Cheapest & Most Affordable Open Enrollment Online Colleges 2025

If you didn't do well academically in high school or you've been out of school for a while, applying to college can seem complex. Luckily, there are many online colleges with open admissions (also called open enrollment) that accept nearly all students who apply.

Online programs give students the flexibility to pursue their higher education while still taking care of their other responsibilities � and there are many online colleges with weekly start dates that allow students to begin their program when it works best for them. Many of these programs also offer affordable tuition. Keep reading to discover the least-expensive online colleges with open admissions.

Open Enrollment Online Schools With Affordable Tuition Rates

While the cost of college can feel astronomical, it's possible to find affordable degrees online. We've highlighted some open enrollment schools with the lowest tuition rates below.

1. Montana State University Billings

Montana State University Billings is a public institution in Billings, MT. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees online in fields like business administration, criminal justice, healthcare, and sociology.

MSUB's open admissions policy applies to students who have either a 2.5 high school GPA or rank in the upper half of their high school graduating class. Tuition here is incredibly affordable- online in-state students pay just $208.21 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay the still-affordable $432.74.

2. Mayville State University

At Mayville State University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include biology, criminal justice, education, and English.

The public university, located in Mayville, ND, charges an online tuition rate of $271.53 per credit for undergrad programs, regardless of the student's state of residency. Students are guaranteed admission if they have a GPA of 2.0 and have completed college prep requirements, which are typically fulfilled by a high school diploma.

3. University of Alaska Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks offers associate, bachelor's, and master's programs online in fields like anthropology, business administration, marine science, and psychology. The public research institution is located in Fairbanks, AK.

UAF has open admissions for undergraduate programs; students must have a high school diploma, and for the bachelor's degree, their high school GPA must be at least 2.5. Tuition for online undergraduate programs is $289 per credit hour for students from all states.

4. Empire State University

Undergraduate and graduate programs are available online through Empire State University. Areas of study include business, liberal arts, public affairs, and social sciences.

The public university, based in Saratoga Springs, NY, is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Students only need a high school diploma or equivalent for the open admissions process. In-state tuition is $295 per credit hour for undergraduate programs, while the online out-of-state tuition rate is $353.

5. University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus is the online branch of the University System of Maryland. It offers programs from the associate degree through the doctoral level in fields like business administration, computer science, education, and healthcare.

For undergraduate degree programs, students just need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Tuition for Maryland residents is $324 per credit hour, while out-of-state tuition costs $499.

6. Charter Oak State College

Students at Charter Oak State College can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include criminal justice, education, healthcare, and social work.

This public online college is based in New Britain, CT. Requirements for open admissions are simple: the applicant must be 16 years or older, able to speak and write standard English, and has a high school diploma or equivalent. The tuition rate for all online undergraduate students is $329 per credit.

7. National University

National University offers online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields like business, humanities, law, and technology. The private, nonprofit school is headquartered in San Diego.

Tuition can vary by program, but most online bachelor's degrees cost $370 per credit hour. The university's open admissions policy requires students to have a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum GPA of 2.0.

8. Columbia College

Undergraduate and graduate online degree programs are available through Columbia College. Areas of study include business, English, healthcare, and information technology.

The private, nonprofit college is based in Columbia, MO. Its open enrollment policy simply requires that undergraduate online learning students have a high school diploma or equivalent. Tuition for undergraduate online courses is $375 per credit hour.

9. Franklin University

Franklin University is a nonprofit school in Columbus, OH. It offers online associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in fields like computer science, criminal justice, healthcare, and management.

Franklin caters specifically to adult and nontraditional learners to help them reach their career goals. Students only need a high school diploma for the application process, and tuition for online education programs is $398 per undergraduate credit.

10. Touro University Worldwide

Through Touro University Worldwide, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online. Areas of study include business administration, healthcare, psychology, and social work.

Touro University is a private Jewish university system headquartered in New York City, but its Worldwide campus is based in Los Alamitos, CA. Online students will be accepted into undergraduate programs if they have a high school diploma or equivalent, and tuition for these programs is $400 per credit hour.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the above programs, we focused on schools that met the following criteria:

• Accreditation: All schools on this list hold regional accreditation.
• Type: We looked specifically at four-year public and nonprofit private schools.
• Open admissions: Every school offers open enrollment of some kind.
• Online programs: We searched for schools that offer a variety of online or distance learning programs, as well as student support services for online learning.
• Affordability: We narrowed down the list and chose the top ten programs with the most affordable tuition costs.

How Does Online Open Enrollment Work?

When a school offers open enrollment or admissions, it means that it has a 100% acceptance rate for students who meet certain requirements. If a student meets these requirements, they are accepted.

Note that this doesn't mean that students who don't meet these requirements are automatically rejected. Many schools are willing to work with students who may fall short of the requirements for open enrollment.

Admission Requirements for Open Enrollment Colleges

Nearly all accredited colleges that have open enrollment require students to have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or equivalent, like a GED.

As you may have noticed above, some schools require a minimum high school GPA. They are often willing to accept students who have a lower GPA, but these students may need to show test scores or may be admitted on a probationary basis.

How To Make College More Affordable

While online classes often cost less than traditional programs, they can still come with a heavy price tag. However, there are several things you can do to help lower the cost for yourself:

• choose an affordable online college
• apply for financial aid
• transfer in any previously earned college credits
• start at a low-cost community college before transferring to a four-year institution
• test out of courses when possible (not all colleges offer this option)

FAQs About Online Programs at Accredited Schools

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about online programs at accredited schools.

Is Online College Worth It?

For many students, online college is worth it because these programs offer a quality education while still allowing students to work full-time, take care of family, or manage other obligations. Look for online colleges with flexible schedules to ensure you can manage your coursework on a schedule that works best for you.

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid for an Online Degree?

Applying for financial aid for online degrees works the same way as it does for in-person degrees. Start by looking at affordable online colleges that accept financial aid.

Next, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This determines your eligibility for federal and state financial aid programs, as well as many institutional scholarships and grants.

How Do I Verify the Quality of an Online Program?

There are a few things you can do to verify the quality of an online program. Start by checking the college's accreditation � you want your school to be accredited by a regional accreditation agency, not a national one.

Some programs can have accreditation too; in some cases, they must be accredited for you to earn a professional certificate or license. For example, nursing programs must be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) if you want to earn a nursing license.

Once you've confirmed the accreditation status of your school and program, you can learn more about the quality of their online degrees by reading reviews from current and former students online. Social media, especially sites like Reddit, are a great way to hear from students.

Discover Accredited Online Colleges Today

Find the perfect online college for you by exploring the programs featured on Learn.org. Contact individual schools directly to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.