12 Most Affordable Online Colleges – Cheap Options in 2026

October 12, 2025

Affordable online colleges are taking off—though remote learning is certainly not a new phenomenon. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced students indoors, 19th-century correspondence courses allowed students to learn all sorts of trades, from clerical skills to mining safety. Emily Dickinson sought tutelage from her mentor Thomas Wentworth Higginson via the post, yet remained in seclusion in Amherst, Massachusetts. We might even consider the erudite letters of Héloïse and Abelard a form of remote learning. These lovers-turned-monastic scholars corresponded to teach each other their views on ethics and theology.

While online learning today may sound less romantic, the common denominator among these examples remains appealing: convenience and affordability. In 2023, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported that 53.2% of students were enrolled in distance education courses in postsecondary institutions. Bottom line? Remote learning didn’t simply fade away as the threat of COVID-19 subsided. The convenience and affordability of online courses continue to encourage undergraduates to seek some form of remote learning. In today’s blog, we’ll examine the main reasons to attend one of the country’s cheap online colleges, before delving into our list of the 12 most affordable online colleges.

Why Consider Affordable Online Colleges?

In today’s wobbly economy, many high schoolers, transfer students, parents, and job holders are considering affordable online colleges. Let’s begin with a disclaimer: online colleges aren’t the best choice for everyone. Online education doesn’t offer the same camaraderie one gets from in-person classes and extracurriculars; nothing can replace late-night escapades across campus, the excitement of athletic competitions, or the nooks and crannies of a college library. However, these aspects are only accessories to a good education, and not everyone is interested in them when applying to college. Moreover, some online colleges strive to build camaraderie in other ways, such as through synchronous class sessions and even optional in-person meet-ups.

For anyone who wants to cut costs significantly and feels that a remote environment will be a good fit, a cheap online college could be a great way to go.

What Makes Remote Learning More Affordable?

First, students don’t pay for on-campus amenities, like room and board. Other “hidden amenities” such as career and health services may be reduced, optional, or not included. Second, students can balance courses with a job. Of course, many students at in-person colleges take part-time employment to alleviate tuition stress, but remote learning provides more work-life flexibility, especially for those with full-time jobs or who are raising families.

Another pro of remote learning is accessibility. Those who wish to attend a research-heavy program can do so. Meanwhile, more career-focused students can find a plethora of remote options among technical schools. Overall, choosing an affordable online college may mean less student debt, less stress, more flexibility at home and at work, and greater intentionality when choosing your institution and major.

Affordable Online Colleges — Ranking Methodology

Please note that the following list of cheap online colleges is by no means exhaustive. College statistics change yearly, and remote fees can change even more quickly. Likewise, most college websites mention that costs are subject to change without notice. And, while some colleges post tuition information per semester, others calculate an average yearly tuition.

To further complicate the matter, an average courseload can vary between 12-18 course credits a semester. Some college websites publish a flat rate for a “full” load. Others make a more precise calculation based on each course credit. Thus, you should consider the following tuition and fees as merely estimates.

Next, keep in mind that some colleges will charge an additional fee per course credit hour for online courses. Other colleges don’t explicitly state whether tuition and fees change depending on the balance of remote courses to in-person courses. Finally, some college students may have unique costs, such as lab equipment fees, out-of-state residency, mental health services, etc. Some college websites allow students to calculate these additional variables with an online estimator tool.

In selecting 12 affordable online colleges, we prioritized affordability above all other factors. Please note — we did not include other factors like books, course materials, housing, and transportation, which will fluctuate wildly for full-time remote students. Data has been collected from college websites as well as the NCES.

Finally, we also only chose accredited institutions, as accreditation is an important factor for federal financial aid and graduate school.

The 12 Most Affordable Online Colleges

When researching affordable online colleges, all students should expand their search by looking at public schools in their home states.

1) University of North Carolina at Pembroke

The University of Carolina at Pembroke is one of the cheapest online colleges in the U.S. An in-state, full-time undergraduate will pay $1,000 a year in tuition, while an out-of-state student will pay $5000 per year. All students in these affordable online college programs will pay roughly $600 per year in fees. Strikingly, 36% of Pembroke undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education during a recent year.

2) Clayton State University

Compared to the $2,610 tuition that in-state residents pay here for 15 credit hours, the “eTuition” for the same credit load ranges slightly higher, from $2,610.95 to $2,985. However, as an online student, you won’t be on the hook for the $500 in university fees. Meanwhile, out-of-state tuition amounts to $9,241 for 15 credit hours. All students pay a technology fee of $57. Remote students can choose from among 22 Online Majors. In 2023, 34.7% of Clayton undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education.

3) University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro also provides more transparency around their online vs. in-person rates. Online in-state students should expect to pay an annual amount of $5,468 for both tuition and fees. Out-of-state online students will notice a steep hike in costs, with a total of $21,820 for tuition and fees.

4) Florida Atlantic University

Yearly tuition and fees for a Florida resident totals $5,976, while a non-Florida resident should expect to pay around $20,584. For a better estimate, prospective applicants can check out their tuition calculator. Undergraduates looking for remote learning can choose from among eight online majors.

5) The University of West Florida

While there is little difference between online and in-person tuition costs for Florida (and Alabama) residents, out-of-state online students see a massive 75% reduction per credit hour. This means that Florida residents will pay about $6,360 a year in tuition and fees both in-person and online ($9,500 for Alabama residents). However, while non-residents pay $19,260 for in-person tuition, they pay only $9,000 per year for online tuition. It is perhaps for this reason that 28% of West Florida undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education in 2022.

6) Florida International University

Another affordable online college in the Sunshine State, Florida International University offers residents a 30-hour yearly credit load for $6,168.65. Non-residents should expect to pay about $18,566.65. If you factor in fees, online tuition is about the same ($7,068 and $19,466 respectively). Either way, FIU is a great deal. In 2023, 24.8% of Florida International undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education.

7) Eastern New Mexico University

In-state Eastern New Mexico undergraduates pay $3,537 a semester for tuition and fees, which comprises 12-18 credit hours. Meanwhile, out-of-state students and those in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) are charged $4,527. In 2022, 53% of Eastern New Mexico students at the Main Campus were enrolled exclusively in distance education.

8) Western New Mexico University

At Western New Mexico University, residents pay $4,909.80 per semester for a load of 15 online credit hours. Non-residents should expect to pay around $8,963.85. In 2021, 29% of Western New Mexico students were enrolled exclusively in distance education.

9) University of Wisconsin – Green Bay

With an extensive list of online majors, the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay is a great option for budget-conscious students. Though tuition varies according to campus, Wisconsin residents will pay between $314 and $362 per credit hour. Meanwhile, non-residents should expect to pay between $672 and $720 per credit hour. All remote students must pay an additional $25 per credit hour, which counts as “Distance Education” fees. In the fall semester of 2023, 22.9% of Green Bay students enrolled exclusively in distance education.

10) Western Governors University

As an exclusively online institution, Western Governors tries to remain affordable by charging a flat-rate, competency-based rate. Still, the average tuition for an undergraduate student at Western Governors University amounts to $8,300 yearly. The online degrees span more than 60 different bachelor’s and master’s programs in fields ranging from accounting to health. In the fall of 2023, 100% of undergraduates enrolled exclusively in distance education.

11) East Texas A&M University

Also known as Texas A&M University-Commerce, East Texas A&M offers a variety of fully online and hybrid programs and certificates. In-state undergraduates pay $4,212 per semester for a 12-credit load. Non-Texas residents should expect to pay $9,108 per semester. Both types of students will need to pay an additional fee of $50 per credit hour for online courses. In the fall of 2023, 33% of East Texas A&M students enrolled exclusively in distance education.

12) The University of Texas at the Permian Basin

Studying at UT’s Permian Basin campus is an especially good value for online students. While a non-resident will $627.22 per credit hour, students in online programs pay the in-state rate of $219.22 per credit hour. Additionally, prospective online students should factor in $35 in fees and $108.12 for the online program charges. In 2023, 39.6% of Permian Basin undergraduates were enrolled exclusively in distance education.

Other Affordable Online Colleges

It’s never a bad idea to spread your net widely when applying to college. For other cheap online colleges, we recommend checking out:

What’s Next?

Choosing among the most affordable online colleges will require some strategy on your part, as well as further research. Moreover, there are many other ways to finance a college education. We recommend checking out these related articles: Selective Colleges with Generous Scholarships and Selective Colleges Offering National Merit Scholarships.

You may also find the following online education-related blogs to be of interest:

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Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.