Key takeaway: Start with the 2026 ranking of accredited online colleges — bachelor's and master's distance-learning universities ordered by BOC Score from U.S. Department of Education data. Use the guides below for accreditation, affordability, and specialized audiences.
What You’ll Find Here
This section serves as your starting point for everything related to online colleges. You’ll find comparisons, guides, and rankings that help you evaluate schools based on accreditation, affordability, and program quality.
- Rankings: Start with the 2026 accredited online colleges ranking, based on U.S. Department of Education data.
- Accreditation: Learn how to confirm whether a school is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or CHEA.
- Affordability: Compare tuition rates and see which colleges deliver strong value for the cost.
- Program Guides: Explore popular degree paths available online in business, education, healthcare, technology, and more.
Compare Accredited Online Colleges
When selecting an online college, accreditation is the single most important factor. It ensures your education meets quality standards and that your degree will be recognized by employers and other institutions.
Start here: accredited online colleges ranked for 2026. Then use the guides below.
Online Colleges for Specialized Audiences
Some online programs cater to unique student needs. Whether you’re pursuing a career in technology, supporting a military family, or need extra flexibility, these focused guides will help narrow your search.
Courses and Degree Options
Online programs span all levels of higher education, from certificates and associate degrees to full bachelor’s and master’s programs. You can find courses in nearly every field of study.
Find the Right Program
Use the search tool above to match with accredited online programs. Compare schools by degree level, field of study, and admission flexibility.
Online Colleges Ranked by BOC Score
The schools below offer fully online programs and are ordered by their BOC Score.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$102,772
Avg net price
$12,116/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 64
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$124,080
Avg net price
$13,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 100
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
11%
Graduation rate
93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$92,446
Avg net price
$13,481/yr
TuitionIn‑state$16,347
Out‑of‑state$50,547
Key stats
- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 127
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 6
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
89%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$71,588
Avg net price
$6,541/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 172
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
8%
Graduation rate
95%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$89,718
Avg net price
$13,370/yr
TuitionIn‑state$64,144
Out‑of‑state$64,144
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 78
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
9%
Graduation rate
93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$82,511
Avg net price
$12,548/yr
TuitionIn‑state$15,203
Out‑of‑state$49,403
Key stats
- Retention rate: 97%
- Programs offered: 161
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
94%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$83,648
Avg net price
$13,138/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 98%
- Programs offered: 206
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$91,885
Avg net price
$14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 99%
- Programs offered: 105
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
27%
Graduation rate
87%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$84,943
Avg net price
$12,470/yr
TuitionIn‑state$16,758
Out‑of‑state$50,958
Key stats
- Retention rate: 94%
- Programs offered: 133
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Online Colleges by State
Rules on accreditation, licensure, and state authorization vary by state. Pick your state below for a guide to accredited online colleges available to residents there:
Alabama ·
Alaska ·
Arizona ·
Arkansas ·
California ·
Colorado ·
Connecticut ·
Delaware ·
District of Columbia ·
Florida ·
Georgia ·
Hawaii ·
Idaho ·
Illinois ·
Indiana ·
Iowa ·
Kansas ·
Kentucky ·
Louisiana ·
Maine ·
Maryland ·
Massachusetts ·
Michigan ·
Minnesota ·
Mississippi ·
Missouri ·
Montana ·
Nebraska ·
Nevada ·
New Hampshire ·
New Jersey ·
New Mexico ·
New York ·
North Carolina ·
North Dakota ·
Ohio ·
Oklahoma ·
Oregon ·
Pennsylvania ·
Rhode Island ·
South Carolina ·
South Dakota ·
Tennessee ·
Texas ·
Utah ·
Vermont ·
Virginia ·
Washington ·
West Virginia ·
Wisconsin ·
Wyoming
Next steps
Explore program-specific guides like criminal justice degrees and healthcare degrees, plus study tips in our resources hub. Budget-conscious? See our online college cost study for how real tuition compares, and our data sources and data and editorial standards for how we build these rankings.
Bottom line: Accredited online colleges make earning a degree more flexible than ever. With the right research, you can find a reputable school that fits your budget, schedule, and long-term goals.
