Key takeaway: 159 institutions in our directory offer fully online programs, require an application that is actually reviewed, and admit at least three in four applicants (IPEDS admission rate). Those are the schools on this page. They are different from open-admission schools, which do not select among applicants at all and which our directory counts separately at 1,244 online institutions. Admission rate describes how many people a school turns away, not how good the education is. The schools below are ordered by BOC Score.
There are two honest answers to “which online colleges are easiest to get into,” and they are not the same answer. One is open admission, where meeting a basic requirement is enough. The other is a selective process with a high acceptance rate, where a real review happens but almost everyone who applies clears it. Knowing which kind of school you are looking at changes what you have to prepare.
Schools to Compare
These accredited institutions run a selective admission process, admit at least three in four applicants, and offer at least one program completable entirely online. 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.
Acceptance rate
75%
Graduation rate
68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$71,902
Avg net price
$11,531/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,780
Out‑of‑state$20,380
Key stats
- Retention rate: 88%
- Programs offered: 64
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$62,951
Avg net price
$6,555/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,470
Out‑of‑state$20,070
Key stats
- Retention rate: 84%
- Programs offered: 78
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
76%
Graduation rate
76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$67,699
Avg net price
$14,304/yr
TuitionIn‑state$15,606
Out‑of‑state$49,806
Key stats
- Retention rate: 88%
- Programs offered: 87
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
84%
Graduation rate
72%
TuitionIn‑state$16,800
Out‑of‑state$16,800
Key stats
- Retention rate: 87%
- Programs offered: 4
Source:Accreditor: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
94%
Graduation rate
56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,876
Avg net price
$9,338/yr
TuitionIn‑state$8,018
Out‑of‑state$20,618
Key stats
- Retention rate: 81%
- Programs offered: 78
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$64,172
Avg net price
$14,480/yr
TuitionIn‑state$8,472
Out‑of‑state$21,072
Key stats
- Retention rate: 83%
- Programs offered: 74
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
97%
Graduation rate
47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$71,401
Avg net price
$9,320/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,583
Out‑of‑state$20,183
Key stats
- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 59
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
95%
Graduation rate
56%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$61,244
Avg net price
$7,000/yr
TuitionIn‑state$7,350
Out‑of‑state$19,950
Key stats
- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 96
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
94%
Graduation rate
55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,977
Avg net price
$4,564/yr
TuitionIn‑state$8,093
Out‑of‑state$20,693
Key stats
- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 78
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
77%
Graduation rate
75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,126
Avg net price
$15,300/yr
TuitionIn‑state$9,797
Out‑of‑state$27,377
Key stats
- Retention rate: 89%
- Programs offered: 146
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Three IPEDS fields produced this list: the open admission policy indicator, which we used to exclude open-admission schools; the admission rate from the Admissions component, which we used to keep schools that admit at least three in four applicants; and the distance education program flag from the Institutional Characteristics survey (IC 2024). What those fields do not tell you is how the school reviews an application, whether a specific program inside the school has its own tighter admission, or how many applicants self-selected before applying. A high admission rate at a school with a small, self-selected applicant pool means something different from a high rate at a school that recruits broadly.
Open admission and high acceptance are not the same thing
Open admission is a policy an institution reports to the federal government. It means the school admits any applicant who meets a stated basic requirement, usually a high school diploma or an equivalent credential, without comparing applicants on grades, class rank, or test scores. There is no competitive review. If you meet the requirement and complete the paperwork, you are in. Our list of online colleges with open enrollment covers those 1,244 schools.
High acceptance rate describes the outcome of a selective process. The school reviews applications, applies standards, and could say no, but in practice admits most people who apply. That happens for several reasons: a well-matched applicant pool, a mission that serves a specific region or profession, or simply capacity that exceeds demand. You still submit a real application, and a weak one can still be turned down.
The practical difference is what you prepare. An open-admission school usually wants a transcript or equivalency record and a placement assessment. A high-acceptance selective school may also want a personal statement, prerequisite coursework, a minimum grade average, or a recommendation. Read the requirements on the school’s admissions page, not the acceptance rate.
Admission rate is not a quality signal
Selectivity measures demand, not teaching. A school can be hard to get into because it is prestigious, because it is small, because it sits in a city where many people want to live, or because its marketing generates far more applications than it has seats. None of that describes what happens to you after you enroll.
What actually describes the education:
- Accreditation. Every school in our directory holds accreditation from an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Where a professional license depends on the degree, confirm the program’s specialized accreditation too.
- Graduation rate. The share of students who finish. Compare it against schools with similar admission policies rather than against selective flagships, which enroll a differently prepared student body.
- Retention. The share of first-year students who come back. It is the earliest available signal that a school’s online support works.
- Earnings after enrollment. Federal outcome data on each card, useful for comparison across schools even though it reflects the whole institution rather than one major.
- Support structure. Advising, tutoring, and technical help available in the evening and on weekends, when most online students study.
An easy-to-enter school with a strong completion record is a better choice than a harder-to-enter school where most online students never finish.
How to apply where admission is not the obstacle
- Confirm the program’s own admission. Institutions with high overall acceptance often run selective entry for nursing, teaching licensure, or engineering. Check the program page.
- Get your transcripts moving early. Requesting records from a school you attended years ago is usually the slowest step in the process.
- Ask for a transfer evaluation before you commit. If you have earlier college credit, ask in writing how much transfers and how it applies. Our guide to online colleges that accept transfer credits explains what to ask for.
- Expect placement testing. Many schools assess math and writing after admission. Ask whether developmental coursework carries credit and how much time it adds.
- Line up a start date. Schools with frequent starts can move you from application to first course in weeks rather than months.
Quick Answers
What is the easiest online college to get into?
The lowest barrier is an open-admission school, which admits any applicant meeting a basic requirement without competitive review. Our directory counts 1,244 online institutions with that policy. If you want a school that reviews applications but rarely turns people away, the 159 institutions on this page admit at least three in four applicants.
Does a high acceptance rate mean a school is low quality?
No. Acceptance rate measures how many applicants a school turns away, which depends on demand, size, and mission. Judge the school on accreditation, graduation rate, retention, and outcomes for its students instead.
Do easy-admission online colleges still require transcripts?
Almost always. Even open-admission schools ask for proof of a high school diploma or an equivalent credential, and most run placement assessments in math and writing. Schools with a selective process may also want a personal statement or prerequisite coursework.
Can I be denied by a school with a high acceptance rate?
Yes. A high rate means most applicants are admitted, not all of them. Missing prerequisites, an incomplete file, or a grade average below the stated minimum can still result in a denial, which is the main difference from open admission.
Next steps
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Admissions component admission rate, Institutional Characteristics survey (IC 2024) open admission policy (OPENADMP) and distance education program flags (DISTPGS); directory counts as of the September 2026 data refresh.
