The Best Online Colleges for Working Adults
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No matter who you are — a career changer, a working parent, or a college dropout ready for another go — the stats don’t lie: A four-year college degree can really pay off.
A bachelor’s degree is worth $2.8 million on average over a lifetime. That’s 84% more lifetime earnings than high school graduates and 31% more than those with an associate degree.
But if you’re raising children, working full time, or both, enrolling in on-campus classes isn’t always doable.
Online colleges are a go-to choice for many nontraditional students because they’re relatively convenient and increasingly customizable.
Best Online Colleges for Working Adults
Union Institute & University
Cincinnati, OH- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,510
- Out-of-state$15,510
- In-State$16,692
- Out-of-state$16,692
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled809
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Charter Oak State College
- New Britain, CT
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,656
- Out-of-state$10,056
- In-State$9,288
- Out-of-state$9,720
- Retention Rate50%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled1,634
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Excelsior College
- Albany, NY
- 4 year
- Online
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled21,974
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$38,870
- Out-of-state$38,870
- In-State$11,700
- Out-of-state$11,700
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled3,814
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Thomas Edison State University
- Trenton, NJ
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$7,182
- Out-of-state$9,342
- In-State$12,024
- Out-of-state$12,024
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled10,495
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$38,208
- Out-of-state$38,208
- In-State$14,322
- Out-of-state$14,322
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled6,310
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
National University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$11,064
- Out-of-state$11,064
- In-State$16,983
- Out-of-state$16,983
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled12,471
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Maryville University of Saint Louis
- Saint Louis, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$24,766
- Out-of-state$24,766
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$14,346
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled10,979
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment83%
- AccreditationYes
Northeastern University Lifelong Learning Network
- Boston, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,984
- Out-of-state$12,984
- In-State$24,294
- Out-of-state$24,294
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled11,310
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$34,470
- Out-of-state$34,470
- In-State$12,666
- Out-of-state$12,666
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate70%
- Students Enrolled4,287
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
Work-Life-School Balance
28% of all undergrads take classes exclusively online
66% of online students are employed full time
61% of online students are parents
But working full time or parenting and keeping up with school can be challenging.
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, about 5 in 10 student-parents leave college without a degree or certificate within six years of enrolling, compared with around 3 in 10 of all students. These student-parents often drop out because they have fewer hours to fit in school, work, childcare, and housework.
One key to success is finding an online college ready to support you along your journey.
So, what should full-time workers or student-parents look for in a school? Based on BestColleges’ data and metrics, the best online colleges for working adults have:
- High rates of enrollment, retention, and graduation
- Strong federal financial aid support
- The opportunity to earn credit for life experiences
- Ample academic and career counseling services
- A high percentage of online programs
Explore Featured Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
How to Choose the Right Online School as a Working Adult
So, how do you decide on an online school? You can start by looking for schools that are prepared to help working adults reach their academic and career goals.
BestColleges’ ranking methodology considers various factors, including graduation rates and the availability of academic and career counseling services.
Ask Melissa
Melissa Venable, Ph.D., online education advisor and former principal writer for BestColleges, explains why you should consider certain benchmarks when choosing an online school.
- Enrollment, retention, and graduation rates:
An institution’s enrollment, retention, and graduation rates provide one perspective on quality and student satisfaction. While these numbers certainly don’t tell the whole story, they do provide evidence of how many students are enrolling, how many continue in their programs after their first semester or academic term, and how many complete their degree.
- Federal financial aid support:
Federal student aid is the largest source of financial assistance for college students in the U.S. But before you accept federal aid, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of grants and loans, such as how much you should borrow and what you might owe. Schools that accept federal aid should have a strong support system for students who are eligible for this aid.
- Credit for life experiences:
Some schools have programs in place to evaluate work and life experiences for academic credit. Getting credit for work and life experience that applies toward degree requirements can mean taking, and paying for, fewer courses.
- Academic and career counseling services:
Many students enter college with some idea of their career and employment goals, but that’s not the case for everyone. Working with academic advisors and career development professionals can help you reach your goal of graduation.
- Percentage of online programs:
Schools that offer multiple programs online typically have committed the resources necessary to ensure their success and the success of online students. This could include using the latest technology to deliver courses and providing faculty training for online teaching, as well as offering access to various student support services.
Summary
“Overall, working students have a lot to think about before adding online education to their schedules. Finding a school and program that is committed to your success means researching and comparing the variables that are most important to you, such as finances, career development, and support services.”
Pros and Cons of Online Learning
Taking classes online is a much different experience than attending school in person, with various benefits and challenges.
According to BestColleges’ 2023 Online Education Trends Report, more than 1 in 4 online students struggle with work-life-school balance. However, more than 1 in 3 online students (42%) prefer the convenience of online programs when managing existing commitments.
So, let’s review what you can expect from online learning — both the good parts and the challenges you might face:
Pros
Flexibility to learn on your own schedule- Learn from anywhere
- Save time and money on commuting
Cons
Requires more self-discipline- More technical requirements
- Potential social isolation and loneliness
What It’s Like to Earn a Degree Online as a Working Student
“My overall experience [with earning a degree online] was really good. I loved my program, but I’m not going to lie — it was extremely challenging to work full time, and go to school, and try to balance everything else in life, with taking care of the house and maintaining relationships and friendships, just because you just don’t have as much time, so things can fall to the wayside. But I powered through, and it ended up being a really good experience — just challenging.”
— Amy Jay, Master’s in communication and leadership, Gonzaga University
Explore More Featured Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges for Working Adults
Yes, you can work full time while earning a bachelor’s degree. Many working adults prefer online programs, which tend to be more flexible, allowing them to better balance work and school.
Many online programs also offer asynchronous class options, which let working students learn at their own pace and more easily manage their workload.
Page last reviewed on December 20, 2023.
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