Our higher education experts at BestColleges have ranked the top online colleges and universities for 2022. Read on to compare schools based on affordability, flexibility, and academic quality. Find your path forward today.
Why Choose an Online College or University?
A big reason for the growth in online education and online universities is demand. Online degree programs make college more accessible to a much larger population than traditional on-campus options. Thanks to technology, you can earn a fully online undergraduate or graduate degree while balancing academic commitments with other responsibilities, such as a full-time job or caring for your family.
Online Learning Vs. In-Person Learning
Learning fully online may not be well-suited to everyone, especially if you get distracted easily at home and struggle to stay motivated. However, in-person learning can’t compete with the flexibility provided by an online school. Whether you decide to attend school online or on campus, there are many high-quality, accredited colleges and universities to choose from.
How Do I Choose an Online College?
In the world of online education, there is no overall best online college or best online degree program. But there is a best option for you. Ask yourself these five questions to begin the search for the best online colleges and universities for your situation:
- What area of study interests you?
- What type of online degree do you need to meet your goals?
- What type of institution offers the degree program you need?
- How much flexibility do you need?
- How much can you afford to spend on an online degree program?
Choose an Area of Study
The first step is to think about what area of study you’d like to pursue in order to meet your career goals. Different college majors teach different skills and have different points of emphasis.
Examine the different majors offered by a variety of top online colleges that relate to the field of study you’re interested in. Research what specific courses are required in each major. Also consider what specific hard and soft skills will be most valuable to the work you want to be doing.
You can explore our collection of academic program rankings to learn more about the best online degrees in various fields of study.
Popular Areas of Study