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."
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"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
Nicholas Zazal works at the University of Illinois campus in Urbana-Champaign, but is earning his master's degree from the school's online division—even though the same degree is offered on campus, minutes from his office.
The reason? As with many online college students, Zazal's work schedule doesn't allow him to attend classes on his school's timetable. Instead, he has opted for the flexibility offered by distance learning.
Zazal, 26, is GetEducated.com's latest $1,000 "Excellence in Online Education" scholarship winner. The Northlake, Illinois, native is earning straight A's in his master of recreation, sport and tourism online degree program—despite working up to 75 hours per week as the events director at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
"My work schedule is completely at the mercy of what’s scheduled into the building," says Zazal. "Some weeks it's 25-hour weeks, some are 75-hour weeks, depending on how many shows we have."
Since his job entails coordinating "all the backstage and event logistics for all the tours, everything from hotels and parking for artists to audio and lighting needs," Zazal must be available at odd hours, and can't commit to a traditional classroom-based program.
Zazal has worked for Krannert since graduating from the University of Illinois in 2004 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in stage management. His goal is to move into sports and entertainment venue management, but "with no experience in pro sports besides being a lifelong armchair head coach," Zazal decided he needed a sports management degree to qualify him for such a position.
Zazal's online degree program has used some of the same teachers who teach the on-ground degree program, he says, as well as other, non-Illinois instructors, including one from Yale.
"My program in recreation, sport and tourism has given me the opportunity to learn about marketing, event management, finance, human resources and beyond with a focus on the sports industry," says Zazal. "I can now combine professional skills with personal passion."
Zazal expects to graduate in February 2010—just in time for his summer wedding.
GetEducated offers several distance learning scholarships each year. The competitive awards are based on grade point average, a written essay, and financial need.
If you wish to compete for next year's scholarship, visit our scholarship page for application information.
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...
Northcentral University, an innovator in 100% online education, offers master’s and doctoral programs in over 30 career relevant areas of specialization in Business & Technology Management, Education and Psychology, with no residencies required. Northcentral is regionally accredited and features a faculty of professional practitioners with the highest academic credentials to mentor relevant, real-world courses, one-on-one. Individual degree plans, monthly course starts, very competitive tuition and dedicated dissertation support make Northcentral an outstanding online graduate school.
Baker College Online is one of the largest and most affordable accredited online colleges in the nation. Our tuition is often less than half that of other online colleges while the quality of your education and training remains high. Baker Graduates increased their earning potential by 35% upon completion of their degrees. As a career college our goal is to prepare you for a great career and help you find a good job or advance your current career in the shortest possible time.
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.
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... 
