10 Most Affordable Online Colleges in the US 2025

If you want to get your bachelor's online and save money, check out these ten colleges that offer the most affordable online degrees in the United States.

Getting your undergraduate degree takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Attending classes online reduces some of the time and effort you spend on your education, but it may also save you money.

By eliminating room and board, classroom maintenance fees, and other upkeep costs for in-person degrees, students can greatly reduce the overall cost of a degree.

You can reduce the price of your education even more by being picky about the university you attend. To help you with that, we've compiled below a list of some of the best colleges with affordable online degrees in the U.S.

List of Affordable & Low-Cost Online Degrees

From universities that have dedicated online schools to private colleges that operate entirely online, here are 10 colleges with low-cost online degrees, including affordable online degrees for working adults.

1. University of Utah

The University of Utah is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). It's the oldest institution of higher education in the state.

Tuition for online undergraduate students at the University of Utah is $260 per credit hour, regardless of residency.

Online undergraduate majors offered include economics, psychology, nursing, sociology, social work, and more.

2. Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) is a public university with a main campus in Portales, New Mexico and two campuses that award associate's degrees elsewhere in the state. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Tuition and fees for New Mexico residents come to $280 per credit hour, while non-residents pay $363 per credit hour.

ENMU has online degree programs in 25 different subject areas such as accounting, business, education, history, marketing, and nursing.

3. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university in the state of New Hampshire that primarily operates online and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

SNHU offers 200 online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in subjects both popular and niche, and tuition for undergraduate courses is $330 per credit hour. The university also has no application fees.

4. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) is a private online university based in Millcreek, Utah that was established by the governors of 19 U.S. states to offer higher education degree options for working professionals.

The average yearly bachelor's degree tuition for students attending WGU is $8,010 - half the national average, according to statistics from 2022.

The university offers bachelor's degrees related to business, education, information technology, and nursing and is accredited by the NWCCU.

5. American Public University

American Public University (APU) is one of the universities of the American Public University System, a private online higher education system in West Virginia. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Tuition at APU is $330 per credit hour for undergraduate students, and because over half of the students attending APU are military members, military discounts are also available that can further reduce tuition costs to $250 per credit hour.

6. Purdue Global

Purdue Global is a public land-grant research university in Indiana that's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Purdue University Global (PUG) is the Purdue University system's dedicated online university.

Students at PUG can expect to spend $371 per quarter credit hour for online courses and Indiana residents pay $280 per quarter credit hour.

The university offers bachelor's degrees in subjects ranging from criminal justice to information technology.

7. Walden University

Walden University is a private online university in the state of Minnesota that offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and specialist degrees. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Most undergraduate courses at Walden University are $333 per credit hour, with the exception of classes for child development, elementary education, and nursing programs.

Walden University is most well-known for healthcare degrees in subjects like nursing, public health, and health administration.

8. Capella University

Capella University is a private online university in Minnesota that's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to offer 47 degree programs through over 1,500 online courses.

Capella University's bachelor's degree tuition ranges from $350 to $415 per credit hour, with a capped maximum of $2,500. Students using the FlexPath option pay $2,500 to $3,370 per 12-week billing period.

The university offers bachelor's degrees in business, health science, information technology, nursing, psychology, and social work.

9. Franklin University

Franklin University is a primarily online private university based in Ohio that serves non-traditional adult students who need flexibility to complete their degrees. It's accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

At Franklin University, the cost of tuition is $398 per credit hour, with nursing students getting a $100 discount and current service members saving even more by paying only $250 per credit.

This university makes it easy to pursue your passion by offering bachelor's programs in subjects ranging from computer science to public safety.

10. Liberty University

Liberty University is a private evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia affiliated with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.

It's accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Part-time undergraduate students pay $455 per credit hour, while full-time students pay only $390, meaning you save more money at Liberty University by attending online full-time.

Some bachelor's programs offered online by the university include graphic design, religion, criminal justice, and paralegal studies.

What Is the Average Tuition Cost for an Online Degree in the United States?

According to data from the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of an online bachelor's degree in the United States is $51,000.

This number drops to $38,000 for students attending colleges in-state and stays roughly the same at $54,000 for out-of-state online students.

Each of the colleges on our list has affordable online degrees in the United States that are below the national average.

How Can I Make an Accredited Online Degree Affordable?

You can make an online degree more affordable by choosing a college or program that has a tuition cap, such as Capella University. At Capella, tuition is capped at $2,500 per semester - this allows students to nearly half the cost of their degree by attending full-time.

You can also make your online degree more affordable by applying for scholarships and grants through the FAFSA - this will lower your out-of-pocket costs.

Learn more below on how to make an online degree more affordable:

Is an Online Degree Worth It?

Yes, an online degree is worth it. It's just like the degree you could earn on campus but with lower costs and more flexibility.

Online degrees make education possible and affordable for working professionals, unconventional learners, and rural residents who otherwise wouldn't be able to go to college, but the degree that you can earn online is no different from the one you earn in person, so there's no reason not to pursue an online degree.

Start Your Degree Online Today

Now you know all about the colleges with affordable online degrees in the United States, the bachelor's degree programs that you can take advantage of, and the ways to save more money through online education.

It's time to decide what degree you want today and begin pursuing your higher education online tomorrow.

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