2027 Best Colleges With Full-Time Online Options
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Choosing a full-time online college involves more than finding classes you can take from home: the degree must fit your schedule, budget, and career goal. The cost makes careful comparison worthwhile. College Board reports that average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges were $11,610 for in-state students in 2024-25, before other expenses.
This guide highlights colleges offering online options across ten graduate fields and explains how to check delivery requirements, total cost, accreditation, and career relevance before you enroll.
Key Things You Should Know
- The best full-time online college is the one offering your intended program in a workable format; an online course listing does not establish that the entire degree can be completed online.
- Compare the full cost, not tuition alone: fees, required travel, and the number of credits you still need can change which option costs less.
- Clinical placements, student teaching, practicums, and professional licensing rules may require in-person work even when graduate coursework is online.
Top 10 Best Colleges With Full-Time Online Options
Business Programs
Penn State World Campus offers an online MBA worth considering if you want graduate business study while remaining employed. Compare its course schedule and total cost with other online MBAs rather than assuming the format is self-paced. An MBA generally suits applicants seeking broader management preparation; a specialized master's in accounting, finance, or analytics may fit a narrower goal better. Check admission expectations, prerequisites, and any required team projects or live sessions for the specific program.
Healthcare Programs
George Washington University's online Master of Public Health illustrates a graduate option focused on population health rather than direct patient care. It may suit students interested in policy, epidemiology, or health programs, but it is not a substitute for a clinical license. Ask whether fieldwork, live classes, or other scheduled activities affect your ability to study full time. Compare public health concentrations against the work you actually want to do.
Information Technology Programs
Western Governors University offers online graduate study in information technology management. This type of program emphasizes leading technology operations and projects; it may fit an experienced IT professional better than someone seeking intensive software development training. Because WGU uses a competency-based model, compare its academic pacing and tuition structure with conventional credit-hour programs. Confirm the current degree requirements and whether your background meets admission expectations before treating a faster pace as realistic.
Computer Science Programs
Georgia Tech's Online Master of Science in Computer Science is an option for applicants who already have substantial computing preparation. Its graduate-level technical coursework differs from an introductory coding certificate, and admission or prerequisite expectations can make it a poor fit for someone starting from scratch. Review available specializations, course sequencing, and the workload you can sustain full time. A shorter bridge program may be more appropriate if you need foundational computing courses first.
Nursing Programs
Western Governors University offers online master's-level nursing options, including nursing education. These programs are intended for nurses with the required prior preparation, not applicants seeking initial RN licensure. Coursework may be online while practicum activities take place in person. Before applying, confirm the exact track, your state's authorization rules, placement responsibilities, and whether the degree supports any certification you plan to pursue.
Psychology Programs
Arizona State University offers an online master's in psychology. It can support advanced study of behavior and research, but applicants should not assume it qualifies them for psychologist or counselor licensure. If independent clinical practice is your goal, compare explicitly licensure-oriented programs and their supervised training requirements instead. Full-time availability also depends on course scheduling and your preparation for graduate research methods.
Education Programs
Penn State World Campus offers an online master's in curriculum and instruction. It may fit educators developing instructional expertise, but an education master's does not automatically grant an initial teaching license or add a state endorsement. Compare concentrations, course calendars, and any school-based assignments against your current role. Applicants seeking their first teaching credential should instead confirm a state-approved preparation pathway before enrolling.
Criminal Justice Programs
The University of Cincinnati offers an online master's in criminal justice. Graduate study in this field can suit professionals interested in policy, research, or leadership, but it does not replace an agency's hiring, training, or experience requirements. Compare the curriculum with your target role: analytical coursework may be more useful for policy work than for a position requiring a specific professional credential. Ask how often required courses run if you plan to enroll full time.
Engineering Programs
Purdue University offers online graduate engineering study. An engineering master's can help experienced professionals deepen technical expertise, but options vary by discipline, prerequisites, and project or laboratory requirements. Select the specialization before comparing colleges; an online engineering degree in the wrong field may offer little value for your intended work. Confirm whether all required courses are available remotely and whether any activity requires travel.
Social Work Programs
The University of Denver offers an online Master of Social Work. This is a professional pathway that includes supervised field education, so online classes do not eliminate in-person commitments. Applicants considering clinical social work should verify that the curriculum and placements align with their state's licensing rules; graduation alone does not grant independent practice rights. Ask when placements occur and whether a full-time schedule is feasible alongside paid work.
What Are Full-Time Online College Programs?
A full-time online college program lets students take the course load their institution defines as full time while completing some or all instruction remotely. Full time describes enrollment intensity, not flexibility: an online student may still have live meetings, fixed deadlines, exams, or local fieldwork.
The distinctions below help you compare the time commitments behind an "online" label. Check the format of required courses, not just electives or introductory classes.
| Format | Typical scheduling distinction | Potential location requirement |
| Asynchronous online | Access coursework without routine live class meetings; deadlines still apply | May still include exams or fieldwork |
| Synchronous online | Attend scheduled virtual classes | May include separate in-person requirements |
| Hybrid | Combine remote coursework with scheduled in-person instruction | Campus attendance is part of the format |
If you are comparing degree fields as well as formats, reviewing best online degrees can help you narrow the academic choices before investigating each college's delivery rules.
Start by confirming that the college holds recognized institutional accreditation, then check whether your intended program has any accreditation needed for your profession. Institutional accreditation applies to the college; programmatic accreditation, when relevant, applies to a particular field or degree. Neither tells you whether a program meets every state licensing requirement.
For each finalist, use the college's catalog and program page to confirm required courses, the current online format, full-time course availability, and any campus or field obligations. Request a written cost estimate and ask an advisor how your previous coursework would apply to the degree - not merely how many credits the college might accept.
Military spouses may need to compare state authorization and placement rules before a move. Guidance on best online colleges for military spouses can provide an additional lens, but the specific program's rules remain decisive.
Neither format is inherently better. Online study can reduce commuting and widen program choice, while campus-based study may offer easier access to laboratories, facilities, or face-to-face instruction. The better option is the one whose required activities you can complete consistently.
A common mistake is choosing online study for its apparent freedom without checking attendance rules. If your work shifts change weekly, scheduled virtual classes can be as difficult to attend as campus classes. Conversely, a nearby campus program may be more practical than a distant online program with repeated travel requirements.
Depending on the college and subject, online options can include certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctorates. Availability is program-specific: a college may offer an online bachelor's degree in one subject but only a campus-based graduate degree in another.
Choose the credential your goal requires. A certificate may address a defined skill gap; a bachelor's degree may provide broader preparation; a master's can support specialization or professional advancement. Some doctoral pathways also offer remote coursework, but research, residencies, or supervised practice may still apply. Compare those requirements when exploring online PhD programs.
Requirements depend on the credential and program. Undergraduate applicants generally need evidence of secondary education or prior college study. Graduate applicants typically need an eligible bachelor's degree, and some fields require prerequisite courses, professional experience, a license, or a portfolio. Selective programs can set additional conditions beyond the college's general admission policy.
Before applying, check the program's published GPA and test policies rather than assuming a college-wide rule applies. Ask when transcripts and prerequisites must be completed, whether admission is conditional, and whether a full-time course load is available in your first term.
Time to completion depends on remaining credits, course sequencing, enrollment intensity, and requirements such as a thesis or practicum. Full-time enrollment does not ensure continuous progress if a required course is offered infrequently. Transfer credit may shorten an undergraduate pathway, but acceptance does not mean every credit fulfills a major requirement; graduate transfer rules are separate.
For cost, compare an estimate through graduation: tuition, mandatory and program fees, books or equipment, and any travel or placement expenses. Published tuition is not the same as your net cost after grants, scholarships, or employer assistance. Eligible students can investigate federal aid through the college's financial aid office, but should compare likely borrowing and repayment obligations before committing.
Online students study the same subject matter specified by their degree curriculum: required courses, possible electives or concentrations, and any culminating project or examination. Delivery changes how students participate, not necessarily what they must learn. Graduate computer science may emphasize advanced technical coursework, for example, while a social work master's pairs academic study with supervised field education.
Read the degree plan rather than relying on a program name. Identify which requirements are online, which are scheduled, and which involve local facilities or supervisors. This is especially important if you intend to study full time while working: assignment deadlines and placement hours can determine whether the load is manageable.
Career outcomes depend on the occupation, location, experience, and any credentials required beyond a degree. For context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $133,080 for software developers. That is an occupational median - not a predicted salary for computer science graduates, and a master's degree is not necessarily required for the role.
Before choosing a costly credential, compare its curriculum with actual job requirements and ask whether work experience, a certificate, or a different degree would meet your goal. Lists of college degrees that pay well can suggest fields to investigate, but pay figures should never substitute for checking entry requirements or total education cost.
How Do You Verify Online Program Licensing and Certification?
For a regulated occupation, verify eligibility with the licensing board in the state where you intend to work - not solely with an admissions representative. Check the board's education, program accreditation, examination, and supervised-practice requirements, then ask the college to explain in writing how its specific online program addresses them.
Do this before paying an enrollment deposit, particularly for nursing, teaching, counseling, and social work. A frequent and costly mistake is assuming that an accredited online degree automatically qualifies a graduate for a license in every state. Program authorization to enroll students and professional eligibility to practice are different questions.
Other Things You Should Know About
Possibly, but compare scheduled classes, weekly workload, and any placement hours with your job. Full-time enrollment may be difficult even in an asynchronous program.
No. Check the requirements for the entire degree, including labs, residencies, exams, and orientations. Local clinical or field placements may also be required.
They might. Ask for an evaluation showing which credits satisfy specific degree requirements and how many courses you would still need.
Start with your intended credential and career goal. Among colleges offering that program, compare accreditation, actual delivery requirements, full-time course access, total cost, and any licensing implications.
- Institutional Accrediting Agencies | ed.gov http://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/higher-education-laws-and-policy/college-accreditation/institutional-accrediting-agencies
- Chapter 3 - Courses and Enrollment, Full Course of Study, and Reduced Course Load | USCIS https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-2-part-f-chapter-3
- School-Determined Requirements | 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid Handbook https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/2024-2025/vol1/ch1-school-determined-requirements
- Full-time Study | HESC https://hesc.ny.gov/dictionary/tap-coach/term/full-time-study
- Internships & Co-ops | sandia.gov https://www.sandia.gov/careers/careers/students-and-postdocs/internships-co-ops/
- Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates - COE https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/ctr/undergrad-retention-graduation
- Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting Agencies | regulations.gov https://www.regulations.gov/document/ED-2025-OPE-1042-0002
- An Overview of Accreditation of Higher Education in the United States | Congress.gov | Library of Congress https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R43826
- Recognition of Accrediting Agencies | Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board https://www.highered.texas.gov/recognition-of-accrediting-agencies/
- UND Tuition Model and Student Fees https://und.edu/admissions/cost-and-aid/cost-details.html
