8 Best Online Colleges for Students With Depression 2025

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 21 million adults in the U.S. suffer from depression. The largest percentage of those are college-age students, ages 18 to 25. It can be incredibly hard to pursue higher education when you're dealing with depression, but many students find that choosing an online program can help make that journey a little easier.

Online degrees provide flexible scheduling that often works well for people with mental health conditions. Some of the best online colleges for students with mental health issues also provide support services to help students succeed. Keep reading to discover the best online colleges for students with depression.

Online Degree Programs for People With Depression

Depression can make it difficult to care about anything, including completing your degree. However, several online colleges offer flexible programs, in addition to mental health services, that can help students with depression succeed. We've highlighted some of these accredited colleges below.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University is a public research institution in Tempe, AZ. It offers numerous online degrees from the bachelor's to the doctoral levels in fields like business, education, humanities, and technology.

ASU's online courses are 7.5 weeks long, and multiple start dates are available each year. Students can bring in up to 64 transfer credits, so they get credit for prior learning. Additionally, all online students can access 24/7 counseling and mental health resources.

2. Columbia College

Columbia College is based in Missouri but has campuses nationwide and an online campus. This private, nonprofit school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas of study such as criminal justice, healthcare, and management.

Online courses are flexible and last eight weeks each. The college is veteran-friendly and its wellness center provides professional mental health services and resources to all online students.

3. Davenport University

Davenport University's online counseling services are just one reason why this private school is excellent for students with depression. It also offers online programs that allow students to choose between synchronous or asynchronous courses and to transfer up to 90 college credits.

The nonprofit institution is based in Grand Rapids, MI. Its online associate, bachelor's, and master's programs are available in fields like business, healthcare, and technology.

4. Empire State University

Based in Saratoga Springs, Empire State University is a public university that's part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. It offers almost all of its undergraduate and graduate degrees online.

SUNY Empire's online programs are customizable and offer full-time and part-time schedules. For students struggling with their mental health or substance abuse, the school provides 24/7 counseling services and health and well-being resources.

5. National University

Though initially founded for service members and veterans, National University now serves all types of students on campus in California and online. The nonprofit private school offers associate through doctoral degrees in fields such as business, criminal justice, psychology, and technology.

It allows students to transfer as many credits as possible and awards college credit for prior learning experiences, like military training. Classes are offered in four and eight-week blocks, and student support services are available through the wellness center.

6. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University offers over 200 online degree programs in numerous areas of study, including business, liberal arts, and technology. Courses are offered in eight-week terms and students earning an online bachelor's degree can bring up to 90 credit hours.

SNHU is a private, nonprofit based in Manchester, NH. Its academic support services are award-winning and include an online wellness center for student mental health.

7. UMass Global

Although UMass Global is a private online college headquartered in California, it's an affiliate of the public University of Massachusetts system. It offers associate through doctoral degrees in various fields, such as business, education, and technology.

Several of UMass Global's programs are available in self-paced MyPath format. This format may be particularly beneficial to students facing mental health challenges, as it allows them to proceed through coursework at their own pace, without set deadlines.

8. WSU Global Campus

The WSU Global Campus is the online campus of Washington State University. The public school offers online learning programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in areas of study, such as business, communication, behavioral science, and technology.

WSU strives to support college students through multiple mental health and wellness services. These include a mental health crisis line, online therapy resources, and even a reimbursement program for learners who seek outside mental health resources.

Benefits of Earning Your Degree Online as a Student With Depression

Many students with depression prefer an online learning environment because it allows them to study from home or wherever they prefer. They don't have to worry about getting out of the house and making it to a college campus, and if they don't have the energy to shower or change out of their comfy clothes, it's no problem. Choosing an online school can be especially beneficial to those whose depression also includes panic attacks or social anxiety.

The flexible scheduling offered by online classes is another bonus. Most online courses have weekly due dates but allow students to complete their work any time during the week. This allows students to complete their work on good mental health days and take breaks when they're having a harder time.

Students with depression may also appreciate the shorter course lengths that online programs use. For example, instead of taking four courses in a 16-week term, a full-time load would be two classes every eight-week term. This allows students to not feel as overwhelmed with multiple classes. It also means that if a student is struggling with depression, they can choose to take a term off and be back in their program in eight weeks, instead of waiting a full 16-week semester.

Tips for Earning Your Degree Online as a Student With Depression

Doing anything with depression can be difficult, but there are a few ways that students with depression can make earning a college degree a little easier on themselves. Students can consider the following tips:

• Take a part-time credit load if you don't feel you can perform your best with a full-time load.
• Communicate with professors if you're struggling to meet due dates.
• Reach out to your college's disability services and find out what your rights are and what accommodations you qualify for.
• Take advantage of mental health resources offered by your college or university.
• Consider an in-state university rather than an out-of-state one so you can take advantage of on-campus resources as well.
• Apply for financial aid to help relieve the burden of tuition costs.

What Are the Best Majors for a Person With Depression?

There isn't one major specifically that works best for someone with depression. However, as depression can often lead to apathy, it can help to choose a major that you feel somewhat passionate about.

Many people who have dealt with mental health issues choose to go into careers in human services, like counseling or social work. Note that some of these roles may require a master's degree and some of these majors may require in-person experiences.

Find an Online Degree Program Today

Don't let depression stop you from achieving your career goals. Check out the online education programs featured on Learn.org, and reach out to individual schools today for more information on programs, enrollment, and student support services.