The cheapest and most affordable accredited online colleges publish total bachelor’s degrees from about $1,500 to $20,000 when you compare flat-rate subscriptions, tuition-free models with small assessment fees, competency-based six-month terms, and low per-credit public rates. Standout low-cost names include Newlane University (flat $1,500 total on published pricing), University of the People (tuition-free with per-course assessment fees), Western Governors University (flat six-month terms), and Fort Hays State University (one flat online rate near $265 per credit on FHSU’s published schedule). Sticker price is not what most students pay after grants; run each school’s net price calculator before you enroll.
Below, ten of the cheapest and most affordable online colleges from our research pool are ranked with Best Universities Affordable methodology and College Scorecard data. University of Florida-Online leads the Affordable composite on this page with typical net price near $4,815 in federal data. Scores compare these schools to each other, not every campus nationwide. See how we rank colleges and the published tuition benchmarks for Newlane and other marketing-first totals.
- Bottom line: Compare total degree cost (120 credits for a bachelor’s), not only the per-credit headline rate.
- Our Top 10: Cheapest and most affordable composite within sixteen widely cited online colleges; weights typical cost after aid heavily.
- Accreditation: Regional accreditors are the default employers expect; verify every school in DAPIP.
- Before you enroll: File the FAFSA, read technology and assessment fee schedules, and confirm state authorization for your home state. See also online colleges that accept FAFSA.
Contents
What does cheapest online college mean?
Cheapest usually means the lowest published total to earn a credential, not the lowest per-credit rate on a single class. A school advertising $250 per credit still bills about $30,000 for 120 credits unless you transfer in hours. Tuition-free marketing still includes assessment or course fees. Competency-based flat terms reward fast progress but can cost more if you need extra terms.
Federal average net price (what first-time full-time undergraduates paid after grants at each college) often sits well below sticker totals. Our Affordable ranking uses that net price signal plus completion and earnings from College Scorecard so this cheapest and most affordable Top 10 is not a simple sort by marketing tuition alone.
Four online college pricing models
| Model | How billing works | Example schools | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat subscription or total price | One monthly or all-in total for the degree | Newlane University | Accreditation type; limited majors |
| Tuition-free plus fees | No tuition line; assessment fee per course | University of the People | Fees add up; not literally free |
| Competency-based term | Flat rate per six-month term; unlimited courses if you pass assessments | Western Governors University | Pace required; term stack if you stall |
| Per-credit online | Credit hour rate times courses needed | Fort Hays State, UF Online | In-state vs out-of-state; tech fees |
Top 5 cheapest and most affordable online colleges
Ranked with our Affordable composite within sixteen widely cited online colleges from our research pool. These are the cheapest and most affordable options on this page by typical cost after aid, not lowest sticker tuition alone. Scores weight typical cost after aid and listed tuition heavily, plus completion, earnings, and aid mix from College Scorecard.
| Rank | School | Grade | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida-Online | A- | $4,815 |
| 2 | American Public University System | C+ | $9,597 |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | C+ | $4,904 |
| 4 | Southern Utah University | C | $10,462 |
| 5 | Purdue University Global | C | $7,770 |
Letter grades compare schools on this page to each other using the same Affordable recipe as our national pay-focused lists. Typical cost uses College Scorecard average net price when reported, otherwise listed tuition from the same federal pull.
Top 10 cheapest and most affordable online colleges at a glance
Scan rank, Affordable grade, typical net price, and listed tuition for the cheapest and most affordable schools on this page from our College Scorecard pull before you open the full profiles below.
| Rank | School | Grade | Typical net price | Listed tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida-Online | A- | $4,815 | $3,876 in-state / $16,579 out-of-state |
| 2 | American Public University System | C+ | $9,597 | $8,400 |
| 3 | Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | C+ | $4,904 | $7,194 in-state / $9,174 out-of-state |
| 4 | Southern Utah University | C | $10,462 | $6,962 in-state / $21,192 out-of-state |
| 5 | Purdue University Global | C | $7,770 | $10,101 in-state / $14,412 out-of-state |
| 6 | Great Basin College | C | $8,471 | $3,923 in-state / $13,883 out-of-state |
| 7 | Western Governors University | C | $12,548 | $8,658 |
| 8 | Valdosta State University | C- | $10,945 | $6,124 in-state / $17,836 out-of-state |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | C- | $14,967 | $12,223 in-state / $33,139 out-of-state |
| 10 | Chadron State College | C- | $12,549 | $8,290 |
How we ranked the cheapest and most affordable online colleges on this page
We started with sixteen online or online-serving colleges that appear often in student research on cheap accredited degrees, including names from our AIO and organic search review. Each school with enough College Scorecard fields receives an Affordable composite score using the same pay-focused weights as our national Affordable lists: average net price and listed tuition carry the most weight, with smaller shares for completion, retention, admission rate, earnings, and aid mix.
- Within this page only: Scores are percentiles among these sixteen schools, not every college nationwide.
- Data source: College Scorecard federal metrics.
- Whole-campus caveat: Metrics describe each institution’s undergraduate record, not online-only students, unless the school is a dedicated online unit (for example UF Online).
- Missing fields: Schools without enough Scorecard inputs for a full Affordable score here (University of the People, and Thomas Edison State University) appear in the published tuition benchmarks instead. Newlane University is also outside federal data. When Scorecard omits an admission rate for open-access colleges, we use a 100% admission proxy so those schools can still be scored.
- Full methodology: See how we rank colleges and our Affordable preset details on national lists.
All 10 cheapest and most affordable online colleges in this ranking
Open each profile for typical net price, listed tuition, completion, debt, and earnings from our College Scorecard pull. Grades reflect the Affordable composite for the cheapest and most affordable schools within this sixteen-school research pool.
University of Florida-Online
Dedicated UF online campus; low in-state per-credit rates
American Public University System
Online-focused; adult learners; per-credit billing
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Regional public; extensive online programs
Southern Utah University
Public university; online bachelor’s and certificates
Purdue University Global
Online-focused Purdue brand; competency and term-based paths
Great Basin College
Public college; low online per-credit rates
Western Governors University
Nonprofit competency-based; flat six-month terms
Valdosta State University
Regional public; online bachelor’s and graduate programs
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Large public research university; ASU Online catalog
Chadron State College
Regional public; online degrees at per-credit rates
Published tuition benchmarks (not BU rank order)
These published totals from official .edu pages help you compare marketing lines and flat-rate models. They are not our Affordable composite ranking, which mixes College Scorecard net price, completion, earnings, and aid data. Newlane University is included here because it is not in federal data. Verify every accreditor in DAPIP.
| School | Est. total bachelor’s* | Pricing model | Accreditation (verify) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newlane University | About $1,500 flat (published) | Subscription / all-in total | DEAC (national; verify in DAPIP) | Official source |
| University of the People | About $6,460 (typical bachelor's fees) | Tuition-free plus assessments | WSCUC (regional; verify in DAPIP) | Official source |
| University of Florida Online | About $15,500 in-state est. (120 credits) | Per-credit / listed tuition | SACSCOC (regional; verify in DAPIP) | Official source |
| Fort Hays State University | About $31,800 at $265.05/credit (120 credits) | Flat online per credit | HLC (regional; verify in DAPIP) | Official source |
| Western Governors University | About $16,000 to $20,000 (~$4,005/term × 4–5 terms) | Flat six-month term | NWCCU (regional; verify in DAPIP) | Official source |
Sticker price vs average net price
Marketing totals in the benchmark table are sticker-style math from linked .edu pages. College Scorecard average net price drives most of the Affordable weight in our cheapest and most affordable Top 10. Online students may differ, but a large gap between a school’s net price and its online sticker rate suggests aid may help.
- Run the net price calculator on every finalist’s site with your income and household size.
- File the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov even if you think you will not qualify; some low-cost schools still require it for institutional aid.
- Compare outcomes on our college rankings when cost after aid, finishing, debt, and pay all matter to you.
Hidden costs that change the total
- Technology and proctoring fees billed each term or per course.
- Assessment or lab fees in health, education, and STEM majors.
- Textbooks and materials (some competency-based programs bundle resources; others do not).
- Extra terms if you fail a class or need a slower pace in competency-based models.
- Lost transfer credit if you change schools mid-degree.
Regional vs national accreditation
Most traditional public and private universities hold regional accreditation (HLC, SACSCOC, NECHE, WSCUC, and others). Some low-cost online-focused colleges use national accreditation such as DEAC. Both can be legitimate if listed in the DAPIP accreditation database, but regional credit transfer and employer acceptance are usually smoother. Licensed fields still need program-level approval.
Cheapest and most affordable online colleges: FAQs
What is the cheapest accredited online college?
There is no single cheapest or most affordable school for everyone. On this page, University of Florida-Online leads our Affordable composite among sixteen widely cited online colleges in College Scorecard data. Newlane University lists a flat $1,500 published total on its tuition page but is not in Scorecard, so it sits in our sticker benchmark table instead of the scored Top 10. Verify accreditation in DAPIP before you enroll.
Are cheap online degrees respected by employers?
Employers usually care about accreditation, your major, and skills more than whether tuition was low. Regional accreditation is the standard most graduate schools and large employers expect. National or specialized accreditors may work in some fields but can limit transfer credit. Verify the school’s accreditor in the DAPIP database.
What is the difference between tuition-free and cheap online college?
Tuition-free schools like University of the People still charge assessment or application fees each term. Cheap per-credit public colleges bill by credit hour and may add technology fees. Competency-based schools like WGU charge a flat rate per six-month term. Add fees and multiply credits before you compare totals.
How much does an online bachelor's degree cost?
A 120-credit bachelor’s often lands between about $15,000 and $70,000 in published tuition depending on the school. Flat-rate or subscription models can finish lower if you progress quickly. Use each school’s net price calculator and file the FAFSA to see aid before you enroll.
Can you get financial aid at cheap online colleges?
Yes, when the school participates in federal student aid and your program qualifies. File the FAFSA and ask the aid office whether your enrollment status meets satisfactory academic progress rules. Some very low-cost subscription schools may cost less than borrowing.
How does Western Governors University pricing work?
WGU charges a flat rate per six-month term (about $4,005 for many undergraduate programs on its site) instead of per credit. You can complete as many competencies as you master in that term. On this page it ranks #7 on our Affordable composite within our research cohort.
How does University of the People pricing work?
UoPeople does not charge tuition for its degree courses. Students pay a $60 application fee and a $160 assessment fee per undergraduate course on its published fee schedule, for a typical bachelor’s total of about $6,460 before transfer credit. It is not in our scored Top 10 because College Scorecard lacks enough fields for our full composite.
What accreditation should I look for in an online college?
Regional accreditation (for example HLC, SACSCOC, NECHE, WSCUC) is what most traditional colleges hold and what many employers expect. National accreditors such as DEAC serve some online-focused schools. Program accreditation matters in nursing, teaching, and other licensed fields. Check DAPIP and your state’s rules.
Do cheap online colleges charge out-of-state tuition?
Some public universities charge one flat online rate nationwide (Fort Hays State publishes $265.05 per undergraduate credit for online study). Others charge lower in-state rates and higher out-of-state rates (University of Florida Online is a common split). Read the online tuition page for your residency before you apply.
Can transfer credit lower the total cost of an online degree?
Yes. Many affordable online programs accept prior college credit, military training, or exam credit through programs such as CLEP. Each school sets a transfer cap. A lower per-credit rate helps only if you still need many credits. See our guide on accelerated online degree programs for pacing options.
Next steps
- Pick your pricing model (flat term, tuition-free fees, or per credit) based on how fast you can study.
- Shortlist three schools from the cheapest and most affordable Top 10 and confirm totals on their tuition pages.
- Check accreditation in DAPIP and state authorization for your home state.
- File the FAFSA and compare net price calculator results.
- If speed matters as much as cost, read our guide to accelerated online degree programs.
Best Universities does not represent any college. Confirm all tuition, fees, and aid on official .edu sites.