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10 Least Expensive Public Online Bachelor’s Programs

By WTOP Staff

The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College and The Short List: Grad School to find data that matters to you in your college or grad school search.

Pursuing an online bachelor’s degree can save students money by eliminating commuting costs and allowing students to keep income from their jobs while going to school.

Tuition is another matter: A 2013 U.S. News analysis of about 300 ranked programs found that when it comes to paying in-state tuition at a public school, it’s more expensive on a per-credit basis to take an online undergraduate course than a comparable on-campus course.

That said, if students are willing to do their research, they can find a program that’s easy on the wallet.

[Explore the list of the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.]

Among the 97 ranked public online bachelor’s programs that submitted data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average in-state, per-credit cost was $282 during the 2013-2014 school year. The average in-state total program cost was $34,038.

Those figures were much lower at the 10 online bachelor’s programs with the lowest in-state tuition. Students in those programs paid an average in-state total program cost of about $14,460 and an average in-state, per-credit cost of about $119.

Massachusetts’ Fitchburg State University charged students the cheapest tuition, requiring only $80 per in-state credit. Florida had three schools on the list, while Oklahoma and North Carolina had two each.

[Learn about how to pay for online education.]

University of Illinois–Chicago was at the other end of the spectrum, with a total program cost of $68,640 per year — the highest among all ranked online programs that reported the data.

While that may seem like a very large price tag, it’s likely that many students will never pay the full costs of the program, since online students often enter with some credits already applied toward their degrees.

Online students should also realize that per-credit costs change over time, so if students take several years to complete a degree, they may end up paying more.

Below are the 10 least expensive public online bachelor’s programs based on per-credit costs and the number of required credits. The total program cost doesn’t take into account any scholarships or other forms of student aid, nor does it include any of the extra fees that schools may charge.

Schools labeled RNP, or Rank Not Published, fell in the bottom one-fourth of their ranking category. U.S. News calculates a numerical rank for RNP schools, but does not publish them. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

School (state) Credits needed to graduate In-state, per-credit cost In-state, total cost U.S. News rank
Fitchburg State University
(MA)		 120 $80 $9,600 120
Daytona State College (FL) 120 $92 $11,040 7
University of Florida 120 $105 $12,600 5
University of West Florida 120 $105 $12,600 102
Rogers State University (OK) 120 $111 $13,320 117
Cameron University (OK) 124 $115 $14,260 RNP
Appalachian State University
(NC)		 120 $128 $15,360 157
East Carolina University (NC) 126 $134 $16,884 141
Valley City State University
(ND)		 120 $161 $19,320 138
Pittsburg State University
(KS)		 125 $157 $19,625 179

School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed 282 public, private and for-profit schools for our 2014 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings. Schools reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News’ data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of these survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Online Bachelor’s Programs rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. These data are specific to schools’ online bachelor’s degree program offerings and have no influence over U.S. News’ Best Colleges rankings assessing traditional bachelor’s programs. The tuition data above are correct as of Oct. 7, 2014.

More from U.S. News

How to Vet a For-Profit Online Program

How to Tell if an Online Program Is Accredited

4 Time Management Tips for Online Students

10 Least Expensive Public Online Bachelor’s Programs originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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