Why This Matters

  • EARN OVER $4,500 MORE PER YEAR

    Workers with some college education but no degree earn an average of $899 per week, while workers who only have a high school diploma earn $809 per week. Over the course of a year, this adds up to an additional $4,680 of income.

  • UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 5.5%

    A certificate will also increase your odds of staying consistently employed. Workers with some college education but no degree have an unemployment rate of 5.5% — the unemployment rate for those with only a high school diploma is 6.2%.

  • EARN YOUR CERTIFICATE IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR

    Most certificate programs require between 12 and 30 credits, and they are designed to be completed relatively quickly. This means you can start applying your knowledge to new jobs in as little as one year.

Our Research

This list features some of the best online certificate programs at top colleges across the country. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.

We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for online students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online certificate programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The Top 64 Online Certificate Programs

Best Certificate Programs 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
The University of Kansas
01
Best Health Science Certificates
University of Arizona
01
Best Agriculture Certificates
Kansas State University
01
Best Graduate Certificates
Missouri University of Science and Technology
01
Best Religious-affiliated Institution
Regis University
01
Best Continuing Education Certificates
Colorado State University
01
Best Theology Certificates
Regent University
01
Best Property Management Certificate
Ball State University
01
Best Undergraduate Certificates
University of Cincinnati
01
Best Student Support Services
Missouri State University
01

University of Missouri
01

Drexel University
01

Penn State World Campus
01

Indiana University Bloomington
01

The University of Maine
01

Northern Arizona University
01

Western Kentucky University
01

University of Connecticut
01

WSU Global Campus
01

University of North Dakota
01

Oregon State University
01

George Mason University
01

Champlain College
01

University of Massachusetts Lowell
01

Liberty University
01

University of California at Berkeley
01

South Dakota State University
01

Davenport University
01

The University of Oklahoma
01

Oklahoma State University
01

Virginia Tech
01

University of West Florida
01

Indiana University
01

Dallas Baptist University
01

Georgia Piedmont Technical College
01

Northwestern State University of Louisiana
01

Georgia Northwestern Technical College
01

Clemson University
01

University of Arkansas
01

Bismarck State College
01

University of Memphis
01

Old Dominion University
01

Indiana State University
01

East Tennessee State University
01

Ferris State University
01

Coastal Pines Technical College
01

Central Michigan University
01

Webster University
01

Eastern Kentucky University
01

Ogeechee Technical College

What You Should Know About This Degree

Many students seek certificate programs as a fast, flexible way to learn new skills, prepare for career advancement, or test whether they want to pursue a full degree in a particular subject.

If you are enrolling in a certificate program with the intention of applying those credits to a degree at a future point in time, it is important that you attend a program at a regionally accredited institution. Credits from regionally accredited institutions are more widely recognized and transferable between regionally accredited schools. If you enroll in a program at a nationally accredited school, be advised that you may have difficulty transferring credits to other institutions.

When considering attending an online program, you will want to confirm that the school you plan to attend is authorized to grant degrees to students who live where you do. Regulations for degree-granting online programs vary by state, so it’s in your best interest to get this information before enrolling in a program.

A post-secondary certificate is the minimum level of education required for a number of careers, but many industries require at least a bachelor’s degree for higher paying jobs and professional credentials. Think carefully about your career goals and if investing the time and money into a certificate is the best route to achieving them.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Online Certificate programs:

  • How are online courses delivered? Online courses allow students to learn from anywhere, but some programs offer more flexibility than others. In courses that are delivered synchronously, students must still attend classes at set times, although they do so remotely. Asynchronous courses are more flexible, as students complete lessons and assignments according to their own schedules. Make sure you select a program with a course delivery method that works for your schedule.
  • Do you need financial aid? While certificate programs are a flexible and fast way to gain new skills, not all certificate programs are eligible for federal financial aid like loans and grants. Talk to a program representative or financial aid counselor to find out if you will be eligible to receive aid based on the program in which you enroll. Otherwise, be prepared to find other means of paying for your program.

The enrollment process for certificate programs can vary. Some may require an application, while you can simply register and pay for others. As you research certificate programs, take a look at their enrollment requirements and gather any necessary paperwork (applications, transcripts, etc.) well ahead of registration deadlines.