Choosing an online degree program involves more than comparing tuition prices or looking for a school with a recognizable name. Two programs can offer the same degree while having very different curricula, transfer-credit policies, schedules, costs, and student support.
For working adults and students returning to college, those differences can have a significant impact on how much a degree costs and how long it takes to complete.
The best online degree program is not necessarily the least expensive, the fastest, or the highest-ranked school. It is the program that fits your career goals, previous education, budget, schedule, and learning preferences.
If you’re comparing online degree programs, start with these factors:
- Degree and career alignment
- Accreditation
- Curriculum
- Online learning format
- Total cost
- Transfer credits
- Program length
- Admissions requirements
- Student support
- Career preparation
- In-person requirements
Use the same criteria for every program you’re considering so you can make an apples-to-apples comparison.
1. Start With Your Career and Degree Goals
Before comparing colleges, determine what you want the degree to help you accomplish.
For example, someone who wants to become a registered nurse will have different requirements from someone who wants to move into marketing. A student interested in accounting may need a different curriculum than someone pursuing a general business degree.
Start by asking:
- What career do I want to pursue?
- What education does that career require?
- Do I need an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree?
- Does the profession require a license or certification?
- Does the employer or graduate school I have in mind have specific degree requirements?
- Do I want to advance in my current career or change fields?
Choose the degree based on the career, not just the school
It can be tempting to start with colleges and work backward. A better approach is to identify the type of degree you need first, then compare programs that offer it.
For example, suppose you want to work in cybersecurity. You might find online bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity, information technology, computer science, and related fields. All could potentially lead to technology careers, but the coursework and career preparation may be quite different.
Similarly, someone interested in human resources might compare a bachelor’s degree in human resources with a broader business administration degree.
There isn’t necessarily one right answer. The important thing is to understand what each program is designed to prepare you to do.
Check professional and licensing requirements
If you’re entering a licensed profession, don’t rely solely on the college’s description of the program.
Check the requirements of the state licensing board and the applicable professional organization. This is particularly important for fields such as nursing, teaching, counseling, social work, and other healthcare or regulated professions.
An online program can be academically appropriate but still require in-person clinical experiences, internships, practicums, or other requirements before you can qualify for a license.
2. Check Accreditation Before Comparing Programs
Accreditation should be one of the first things you verify.
Accreditation involves an external review of a college, university, or academic program against established standards. Accreditation can also affect eligibility for federal financial aid and may matter when transferring credits, applying to graduate school, receiving employer tuition assistance, or pursuing professional licensure.
The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of accredited postsecondary institutions and programs. The database contains information reported by recognized accrediting agencies and state approval agencies.
Search the U.S. Department of Education’s accreditation database
Institutional accreditation
Institutional accreditation applies to the college or university as a whole. It evaluates the institution against standards established by its accrediting organization.
When comparing online programs, verify that the institution offering the degree is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or otherwise appropriate for your situation.
Regional Accreditation
“Regional accreditation” is the traditional term for accreditation provided by one of the six regional accrediting organizations that historically served different parts of the United States.
Although these organizations were originally regional, they can now accredit institutions outside their historical geographic areas. As a result, you may still see schools describe themselves as “regionally accredited,” but the geographic distinction is less meaningful than it once was.
Examples of historically regional accreditors include:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
National Accreditation
“National accreditation” traditionally referred to institutional accreditation by accrediting organizations that were not part of the regional accreditation system.
Students may still encounter schools described as nationally accredited, particularly among career-focused, faith-based, or specialized institutions.
However, don’t assume that “nationally accredited” automatically means lower quality or that “regionally accredited” automatically means better. Instead, verify the specific accreditor’s recognition status, the school’s transfer-credit policies, and whether the accreditation meets the requirements of your intended career or further education.
Regional vs. National Accreditation: Why the Difference Can Matter
Historically, regionally accredited institutions were often more widely accepted for transfer credit and by graduate schools, while some nationally accredited schools had different transfer-credit arrangements.
However, accreditation alone doesn’t determine whether your credits will transfer.
A college decides which transfer credits it will accept and how those credits will apply toward a degree. Therefore, if you’re comparing online programs, ask the prospective school:
“Will you accept credits from this institution, and how many of those credits will apply toward my degree requirements?”
This is especially important for adult learners who have attended multiple colleges.
Programmatic Accreditation
Some fields also have specialized or programmatic accreditation.
For example, certain programs in healthcare, business, engineering, education, counseling, and other professions may have specialized accrediting organizations.
Programmatic accreditation isn’t automatically required for every degree in a particular field. Whether it matters depends on the profession, state requirements, employer expectations, and your future plans.
The U.S. Department of Education maintains a list of recognized programmatic accrediting agencies.
Why accreditation matters for online students
Accreditation can become particularly important if you:
- Want to transfer college credits
- Plan to apply to graduate school
- Need federal financial aid
- Want to pursue professional licensure
- Expect an employer to provide tuition assistance
- May change schools before completing your degree
Don’t simply take an online college’s statement that it is “accredited” at face value. Verify the school’s status through an authoritative source.
3. Compare the Curriculum, Not Just the Degree Name
Two online programs can have identical or nearly identical degree titles and still provide very different educational experiences.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, compare the actual curriculum.
Look at:
- Required courses
- Major courses
- Electives
- General education requirements
- Concentrations or specializations
- Capstone requirements
- Internships
- Practicums
- Clinical requirements
- Hands-on projects
Look for courses that support your career goals
Suppose you’re comparing three online bachelor’s degrees in information technology.
One program may emphasize:
- Networking
- Systems administration
- Cloud computing
Another may focus more heavily on:
- Programming
- Software development
- Data management
A third might include more coursework in:
- Cybersecurity
- Risk management
- Information assurance
All three may be called an “online bachelor’s in information technology,” but they could prepare students for different types of jobs.
This is why looking at the degree title alone isn’t enough.
Compare the number of required credits
Check how many credits you need to graduate and how those credits are distributed.
A program might require 120 credits for a bachelor’s degree, for example, but the number of credits devoted to general education, major requirements, electives, and other coursework can differ.
If you already have college credits, also look closely at which requirements your previous coursework could satisfy.
Look for practical learning opportunities
Depending on your field, practical experience can be an important part of the program.
Look for opportunities such as:
- Projects
- Labs
- Simulations
- Internships
- Practicums
- Clinical experiences
- Student teaching
- Capstone projects
For a working adult, a program that provides opportunities to apply what you’re learning to real-world situations may be more useful than one that relies almost entirely on traditional exams and papers.
4. Compare How the Online Classes Actually Work
“Online” does not tell you everything you need to know about how a program operates.
Before enrolling, find out what students actually have to do each week.
Asynchronous vs. synchronous classes
Asynchronous courses generally allow students to complete coursework on their own schedules, subject to deadlines.
This format can work well for people who work full time, have family responsibilities, or have schedules that change from week to week.
Synchronous courses require students to participate at specific times, such as attending a live virtual class on Tuesday evenings.
Neither format is inherently better. The better option depends on your schedule and how you prefer to learn.
Find out how courses are scheduled
Ask whether courses are:
- Eight weeks or 16 weeks
- Offered one at a time or several simultaneously
- Available year-round
- Available during summer
- Offered every term
- Available at predictable times
Course availability matters more than many students realize.
A program may allow you to take courses quickly, but if a required class is offered only once a year, your actual graduation timeline could be longer than expected.
Ask about attendance requirements
A program described as flexible may still have fixed requirements.
Before enrolling, find out:
- Are there live classes?
- Are there mandatory meetings?
- Are exams proctored?
- Are group projects required?
- Are discussion posts required on specific days?
- Are there fixed assignment deadlines?
- Can you work ahead?
This is particularly important if you work full time.
5. Compare the Total Cost of the Degree
Tuition is only one part of the cost of earning an online degree.
When comparing programs, look beyond the advertised per-credit or per-term price.
Calculate the estimated tuition
A basic starting point is:
Cost per credit × number of credits required = estimated tuition
But this calculation becomes more complicated if you have transfer credits, receive scholarships, or pay different rates based on your enrollment status.
Look for additional fees
Depending on the school and program, costs may include:
- Application fees
- Technology fees
- Course fees
- Lab fees
- Books and course materials
- Software
- Graduation fees
- Proctoring fees
- Student service fees
- Required travel or residency expenses
Ask each school for a breakdown of expected costs rather than assuming the advertised tuition is the final price.
Federal Student Aid defines cost of attendance more broadly than tuition alone. Depending on the school and circumstances, it can include expenses such as fees, books, supplies, food, and housing.
Compare net price, not just sticker price
A school with higher published tuition isn’t necessarily more expensive for you.
Financial aid, grants, scholarships, and other assistance can change the amount you’ll actually pay.
Federal Student Aid recommends comparing net price rather than relying only on the published cost. Its basic calculation is:
Total cost − grants and scholarships = net price
Your individual financial aid offer is a better indicator of your expected out-of-pocket cost than a general tuition advertisement.
Example: Why the cheaper school isn’t always cheaper
Imagine two online bachelor’s programs:
| School A | School B | |
| Tuition per credit | $400 | $325 |
| Credits remaining | 60 | 90 |
| Estimated tuition | $24,000 | $29,250 |
School B has the lower tuition rate, but if it accepts fewer of your previous credits, you could ultimately pay more.
That’s why cost per credit isn’t enough. Compare the estimated cost of completing the entire degree based on your individual circumstances.
6. Find Out How Your Previous College Credits Will Transfer
For adults returning to college, transfer credit can be one of the biggest differences between programs.
If you’ve previously attended college, don’t assume every school will evaluate your transcripts the same way.
Ask:
- How many of my credits will transfer?
- Which credits will transfer?
- Will they count toward general education requirements?
- Will they count toward my major?
- Is there a maximum number of transfer credits?
- Can credits from multiple colleges be combined?
- How old can transferred credits be?
- Does the school accept credit earned through exams or prior learning?
Transferred credits aren’t necessarily the same as credits toward your degree
This distinction is easy to miss.
A school may accept a particular course as transfer credit but not apply it to the specific degree requirements you need to graduate.
For example, imagine you’ve earned 60 college credits and a university says it will accept all 60.
That sounds straightforward—but the important question is:
How many of those 60 credits will actually count toward the degree?
If 15 credits become general electives that don’t replace required courses, you may still need to complete more coursework than you expected.
Get a transfer credit evaluation
If possible, have your transcripts evaluated before making a final decision.
A written evaluation can help you determine:
- How many credits you have left
- Which requirements remain
- Your estimated completion timeline
- Your potential tuition cost
This is particularly valuable if you’ve attended multiple colleges or stopped and restarted your education over several years.
7. Compare How Long Each Program Will Take
Online degree programs frequently advertise completion timelines, but those timelines may assume a particular course load or that students enter with a certain number of credits.
Your timeline can be different.
Consider these factors
- Total credits required
- Transfer credits
- Number of credits you take each term
- Course length
- Number of terms per year
- Course availability
- Prerequisites
- Internship or clinical requirements
- Whether you study full-time or part-time
Example: A student returning with college credits
Suppose you have 60 transferable credits and the bachelor’s program requires 120 credits.
You may have approximately 60 credits remaining.
If you take 12 credits per semester, that’s roughly five semesters of coursework. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll graduate in exactly 2½ years. Course availability, summer enrollment, prerequisites, and your personal schedule can change the timeline.
That’s why you should ask the school for a degree completion plan based on your actual transfer credits, rather than relying on a general “finish in two years” claim.
Compare accelerated options carefully
Some online programs offer accelerated courses, multiple start dates, year-round enrollment, or other ways to complete coursework faster.
These options can be useful, but faster isn’t always better.
Taking more courses at once can increase your weekly workload. If you’re working full time, the fastest advertised timeline may not be the most realistic one for you.
8. Compare Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements can vary substantially between online degree programs.
Undergraduate programs
Depending on the school and the undergraduate program you choose, you may need:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Previous college coursework
- Minimum GPA
- Transcripts
- Application
- Standardized test scores, if applicable
Some programs have open or flexible admission policies, while others are more selective.
Graduate programs
Online graduate programs may require:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum undergraduate GPA
- Prerequisite courses
- Resume
- Personal statement
- Letters of recommendation
- Professional experience
- Standardized test scores, where applicable
Pay attention to prerequisites
A program can look like a good fit until you discover that you need several prerequisite courses before you can begin the major coursework.
For example, an online master’s program in a specialized field might require an undergraduate statistics course or related academic background.
Ask about these requirements before applying so they don’t come as a surprise later.
9. Compare Student Support Services
Online students don’t have to navigate college entirely on their own.
When comparing programs, find out what support is available and how easy it is to access.
Look for:
- Academic advising
- Tutoring
- Writing assistance
- Career services
- Technical support
- Online library resources
- Faculty office hours
- Online student orientation
- Accessibility services
- Financial aid support
Ask who will help you stay on track
This can be especially important if you’ve been away from school for several years.
Find out:
- Will you have a dedicated academic advisor?
- How often can you meet with an advisor?
- Can your advisor help you create a degree plan?
- Who do you contact if you fall behind?
- How quickly does technical support respond?
- Is tutoring available online?
Don’t just ask whether support exists. Ask how it works.
“Academic advising available” tells you much less than knowing that you’ll have a specific advisor who reviews your degree progress with you each term.
10. Compare Career Preparation and Student Outcomes
An online degree should be evaluated partly on what it helps you do after graduation.
The U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard provides information that can help students compare schools, including costs, graduation information, debt, and earnings.
Compare colleges with the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard
Look for career-focused opportunities
Depending on your field, consider whether the program offers:
- Internships
- Practicums
- Capstone projects
- Career counseling
- Resume assistance
- Interview preparation
- Industry certifications
- Employer partnerships
- Networking opportunities
Look at outcomes carefully
You may be able to find information about:
- Graduation rates
- Retention
- Typical costs
- Student loan debt
- Earnings after attendance
- Employment-related information
The U.S. Department of Education recommends considering factors such as net cost, graduation rates, and post-college outcomes when evaluating schools.
However, don’t assume one statistic tells you whether a program is right for you.
For example, an institution’s overall graduation rate may include students from many different programs. It may not tell you how graduates from the specific online program you’re considering are doing.
When possible, look for information specific to the program, degree level, or field of study.
11. Check Faculty and Online Learning Quality
Faculty can have a significant effect on your experience, particularly in programs that involve discussion, projects, feedback, or hands-on learning.
When comparing programs, look at:
- Faculty credentials
- Professional experience
- Experience teaching online
- Class sizes
- Faculty accessibility
- Office hours
- Student-to-faculty ratios
Don’t evaluate faculty based on credentials alone
A faculty member’s degree and academic background matter, but so does relevant professional experience.
For example, a business program may benefit from faculty who have both academic expertise and experience working in business environments.
Similarly, a technology program may be more useful to a career changer if some instructors have worked in the technology roles students are preparing to enter.
You can often find faculty biographies on a university’s website. Use them to understand who teaches the courses you’re considering.
12. Find Out Whether the Program Has In-Person Requirements
One of the biggest misconceptions about online degrees is that “online” always means you never have to go anywhere.
Some programs are fully online. Others include in-person requirements.
Depending on the degree, you may need to complete:
- Clinical hours
- Student teaching
- Internships
- Practicums
- Laboratory experiences
- Campus residencies
- In-person exams
- Field experiences
Ask specifically about location requirements
Don’t simply ask:
“Is this program online?”
Instead ask:
“Can I complete every requirement for this degree remotely, or are there any in-person, clinical, laboratory, internship, residency, or campus requirements?”
This question can save you from choosing a program that doesn’t work with your location or schedule.
Example: Online healthcare programs
An online healthcare degree may allow you to complete lectures and other coursework remotely while requiring clinical experiences at an approved healthcare facility.
Those requirements can also vary by program and, for licensure-oriented programs, by state.
If you’re pursuing a licensed profession, verify the requirements with the appropriate state licensing authority before enrolling.
Online Degree Comparison Checklist
Before choosing an online degree program, make sure you can answer “yes” to the questions that matter to you.
School and program
- Is the school appropriately accredited?
- Does the degree align with my career goals?
- Does the curriculum provide the coursework I need?
- Does the program meet any professional or licensing requirements?
Cost
- Do I know the estimated total tuition?
- Have I accounted for fees, books, and other expenses?
- Have I compared financial aid and scholarships?
- Do I understand my potential out-of-pocket cost?
Transfer credits
- Have I had my previous college credits evaluated?
- Do I know how many credits will count toward my degree?
- Do I know how many credits I still need?
Time and flexibility
- Do I know how long the program is likely to take me?
- Are classes asynchronous, synchronous, or a combination?
- Do course schedules fit my work and personal responsibilities?
- Are required courses offered often enough to keep me on schedule?
Online experience
- Do I understand how classes work?
- Do I know whether there are live meetings?
- Are exams proctored?
- Are there group projects?
- Are any campus visits, clinicals, internships, or other in-person requirements involved?
Support and outcomes
- Is academic advising available?
- Is tutoring available?
- Does the school offer career services?
- Have I reviewed available graduation and career outcome information?
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Comparing Online Degree Programs
Choosing based only on tuition
A lower per-credit price doesn’t necessarily mean a lower total cost.
Your transfer credits, financial aid, fees, and number of credits remaining can all affect the final price.
Assuming every online program is completely online
Some programs require clinicals, internships, student teaching, labs, residencies, or other in-person experiences.
Find out exactly what “online” means for the program you’re considering.
Assuming all your previous credits will count
A college may accept your credits without applying all of them toward your specific degree requirements.
Get a transfer evaluation before making your decision.
Choosing based solely on rankings
Rankings can provide useful information, but they don’t account for every factor that matters to an individual student.
A highly ranked program that doesn’t accept your previous credits or doesn’t fit your schedule may be a worse choice for you than another accredited program that does.
Ignoring accreditation
Don’t enroll based solely on a school’s advertising or claims about accreditation.
Verify the institution and, when relevant, the program through authoritative accreditation resources.
Focusing only on the fastest completion time
An accelerated program may help you graduate sooner, but it can also require a heavier course load.
Consider whether the schedule is realistic alongside your job and other responsibilities.
Applying before understanding your transfer credits
If you’ve previously attended college, determine how those credits will apply before choosing a program.
The answer could change your estimated cost and graduation date.
How to Narrow Your List to the Best Online Degree Program for You
After researching several programs, you don’t need to keep comparing dozens of schools.
Use a simple three-step process.
Step 1: Eliminate programs that don’t meet your requirements
Remove any program that:
- Doesn’t offer the degree you need
- Doesn’t meet applicable accreditation requirements
- Doesn’t fit your schedule
- Is outside your budget
- Won’t accept enough of your previous credits
- Has in-person requirements you can’t meet
- Doesn’t satisfy applicable professional or licensing requirements
Step 2: Compare your top three to five programs
For the remaining programs, compare the same information side by side.
Focus on the factors that matter most to your situation.
For example:
Working parent: Flexibility, schedule, cost, student support
Adult with previous college credits: Transfer policies, remaining credits, completion time, total cost
Career changer: Curriculum, career services, internships, program outcomes
Student pursuing a licensed profession: Accreditation, clinical requirements, state eligibility, licensure outcomes
Step 3: Verify the details directly with the school
Before enrolling, contact the college with any questions that could affect your decision.
Ask for specific answers about:
- Transfer credits
- Degree requirements
- Tuition and fees
- Financial aid
- Course schedules
- Program completion time
- In-person requirements
- Licensure eligibility
- Student support
Whenever possible, keep written documentation of the information you’re given.
FAQs About Comparing Online Degree Programs
What should I look for when comparing online degree programs?
Start with accreditation, career alignment, curriculum, total cost, transfer-credit policies, program length, class format, admissions requirements, student support, career preparation, and any in-person requirements.
The right factors to prioritize depend on your circumstances. For example, transfer credit may be particularly important if you’ve already completed college coursework.
How do I know if an online degree program is legitimate?
Check whether the institution is appropriately accredited and verify its accreditation through an authoritative source such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
You should also research the program’s curriculum, faculty, costs, admissions requirements, and student outcomes.
Be cautious of schools that make unusually broad promises about degrees, employment, or completion times without providing clear information to support those claims.
Is the cheapest online degree program the best option?
Not necessarily.
Compare the estimated total cost of completing the degree rather than simply comparing tuition rates.
A program with a higher tuition rate could potentially cost less overall if it accepts more of your previous credits or provides more institutional financial aid.
Are online degrees respected by employers?
An online degree can be a legitimate way to earn a college credential, but employer expectations vary by industry, employer, and position.
Accreditation, the reputation and quality of the institution, the relevance of the degree, your skills, and your professional experience can all matter.
If you’re pursuing a specific career, look at job postings from employers you would like to work for. This can give you a practical sense of the education and skills they expect.
How can I compare online degree costs?
Start with tuition, then account for fees, books, technology, required materials, and other program expenses.
Then compare financial aid, grants, and scholarships.
For a more meaningful comparison, calculate the estimated cost of finishing the degree based on your own transfer credits and expected course load rather than relying on a general advertised program price.
How do I compare online programs if I already have college credits?
Ask each school to evaluate your previous transcripts.
Then compare:
- Total credits accepted
- Credits that apply toward the degree
- Credits you still need
- Estimated remaining tuition
- Estimated time to graduation
The school that accepts the most credits isn’t automatically the best choice, but transfer policies can make a substantial difference in both cost and completion time.
How long does an online degree take?
It depends on the degree, the number of credits required, your transfer credits, how many courses you take, course availability, and any required internships, clinical experiences, or other requirements.
A student entering a bachelor’s program with substantial transferable college credit may have a very different timeline from a student starting with no previous college coursework.
What questions should I ask an online college before enrolling?
At a minimum, ask:
- Is the institution accredited?
- How many of my previous credits will transfer?
- How many transferred credits will apply to my degree?
- How many credits do I have left?
- What will my estimated total tuition be?
- What fees should I expect?
- Are classes asynchronous or synchronous?
- Are there required live meetings?
- How often are required courses offered?
- Are there any in-person requirements?
- What financial aid is available?
- What academic support is available?
- What career services are available?
- Does the program meet applicable professional or licensing requirements?
Getting clear answers to these questions can make it much easier to compare programs on the factors that actually affect your education.
Find an Online Degree Program That Fits Your Goals
There isn’t one online degree program that’s best for everyone.
The right program depends on what you want to study, what career you’re pursuing, how much college you’ve already completed, how much you can afford, and how much time you have available for school.
If you know what you’re looking for, comparing programs using the same criteria can help you narrow your choices and avoid surprises after enrollment.
Ready to explore your options?
Use our online degree search tool on this page to explore programs by degree level and subject and find options that align with your education and career goals.
