Cheap Online Colleges: 8 Accredited Schools To Compare

If you’re searching for cheap online colleges, the biggest mistake is focusing only on the lowest advertised tuition. A school can look inexpensive at first glance, then cost much more once you factor in fees, total credits, and how the program is structured.

The better approach is to compare three things together: accreditation, price, and how the school charges you. Some colleges use a straightforward per-credit model, while others add technology or student services fees. And one option, University of the People, uses a tuition-free model with application and course assessment fees instead of traditional tuition.

Key Takeaways

• The cheapest online colleges are not always the ones with the lowest sticker price. Total cost depends on tuition, fees, and the number of credits your degree requires.
• Low cost does not have to mean low quality. Accreditation should still be one of the first things you check. UoPeople, for example, emphasizes its accredited status alongside its tuition-free model.
• If you want the lowest possible upfront cost, tuition-free and low-fee models can be especially appealing. If you want a traditional college structure, low per-credit schools may make more sense.

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How to Compare Cheap Online Colleges

Before you choose a school, look beyond the headline number. Start with the cost per credit or per course, then multiply that by the total credits you’ll need for your degree. After that, check for mandatory fees like technology fees, student services fees, graduation fees, or proctoring costs.

This matters because two schools can look similar at first, but end up very different in total cost. For example, Charter Oak lists a relatively low undergraduate tuition rate, but it also adds a student services fee and a technology fee each semester. That is not a bad deal, but it is a reminder that “cheap” and “cheapest” are not always the same thing.

Cheap Online Colleges Vs. Tuition-Free Online Colleges

Most cheap online colleges still charge tuition, usually by the credit. Tuition-free online colleges work differently. Instead of charging tuition, they may charge a one-time application fee and per-course assessment fees.

That distinction is important because it changes how you budget. If you are trying to keep your upfront costs as low as possible, a tuition-free model can look very different from a low-cost traditional college, even if both are affordable overall. UoPeople’s current fee page is a good example of that model in

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Some of the Cheapest Accredited Online Colleges to Compare

1. University Of The People

University of the People stands out because it does not charge traditional tuition. Instead, it uses a tuition-free model with a $60 application fee, $160 per undergraduate course assessment fee, $400 per M.Ed. course, and $450 per MBA/MSIT course. That can make it one of the most affordable online options for students who want to spread costs out over time rather than pay standard tuition. UoPeople also highlights scholarships for students who need additional help with fees.

This option makes the most sense if you want the lowest-cost path into an accredited online degree and are comfortable with a fee model that is different from most traditional schools.

2. Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak is a strong option if you want a public college with clear, transparent online pricing. For 2025 to 2026, it lists undergraduate tuition at $329 per credit, plus a $230 student services fee per semester and a $75 technology fee per semester. Graduate tuition is $529 per credit, with higher semester fees.

What makes Charter Oak appealing is that the pricing is easy to understand, and the school is upfront about the extra fees. If you want a low-cost, more traditional public-college structure, this is one of the cleaner options to compare.

3. Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU is not the absolute lowest-priced option on this list, but it remains a useful benchmark because it is widely known, fully online, and still relatively affordable compared with many private institutions. SNHU lists online undergraduate tuition at $342 per credit and online graduate tuition at $659 per credit. It also notes that an associate degree typically requires 60 credits and a bachelor’s typically requires 120.

That makes SNHU a good choice if you want a recognizable online university with a simple pricing model and broad program selection, even if the very cheapest schools may come in lower.

4. Purdue Global

Purdue Global is another good comparison point because it shows how pricing can vary even within online education. It lists most undergraduate online programs at $371 per quarter credit hour, with lower rates for certain nursing programs. Graduate pricing varies by program, with many graduate courses listed at $420 per quarter credit hour, and some business-related graduate programs priced higher.

This is a useful reminder that low price is only part of the equation. If you are comparing Purdue Global with another school, make sure you understand the difference between quarter credits and semester credits so you are not comparing apples to oranges.

5. Eastern New Mexico University

Eastern New Mexico University is one of the more affordable public options for online learners. For 2025 to 2026, the undergraduate tuition and fees page shows a total of $294.75 per credit hour for New Mexico residents, made up of tuition plus fees. Its graduate page lists $317 per credit hour for many resident and part-time nonresident graduate enrollments, with higher rates in some cases depending on load and status.

If you want a low-cost public university and like the idea of paying a relatively modest amount per credit, ENMU is one of the stronger options to keep on your list.

6. Georgia Southwestern State University

Georgia Southwestern is one of the lowest-priced schools on this list for online students. Its current tuition page lists $174 per credit hour for online undergraduate courses and $263 per credit hour for online graduate courses. Its tuition schedule also notes an online learning fee of $293 for online-only students.

That makes it appealing if you want a very low per-credit rate, but you still need to account for the online fee when comparing it with other schools.

7. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University remains a strong, low-cost online option. Its online tuition page lists undergraduate tuition and fees at $265.05 per credit hour and graduate tuition and fees at $348.78 per credit hour for Fall 2025 through Summer 2026. Higher rates apply for some specialized programs like the MBA.

This is a good fit if you want a straightforward online tuition model from a public university and are looking for something that stays competitive at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

8. University Of The Cumberlands

University of the Cumberlands is another school worth comparing if you want low online undergraduate pricing. It lists $220 per credit hour for online undergraduate programs and also describes that as $3,300 per semester for a 15-hour course load, or $6,600 per year.

This can be attractive if you want a traditional online degree structure with a relatively low per-credit cost and a school that makes annual pricing easy to estimate.

Hidden Fees To Watch For

A low tuition rate does not always tell the full story. Some schools add technology fees, student services fees, online learning fees, or other charges that raise the total cost. Charter Oak and Georgia Southwestern both make this especially clear on their tuition pages, which is helpful because it lets you compare more honestly.

Before you apply, it is worth doing a quick total-cost check. Look at the credit price, then add any recurring semester fees and divide by how many credits you realistically plan to take each term.

Why Accreditation Still Matters

When people search for cheap online colleges, they are usually not just looking for low cost. They also want reassurance that the degree will be respected. That is where accreditation matters.

A low-cost online college should still be a legitimate institution with recognized accreditation. UoPeople, for example, makes its accredited status a central part of how it presents itself, which is exactly what students should be looking for when they compare lower-cost schools.

The Bottom Line

Cheap online colleges can absolutely be worth it, but the smartest comparison is not just “which school has the lowest number?” It is “which accredited school gives you the best total value for your budget and goals?”

If your top priority is the lowest possible cost, University of the People stands out because of its tuition-free structure. If you want a more traditional public-college setup, schools like Charter Oak, Eastern New Mexico University, Georgia Southwestern, and Fort Hays State University give you low-cost online options with more familiar tuition models.

FAQs

What is the cheapest accredited online college?

That depends on how you define “cheapest.” If you mean no traditional tuition, University of the People is one of the strongest options because it uses a tuition-free model with application and course assessment fees instead.

Are cheap online colleges respected?

They can be, as long as they are properly accredited. Low price alone does not tell you whether a school is legitimate, which is why accreditation should always be part of your comparison.

How should I compare cheap online colleges?

Start with the cost per credit or course, then add required fees and estimate the total number of credits your degree will require. That gives you a much more accurate picture than headline tuition alone.

Is tuition-free better than low-cost tuition?

Not automatically. Tuition-free can be a great fit if you want lower upfront costs, but low-cost tuition may still work better depending on program structure, transfer options, and total degree requirements. The key is to compare the full pricing model.