An online degree can cost as little as $3,000 – or over $100,000. More than 12,000 online degrees and certificates – and no two charge the same tuition. Our affordability rankings reveal who offers the best – and worst – buys in online degrees.
Enrolled in an online degree program? Alumni of an online college? Visit your college or degree program in our directory and "grade" – rate and rank – its performance. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life ratings of thousands of online college programs.
Not all online colleges rate the same in the eyes of the public or potential employers. How does the public rate your online degree? Do they rank it high – or rate it low? Help rate and rank all the choices. Your opinion will help others "get educated" about the real-life reputation of thousands of online colleges.
"Anybody who's thinking of enrolling in an online degree ... take a good look at GetEducated.com . Go ... get a free download of a detailed guide ."
Searching for an Online MBA?: "Several websites can help .. first, GetEducated.com offers free rankings of distance-learning MBA programs."
"Beware diploma mills... Go to GetEducated.com and ask the Diploma Mill Police."
"For a distance MBA you can pay from $6,000 to $120,000. To get the most bang for your buck ... check out GetEducated.com"
GetEducated.com – "a great source for weeding out phonies" (among online colleges).
"Thanks much for your wonderful site! I've recommended it to my students and entered a program I found at GetEducated.com." --Charles Balch, MBA, Ph.D. --Professor, Arizona Western College
By GetEducated Consumer Reporting Team | September 21, 2009
Chester Ludlow, a pug dog from Vermont, has been awarded an online MBA (Masters in Business Administration) by Rochville University—an online college that offers distance learning degrees based on life and career experience.
Chester is believed to be the first dog to be awarded a college degree based on life experience.
But did he earn it—or did he buy it?
“The difference between earning a college degree online or buying one is key,” says Vicky Phillips, founder of GetEducated.com.
Chester is GetEducated’s mascot. In May, he submitted his resume—along with $499—to Rochville University online. A week later, on June 5, 2009, an express packet arrived from a post office box in Dubai.
By GetEducated.com Consumer Reporting Team | June 15, 2009
Sixty-seven former students of Warren National University have filed a lawsuit in the Laramie County District Court in Wyoming claiming they were misled by the distance learning university, reports the Associated Press.
Warren National, which was headquartered in Cheyenne, shuttered its virtual doors this spring after failing to achieve regional accreditation and having its license revoked by the state of Wyoming. As a result, former students have been left holding worthless pieces of paper, rather than the degrees for which they paid thousands of dollars. The lawsuit states students paid average annual tuition of $6,000 to $12,000, while Warren National's owners took in $25 million to $30 million in tuition revenue each year.
Newport International University, an unaccredited distance learning college headquartered in Laramie, Wyoming, has ceased operation in that state. This closure follows the failure of Newport to win a lawsuit against the state of Wyoming.
Warren National University, of Wyoming, announced in February that it will no longer accept online students. Warren National, originally known as Kennedy-Western University, began offering unaccredited college degrees through distance learning in the 1980s. The distance-learning-only college operated from California and Idaho before migrating to Wyoming.
By GetEducated.com Consumer Reporting Team | February 02, 2009
Colby Nolan, a black cat, brought new meaning to the term "educational pedigree" when, in 2004, he “earned” an MBA online from Trinity Southern University of Plano, Texas.
The feline was graduated with honors with a 3.5 GPA (that's a B-plus average) after Trinity Southern officials “evaluated” his resume—which apparently showed college-level business experience in the fast food industry, child care, and, er, retail management.
Colby’s diploma was purchased for $399, plus shipping and handling, in a sting operation undertaken by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA...
I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to be a high school math teacher, but my bachelor’s degree is in psychology. Do I need a new degree in education? Will an online bachelor’s in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher?
—Willis, Houston, Texas
If you didn’t earn a bachelor’s degree in education years ago and you now want to teach in the public schools, don’t fret. Every state maintains what are termed “alternative teacher certification” programs...
I’m considering earning my MBA online because there are no colleges nearby. But I’m skeptical about online education. Can you cite any objective research that “proves” that online MBAs are as good as the old-fashioned classroom?
—Tammy, Wyoming
The answer: YES. Online education has been scientifically shown to be as effective—if not more so—than the old-time classroom lecture....
Western Governors University Teachers College -- WGU offers the only NCATE certified online Teacher Education programs. Teachers with a master’s degree may earn $10,000 more per year than those with a bachelor’s. The WGU Teachers College offers flexible, online master’s degrees for PK-12 teachers, technology coordinators, corporate trainers, and other educators. Fully accredited, competency-based programs: M.Ed. in Instructional Design, Learning and Technology or Measurement and Evaluation. Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, 5-12) or Science Education (5-9 or 5-12)
Western Governors University Online Programs -- Online. Accelerated. Affordable. Accredited. A non-profit online university founded by the governors of 19 western states, WGU offers a convenient, flexible online education. WGU is the only accredited university in the U.S. offering competency-based degrees. Your progress is determined by your ability to pass rigorous assessments—typically tests, projects and a portfolio—that measure your knowledge and skills as you move through your degree program. WGU offers bachelors degrees in Education, IT, and Business.
For active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and military families.
More than half of military students use online education. What do you need to know to find schools that best fit your needs? How can you find the best financial aid and scholarship package at your online school? Answers are here.
Job and Career Opportunities in Online and Distance Education
Online and distance schools need teachers.
The field of online education is growing and so is the need for teachers who can teach online. Check out our regularly updated list of online job opportunities, post your job availability, and visit our Online Resource Center, with tips, advice and free downloads for online educators.
Facts from GetEducated's National Survey of Online MBAs. Who offers the cheapest online MBA? Do you need an AACSB-accredited distance MBA? Online MBA rankings and ratings. Everything you need to know to compare 390 accredited online MBAs from 168 online business schools.
I’m looking for an online MBA. I’ve found several that fit my budget but none are accredited by the AACSB. What is the AACSB? Do I really need a distance MBA degree that is accredited by them?
—Roberta, Gary, IN 
The AACSB is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. It is considered the gold standard of business school accreditation. But not every student needs an AACSB-accredited MBA... 
