Popular Online Colleges Accepting Applications for 2026

The schools below are among the most requested by Best Online College visitors. Each one is accredited, offers online degree programs, and is currently accepting information requests — select a school to see its programs and get details directly from an admissions counselor.

How to Use This List

Requesting information does not commit you to anything. It connects you with an admissions counselor who can answer the questions that actually decide whether a program fits: format, pacing, transfer credit, and start dates. Most applicants compare two or three schools before applying, so request information from more than one.

If you want schools compared on measured outcomes instead — graduation rates, earnings, and retention from U.S. Department of Education data — start with our 2026 accredited online colleges ranking.

Browse Online Degrees by Program

Already know what you want to study? Each guide below covers the degree levels available online, what you’ll study, and career paths for graduates.

Business & Management — Business Administration, MBA, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Project Management, Human Resources

Computers & IT — Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence

Healthcare & Nursing — Nursing, Healthcare, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Health Science

Psychology & Counseling — Psychology, Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Social Work

Criminal Justice & Law — Criminal Justice, Criminology, Homeland Security, Legal Studies, Paralegal

Education & Teaching — Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Special Education

Science & Engineering — Engineering, Computer Engineering, Biology, Statistics

Arts, Communications & Liberal Arts — Communications, Graphic Design, Journalism, Liberal Arts, User Experience

How Schools Appear Here

Schools in the list above participate in our partner network and are shown because they are accredited, enroll students online, and are actively accepting inquiries from prospective students. This list reflects availability and visitor demand — it is not an outcomes ranking. For schools ordered by Department of Education outcome data, see the 2026 ranking; for where our data comes from, see our data sources and editorial policy.

Questions Worth Asking an Admissions Counselor

Before you apply anywhere, get clear answers on these:

• Accreditation. Confirm the school’s institutional accreditor, and verify it yourself in the U.S. Department of Education’s database of accredited institutions. For licensure fields like nursing, counseling, and teaching, also ask about programmatic accreditation and whether the program meets licensure requirements in your state.
• Format and pacing. Are courses asynchronous or do they meet live at set times? How many courses do students typically take at once, and can you shift between part-time and full-time?
• Transfer credit. If you have prior college credit, ask for an unofficial transfer evaluation before you apply — policies vary widely between schools.
• Start dates and time to completion. Many online programs start every 8–10 weeks rather than twice a year. Ask when the next cohort starts and what a realistic completion timeline looks like at your intended pace.
• Support for online students. Ask what advising, tutoring, and career services are available remotely, and how instructors hold office hours.

When you’re ready, request information from the schools above that offer your program — comparing answers from a few schools side by side is the fastest way to find the right fit.