How Much Does Online College Cost?

You can’t really watch tv anymore without seeing an ad for an online school or college. The benefits seem clear, but one has to wonder, how much does online college cost? Is an online college cheaper than a traditional degree?

How Much Does Online College Cost?

The short answer is yes, the average cost for online school/college is $282 per credit hour. The average cost for traditional college is more than double that! It comes in at around $600 per credit hours. (It tops out at over $1,000 per credit hour for private, ivy league schools if you were wondering).

The average cost at 2 year public school or junior college cost is around $135 per credit hour. This makes this in-person option a very affordable options for many.

Add it all up, and you can expect to pay around $30,000 to $45,000+ per year for an undergraduate degree from a traditional university. The top private universities can end up costing well over $70,000.

To get a degree at an online college, you should expect the tuition to be between $9,500 and $15,000 per year. In addition to the lower tuition costs, there are other savings at online schools. For example, you won’t be paying extra for housing, food and transportation – which can add up quickly.

Is an Online Degree Going to Help Me Get a Job?

Many employers are going to favor those who have degrees from traditional colleges and universities. But having an online college degree definitely helps!

While it won’t guarantee you a job – no college degree can – studies show online degrees lead to higher employment rates and pay.

As with any college, you want to make sure the school or college you plan on taking classes from is accredited – this is key.

This means the institution has taken the necessary steps to make sure a group of experts has evaluated the school. They ensure it meets standards set forth by The U.S. Department of Education.

This not only gives your degree more weight than from a non-accredited school, but it opens up the possibility for financial aid help. Also, you will likely be able to “transfer” class/course credits you’ve earned if you decide to transfer to another school or college.

Overall, online degrees offer amazing flexibility and costs savings that can make it a great option for new college students – or those continuing their education later in life.

More on Online College Costs

The above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to online college costs. Below you’ll find links to a number of articles where you can get cost info on specific types of degrees as well as other helpful info.

A lot of people wonder if online classes are cheaper than in-person options. That question is answered here.

What’s cheaper than free? If you’re looking for free options, check out this info about free online college classes as well as free GED classes.

It’s not just tuition that factors into how much college costs. Textbooks are not cheap. Find out how to save on them here.

If you’re interested in finding out how much getting specific types of degrees cost, we’ve got you covered. Get cost info about associate’s and doctorate degrees.

Also see what it costs to get degrees in business, counseling, criminal justice, cosmetology and even an MBA degree online.