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 Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst
| February 02, 2009
Question:
I have a friend who claims he earned his college degree online by “testing out" of courses and by putting together a portfolio of all his work and military training over the last two decades. Is it really possible to earn an entire online degree based on career and life experience, or has my friend been scammed big time?
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst
| February 02, 2009
Question:
Help! Choosing an online college is an overwhelming task. I have a list of more than twenty possible colleges. I’m favoring one online college that is accredited by the Distance Education & Training Council (DETC). Is the DETC a valid accreditor? Will my degree be widely recognized? My career counselor told me national accreditation (like the DETC) is not as good as regional accreditation. Which is better when it comes to online colleges: regional accreditation or national accreditation? And does it really make any difference?
—Michael Atlanta, Georgia
Answer:
The truth? One type of online college accreditation is not necessarily “better” than another if you take “better” to mean “better academically.” However, there are real benefits to attending a regionally accredited college versus a nationally accredited college.
Questions & Answers About Online Education >
Careers
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst
| June 30, 2009
Question: It’s always been my dream to be a lawyer. Which colleges offer the best law degrees online?
—Brice, Indiana
Answer:
Unfortunately, in order to sit for the bar exam to become a lawyer in most states you must first attend a law school accredited by the American Bar Association. And the American Bar Association (ABA) does not yet accredit any online law school.
Questions & Answers About Online Education >
Careers
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst
| April 21, 2009
Question:
I was laid off from my job as a real estate agent and want to change careers. My dream is to be a high school math teacher. My current bachelor’s degree, which I earned ten years ago, is in child psychology. Do I have to go back to college and earn a second, new bachelor’s degree in education? If so, will an online bachelor’s degree in education qualify me to become a licensed teacher in Texas? Do teacher licensing programs accept online education degrees?
By Vicky Phillips, Chief Education Analyst
| October 13, 2009
Question:
I’m searching for an online bachelor’s in business or management. But no two online colleges charge the same amount for this degree. One college can charge $50,000 more for what looks like the very same online degree to me. Is a more expensive online degree better than a cheaper one?
—Rayette, Boise, Idaho Answer:
There is no relationship between cost and quality in online education. Paying more won’t get you “more” of an education, nor will it necessarily buy you an academically better degree. The cost—and therefore affordability—of any online degree is a function of four factors. It may surprise you to learn that none of these is correlated with educational quality.
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...
Thomas Edison State College provides flexible, high-quality, collegiate learning opportunities for self-directed adults. One of New Jersey’s 12 senior public institutions of higher education, the College offers associate, baccalaureate and master’s degrees. Students earn degrees through a wide variety of rigorous academic methods customized to meet their individual needs. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Thomas Edison State College offers graduate degrees in management, educational leadership, human resources management, liberal studies and nursing.
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)
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... 
