The Online Bachelor's Caste Guide

by Genevieve Carlton

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What is a Bachelors Degree

Nearly 7 meg higher students enrolled in online classes in 2018. Thanks to the many benefits of an online available's plan, distance learning has just grown in popularity in recent years. An online available'southward degree prioritizes flexibility and convenience. Distance learners complete their graduation requirements in an accessible format, suitable for working professionals and decorated students.

This page ranks the superlative 10 online bachelor's programs to help students find the school that best fits their needs. It also explores how to pay for online college and career opportunities for individuals with online bachelor'south degrees.

Featured Online Bachelor Programs

What Are the Types of Available'southward Degrees?

Colleges offer several different types of bachelor's degrees depending on the major. Degree type often shapes graduation requirements and career opportunities. Bachelor's degrees differ in some central means and provide specific benefits. Make sure to enquiry the different types of degrees earlier enrolling in an online program.


Bachelor of Arts

Colleges and universities generally offering bachelor of arts (BA) degrees in humanities and social science majors. Popular majors like English, history, and political science frequently grant BAs. At some schools, students can also earn a BA in psychology or the natural sciences.

Similar other bachelor'south degrees, a BA requires 120 credits and comes with specific general educational activity requirements. BA students often take more humanities and social science courses, and typically need one yr of a foreign language to graduate.


Bachelor of Science

Natural scientific discipline and engineering programs typically grant available of science (BS) degrees. BS students typically take more math and science general education requirements than BA learners and are commonly non required to complete strange language requirements.

In majors similar psychology with both BA and BS options, undergraduates often consummate the aforementioned major coursework while meeting dissimilar general teaching requirements.


Bachelor of Fine Arts

A bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree recognizes mastery in the visual or performing arts. Students tin can earn BFAs in subjects such as photography, painting, creative writing, graphic blueprint, or game design. These programs blend creative and technical skills in the context of fine arts.

Instead of the general education requirements for a BA or BS degree, BFA students complete a core art curriculum. They must complete 120 credits.

Tin You Get a Bachelor'due south Degree All Online?

In 2018, more than three million college students enrolled in fully online programs. However, earlier signing up for an online bachelor'due south degree, consider the type of program you plan to pursue and whether an online format will affect the program requirements. For example, nursing students in online programs complete clinical practicum requirements in local settings. Online business students also complete in-person internships.

Enquiry programme options, such equally academic advising, online pupil services, and whether the plan features synchronous or asynchronous classes. Online degree-seekers attending local schools often do good from campus resources like university libraries.

Many online graduates walk in their college commencement along with in-person graduates or attend virtual commencements to celebrate their achievement.

Featured Online Bachelor's Degrees

How to Choose an Online Degree

If choosing a major has left you feeling stuck, consider your interests, strengths, and career goals. Students should narrow in on a major by request themselves what classes interest them nearly and what career they plan on pursuing after earning a degree. Some students honey reading and writing papers, while others prefer analyzing numbers. Courses on instruction and social services appeal to some undergrads, while others want to study how machines piece of work.

Online colleges offer degrees in business, educational activity, social work, the liberal arts, and engineering. Acquire more than about the many online available's programs bachelor to students below.

Online Bachelor'southward Caste vs. a Traditional Degree

In many cases, the but divergence betwixt an online bachelor's degree and an in-person degree is the delivery of educational activity. Some programs offering the same curriculum and graduation requirements for in-person and online majors.

In an online plan, however, learners do good from flexible schedules. Working students frequently adopt online courses to complete coursework around their other responsibilities and salvage time by non commuting to campus.

Accreditation for Bachelor's Programs

Accredited colleges and universities come across loftier standards for educating students and granting degrees. Like brick-and-mortar schools, online colleges should concord regional accreditation. The aforementioned accrediting agencies review on-campus and online programs.

Featured Online Bachelor'south Degrees

How Long Does It Have To Get an Online Bachelor's Degree?

Earning an online bachelor'south caste generally takes total-time students 4 years to consummate. However, several factors influence program length. Some colleges offer accelerated programs or credit for work experience. Self-paced programs may modify degree timelines.

Program options like synchronous or asynchronous classes, internships, and cohort programs also affect programme length. Consider researching the fastest online bachelor'southward programs to earn a degree in under four years.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree Cost?

Across the country, college costs continue to rise, and the aforementioned holds true for online degrees. According to 2020 information from U.Southward. News and World Report, online undergraduates spend between $38,500 to $sixty,500 on their bachelor's degree.

In general, public schools charge lower tuition rates, and private colleges cost the most. Distance learners may benefit from tuition discounts for fully online students. In addition to tuition, students should make certain to budget for textbooks, fees, and whatsoever other expenses.

Paying for Online College

Students can pay for online college past researching and applying for scholarships, grants, and loans. Fortunately, accredited online schools run into the requirements for about forms of fiscal help. Distance learners also benefit from flexible schedules, making information technology easier to work while in schoolhouse.

When budgeting for college, consider the post-obit options:

  • Enquiry programs that offer in-state tuition discounts.
  • Showtime at a community college and transfer into a bachelor's programme.
  • Work while in school to maintain your income.
  • Apply for financial aid for your online available's caste.

Financial Aid for Online College

Distance learners at accredited online colleges employ the same forms of financial aid as in-person students.

Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA). Higher students should submit FAFSA forms every year to receive grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Many scholarship applications also ask for the FAFSA as proof of financial need, then plan to fill information technology out — even if you lot do not plan to take out loans.

Scholarships and grants assistance millions of students afford their degrees. These forms of gratis money offer merit-based and need-based financial aid. Research scholarship opportunities early in the process and expect into scholarships based on your land, major, and career plans. Many professional person organizations and private foundations offer scholarships.

Online learners can besides research student loans. Federal loans offer lower interest rates and more repayment options, so students should frazzle federal loan opportunities before turning to individual loans.

Featured Online Bachelor's Degrees

When Should You Begin Applying for College?

Many online colleges take rolling admissions and offer multiple start dates throughout the year. Others admit students for autumn and bound semesters only. When students should start their college applications depends on the schoolhouse.

Research each establishment'due south admissions policy and application deadlines. Plan to spend several weeks researching schools, collecting application materials, getting messages of recommendation, and writing a personal statement. Information technology is best if students submit their applications as presently as possible instead of waiting until the deadline.

Applying to Online Colleges

The post-obit checklist walks through how to use to higher. Make sure to carefully review the requirements and deadlines at whatsoever prospective schools.

  1. Visit college websites and request more information: College websites offering admission requirements and information near programme options. Accomplish out to admissions departments for more information or answers to specific questions.
  2. Understand and see entrance requirements: Well-nigh online colleges set entrance requirements, such as minimum GPA ranges. Some programs also include a minimum number of transfer credits.
  3. Asking and receive messages of recommendation: If you need messages of recommendation, reach out to your letter-writers at least three weeks earlier the deadline. Review the procedure to make sure writers correctly submit letters.
  4. Typhoon and revise your personal statement: Online available'due south programs frequently require personal statements. Set aside time to write and revise your statement. Ask a friend or family member to read information technology before turning in your application.

Applying to College During COVID

College enrollment numbers dropped during the pandemic, but did COVID-nineteen make information technology easier to go into college? The pandemic certainly inverse how students apply.

Many schools eliminated their standardized test score requirements. Instead of submitting Saturday or ACT scores, applicants provided high schoolhouse and college transcripts, personal statements, and letters of recommendation. E'er carefully review application requirements, particularly any changes, before applying.

What Can You Do With an Online Available's Caste?

Earning a available'due south degree prepares graduates for rewarding and lucrative career paths. Many entry-level jobs require a bachelor'due south degree, and the disquisitional thinking skills learned during an undergraduate programme serve professionals in many fields.

In addition to analytical, disquisitional thinking, and advice skills, online degree-seekers demonstrate their ability to manage time and organize effectively. Because students consummate tasks in a self-directed surround, enrolling in an online program requires stiff executive functioning.

An online bachelor's caste from an accredited higher or university meets the same educational requirements equally an in-person degree. Similarly, graduates with online degrees qualify for professional person certifications and licenses. Online available's programs as well prepare students for graduate-level programs.

What Online Degrees Pay the Nearly?

The highest-paying online bachelor'due south programs include Stem and business degrees. For example, informatics, finance, mathematics, and electrical engineering all atomic number 82 to loftier-paying careers after graduation.

Even outside of these majors, professionals with bachelor's degrees earn above-average salaries. While the median weekly wage slightly exceeds $1,000 per calendar week, professionals with an undergraduate degree make over $ane,300 per calendar week. Individuals with available's degrees earn a median salary $27,000 more the median salary of a loftier school graduate.

What Jobs Tin You Go With an Online Degree?

An online bachelor's degree prepares graduates for many different career paths. Graduates with a degree in business organisation piece of work in marketing, accounting, finance, and management. A information science or information technology degree leads to opportunities in the tech sector as a software programmer or information security analyst. Social work majors pursue careers in the nonprofit and public sectors.

Versatile online degrees in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences lead to opportunities in education, research laboratories, public policy, and other growing fields.

Business organisation

Business careers draw on belittling and problem-solving skills. Many business and financial occupations require a bachelor's degree. For example, budget analysts, market inquiry analysts, and financial analysts must hold available's degrees.

Information science

This industry hires professionals with strong technical and problem-solving abilities. Calculator and information science careers, such as software programmer, computer network architect, database administrator, and information security annotator, require a available'south caste.

Social Piece of work

Social workers help clients manage problems in their daily lives. Along with other customs and social service occupations, social workers, behavioral health counselors, and correctional treatment specialists all need to possess bachelor'due south degrees.

The post-obit information includes the median annual salaries and projected job growth rates for careers that crave a bachelor's degree. Salaries vary widely depending on the career path, but professionals with bachelor's degrees typically earn above-boilerplate salaries. These careers written report the well-nigh job openings for professionals with a bachelor'due south degree.

Careers With the Nearly Openings for Bachelor's Degree-Holders
Career Median Annual Salary (2019) Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
Software Developers $110,140 22%
General and Operations Managers $103,650 6%
Management Analysts $87,660 11%
Project Management Specialists $77,420 half dozen%
Registered Nurses $75,330 7%
Accountants $73,560 iv%
Market Research Analysts $65,810 18%
Elementary School Teachers $threescore,940 4%

Featured Online Bachelor's Social Work Degrees

Oftentimes Asked Questions

true Can I Get Financial Aid for Online Classes?

Yes. Financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and loans, can pay for online classes. Financial assist recipients typically need to attend accredited institutions.

true Practise Online Degrees Say Online on the Diploma?

No. Most colleges that offer online and in-person degrees provide the aforementioned diplomas to graduates, regardless of their enrollment status.

truthful Can You Transfer Credits Into an Online Bachelor's Degree Program?

Yep. Online colleges take transfer credits toward bachelor's degrees. Each school sets specific transfer credit requirements, which may include a requirement that course credit come from an accredited institution.

true How Long Practice Online Degrees Take Compared to Traditional Degrees?

Earning an online bachelor'south caste takes around 4 years for full-time students, much like an in-person caste. Online learners can consummate their degrees in less fourth dimension if they choose accelerated options or transfer credits toward their degrees.

Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern Academy. After earning her doctorate in early on modern European history, Carlton worked equally an banana professor of history at the University of Louisville, where she adult new courses on the history of science, Renaissance Italy, and the witch trials. Carlton has published v peer-reviewed manufactures in top presses and a monograph with the University of Chicago Press. She also earned tenure with a unanimous vote before relocating to Seattle. Acquire more almost Carlton's work at genevievecarlton.com.

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