10 Online Colleges With Scholarships in 2025

Online degrees provide great opportunities for students with busy schedules to acquire new skills and start or advance their careers without traveling to on-campus classes. Oftentimes, online college students learn from home while enjoying flexible class schedules.

Some schools offer college financial aid options to help students reduce online education costs. Depending on the institution, you might find scholarships for online students. Below, we'll highlight some of the top accredited online colleges offering scholarships in 2025. We'll also discuss online college scholarship application guidelines. scholarships for online students

Online Colleges That Offer Scholarships

Scholarships are great tools for saving on online tuition costs. Explore the list below to find accredited online colleges offering scholarships and other financial aid.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University Online offers over 300 degree and certificate programs in business, science, public service, and beyond. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university in the top five schools offering the best online bachelor's degree programs.

Submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form enables online learners to qualify for financial aid and scholarships offering hundreds to thousands of dollars. The ScholarshipUniverse search tool helps students find both ASU and non-ASU aid.

2. Oregon State University

Oregon State University is home to more than 110 online programs, some of which are bachelor's degrees that U.S. News & World Report has ranked among the best online degrees in the nation.

More than 80% of OSU Ecampus students who filed a FAFSA received financial aid. The university's online scholarship system, ScholarDollars, helps online enrollees access nearly 2,000 scholarship opportunities and almost $10 million in award amounts granted annually.

3. University of Central Florida

Students seeking online colleges that accept FAFSA can find over 100 online programs at the University of Central Florida that students can pay for with financial aid. UCF offers numerous highly ranked online bachelor's degrees and fully online programs for graduate students.

Online learners can use UCF's Scholarships A2O scholarship application system to apply once and gain consideration for over 200 scholarships. Eligible students can also qualify for federal financial aid to save.

4. University of Arizona

The University of Arizona offers over 150 online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs. Its online bachelor's degrees are among U.S. News & World Report's 15 best online programs nationwide.

Students interested in saving with scholarships can consider the Dorrance Scholarship Program, Arizona Flinn Scholars, and first-year tuition awards. The Scholarship Universe (SU) matching tool provides access to millions of dollars in internal and external scholarships.

5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

Aeronautics, pilot operations, and space systems are some of the unique online undergraduate and graduate programs available at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide. Programs provide flexible scheduling, personal advisors, and 24/7 technical support.

Students enrolled in online programs can qualify for various institutional and external scholarships. Enrollees looking for online colleges that accept Pell Grants will be happy to discover that online programs qualify for aid.

6. University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas offers bachelor's and master's degrees that are ranked among the nation's best online programs by U.S. News & World Report. The online school also provides many reputable online doctoral degrees.

Online learners can submit the FAFSA to qualify for grants, federal loans, and some scholarships. The W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship offering $2,000 per academic year and the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship for high school and nontraditional Arkansas residents are scholarships to consider.

7. Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University Global's online bachelor's programs have earned top rankings from U.S. News & World Report. University enrollees benefit from career coaching, personal tutoring, and other on-demand support.

CSU Global helps online students save on tuition with the CSU Global Mission Scholarship and Degree Completion Scholarship. Other aid programs include grants, student loans, and military tuition assistance.

8. University of Missouri

The University of Missouri offers flexible online graduate and undergraduate degrees in architecture, journalism, law, and beyond. Mizzou Online supports online learners with academic coaching and free tutoring.

Students taking online courses can pursue merit, need, and distinguishing criteria scholarships to lower costs. Military and transfer students can save 10% with the Military Award and Community College Tuition Award, respectively.

9. Kansas State University

Kansas State University offers several scholarship awards for online undergrad and grad students. Enrollees can complete an online scholarship application once to access awards like the Maurine Allison O'Bannon Memorial Scholarship.

K-State Online students can choose from over 150 academic programs and enjoy academic advising and career resources. Learners interested in online colleges that accept transfer credits will find that K-State is a transfer-friendly school.

10. Florida International University

Florida International University students choose from over 120 fully online programs in business, computer science, history, and beyond. FIU's online bachelor's programs have been recognized as top degrees by U.S. News & World Report.

Enrollees are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA form to qualify for financial aid programs. The Corporate and Community Scholarship and Academic Merit Scholarship are a few awards available to online learners.

Our Selection Criteria

Our team used rigorous vetting to select the schools in the rank list above. Each institution has met the following criteria for delivering a high-quality experience in higher education:

• Accredited: The colleges and universities have received accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WASC Senior College and University Commission, and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, guaranteeing recognized academic standards.
• Reputable: We verified that the institutions in this list are respected, considering factors such as student outcomes, graduation rates, and acceptance rates.
• Affordable: These schools increase affordability by offering scholarships and need-based financial aid options like the Federal Pell Grant.

How Can I Apply for Online Scholarships?

The application process for many online scholarships starts with submitting the FAFSA form since some require students to meet financial aid eligibility requirements to qualify. Afterward, students commonly submit one online application for all available scholarships or apply to individual scholarships of interest.

Common Application Guidelines

Scholarship eligibility typically varies by school and scholarship type (e.g., need-based, merit-based, or academic standing). Here are a few application requirements students could be asked to meet:

• minimum GPA
• financial need
• residency (U.S. citizen or state-based)
• academic department or program
• degree type (undergraduate or graduate)
• enrollment year (freshman, transfer, graduate, etc.)

FAQs About Distance Learning Scholarships

Online learning is growing in popularity. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), more than 60% of undergraduate students participated in distance education in the fall of 2021. If you're an online learner interested in applying for scholarships, review the FAQs below for more information.

What Is the Best Website To Find Fully Funded Scholarships?

CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a great website for students seeking fully funded scholarships. The site's Scholarship Finder, an online scholarship search tool, lists over 9,500 scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other financial aid awards.

How Much Does Online College Cost?

Online college costs vary based on a few factors, such as student residency, degree type, and enrollment status. However, you can expect to pay about $40,000 for an online bachelor's degree at a public in-state program. To save on tuition, look for online colleges with grants, scholarships, and other aid.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships at Online Colleges?

Eligibility criteria for scholarships at online colleges are typically similar to what you'll find with traditional programs (e.g., high school graduate, minimum GPA, full-time or part-time status). Contacting your school's financial aid office is a great way to learn how to qualify.

Discover Online Degree Programs Today

Begin your journey toward an exciting career in the field of your dreams by exploring the accredited degree programs offered by colleges on Learn.org. Contact one of these schools today to discover their programs and how they can help you achieve your career goals.