What Makes GetEducated Online Degree Rankings Different?
Cost-First Transparency
GetEducated rankings reflect total estimated tuition and fees, using tuition researched directly from institutional websites. Third-party websites are not used to calculate the estimated cost.
Quality Standards
Higher education schools must meet strict criteria for ranks, including regionally accredited, public and not-for-profit higher education institutions in good standing.
Unbiased Rankings
Sponsored schools don’t receive preferential treatment. Likewise, ranks are not created for the benefit of client schools.
Designed for Adult Learners
Rankings focus on fully or mostly online programs intended for the working professional.
Decades of Experience
Founded in 1998, GetEducated has extensive experience in independent research and tracking costs of online degree programs.
Data Collection
GetEducated’s database of online programs is one of the most comprehensive. As of early 2026, we include more than 22,700 eligible degrees to rank from over 1,550 regionally accredited, not-for-profit and public universities and colleges. For each ranking, we apply due diligence to find and compare costs of similar online degree programs.
Our ranking reports follow a standard set of criteria designed to ensure accuracy and fairness. Each rank starts with a systematic data collection.
Internal Data
We draw from the current programs maintained within GetEducated’s database.
External Data
We cross-reference the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to identify additional online programs that meet established degree and institutional requirements.
Continued Audits and Updates
As online learning opportunities for adult students grow, we regularly audit schools to identify new online degree programs and expand our database.
Qualifying Schools
To be eligible for GetEducated ranking reports, higher education institutions must meet the following criteria:
- Schools must be regionally accredited and in good standing.
- They must be classified as public or not-for-profit institutions.
- Schools need to enroll 200 or more students. We recognize that enrollment levels fluctuate annually and may be influenced by multiple factors. At our discretion, and when an institution is determined to add value, schools with lower enrollment, especially specialized institutions, may be included.
- Schools must be based in the United States.
Exceptions: Community and Technical Schools
Most, if not all, community colleges in the United States meet our rank standards. GetEducated values and maintains a number of these schools within our database, and many of their degrees are included in ranking reports. At this time, we have not actively expanded our community college listings. Many two-year schools primarily serve in-district students who actively participate in on-campus labs and activities. In addition, tuition rates for non-resident students (out-of-district and out-of-state) vary significantly. Articulation agreements are also frequently limited to nearby four-year institutions, which may or may not offer related bachelor’s degree programs online.
Rank Process
Categorization Methods
GetEducated uses the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) as a guide to sort degrees into ranking reports. Some degree programs may overlap across categories and can be published in more than one ranking. For example, a degree with dual majors, such as the Master of Science in Finance & Accounting, may be included in the master’s finance and accounting reports.
NCES Classification
Using the NCES classification allows GetEducated to provide consistency and fairness. This approach protects against grouping degree programs in ways that would artificially advantage sponsored programs in scoring or placement.
Degree and School Count Requirements
GetEducated publishes a ranking report only when at least 12 qualifying online degree programs from 12 different institutions are available. Limited exceptions may be made, particularly at the doctoral level or in fields with strong student interest but few online offerings.
Types of Degree Programs Ranked
GetEducated evaluates full degree programs based on total estimated cost, as well as bachelor’s completion programs that require prior education with licensure. For completion programs, weighted per-semester costs are applied to ensure equitable cost comparisons.
- Associate’s Degrees. In some categories, GetEducated publishes separate rankings. These may include Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees designed for direct workforce entry, as well as Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees intended for transfer into four-year institutions.
- Bachelor’s Completion Degrees. Bachelor’s completion programs require more than 15 semester hours of prior coursework beyond a high school diploma or an occupational license supported by trade school education credits for admission. GetEducated ranks only those programs in which a bachelor’s completion pathway represents the sole online option for licensed professionals. Examples include RN-to-BSN programs, as well as programs in dental hygiene, radiologic technology, and respiratory therapy.
- Bachelor’s Degrees. Bachelor’s programs require 15 or fewer semester transfer hours beyond a high school diploma (one semester) to apply.
- Master’s Degrees. Master’s degree programs require completion of a bachelor’s degree for enrollment.
- Bachelor’s to Master’s Degrees. These programs are designed for applicants with some transferable college credits and allow students to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree within a single, accelerated pathway. An RN-to-MSN program is a common example.
- Bachelor’s to Doctoral Degrees. Bachelor’s to doctoral programs benefit applicants with transferable college credits, typically an associate’s degree, and enable progression from the bachelor’s level directly to a doctoral degree within one program. This pathway is most commonly offered in nursing, such as the RN-to-DNP.
- Education Specialist (EdS) Degrees. Applicable to education disciplines and often requiring a teaching license, the Education Specialist (EdS) degree is considered a terminal credential beyond the master’s level. Numerous online options are available with specializations to support educators seeking career advancement.
- Doctoral Degrees. Due to lower overall demand and the greater resources required to deliver doctoral-level education, fewer online doctoral programs are available. As a result, exceptions to the standard degree and institution count requirements may be made to publish rankings in high-interest fields.
Meeting School Standards
Accreditation
Institutional accreditation is one of the most important factors to consider when investing time and financial resources in a degree program. GetEducated is committed to ensuring that all ranked degrees are offered from well-respected colleges and universities.
Regional Accreditation Standards
Regional accreditation at the school level is required for all degrees included in GetEducated ranking reports. No exceptions are made to this standard. Regional accreditors, recognized by the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), include:- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC)
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Program-Specific Accreditation
When a degree holds recognized program-specific accreditation, this designation is noted in the rank. GetEducated publishes a few ranking reports that apply regional and program-specific accreditation standards. Examples include the AACSB-accredited MBA and AACSB-accredited bachelor’s in business administration ranks.
School Status
Beginning with the 2022–23 academic year, GetEducated implemented higher institutional standards. For-profit institutions are no longer included in ranking reports. Only public and not-for-profit postsecondary institutions are eligible.
Excluded Schools
- Compliance: Some institutions may otherwise meet all stated criteria but are excluded from ranking reports due to regulatory actions. Schools with pending warning or compliance actions are not included in ranking reports.
- National-Accreditation: Accrediting bodies that operate at the national level do not meet the stricter standards set by regional accrediting agencies. As a result, GetEducated excludes institutions that hold only national accreditation.
Learn more about accreditation and why it matters.
Degree Criteria
After assembling a dataset that meets institutional standards, GetEducated applies additional degree-level criteria to further refine eligible online programs.
Online Delivery Requirement
GetEducated ranks only degree programs that are offered at least 80 percent online. To determine whether a program meets this baseline, we evaluate the required in-person components.
- Programs that require limited on-campus participation, such as a weekend session per semester or a short, intensive session (for example, one week per summer), are considered primarily online.
- Programs that require students to relocate or live within commuting distance of the institution for an academic term do not meet the 80 percent online requirement.
State Availability
Some programs, particularly in education and healthcare fields with state licensure components, may not be available to residents of all U.S. states and territories. GetEducated sets the following standards to determine rank eligibility.
- Programs must be available in more than five states.
- Programs available in between five and fifteen states are ranked, but noted in reports.
- Programs offered in five or fewer states are not included in ranking reports.
Researching Tuition and Fees
Methodology
GetEducated conducts detailed, first-hand research using each institution’s official website or catalog to identify potential online programs and calculate their tuition and fees. Online program costs often differ from on-campus tuition and fees; therefore, we do not rely on third-party websites or institutional average tuition figures reported to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Sponsored Degrees
Sponsored institutions are never given preferential treatment in ranking reports, and GetEducated does not accept payment in exchange for higher rankings or improved placement. Likewise, GE does not exclude non-client degree programs to benefit sponsored programs.
Exceptions
In cases where an institution doesn’t publicly disclose tuition and fees, or where total program costs can’t be reasonably determined due to complex tuition or fee structures (such as tuition charged based on course selection), GetEducated reserves the right to exclude that program or institution from ranking reports.
Calculating Estimated Costs
Academic Calendar
Tuition data within each ranking report is collected from the same academic term. GetEducated never combines tuition figures from different academic years within a single ranking.
Credits for Full Degree Programs
Rankings for full degree programs compare total estimated program costs. For these programs, credit hours and academic terms (semester, quarter, or other formats) are calculated using the minimum number of credits or terms required to graduate. These calculations assume the student begins with zero credits.
Credits for Completion Programs
To calculate bachelor-completion costs, GE uses the minimum number of credits required for graduation, minus the maximum transfer credits. Requirements and credits granted for professional experience vary by institution, so tuition is weighted using a per-credit, per-semester cost to ensure the fairest comparison. GetEducated converts programs operating on other academic calendars, such as quarters, to equivalent per-semester credit hour rates. Programs using converted credit rates are noted within ranking reports.
Tuition Structures
Institutions may charge tuition on a per-credit basis, a flat rate per semester, quarter, or term, a per-course rate, or a single flat rate for completion of the year or entire program. GetEducated takes each structure into account when calculating estimated costs.
Full-Time Versus Part-Time Enrollment
When both full-time and part-time enrollment options are available, GetEducated uses full-time enrollment as the standard estimated cost, defined as:
- 9 credits per semester for graduate programs
- 15 credits per semester for undergraduate programs
If an online degree is only offered in one format, such as part-time or accelerated, tuition and fees are calculated based on the required time to complete the program.
Fees
Including general school fees is essential for accurate cost comparisons. While some institutions offer all-inclusive tuition rates, others advertise low base tuition and offset costs by adding substantial mandatory fees. Accounting for these fees in estimated costs reflects the true cost of attendance.
Standard institutional fees generally include registration, technology, departmental, graduation, and activity fees. Program-specific expenses, including laboratory fees, textbooks, course, and state-specific licensure fees, are excluded from estimated cost calculations.
Total Tuition & Fees
Each program’s estimated tuition is rounded to the nearest dollar.
Ranking and Sorting Logic
Ranking Order
Rankings are ordered using in-state tuition rates when applicable. As online education has expanded, many institutions now offer uniform tuition regardless of residency. Each rank includes the school’s home state, and users can identify the most affordable options based on their individual residency status.
Multiple Listings of a Single Degree Within One Ranking
Some institutions collaborate through consortia to deliver online degree programs, such as the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA). In these cases, the same degree program may appear under multiple institutions. However, the degree is calculated only once when determining ranking averages.
Specializations
When a degree program includes a single major with multiple specialization options, the degree is calculated only once in the average.
Multiple Degrees from One Institution
Different degree programs offered by the same school may be listed on a single rank. In such cases, each degree is counted separately when calculating averages.
Ranking Averages
Ranking averages are rounded up to the nearest $100. For rankings based on weighted per-credit costs, amounts are rounded up to the nearest dollar. This rounding methodology safeguards against incorrectly placing a degree with rounded tuition below the average.
Data Presented in Ranking Reports
Each GetEducated ranking report publishes the most accurate information to help prospective students compare online degree options and make good-fit enrollment decisions. The following data points are included in each ranking:
Institution and Degree Listings
Schools and their eligible online degree programs are listed by major and, when applicable, specialization. Programs are ordered from cheapest to most expensive based on in-state tuition rates.
Institution Location
The U.S. state in which each institution is headquartered (online or main campus) is identified.
Estimated Tuition and Fees by Residency
When different rates apply, individual estimated costs are provided for in-state, out-of-state, and military-affiliated students.
Program-Specific Accreditation
CHEA or USDE-recognized programmatic accreditation is noted when applicable to a degree.Average Cost for the Ranking
Each ranking report includes an average estimated cost of the programs listed within the ranking table, calculated using the standardized rounding and averaging methods described in this methodology.
Career and Outcome Information
To support informed decision-making, ranking reports also include information about related career paths, expected salary ranges, and other relevant points.
Limitations
Differences Between Actual and Estimated Costs
Actual costs will vary by student. The published cost shown in GetEducated rankings is an estimated total price for completing an online degree.
For example, students who transfer credits into a bachelor’s program may reduce the number of required credits and lower their overall cost. Prerequisite coursework, textbooks, licensure requirements, financial aid, and other factors may also affect the final cost of an online degree.
Applying a standardized process to calculate tuition provides a consistent basis for comparison. Totals are calculated using an institution’s published tuition and fee rates for a specific school year. Many institutions adjust tuition annually, and most students require more than one academic year to complete a degree. Actual costs are also affected by the start date and whether a student pursues full-time, part-time, accelerated, or self-paced degree plans.
Colleges also do not follow a standardized tuition model. For this reason, GetEducated’s expert review teams conduct detailed, program-specific research to provide reliable cost information. Comprehensive cost reviews take months to complete
Ever-Changing Database
GetEducated cannot guarantee program availability. Similar to pricing, institutions regularly update their online program offerings. GetEducated audits institutions and makes every effort to keep listings current.
School Feedback
Institutions may contact GetEducated with questions or clarifications regarding cost calculations. We welcome outreach and work directly with schools to report the most accurate estimated costs.
Maximizing GetEducated Rankings
GetEducated rankings should be used as a tool to help find an online degree program that works for you. To use ranking reports effectively, consider the following:
List Your Goals, Budget, and Timeline
Write down your career objectives, figure out what you can afford, and how much time you can realistically dedicate to a degree program. Use this guideline to help narrow options.
Identify Degree Level and Academic Focus
Determine the type of degree and one or more potential majors or areas of specialization that match your career goals. Use GetEducated’s more than 225 Best Buy Ranking Reports to help you with this search.
Compare Institutions
Compare at least three to five institutions. Consider at least one school located within driving distance, especially if you want the option to participate in campus activities or access resources, such as an on-campus library. Cost is important, but it shouldn’t be the only factor.
Request information from multiple schools and compare:
- Time to complete
- Course schedules and flexibility, including start dates, program schedules, and course formats (asynchronous and synchronous)
- Credits awarded for prior education or professional experience
- Available aid options, including federal, state, local, institutional, or employer-sponsored assistance
- Available resources for online students, including advising, library, and technical support
- All of these factors are important and contribute to your educational success.
Career Outcomes
Answer these questions before you make a final commitment to a specific online degree. Reference the content in our ranks to help make an informed decision.
- Does this degree include a specialization that offers career flexibility with competitive skills?
- After graduation, will there be job opportunities near me, or am I willing to move?
- Is a more expensive degree from a well-recognized institution advantageous? Or should I choose a more affordable online degree?
- Does this school offer higher educational pathways if I decide to continue my studies?
The team at GetEducated understands the importance of selecting an online degree program tailored to you. We make every effort to provide you with the most respected and affordable options. Our team goes through a meticulous research process for each and every ranking page on our site. We don’t spend a few days or a few weeks; we spend months researching each rank so it’s ready to deliver effective, comprehensive information.