Key takeaway: 1,244 of the 2,817 institutions in our directory that offer fully online programs report an open admission policy to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS IC 2024). Open enrollment means the school admits any applicant with a high school diploma or equivalent, without a competitive review of grades or test scores. The schools below are drawn from that group and ordered by BOC Score.
If your high school record is old, uneven, or incomplete, an open-enrollment online college removes the first barrier. It does not remove the work: graduation rates at open-admission schools vary widely, so the cards below show completion and outcome data alongside each school so you can compare what happens after you are admitted.
Schools to Compare
These accredited institutions report an open admission policy and at least one program completable entirely online (IPEDS IC 2024). Ranked by BOC Score within that group.
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
68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$68,530
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 100%
- Programs offered: 11
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,486
Avg net price
$6,376/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 160
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$53,695
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 96%
- Programs offered: 4
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,277
Avg net price
$10,270/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 74%
- Programs offered: 49
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,009
Avg net price
$8,585/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,581
Avg net price
$5,746/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 64%
- Programs offered: 13
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 4
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
38%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,557
Avg net price
$1,471/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$39,990
Avg net price
$3,877/yr
TuitionIn‑state$3,165
Out‑of‑state$11,859
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$56,310
Avg net price
$11,430/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
What open enrollment means
Open admission is a specific term in federal education data. An institution reports an open admission policy when it admits any applicant who meets a basic threshold, usually a high school diploma or GED, rather than selecting among applicants on grades, class rank, or test scores. Most public community colleges and many online-focused universities report this policy; most flagship state universities and selective private schools do not.
Three things open admission does not mean:
- It does not mean every program is open. A school can admit everyone to the institution and still run selective entry for nursing, teaching licensure, or engineering programs that have accreditor-mandated limits. Check the program page, not just the school.
- It does not mean no requirements. Expect to submit a transcript or GED record, take placement assessments in math and writing, and in some cases complete an orientation course before enrolling in credit-bearing classes.
- It does not mean lower quality. Accreditation, faculty credentials, and student services are evaluated separately from admissions selectivity. Use the accreditation status and the outcome data on each card, not the admission policy, to judge quality.
Easiest online colleges to get into
Searches for the easiest online colleges to get into usually mean open-admission schools, and that is what this list is. A better way to frame the question is: which open-admission online college gives you the best chance of finishing? Compare these on the cards above:
- Graduation rate. Open-admission schools enroll students with a wide range of preparation, so completion rates are often lower than at selective schools. Look for schools above their peer-group median.
- Retention. The share of first-year students who return for a second year is the earliest signal that a school’s online support actually works.
- Online support structure. Ask whether advising, tutoring, and technical help are available in the evening and on weekends, when most adult online students study.
- Term structure. Many open-admission online schools run short terms with multiple start dates each year, which makes it easier to begin soon and to recover from a bad term without losing a full semester.
Who open enrollment fits
- Adults returning to school years after high school, especially with a transcript that no longer reflects their ability.
- GED holders and graduates of alternative or homeschool programs.
- Students who want to start a degree quickly rather than wait for the next selective admission cycle.
- Transfer students with an uneven college record who want a fresh start at an accredited institution.
- People who plan to test out of introductory courses or use credit for prior learning, which open-admission online schools tend to accept more readily.
How to compare open-enrollment online colleges
- Confirm accreditation first. Every school in our directory holds accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, but confirm the specific program’s accreditation where a license depends on it (nursing, counseling, teaching).
- Read the outcome data on the card. Graduation rate, retention, and median earnings come from federal sources and are the most honest comparison available.
- Check the placement process. Ask what happens if you place into developmental math or writing, whether those courses carry credit, and how long they add to your degree.
- Ask about credit for prior learning. Portfolio assessment, standardized exams, and evaluated workplace training can shorten a degree considerably. Our guide to the fastest online degrees covers how it works.
- Look at start dates and term length. Monthly or eight-week starts suit working adults; a traditional semester calendar may suit students who prefer fewer, longer courses.
Quick Answers
What is an open-enrollment online college?
An online college with an open admission policy admits any applicant who meets a basic requirement, usually a high school diploma or GED, without competitive selection on grades or test scores. In IPEDS data, 1,244 of the 2,817 institutions in our directory with fully online programs report this policy (IC 2024).
Are open-enrollment online colleges accredited?
Admission policy and accreditation are separate. All schools listed in our directory hold accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Verify the accreditation of the specific program you want, especially where a professional license depends on it.
Is open enrollment the same as guaranteed admission?
Open enrollment means the institution does not select competitively among applicants, but you still need to meet the stated requirement, submit records, and in many cases complete placement testing. Some programs inside an open-admission school have separate, selective admission.
Do open-admission schools have lower graduation rates?
Often, because they enroll students with a wider range of preparation. That is why the cards on this page show graduation and retention figures from federal data: use them to compare schools that share the same admission policy.
Next steps
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (IC 2024), open admission policy (OPENADMP) and distance education program flags (DISTPGS); directory counts as of the September 2026 data refresh.
