Ranking Methodology

Our school rankings use a proprietary methodology that considers factors like academic quality, program offerings, and, of course, affordability.

APMC
Written by Alison PlautEdited by Marcela Otero Costa

Updated on October 16, 2026

Our school rankings use a proprietary methodology that considers factors like academic quality, program offerings, and, of course, affordability.

We make our school choices independently, using public data sources and a systematic methodology to fulfill AffordableCollegesOnline.org's mission to help students find cost-effective, accessible education paths through transparency and data-driven rankings.

As part of our commitment to independent, high-quality rankings, ACO doesn't consider advertisers. Instead, as part of our commitment to quality assurance, our team of editors and writers vet the best programs available.

How We Rank Schools

1. Data Collection

We gather publicly available data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, and Peterson's Data to ensure accurate and up-to-date information. When we update lists on pages with each new data release.

2. Eligibility Filtering

We screen schools to ensure they meet our inclusion criteria and remove those that do not. We also filter schools with fewer than 10 online bachelor's or master's degree programs to provide solid, equitable options.

3. Ranking Score Calculation

We evaluate colleges using the ranking model, objectively weighing key factors to get a final score. ACO uses different methodologies and percentages depending on the list type to give you the most accurate information for your search. For example, a "most affordable" page will weigh affordability more than a general "best" list, although all of ACO's lists factor in affordability.

4. Quality Assurance and Review

Our experienced team carefully vets each program for quality, accuracy, and accreditation. ACO's independent Integrity Network reviews each ranking for accuracy and fairness.

5. Final Adjustments and Publication

Finally, we refine our lists based on student-focused ranking criteria before publishing, emphasizing scholarships, financial aid, student support, graduation rates, free technology, tutoring, and other benefits that can help you earn an affordable degree.

Superlatives, i.e. "Best For"s

Some of our rankings feature schools with categories that call out a distinctive strength. To determine these superlatives, our team looks for the standout qualities of a program or school – such as exceptional accessibility and disability support, innovative approach to affordability, or strong career placements outcomes. Not every list includes superlatives, and schools cannot request or pay for these recognitions.

Data Sources and Quality Assurance

Trusted Data Sources

How We Ensure Accuracy and Integrity

QA Process: ACO's intensive internal QA process ensures that the rankings you see are credible and fair.

The datasets create objective, relevant, and actionable college rankings. Only the best affordable online colleges earn a spot in the rankings; schools cannot buy a better ranking or pay for a place on the list.

Integrity Network Review: Some of our pages have screenings by our Integrity Network, composed of higher education professionals, which provides an independent review to confirm that rankings are accurate, unbiased, and student-focused.

Key Factors in Our Ranking Process

AffordableCollegesOnline.org considers many factors when assessing online schools and programs. Our ranking factors include:

Academic Quality

Our rankings consider academic quality criteria such as student retention rates, graduation rates, and the number of full-time faculty. Low student-to-faculty ratios correlate with high academic quality, so ACO considers this data when ranking schools.

School Affordability

Since our site serves users seeking affordable higher education options, school affordability is weighted at 50% in our ranking system. We assess affordability based on many factors, including the number of financial aid recipients, the average amount of financial aid received per student, and the median student debt.

School Reputation

Graduates of reputable schools and programs often earn high salaries, so we consider graduate earnings when ranking a school's reputation. Prestigious schools also typically admit only their top applicants, so we consider admission and enrollment rates as well.

We aim to align our college rankings with our commitment to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in higher education — and our belief that people of all identities and backgrounds deserve to learn in a safe environment.

Student Outcomes

Another of our key metrics is graduation rate, i.e. how many full-time, first-time students complete their degree. Our cutoff for this was 50%, meaning all our picks graduate at least half their students. Finally, we also looked at each school's retention rate, which is the percentage of full-time students who come back after their first year. High retention and graduation rates are typically strong signals of student satisfaction.

A School May Be Excluded If It …

  • Has a graduation rate of <10%

  • Has a retention rate of <10%

  • Has a four-year completion rate for low-income students of <10%

  • Doesn't provide any of the above data to our trusted sources

Ranking Formulas

General Formula

Used for institutional-level lists, like Most Affordable Online Colleges

Academics
15% of total score
  • Full time retention rate – 30% of category
  • Graduation rate total cohort – 30% of category
  • Student completions – 20% of category
  • Student to faculty ratio – 20% of category
Affordability
50% of total score
  • Federal student aid default loan rate – 15% of category
  • Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal student loans – 15% of category
  • Average amount of federal student loans awarded to undergraduate students – 10% of category
  • Percent of full time first time undergraduates awarded any financial aid – 10% of category
  • Average amount of grant and scholarship aid awarded – 10% of category
  • Median debt completers overall – 20% of category
  • Net Price – 20% of category
Reputation
20% of total score
  • Percent admitted undergrad and graduate – 20% of category
  • Percent admissions yield undergrad and graduate – 20% of category
  • Six yrs after entry working not enrolled mean earnings – 60% of category
Accessibility
15% of total score
  • Four-year completion rate for low-income students – 60% of category
  • Admissions rate – 40% of category

Undergrad Program-level Formula

Used for undergraduate degree pages evaluating individual programs, such as Best Online Addiction Counseling Degrees

Academics
25% of total score
  • Full time retention rate – 30% of category
  • Graduation rate total cohort – 30% of category
  • Student completions – 20% of category
  • Student to faculty ratio – 20% of category
Affordability
50% of total score
  • Federal student aid default loan rate – 15% of category
  • Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal student loans – 15% of category
  • Average amount of federal student loans awarded to undergraduate students – 10% of category
  • Percent of full time first time undergraduates awarded any financial aid – 20% of category
  • Average amount of grant and scholarship aid awarded – 20% of category
  • Median debt completers overall – 20% of category
Reputation
15% of total score
  • Percent admitted undergrad and graduate – 20% of category
  • Percent admissions yield undergrad and graduate – 20% of category
  • Six yrs after entry working not enrolled mean earnings – 60% of category
Accessibility
10% of total score
  • Four-year completion rate for low-income students – 60% of category
  • Admissions rate – 40% of category

Graduate Formula

Used for graduate, program-level lists, such as Best Online Master's Degrees in Special Education

Affordability
50% of total score
  • Federal student aid default loan rate – 25% of category
  • In-state graduate tuition – 30% of category
  • Student completions – 20% of category
  • Graduation rate – 25% of category
Reputation
25% of total score
  • Admissions yield total – 25% of category
  • Six yrs after entry working not enrolled mean earnings – 75% of category
Accessibility
25% of total score
  • Four-year completion rate for low-income students – 25% of category
  • Four-year completion rate for middle-income students – 25% of category
  • Pell Grant graduation rates – 50% of category

Rankings Metrics Explained

Affordability Metrics

Academics Metrics

Reputation Metrics

Accessibility Metrics