The most affordable online colleges offer a low cost and pay off for their students. We considered not just cost, but also academic quality and student outcomes to choose this list of the top affordable online colleges.
Discover flexible, accredited programs and learn tips for choosing the best option for you.
Featured Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top Affordable Online Colleges
How to Compare the True Cost of Online College
The true cost of college depends on your financial aid eligibility through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you've seen what your tuition and fees look like after financial aid, then you can compare colleges to see what you'll truly pay.
Your time to graduate can also affect college costs. Accelerated and degree completion programs can cost you less time and money, while traditional and part-time degrees could cost you more.
Net Price
A college's "net price" is the cost you'll pay after financial aid. Once you receive your financial aid package from each school, you'll see how much you'll pay for:
Tuition
Technology fees
Other miscellaneous fees
Textbooks
Hidden Costs
Technology and other fees can include laptop fees and per-class materials, such as access to learning platforms and modules. It's always safe to budget more once you're in a class, in case the professor requires additional paid features.
If you're looking to save on laptop costs, here's a few schools that offer you free laptops.
Financial Aid for Online Students
As an online student, you can benefit from the same federal financial aid opportunities as on-campus students:
Pell Grant: The most common grant awarded to those with financial need. Students can receive up to $7,395 per academic year towards tuition and other educational expenses.
TEACH Grant: Grant for teaching students requiring four years of service at a high-need school.
Student Loans: Financial aid that you have to pay back with interest.
You can also qualify for other non-federal student aid, such as institutional scholarships, military benefits, and tuition assistance through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As a working adult, you can also see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement for pursuing a degree in your related job field.
Find other scholarships through local organizations, the College Board, ScholarshipOwl, and Scholarships.com.
Program Format
Your program format also plays into your cost and time to graduate.
Traditional four-year bachelor's programs take longer, and students often end up paying more over time on fees outside of tuition. Accelerated and degree-completion programs can help cut your time — and costs.
Are Online Colleges Actually the Cheapest?
Online colleges are on average, cheaper than in-person colleges. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, totally online programs cost an average $7,996.90 while non-fully online colleges cost $11,971.50 per year.
Online colleges have a financial advantage over in-person since you'll be saving on room and board, meal plans, transportation, and other fees related to the campus. Sometimes, you can find colleges that also offer free textbook materials or require none at all.
How to Make Online College Cheaper
Even if you go for the cheapest online program, there are even more ways to drop that cost even lower outside of federal financial aid. Tuition-free colleges offer tuition-free programs, and in-state community colleges and universities are typically much more affordable than out-of-state or private colleges. There's other ways to get more aid too, like tuition reimbursement and credit for work experience.
1. Attend a Tuition-Free College
Attending an online tuition-free college can save you up to the full cost of your education. These colleges and programs are accredited and cover the entire cost of tuition. Some programs, like New York's Excelsior Scholarship, allow qualifying in-state students to attend tuition-free as long as they apply for the state scholarship.
2. Attend an In-State University or Community College
In-state schools typically offer cheaper tuition and a higher acceptance rate. Community colleges are typically even more affordable and make it easy for students to transfer to four-year institutions after earning their associate degree.
3. Take Advantage of Non-Federal Student Aid
Utilizing your employer's tuition reimbursement, seeking scholarships outside your school, using military benefits, and seeking credit for work experience are all useful ways to lower your costs.
How Much Do Online Colleges Cost?
The colleges on our list charge tuition either on a sliding scale, like Arizona State University, or by program, like the University of Illinois Online, resulting in a tuition range depending on the program you enroll in.
On average, the average in-state cost for programs on our list is over two times cheaper than the average net cost for all public four-year universities. Your price could look even lower depending on the program you enroll in.
Average In-State Cost for Colleges on Our List: $9,091
Average Out-of-State Cost for Colleges on Our List: $28,657
Average Net Cost for All Public Four-year Universities (2024-25): $20,780
Average Net Cost for Private Universities (2024-25): $36,150
Source: The College Board
Are Cheap Online Colleges Worth It?
Cheap online colleges, as long as they're accredited, will give you the national standard for education that earns you a recognized degree.
However, cost isn't always everything. Sometimes, attending a school with a national reputation for excellent education, like Purdue University Global, can increase your employment prospects and provide a larger alumni network to support you throughout your career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Online Colleges
It depends on the program. Some programs offer a flat tuition per credit for in- and out-of-state students, while others charge two different tuition rates depending on residency.
