It’s important to pay for your education, but it can be hard for many students to do so without borrowing money and getting into debt. Thankfully, that’s where free online universities play their role.
Furthermore, online education is more affordable than studying abroad.
Why is that? All of it is done online without extra expenditures!
Since the price of going to school keeps going up everyday, online universities save a lot of costs, making education affordable for students.
Luckily, these online universities offer a lot of free courses that anyone can take thanks to the generosity of individuals who donate to education. A lot of people believe in providing equal access to higher education, which is why free online degrees are now a reality.
What universities offer online degrees
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes to the college experience for countless students.
Today, an increasing number of students view online education as the most practical route to prepare for their careers.
Here are 10 recognized universities that offer online degree programs in 2023.
1) Florida International University
Florida International, a public university in Miami-Dade County, has 190+ programs including 130+ online. It’s a known fact that the university excels in teaching, offers top-ranked online business bachelor’s degrees, and has been classified as R1.
2) The University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota, located in Grand Forks, is the oldest and largest public university in the state, offering 225+ academic programs. About 40% of students attend classes online. UND is a leader in engineering, medicine, aviation, and more.
3) The University of Arizona
The University of Arizona in Tucson offers 300+ degrees across 20 colleges in-person, online, and via “Near You Networks.” As a top-tier research university, UoA has a diverse student population. UoA helped map the moon, enabling the first human landing in 1969.
4) Kansas State University
Kansas State University in Manhattan offers 250+ undergraduate and 165+ graduate programs, including 100+ fully online options. The University also hosts the new $1.5 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
5) Oregon State University
Located in Corvallis, Oregon, Oregon State University provides 200+ academic programs, and is one of two land-, sea-, space-, and sun-grant universities in the US.
The university has a reputation for addressing societal challenges through cutting-edge research, and it offers online degree programs in environmental science, computer science, and horticulture.
6) Penn State University – World Campus
Pennsylvania State University-World Campus, the online branch of Penn State, offers 175+ degrees and certificates to learners who can’t attend a physical campus. Expert faculty teach career-oriented curriculum in fields including business, engineering, and healthcare.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Penn State’s undergraduates are highly prepared, which makes a degree from the institution highly esteemed.
7) Columbia University
Columbia University, located in New York City, is a renowned 4-year institution with a diverse student body.
Through its unique financial aid system, Columbia offers free online degrees, and guarantees high-quality education without any obligation to repay funds upon graduation.
In addition, the university offers free tuition and fee waivers to families earning $60,000 or less, and provides significant discounts to those earning up to $100,000.
8) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT is another university that offers free online degrees through its OpenCourseWare program. This program includes online textbooks and audio/video courses.
Unlike other programs, MIT makes its entire curriculum available to the public, along with Faculty Teaching Insights that provide a deeper understanding of course content from instructors’ perspectives.
9) Cambridge University
Apple collaborates with the University of Cambridge to offer a tuition-free college experience through iTunes U. iTunes U features downloadable audio and video course materials.
The University compiles courses from publicly available videos, podcasts, and lectures across various disciplines, including art, science, and philosophy. However, the courses do not provide certificates or diplomas.
10) Stanford University
Established in 1885 in California, Stanford University is a renowned institution with over 7,700 research projects. Offering diverse programs, both online and on-campus, the university is committed to assisting families with incomes below $150,000.
Stanford is ranked sixth among national universities, providing an excellent opportunity for students to study, learn, research, and test themselves in new ways.
Are free online universities accredited?
Is getting free education-from an accredited university even possible in this economy?
Yes, obtaining an online degree from an accredited university without paying any fees is within reach for everyone. There are several ways to make this happen.
You could apply for scholarships or grants, go to community college, or even get lucky. On the contrary, if you want to earn your degree without paying a single penny, you need to apply to multiple schools.
When you obtain a free degree, you’re essentially just reducing the overall cost of your education, but it doesn’t make a difference to the quality of the degree you’ll receive.
In addition to that, a free degree offers you the chance to benefit from all the professional opportunities without the burden of a student loan debt. If you’re planning to attend a four-year university, it may be challenging to eliminate your total tuition and expenses entirely.
However, you can reduce the costs significantly to a more manageable level. Along with that, you can explore various scholarship and financial aid programs that may involve submitting applications, essays, and interviews.
These funds are available to everyone, and it’s only a matter of conducting thorough research to locate relevant resources.
How much does an online bachelor degree usually cost?
Compared to traditional campus programs, online college is more cost-effective. Based on data from EducationData.org, online degrees from public four-year institutions are $10,000 cheaper than in-person degrees on average.
Students pursuing an online bachelor’s degree spend $51,000 on average. The most affordable rates are available to students attending public, in-state schools, where they spend an average of $38,000 to earn their bachelor’s degree.
Out-of-state students, on the other hand, pay an average of $54,000.
Final thoughts
As online learning becomes more mainstream, students with busy schedules are increasingly turning to online programs because of their flexibility. However, accreditation is an essential factor to consider when pursuing an online degree.
Thanks to technology, with an internet connection and a laptop, you can now earn a quality degree from anyplace. Head over to our EDU Blog today to learn about online education and discover how to make education more affordable!
