What Is The Least Expensive Online College

Missouri Southern State University

• Tuition Net Price: $9,018
• In-state tuition for those living in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
• Top 10 Most Affordable Institution in the US by U.S. News & World Report

Missouri Southern State University can offer one of the lowest online tuitions in part because of its adjacent-state, in-state tuition rate. You will be able to take advantage of this universitys online platform to earn one of 14 bachelors degrees. You can even earn a professional credential in entrepreneurship online.

Top 5 Cheapest Online Colleges

Is online college cheaper? Another factor for students to consider is the fact that completing degree requirements at one of the most affordable online colleges programs is often less expensive than if the students attend the same courses in a traditional on-campus setting. Some schools include information on their site indicating that completing courses online is the same or cheaper than completing courses in the classroom.

Lamar Institute Of Technology

Annual Tuition: $5,736Locations: BeaumontOnline Associate Degrees: 2

The Lamar Institute of Technology in Texas offers a variety of online courses and degree programs. Students can choose to take online courses to complete courses on campus or enroll in one of the fully virtual degree programs. Students can obtain the following degrees without having to come to campus: Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology and Associate of Applied Science for National Security.

Certificate programs that can be completed online include a Health Informatics Certificate Program and a Homeland Security Certificate Program. Students who are considering online training can visit the school website for free to determine if it is the right path for them.

Online Associate Degrees

• Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology, Homeland Security

Online Certificate Programs

• Certificate in Health Informatics, Homeland Security

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Which Affordable Online College Is The Best

In many cases, the best way to obtain affordable education is to start locally. Community colleges are highly likely to offer a variety of different options when it comes to foundational coursework in your field of interest, and at such a low cost, they are no doubt worth looking into. According to EDsmarts 2021 cheapest online colleges ranking, Great Basin College is the best, affordable online college to offer a cheap online degree.

Recommended Online Schools With Low Tuition

Obviously, not every student affords education, even online one, which is usually cheaper. For this reason, weve developed the top 7 online Canada schools list and unis that have the lowest tuition.

Its difficult to present fees for this place because everything depends on your specialty, whether you are an international student or a Canadian, and how many credits youre interested in obtaining. The cheapest price for a program ranges between $780-$1000.

For international students, education received in this respectable centre online costs $4,629.13 per standard 3-credit course. Price is much cheaper for Canadians, reaching only $618.31. Also, Queen’s University takes 4th place in the ranking of the top universities in Ontario.

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North Central Missouri College

Trenton, Missouri

North Central Missouri College offers every single one of their general education courses online. Additionally, students can earn several free online college degrees, including accounting, business management, criminal justice, early childhood education, and nursing. Students who qualify for a federal Pell grant can get up to $6,195 per year to pay for tuition, fees, books, as well as any other expense they have, even non-education related. Additionally, students may also qualify for up to $4,000 per year via the federal equal opportunity grant. Both grants require no repayment, which means qualified students may attend the school for free.

Is It Possible To Get A Bachelors Degree Online

Online learners comprise a significant portion of total undergraduate students in the U.S., with 34% taking at least some online courses and 14% taking exclusively online courses. The COVID-19 pandemic drove many traditional campus students into distance education in 2020, an experience that may spur colleges to both increase and improve their online offerings. Online education is clearly here to stay. But what can students expect from an online bachelors program?

Most colleges design bachelors degrees to take four years , whether theyre offered online or in person. The admissions requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent, a minimum GPA, and possibly a minimum score on either the ACT or SAT .

Students may wonder what the online learning environment will be like. In contrast to traditional classrooms, where students and faculty gather for lectures, discussions, and exams, most online programs offer asynchronous coursework and instruction. Students view lectures and complete coursework at convenient times rather than live. Faculty are still required to hold office hours, though meetings may take place over the phone or video conference.

If you decide that the online learning environment seems like a good fit for you, there are three types of institutions where you can earn an online bachelors degree: public, private non-profit, or private for-profit colleges.

Bachelors Degree Quick Facts

• Average Duration: 4 years

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Central Georgia Technical College

Warner Robins, Georgia

Central Georgia Technical College offers students the opportunity to earn a variety of free degrees online through its diverse funding programs that includes both traditional financial aid and special scholarship opportunities. Students who complete the federal financial aid application are automatically enrolled into several scholarship programs that may award funds contingent on income and merit. The dual enrollment program provides high school students with the opportunity to complete both high school and college credit free of charge at Central Georgia. Students with a GED or high school diploma may qualify for federal and state grants, work-study, and loans. Central Georgia also participates in the HOPE scholarship, grant, and career grant programs that award millions of dollars in aid each year.

Kentucky Alice Lloyd College

• Out of state tuition cost: $11,550
• Total tuition cost: $24,290

Home to some of the brightest students in the Appalachian region, Alice Lloyd College is a well respected, private, four-year, liberal arts school dedicated to bringing quality education at affordable costs. In fact, one of their chief mandates is to make an Alice Lloyd College education available to qualified mountain students regardless of their financial situation. This is why the school continually on lists of schools where students can graduate with the least amount of debt. Students at ALC are encouraged to develop a character-based education and become people with high moral standards that regularly provide service to their community.

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The Average Cost Of College Tuition

Public colleges and universities in the United States receive state funding from taxes paid by residents, making them some of the cheapest universities in the USA. Public universities prioritize in-state students who are part of that tax-paying public. As such, out-of-state students generally pay much higher tuition.

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that in-state students paid an average of $9,212 in tuition and fees for the 2018-2019 academic year. Meanwhile, out-of-state students paid an average of $26,382.

Each state maintains its own criteria for determining a students residency status. Proof of residency may include a record of tax payments, full-time employment within the state, or an occupational or state license. Some states also participate in reciprocity agreements that allow each members students to enroll as in-state learners.

Research the in-state residency requirements at your chosen school. In-state tuition can make your college degree much more affordable.

West Texas A& m University

TUITION: $7,935

West Texas A& M University is a public, co-educational research institution with an enrollment of over 9,400 students in the Amarillo, Texas Metro area, satellite campuses, and online. WTAMU has received many prestigious rankings including U.S. News Best Online Programs Rankings at #21 Best Online Bachelors Programs, #67 Best Online MBA Programs, #13 Best Online Bachelors Programs for Veterans, #17 Best Online Masters in Education Programs for Veterans, #15 Best Online Masters in Computer Information Technology Programs, to name a few. Niche.com ranks this school as the #52 Best Hispanic-Serving Institutions in America, #24 Best College in Texas, and #10 Top Public University in Texas.

WTAMUs distance education division offers 14 undergraduate, 19 graduate, and 1 Doctoral program and hybrid programs through the SREB Electronic Campus. A few of the most affordable online degree programs include Economics, Criminal Justice, a Healthcare MBA, and Finance from associate to bachelor degrees. WTAMU is part of the Texas A& M University System.

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Nevada Great Basin College

• Out of state tuition cost: $9,793
• Total tuition cost: $22,163

Great Basin College covers a lot of ground literally. GBC covers 86,500 square miles, ten of Nevadas largest counties, and two time zones. But all that ground doesnt overshadow GBCs basic mission to enrich the lives of its students by providing educational, cultural and economic opportunities to the residents of rural Nevada. Since the school opened in 1967, GBC has benefitted from both hardworking students and expert faculty members. More than 3800 students call this school home and are enrolled in associate and bachelor degree programs.

East Mississippi Community College

Scooba, Mississippi

East Mississippi Community College offers students a total of 450 online courses to choose from. The institution is a member of the Mississippi Virtual Community College that allows its 15-member institutions to leverage their resources for the benefit of distance learning students. To help students earn a free online college degree, East Mississippi offers a large contingent of tuition assistance and scholarship programs on top of federal financial aid. One of the most popular programs is the tuition assistance program that students living in one of six counties automatically qualify for. The program will cover any tuition gap after federal and state financial aid monies have been applied.

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Southeastern Oklahoma State University

• Tuition Net Price: $8,289
• Most classes have less than 39 students
• AACSB-accredited business school

Southeastern Oklahoma State University makes getting your bachelors or masters degree online both enjoyable and affordable. The school offers ten online undergraduate degrees and dozens of online masters degrees. The masters degrees available through this university are in four primary subjects: sports administration, education, Native American leadership, and business.

Funding An Online Degree

One of the benefits of opting for an online degree is that it opens up more choices, enabling you to find accredited online schools in a wide range of price points. Nevertheless, you may still need or want financial assistance to fund your college education. The good news is that your decision to go to school online or in person does not affect your eligibility for aid. As long as you’re enrolled in an accredited program and meet all other eligibility requirements, you may be able to receive some form of financial aid.

There are many types of financial aid available, some of which are sponsored by the government, some by private organizations, and some by the schools themselves. The best types are those that don’t need to be paid back:

Many students are awarded scholarships, grants, and fellowships based on need or merit.

If you’re getting an online degree at a school that’s within driving distance of your home, you may be able to earn a portion of your college expenses through an on-campus work-study program.

If you’re working full-time or even part-time, your employer may offer a tuition reimbursement program covering some or all of your tuition expenses, especially if you’re pursuing a master’s degree.

Some schools have partnerships with various types of organizations that provide tuition assistance to those organizations’ members or employees.

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Online College Cost Versus Future Salary Potential

If you already have a high school diploma, studies, such as the Survey of Income and Program Participation survey tabulated by the Pew Research Center, show that youre likely to experience lateral increases in salary if you go on to earn other credentials. That includes associates, bachelors, masters, Ph.D., and so on.

For example, the report examined median adjusted monthly household incomes of 25- to 34- year-olds, and found that from about $5,960 to more than $7,200 per month.

If you or your spouse attained a , salaries rose an average of about $1,670 per month.

Mississippi Delta Community College

Moorhead, Mississippi

Mississippi Delta Community College offers several online degrees and classes through its own institution as well as through its membership in the Mississippi Virtual Community College Consortium of 15 institutions that have partnered to offer students classes at all of these colleges while receiving support from their home institution. Online degree options are appropriate for workforce, technical, and transfer students from a variety of fields and disciplines. Mississippi Delta offers free online college degrees to those who qualify for need-based and merit-based aid. Students can qualify for federal and state aid based on their income and ability to pay. Many students qualify for enough aid to have their full tuition, fees, and books paid for. Additionally, students may qualify for more aid to help them pay for their living expenses.

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The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 provides consumers residing in California with rights relating to the access, deletion, and sharing of personal information. Please see Appendix A California Specific Privacy Notice for all required information, including your rights under the CCPA and how to submit a request.

Laramie County Community College

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Undergraduate Tuition: $4,433

Laramie County Community College, a public institution in Cheyenne, Wyoming, offers online associates degree programs at an affordable price. In fact, Laramie lands a 10th spot on our list for cheap associates degree programs. The school offers an open admissions policy and issues credit for life experiences. Students may earn degrees and certificates in approximately 30 different disciplines and with online learning options. Popular programs at Laramie County include business management, education, health professions and related disciplines, management, and marketing. All online courses are delivered and taught by well-qualified faculty, most of which instruct the same classes on-campus. Also, all degree programs have been accredited by the North Central Association Higher Learning Commission.

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University Of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia has five purely online bachelors degree programs, namely Bachelor of Science in Criminology, RN to BSN, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, and Bachelor of Science in Sociology. For programs apart from the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, students may take both on-campus and online classes. The online coursework is asynchronous, and this is one of the reasons why the university has a relatively low teacher-to-student ratio and offers high-quality yet remarkably affordable education. Tuition is at $199 per credit hour. The University of West Georgia has received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Iowa University Of Northern Iowa

• Out of state tuition cost: $19,241
• Total tuition cost: $31,872

The University of Northern Iowa has consistently ranked among the top universities in the Midwest for years. Its easy to see why it regularly gets this prestigious ranking. What is now the university originally started life as an orphanage for children affected by the Civil War. The buildings purpose would change as the war ended and it became a school for training teachers. Since its foundation in the mid-1800s, UNI has emphasized hands-on service learning and still remains Iowas premier teacher education program. With more than 90 majors to choose from, students have the opportunity to begin their careers with the skills they need to succeed.

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Prince Georges Community College

Largo, Maryland

Prince Georges Community College offers over 300 online and hybrid courses for students seeking a free college degree online. The extensive online course catalog makes Prince George an excellent choice for working professionals or individuals who do not live within a reasonable distance to a college or university. Since community college tuition is less expensive than costs at a four-year institution, students often qualify for enough financial aid to earn a completely free online degree. Also, as financial aid provides the same amount of money to community college students as their peers at four-year schools, they are able to get better value due to low-cost tuition. The school offers traditional aid along with several scholarship and grant programs, including Kathy and Jerry Wood, Honors Academy, Board of Trustees, and more.

Southwestern Oregon Community College

Coos Bay, Oregon

Southwestern Oregon Community College offers two fully online degrees: in digital design, and in childhood education and family studies. In addition to degree programs, SOCC offers a variety of online courses that are transferrable to four-year institutions. To help pay for college, or in some cases offset the cost entirely, SOCC offers federal and state grants, scholarships, and employment programs . For qualifying students, the GI Bill may wipe out all tuition and allow students to earn their degree for free. SOCC is fully accredited and one of the most affordable institutions on our list.

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