Most Affordable Online Colleges of 2026
The most affordable online colleges offer a low cost and pay off for their students. We considered not just cost, but also academic quality and student outcomes to choose this list of the top affordable online colleges.
Discover flexible, accredited programs and learn tips for choosing the best option for you.
Top Affordable Online Colleges
Arizona State University
- Tempe, AZ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: More Than 11,000 Military-Affiliated Students Supported Through Their Education Journey
ASU Online offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate degrees designed for working adults and military-affiliated students. Military students benefit from self-paced learning, personalized support, tuition assistance, and credit for eligible military training. Popular undergraduate programs include electrical engineering and information technology, while top graduate options include social work and forensic psychology.
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $580-$605
Out-of-State | $580-$605
Why Students Choose ASU Online:
- Flexible Learning: Study anytime, anywhere with no set class times and multiple start dates year-round.
- Military Support: Benefit from dedicated enrollment advisors, success coaches, and tutoring tailored to the needs of active duty, veteran, and dependent students.
- Tuition Assistance: Use Military Tuition Assistance or the GI Bill®, and receive transfer credit for eligible military training.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Online courses are mostly asynchronous, so you'll need strong time management and organization skills to stay on track.
- Military training may count toward total degree credits, but doesn't fulfill general studies requirements.
58%
$11,822
87%
$34,014
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Students Enrolled
- 79,818
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Cheapest Tuition Rates for All Students, Regardless of State Residency
UF Online stands out for its large selection of affordable degree programs. You can choose from more than 120 online bachelor’s and graduate degrees in fields like business, communications, and engineering. Tuition is significantly lower for Florida residents and still more affordable for out-of-state students compared to many other online colleges.
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $129
Out-of-State | $553
Why Students Choose UF Online:
- Affordable Tuition: Online students save 40% compared to on-campus tuition, and out-of-state rates are still competitive.
- Dedicated Advising: Benefit from low student-to-advisor ratios and personalized academic guidance.
- Flexible Course Load: Take 3-6 credits as a part-time student or 15-18 credits as a full-time student to fit your schedule.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Most UF Online courses are asynchronous with no live lectures.
- Admissions are moderately selective, with 64% of applicants admitted in the fall of 2023.
59%
$ 4,477
98%
$25,694
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Students Enrolled
- 56,311
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Allows Students To Explore Free or Low-Cost Online Courses Before Applying to a Degree Program
Illinois Online offers over 60 online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, along with hundreds of free or low-cost courses. You can take noncredit courses featuring real Illinois Online content to explore subjects before formally enrolling. Subjects in these free courses include business, computer science, and engineering.
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $520-$1,237
Out-of-State | $520-$1,237
Why Students Choose Illinois Online:
- Preview Courses: Free noncredit courses are a good way to explore subjects or test out a program before committing to a full degree.
- STEM-Focused: Many of Illinois Online's master's degree programs are in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Noncredit courses don’t require admission to the university, but credit courses may require an application and tuition payment.
- While noncredit courses do not count toward a degree, they can count toward a certificate; however, earning some certificates may require a small fee.
59%
$12,712
95%
$31,832
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Students Enrolled
- 59,238
- Institution Type
- Public
University of New Mexico
- Albuquerque, NM
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Offers Online Programs That Emphasize Cultural Identity, Social Equity, and Local/Global Community Impact
The University of New Mexico (UNM Online) offers 34 online bachelor’s degree-completion and master’s programs, including 23 accelerated options. As New Mexico’s flagship research university, UNM Online supports first-generation and historically underrepresented students and features distinctive programs in Chicano/Chicana Studies, Native American Studies, and Intercultural Communication. A virtual exchange program also provides cross-cultural learning experiences.
Cost per Semester:
In-State | $286-$352
Out-of-State | $1,058-$1,147
Why Students Choose UNM Online:
- Completion Programs: Online bachelor’s programs are designed for adults returning to school to finish their degrees.
- Unique Programs: Study subjects that are rarely offered online, such as Chicano/Chicana Studies, Native American Studies, and Intercultural Communication.
- Global Learning Opportunities: Participate in the Collaborative Virtual Exchange (CoVE) to engage in online, cross-cultural projects with peers and instructors at partner universities around the world.
Know Before You Enroll:
- Accelerated online programs have a fixed tuition rate of $399 per credit for undergraduates and $432 per credit for graduates, regardless of residency.
- All other online programs follow standard UNM tuition rates, which are higher for out-of-state students.
56%
$ 8,589
75%
$31,738
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Students Enrolled
- 23,596
- Institution Type
- Public
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Edinburg, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This Superlative: Offers Nearly 5,000 Courses Designated as Bilingual or Taught in Spanish
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) offers 45 online degree programs and stands out for its extensive bilingual learning options. With nearly 5,000 courses taught in Spanish or a bilingual format, you can study in the language you prefer while advancing your bicultural and professional goals. A bilingual certification is also available upon completion of a designated set of courses.
Cost per Semester:
In-State | $416-$473
Out-of-State | $821-$866
Why Students Choose UTRGV:
- Bilingual Focus: Nearly 400 faculty members teach over 5,000 courses in Spanish or bilingual formats, making programs accessible to Spanish speakers and students pursuing a bicultural education.
- Flexible Program Formats: Choose from more than 30 accelerated eight-week graduate programs or 15 traditional 16-week online programs.
- Tuition Advantage Program: Texas residents with a family income of $125,000 or less may qualify for full tuition and mandatory fee coverage.
Know Before You Enroll:
- The bilingual certificate requires five courses and is only available to undergraduate students.
- Only offers one entirely online bachelor’s degree program in health services technology, in addition to three hybrid undergraduate programs.
67%
$ 7,857
81%
$20,007
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Students Enrolled
- 33,881
- Institution Type
- Public
How to Compare the True Cost of Online College
The true cost of college depends on your financial aid eligibility through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once you’ve seen what your tuition and fees look like after financial aid, then you can compare colleges to see what you’ll truly pay.
Your time to graduate can also affect college costs. Accelerated and degree completion programs can cost you less time and money, while traditional and part-time degrees could cost you more.
Net Price
A college’s “net price” is the cost you’ll pay after financial aid. Once you receive your financial aid package from each school, you’ll see how much you’ll pay for:
- Tuition
- Technology fees
- Other miscellaneous fees
- Textbooks
Hidden Costs
Technology and other fees can include laptop fees and per-class materials, such as access to learning platforms and modules. It’s always safe to budget more once you’re in a class, in case the professor requires additional paid features.
If you’re looking to save on laptop costs, here’s a few schools that offer you free laptops.
Financial Aid for Online Students
As an online student, you can benefit from the same federal financial aid opportunities as on-campus students:
- Pell Grant: The most common grant awarded to those with financial need. Students can receive up to $7,395 per academic year towards tuition and other educational expenses.
- TEACH Grant: Grant for teaching students requiring four years of service at a high-need school.
- Student Loans: Financial aid that you have to pay back with interest.
You can also qualify for other non-federal student aid, such as institutional scholarships, military benefits, and tuition assistance through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. As a working adult, you can also see if your employer offers tuition reimbursement for pursuing a degree in your related job field.
Find other scholarships through local organizations, the College Board, ScholarshipOwl, and Scholarships.com.
Program Format
Your program format also plays into your cost and time to graduate.
Traditional four-year bachelor’s programs take longer, and students often end up paying more over time on fees outside of tuition. Accelerated and degree-completion programs can help cut your time — and costs.
Are Online Colleges Actually the Cheapest?
Online colleges are on average, cheaper than in-person colleges. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, totally online programs cost an average $7,996.90 while non-fully online colleges cost $11,971.50 per year.
Online colleges have a financial advantage over in-person since you’ll be saving on room and board, meal plans, transportation, and other fees related to the campus. Sometimes, you can find colleges that also offer free textbook materials or require none at all.
How to Make Online College Cheaper
Even if you go for the cheapest online program, there are even more ways to drop that cost even lower outside of federal financial aid. Tuition-free colleges offer tuition-free programs, and in-state community colleges and universities are typically much more affordable than out-of-state or private colleges. There’s other ways to get more aid too, like tuition reimbursement and credit for work experience.
1. Attend a Tuition-Free College
Attending an online tuition-free college can save you up to the full cost of your education. These colleges and programs are accredited and cover the entire cost of tuition. Some programs, like New York’s Excelsior Scholarship, allow qualifying in-state students to attend tuition-free as long as they apply for the state scholarship.
2. Attend an In-State University or Community College
In-state schools typically offer cheaper tuition and a higher acceptance rate. Community colleges are typically even more affordable and make it easy for students to transfer to four-year institutions after earning their associate degree.
3. Take Advantage of Non-Federal Student Aid
Utilizing your employer’s tuition reimbursement, seeking scholarships outside your school, using military benefits, and seeking credit for work experience are all useful ways to lower your costs.
How Much Do Online Colleges Cost?
The colleges on our list charge tuition either on a sliding scale, like Arizona State University, or by program, like the University of Illinois Online, resulting in a tuition range depending on the program you enroll in.
On average, the average in-state cost for programs on our list is over two times cheaper than the average net cost for all public four-year universities. Your price could look even lower depending on the program you enroll in.
- Average In-State Cost for Colleges on Our List: $9,091
- Average Out-of-State Cost for Colleges on Our List: $28,657
- Average Net Cost for All Public Four-year Universities (2024-25): $20,780
- Average Net Cost for Private Universities (2024-25): $36,150
Source: The College Board
Are Cheap Online Colleges Worth It?
Cheap online colleges, as long as they’re accredited, will give you the national standard for education that earns you a recognized degree.
However, cost isn’t always everything. Sometimes, attending a school with a national reputation for excellent education, like Purdue University Global, can increase your employment prospects and provide a larger alumni network to support you throughout your career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Online Colleges
It depends on the program. Some programs offer a flat tuition per credit for in- and out-of-state students, while others charge two different tuition rates depending on residency.
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