Best Online Colleges for Working Adults

Not sure about your major? Purdue University Global offers over 200 online degree programs for working adults. That means you can choose a program that maximizes your transfer credits and fits your career goals. And more than three in four online learners at Purdue University Global are over the age of 25, according to NCES data.

While Purdue charges $315-$371 per credit for undergraduate programs, U.S. military service members qualify for a rate of $165 per credit.

Choose from over 30 online programs at Eastern New Mexico University, including options in nursing, business, education, and information systems. Or major in unique fields like aviation science, communicative disorders, and personal financial planning. 

You can earn a degree fully online or blend in on-campus courses for a hybrid format. Most online courses use an asynchronous format so that you can complete coursework on your schedule. New Mexico residents benefit from a low $175 per credit tuition rate, while non-residents pay $257 per credit.

It’s one of the most affordable online degree programs for working adults. At the University of Florida Online, you can earn over 20 online bachelor’s degrees with an in-state tuition rate of $112 per credit. Out-of-state students pay $500 per credit.

Major in advertising, business administration, environmental management, health education, or another field. You can earn credit for work experience with UF’s credit-by-exam program, which includes credit for military experience.

A public institution, Colorado State University Global has not raised its tuition rate in over ten years. You’ll pay $350 per credit with no fees. And a tuition guarantee means you can budget for your degree without worrying about tuition increases.

CSU Global is also a great place for working adults. Learners take classes with no set times or locations, and 87% of learners are 25 or older. You also benefit from one-on-one tutoring, career coaching, and student success counselors.

A private university with over 200 career-focused programs, Southern New Hampshire University integrates real-world experience into its online programs. Earn a degree in business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, or tech at SNHU. There’s no application fee, and you get a $330 per credit tuition rate for undergraduates.

You can also transfer up to 90 credits toward a bachelor’s degree. Through credit for prior learning, you can receive credit for work experience, industry certifications, and workplace training.

Oregon State University offers 46 online bachelor’s programs with flexible schedule options. While some programs include local fieldwork or internships, most use a 100% online format with no in-person requirements or live sessions. You can also receive credit by examination or credit for military experience. 

Distance learners participate in success coaching, academic advising, and free tutoring. OSU charges $350 per credit for most undergraduate courses. The public university also uses low-cost course materials.

An online institution focused on working students, Western Governors University offers degrees in business, healthcare, technology, and other fields. And 88% of students are 25 or older.

WGU also uses a unique format with no deadlines or scheduled exams. That means working adults can progress on their own schedule. 

The university’s competency-based model appeals to working adults who bring experience in their field. You also pay a flat tuition rate rather than a per-credit rate, which means you can take a heavier course load without paying more.

The State University of New York system includes 64 institutions. With SUNY Online, you can choose from over 850 degrees offered online. Programs in the behavioral sciences, business, technology, social sciences, and more use a flexible format designed for working adults on tight schedules.

You also qualify for a low tuition rate of $295 per credit for New York residents or $353 for non-residents. And you can save more by receiving credit for prior knowledge gained in the workforce.

A public institution in Kansas, Fort Hays State University offers over 200 online programs. You benefit from affordable tuition rates and flexible course schedules while earning a degree online. Choose from majors in general studies, organizational leadership, sociology, management information systems, or over 80 other bachelor’s options. 

FHSU charges a flat tuition rate for all distance learners of $243 per credit. You can also apply transfer credits toward a degree to save money or receive credit for military experience or prior learning.

Thomas Edison State University specializes in degree completion for adult learners. With flexible course options, students can graduate while balancing school with their professional responsibilities. At this public institution, 89% of students are 25 or older. 

Choose from over 100 areas of study or design your own individualized degree. You can also earn credit by exam or through independent study.

New Jersey residents pay $419 per credit for fewer than nine credits or a flat rate of $3,319 per term for nine or more credits. The discounted full-time rate can save students money.