4 Self-Paced Online Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025

New technologies have made online learning a viable format for earning a college degree. Online learning experiences have expanded to include fully asynchronous and self-paced opportunities, where students can complete coursework on their own schedule without any set deadlines. Pennsylvania colleges offering flexible degree programs online allow working adults to earn associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees while continuing to work or fulfill other responsibilities.

Students can find accredited self-paced online colleges both in Pennsylvania and other states to pursue online education programs. Self-paced programs are offered by traditional universities with on-campus courses, as well as fully online universities.

Self-Paced Accredited Online Degree Programs in Pennsylvania

Students can find enrollment options at online colleges in Pennsylvania for various self-paced degrees. These online classes have no set due dates or schedules, providing far more flexible learning experiences than the ones on-campus students have.

1. Peirce College

Peirce College offers 13 bachelor's programs to online students. These programs are offered asynchronously with optional virtual class sessions.

Distance education programs at Peirce College include accounting, liberal studies, and healthcare administration. The school also offers multiple graduate degrees and certificates for students looking to advance their careers.

2. Pennsylvania State World Campus

Pennsylvania State World Campus is the online division of Penn State University. Enrollees can earn the same high-quality degrees as their in-person classmates but with far more control over their education.

Students can select from 41 undergraduate and 56 master's degrees, as well as doctoral and certificate programs.

3. Penn Foster

Penn Foster offers fully self-paced programs. Students can fast-track their learning to earn their degree much quicker than from other universities, but they can also take a slower path to accommodate their other responsibilities.

Penn Foster offers three fully online bachelor's degree programs: *business management

• veterinary technology
• criminal justice

Online Colleges in Other States Offering Self-Paced Programs

Accredited, self-paced online colleges provide opportunities for out-of-state students to find degree programs that fit their schedules and goals without paying high tuition rates. These universities offer self-paced online degree programs available to Pennsylvania students looking to take control of their education.

1. Capella University

Capella University offers online degrees in the FlexPath format. This delivery style allows students to pay for a 12-week billing session and complete as many programs as they can during these periods.

Capella has five different FlexPath bachelor's degree programs, including psychology, nursing, and information technology.

2. Western Governors University

Western Governors University has 34 bachelor's and 42 master's degrees in self-paced online formats. WGU students pay for six-month sessions instead of per credit hour or course. Students can take as many courses or certificate programs as they want in these sessions.

Learning at WGU is competency-based, and students can test out of courses to further speed up their degrees.

3. Peru State College

Peru State College offers four bachelor's degrees online, each with multiple specialization options. Students here can choose from multiple start dates throughout the year and course schedules to set their own pace.

Online bachelor's degrees at Peru State College include business administration, psychology, and criminal justice.

4. Thomas Edison State University

Online students at Thomas Edison State University can earn degrees with a high school diploma, or GED, or enroll in a degree completion program. In addition to self-paced courses, TESU offers monthly start dates for its 70 online bachelor's degrees.

Students can also use Prior Learning Assessments to test out of some courses or transfer credits from an accredited community college.

Our Selection Criteria

We used strict criteria to choose the best accredited self-paced online colleges. Each of these self-paced online degree programs will help you prepare for careers without the rigid scheduling or on-campus or synchronous online classes.

• Accreditation: Each program on this list is an accredited, self-paced online college. Accreditation is required for your degree to be eligible for financial aid or lead to graduate programs.
• Flexiblility: We chose programs that have self-paced learning, both in and out of state. Students won't be bound to class schedules or deadlines.
• Financial Aid and Low Tuition: We highlighted the cheapest self-paced online colleges that also accept federal financial aid or offer their own programs.

How Self-Paced Online Degree Programs Make Higher Education More Affordable

Self-paced programs are often cheaper than traditional degrees for a few reasons. Many schools charge per course or credit hour, which can build up throughout a traditional degree path. Self-paced students usually pay for a semester, or learning session, and take as many courses as they want in this window, which can reduce total costs.

Additionally, there are many self-paced programs offered at online colleges that accept FAFSA. Federal student aid, such as grants and scholarships, will further reduce tuition costs and make education even more affordable.

How To Find Online Degrees With Self-Paced Options

There are many accredited, self-paced online colleges, but not every online course is self-paced. When researching online degrees, it's important to look for keywords in course descriptions such as ''self-paced'' and ''asynchronous'' though some schools might simply state that students can work at their own pace.

Unless a course description specifies self-pacing, the course is probably offered on a traditional pathway with weekly deadlines, virtual class sessions, and more.

Self-Paced Courses vs. Other Online Courses

Online courses are usually more flexible than on-campus programs, but many include weekly deadlines, and some even have virtual classroom sessions that students must attend. Self-paced courses don't have the same semester schedule and won't include mandatory class sessions, even though some offer optional classes.

FAQs About Enrollment and Financial Aid for Self-Paced Online Learning

Prospective and current students considering self-paced courses often have questions about costs and enrollment options.

How Do I Get Started With an Online Course?

Getting started with an online course is generally the same as an on-campus course, in terms of the total steps that must be taken � even if online courses are more flexible. Students will need to apply and select their degree program.

Some programs, even self-paced ones, have set start dates, while others allow students to apply and start any time they want.

Do Colleges Offer Scholarships for Online Learners in Self-Paced Degree Programs?

Yes, most accredited self-paced online colleges offer financial aid, like institutional scholarships, and accept FAFSA for federal financial aid. The amounts might be smaller due to lower overall tuition costs, but there are still aid options available.

What Is the Cheapest Online College in Pennsylvania?

The cheapest self-paced online college in Pennsylvania is Penn State World Campus. It offers many cheap online degree programs from the associate degree to the doctoral level. In addition to affordable tuition rates, students can also apply for financial aid federally and from the school.

Find Bachelor's Degree Online Programs With Accreditation Today

Reading our school profiles makes it easy to research self-paced degree programs available in Pennsylvania and other states. Learn more about degrees, tuition rates, admission requirements of these schools, and more. Once you've identified the best programs for your goals, use our resources to reach out and start your application process today.