Best Online Colleges with Lowest Out-of-State Tuition in 2025

Why This Matters

179 OCCUPATIONS TRACKED BY THE BLS REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks around 800 occupations, and 179 of those typically require a bachelor’s degree. That includes jobs in nursing, business management, accounting, and marketing.
A HIGHER DEGREE EQUALS REDUCED RISK OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Those with a high school diploma have an average unemployment rate of 6.2%. Those with a four-year degree have an unemployment rate of 3.5%, and those with a master’s degree or higher have a rate ranging from 1.5% to 2.6%.
EARN $525 MORE PER WEEK WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE

The average pay for those with a four-year degree is around $1,334 per week. For those with only a high school diploma, this figure is around $809.

Our Research

This list features the best online college programs with low out-of-state tuition in 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. The programs on our list have been accredited by reputable organizations, such as the Higher Learning Commission and New England Commission of Higher Education, that assess the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of colleges and universities.

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 college programs with low out-of-state tuition 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 50 Online Colleges with Lowest Out-of-State Tuition

Best Online Colleges with Lowest Out-of-State Tuition badge

Intelligent Pick

Penn State World Campus

Most Affordable

Florida Atlantic University

Best Alumni Network

University of Florida

Most Innovative

Maryville University

Best for Doctoral Degrees

Texas Tech University

Best for Minority Students

CAL State LA

Best for Undergraduate Degrees

Arizona State University

Best for Graduate Certificates

Appalachian State University

Best for Continuing Education

Texas State University

Best for Graduate Degrees

University of Central Florida

New Mexico State University

Oklahoma State University

Ohio University

Madonna University

University of Alaska at Fairbanks

Allen University

Dakota State University

Alice Lloyd College

Dickinson State University

Henderson State University

Northern State University

New Mexico Highlands University

Le Moyne - Owen College

Mayville State University

Thomas Edison State University

West Texas A&M University

Rust College

Harris - Stowe State University

Bellevue University

Central State University

Wayne State College

Mississippi Valley State University

Bemidji State University

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Carolina Christian College

Minot State University

Chadron State College

Delta State University

Southwest Minnesota State University

Alcorn State University

The University of Texas Permian Basin

Peru State College

Panola College

Mid-South Christian College

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What You Should Know About This Degree

Online programs should be compared with hybrid and in-person programs. Hybrid programs involve classes that are online and in-person. Online programs are appealing to many because you can get an education from the best school for your niche without regard to location. Just be sure you’re choosing an affordable online college that offers the same academic quality as in-person learning.

Regional accreditations are typically the best demonstration of quality for educational organizations, though national accreditations are also a positive indicator. You should avoid schools that aren’t accredited at all.

Make sure you understand all the requirements for your degree and what licensure may be needed. If you’re getting a nursing degree, for example, you will likely need to pass a licensure exam before you can land a job as an RN.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching the best online colleges with low out-of-state tuition:

Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Synchronous classes require you to log in at certain times and interact with teachers and other students. Asynchronous courses are more flexible, as coursework can be completed at your own pace. You’ll also want to consider factors such as time zones when you’re looking at out-of-state colleges — especially if classes are synchronous.
How long does it take to complete this online degree? Associate degrees typically take two years to complete, while bachelor’s degrees tend to take four years. You can complete degrees faster or slower depending on how many credits you take every semester.

When you’re researching online colleges with low out-of-state tuition, write down the number of credits required and the cost per credit — as well as additional fees — so that you can compare costs. And if you’re worried about the cost of school, you can also reach out to financial aid offices to find out what options might be available to help you pay for your education.

Best Online Colleges with Lowest Out-of-State Tuition in 2025

Compare School Options

Why This Matters

179 OCCUPATIONS TRACKED BY THE BLS REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE

A HIGHER DEGREE EQUALS REDUCED RISK OF UNEMPLOYMENT

EARN $525 MORE PER WEEK WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE