10 Online Colleges With High Acceptance Rates 2025

When choosing to pursue an online degree, it's natural to want to find the top online degree programs. But often, those top schools only accept top students; so, if you don't have the best grades and test scores, you may not make it in.

However, there are plenty of good colleges with high acceptance rates to prepare students for great careers. Keep reading to discover ten online colleges with high acceptance rates.

High Acceptance Rate Online Colleges

Many online colleges in the United States have open enrollment policies. This means that as long as you meet the minimum requirements, usually a high school diploma or equivalent, you're accepted into the school. Below, we've highlighted some of the best online colleges with 100% acceptance rates.

1. Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College is a public online school headquartered in New Britain, CT. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in various subjects, such as business administration, early childhood education, and healthcare.

To be admitted into the college, you'll need to be at least 16, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and be able to speak and write standard English. Note that some specific programs and graduate programs have additional requirements.

2. Empire State University

At Empire State University, students can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees online in fields like business, criminal justice, humanities, and social sciences. Admissions requirements include the completion of high school or an equivalent program.

Empire State University is a member of the public State University of New York (SUNY) system and is based in Saratoga Springs, NY. To apply, you'll need to submit your high school transcripts, as well as college transcripts if you have already earned credits.

3. Excelsior University

Associate, bachelor's, and master's online degrees, as well as online certificate programs, are available through Excelsior University. The private online school is based in Albany, NY.

Some specific programs (e.g., nursing programs) have specific requirements, but most do not. Students can bring in transfer credits but also earn credit for military, work, or life experiences, as well as test scores.

4. Franklin University

Franklin University offers online undergraduate and graduate programs in fields like business administration, computer science, criminal justice, and social sciences. Thanks to the school's open admissions process, students only need a high school diploma or equivalent and must be proficient in English.

Franklin University, a private institution geared toward adult learners, is based in Columbus, OH. It allows students to bring in up to 90 transfer credits and earn credit for other types of prior learning.

5. Montana State University Billings

Through Montana State University Billings, students can earn associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees online. The public school is based in Billings, MT.

MSU Billings has open admission for students with a 2.5 high school GPA or those who ranked in the upper half of their graduating class. Students who do not meet these requirements are still encouraged to apply, and their application will be assessed on an individual basis.

6. National University

National University is a private institution in San Diego, CA. It's designed for nontraditional students and offers online degree programs in areas of study such as business, liberal arts, and technology.

Students are admitted if their high school or college GPA is above a 2.0, but students with a lower GPA may be accepted on probationary admission. Students who don't have any college-level courses may need to take placement evaluations, which are free of charge.

7. University of Arkansas Grantham

Students at the University of Arkansas Grantham will find associate, bachelor's, and master's online programs. The only admissions requirement for undergraduate students is a high school diploma or equivalent, although a few specific majors have additional requirements.

UA Grantham, located in Little Rock, AR, is a public online university. In addition to waiving application fees, students also receive new laptops at no additional costs.

8. University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs to online students. UMGC is the online campus of the public University System of Maryland.

For associate and bachelor's degrees, all that's needed is a high school diploma or equivalent. Those who do not have these can gain admission by earning an associate degree or at least 60 credit hours through a community college or other accredited institution.

9. University of Massachusetts Global

The University of Massachusetts Global offers online associate through doctoral degree options in fields like business, liberal arts, education, and information technology. UMass Global, located in Aliso Viejo, is a private online affiliate of the public University of Massachusetts system.

Students must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be admitted to the school. Some programs may have additional specific requirements.

10. University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso is a public research institution in El Paso, TX. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees online in areas of study such as business administration, criminal justice, education, and nursing.

While UTEP doesn't technically have open admissions, it does have a 100% acceptance rate. Students will need to submit their high school transcripts and transcripts for any college courses. Test scores are optional.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the programs on this list, we focused on:

• Admissions Rates: We chose schools with either open admissions policies or 100% acceptance rates.
• Accreditation: All programs listed above are from regionally accredited schools.
• Type: We only included public and nonprofit private schools, no for-profit schools, as to ensure students receive a high-quality education.
• Online Options: Every school listed offers various online courses and programs, and we specifically looked at those with a large number of online bachelor's degree options.

College Admission Requirements at Schools With Higher Acceptance Rates

Schools with the highest acceptance rates don't usually have many admissions requirements. In general, the primary requirement is that you need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent, such as a GED.

Occasionally, colleges may require a minimum high school GPA. More commonly, there will be a specific GPA requirement for college students transferring from another institution.

Some specific programs may have additional requirements beyond the college or university's admissions requirements. For example, RN to BSN nursing programs require you to have an associate degree in nursing and a nursing license.

Online College Application Process

The application process for colleges with high acceptance rates is usually simple. You'll fill out the application online and submit any high school or college transcripts. If the school requires things like test scores, you'll submit them here as well.

Some schools require you to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process. All schools above are online colleges that accept FAFSA.

FAQs About Online Schools With High Acceptance Rates

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about online schools with high acceptance rates.

What Are the Easiest Online Colleges To Get Into?

The easiest online colleges to get into are those with open admissions policies. These policies usually have minimal entrance requirements and don't require test scores, letters of recommendation, essays, or any other extra requirements.

Is There a College With a 100% Acceptance Rate?

Yes, colleges with open admissions policies have 100% acceptance rates for students who meet the admissions requirements. Additionally, a few other schools, like UTEP, don't have open admissions but still accept 100% of students.

Why Should I Consider an Online School with Open Admissions?

Schools with open admissions are a great option if your GPA and test scores are on the lower end, or if you've been out of school for a long time. Additionally, many schools with open admissions are affordable online colleges.

Explore Online Colleges Today

Start your journey toward completing your higher education by exploring the online colleges featured on Learn.org. Contact schools directly to learn more about admissions and enrollment.