Compare online colleges without the guesswork
Compare accredited online colleges by cost, completion, and earnings. Every ranking states its method.
- in the public dataset
- each with a stated method
- calculators and comparisons
Why go online
Four things that decide whether online study fits your life.
- 1
Study on your schedule
Most fully online programs run asynchronously, so coursework fits around a job or a family.
- 2
Pay less, on purpose
The cheapest schools on our lists run about $1,400 a year after grants. The median is $14,580.
- 3
Finish in fewer years
Transfer credits and short terms cut time. Our calculators show you how many.
- 4
Know what you earn
Graduates of the online colleges we rank earn a median $53,406 ten years out.
One figure, published
Online program rankings
Ranked by one published figure each.
Best Online Colleges of 2026
Every fully online school we rank, ordered by its completion rate, with cost and earnings figures beside it so you can find the one built for you.
No. 1 · University of Pennsylvania
completion rate
What the typical online college looks like.
Open the explorerMedians for schools with a fully online program. Source: College Scorecard, retrieved October 2026.
Free tools
All toolsCalculators and comparisons that turn a vague plan into a number.
College Explorer
Filter. Sort by a real figure. Nothing moves because someone paid.
OpenDegree Finder
Start with what you like. Careers and pay come after.
OpenCollege Comparison
Two schools. Same figures. Side by side.
OpenDegree Completion Calculator
Credits you have. Time and tuition still ahead.
Open
Start with the numbers. Then pick the school.
Every ranking is built on a published figure. Compare cost, completion, and earnings side by side, and see which schools earn their place.
From the blog
All guidesGuides on cost, careers, and how to compare programs.
Ultimate Medical Academy: The Complete Student Research GuideEverything you need before enrolling at Ultimate Medical Academy in under 30 minutes: how to price the program, verify the accreditation, read the completion and earnings rows, apply aid, ask the right questions, and compare UMA against the real alternatives.November 9, 2026
Ultimate Medical Academy Graduation and Career OutcomesThe federal data on UMA graduates: $33,775 median earnings ten years out, $13,875 median debt, a 70% full-time retention figure, and program-level earnings for every track. Here is what the outcomes really say.November 9, 2026Ultimate Medical Academy Healthcare Programs ExplainedEvery UMA program, explained in one place: what it teaches, how long it takes, whether it runs online or on campus, whether it is a diploma or degree, and what federal data says graduates earn and borrow.November 9, 2026Not sure where to start?
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Some of the schools on this page are advertising partners. They pay us when you click through or request information, which can affect which schools appear and how they are displayed. It never changes the ranked order.
Who writes this
Named editors, published methods, and a fact check on every figure. Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution level, most recent data), retrieved October 2026.
David KrugFounder and editor
Marcus HaleData editor