general education classes online in six- and 12-week formats.

6. San Diego State University

Students at San Diego State University can pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees online through the school's Global Campus. Areas of study include business administration, communication, criminal justice, and public health.

These for-credit degree programs are designed, developed, and delivered by the same expert faculty and instructors who teach in SDSU's on-campus programs. Most courses are asynchronous and classes are offered in six- and eight-week terms. The university, located in San Diego, is part of the public California State University (CSU) system.

7. California Baptist University

California Baptist University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees online in fields such as business, education, liberal studies, and social sciences. The private nonprofit school is based in Riverside, CA.

CBU's online programs were established specifically to serve the needs of adults and non-traditional students seeking higher education. Courses are available year-round, many in accelerated eight-week terms.

8. California State University Channel Islands

California State University Channel Islands offers undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include business, computer science, healthcare, and psychology.

CSU Channel Islands, located in Camarillo, CA, is another member of the Cal State system. It offers online programs in eight-week terms, and the majority of classes are asynchronous.

9. Point Loma Nazarene University

Point Loma Nazarene University is a private Christian liberal arts college in San Diego. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees online in fields like business, communication, education, and nursing.

PLNU's online education programs are designed to give students the freedom to balance their personal needs while also growing academically, professionally, personally, and spiritually. Courses are offered in an easy-to-navigate format with eight-week terms, and multiple start dates are available each year.

10. Antioch University

Through Antioch University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include environmental studies, healthcare, liberal studies, and management.

Based in Los Angeles, the private university works to ensure students have the best opportunity to continue their education without putting their lives on hold. Most online courses are asynchronous and courses run on eight-week schedules.

Our Selection Criteria

To find the California online colleges with flexible schedules listed above, we focused on the following:

• Accreditation: All schools listed above are regionally accredited.
• Location: We looked only at schools that are based in or have at least one campus location in California.
• Type: We choose only four-year public or private nonprofit schools.
• Online offerings: Every school above provides various online programs, especially at the bachelor's degree level.
• Asynchronous classes: The programs on this list offer the majority, if not all, of their online classes in an asynchronous format.
• Accelerated schedules: All offer shorter terms, which can be helpful if students need to take a few weeks off to handle other things in their lives.

Online Courses and Asynchronous Learning for Online Programs

Flexible online degree programs use asynchronous classes. This means that there are no set meeting times for the class. This is different than synchronous classes, sometimes called ''live online'' classes, which require you to log in to Zoom or a similar platform at a specific time for class.

In asynchronous classes, your teacher gives you due dates for your assignments. However, you are allowed to complete that coursework at any time � even in the middle of the night � as long as you turn it in before it's due.

While every professor runs their online class a little differently, asynchronous classes often include video lectures, reading from textbooks or other sources, projects, and online discussion posts. Weekly assignments are pretty common to ensure students stay on track.

How To Find Online Programs in California With Flexible Schedules

When looking for flexible online colleges in California, there are a few things you'll want to think about. These include:

• Accreditation: Whatever school you choose needs to be accredited, preferably regionally accredited.
• Major: Not all schools offer all majors online.
• Schedule: Some online schools offer accelerated schedules, while others offer part-time options for those who want to take on a more relaxed course load. You can even find online colleges with weekly start dates.
• Course format: Asynchronous classes are much more flexible than synchronous ones.
• Affordability: Tuition rates and financial aid opportunities vary between schools. Luckily, there are many online colleges that accept financial aid.
• Student services: Look for a school that offers strong support services for online students.

You can find out a lot about a school's online programs through its website or by contacting an admissions counselor. You can also use resources like the National Center for Education Statistics's (NCES) College Navigator and the ]U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard|https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search?sort=threshold_earnings:desc&page=0] to find information on things like retention and graduation rates.

FAQs About Online Colleges in California Offering Flexible Schedules

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about online colleges with flexible schedules in California.

What Is the Cheapest Online College in California?

The cheapest online college in California is the University of the People, which offers virtually free online degrees. However, the University of the People is not yet regionally accredited.

There are other affordable online colleges in California to consider. Many Cal State schools have an in-state tuition rate under $400 per credit hour, and National University charges $370 per credit hour for most programs for both in-state and out-of-state students.

What Is the Easiest Online College To Get Into in California?

UMass Global, National University, Touro University Worldwide, and Columbia College all have open admissions policies. This means that they accept all students who meet the minimum admissions requirements, which is often just a high school diploma.

Are There Flexible Online Colleges in California for Working Adults?

All the flexible online degree programs listed above are great options for working adults, and many specifically cater to working adults. These schools provide a high-quality education without requiring students to learn in person.

Find Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in California Today

Find the perfect flexible online degree for you by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Contact these schools directly to learn more about their online learning options.