Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania of 2023
Online higher education options in the state of Pennsylvania include not only traditional four-year universities but also community colleges, certification programs, and virtual apprenticeships. If you’re planning to take college courses online, Pennsylvania has plenty of options to choose from. Below, we’ll go over tuition rates, financial aid, and everything else you need to know about attending online universities and colleges in Pennsylvania.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online schools in Pennsylvania. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list 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.
All the online colleges on our list are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This regional accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and accredits schools based on a number of criteria for excellence, including ethics and integrity, support of the student experience, and educational effectiveness. Credits and degrees from accredited colleges are usually transferrable to other accredited schools and professionally recognized.
We evaluated each school 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.
The Top 50 Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
Does Pennsylvania have good online colleges and universities?
Yes. The state offers a wealth of online educational opportunities, such as Pittsburgh Technical College’s Online Associate in Graphic Design and Drexel University’s Online Bachelor’s in Communications. After you graduate, you may want to consider staying in Pennsylvania to complete a master’s degree while you work in one of the state’s many growing fields, such as healthcare. Pennsylvania is rich in graduate school options, like Villanova University’s Online Master of Business Administration and Mercyhurst University’s Online Master’s in Applied Intelligence.
Do online college credits in Pennsylvania cost more than in-person classes?
The answer to this question depends on which college you attend. Some schools offer discounted rates for online courses, whereas others charge an additional fee for online courses to help cover the cost of software licenses, technical support, etc. Pennsylvania became a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) in 2017, which means that out-of-state students who live in a SARA-participating state can take online courses from Pennsylvania schools without incurring additional fees.
Why should you choose Pennsylvania for online higher education?
From affordable community colleges to religious institutions to top public research universities, Pennsylvania offers something for every online college student. One option that stands out as a particularly appealing choice is Geneva College, where all online undergraduate students pay a flat rate of $425 per credit, regardless of state residency. Geneva offers six online bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields such as management and aging services.
The Cost of Online College in Pennsylvania
How much does an online degree in Pennsylvania cost?
The cost of an online degree in Pennsylvania depends on which institution you attend as well as the type of degree that you decide to pursue. For example, undergraduate degrees are usually more affordable than graduate degrees. Also, you’ll probably find yourself paying more for your degree if you major in a STEM field rather than the humanities.
Regardless of the cost per credit, you should also consider that you may be able to save money on indirect expenses, such as transportation, parking, and housing, by earning your college degree online.
To give you a sense of exactly how much you should expect to pay for your online education, we’ve listed the lowest and highest rates for earning an online bachelor’s degree in Pennsylvania below:
- Most affordable online college in Pennsylvania: California University of Pennsylvania – $322 per credit (in-state), $328 per credit (out-of-state)
- Most expensive online colleges in Pennsylvania: La Roche University – $1,052 per credit (in-state and out-of-state)
Source: Education Data Initiative
How long do you have to live in Pennsylvania to get in-state tuition rates?
Typically, you would be eligible for in-state tuition rates after you have lived in Pennsylvania for 12 consecutive months. Some groups, such as military veterans, tribal members, and graduate fellows, are entitled to in-state tuition rates without meeting this one-year requirement.
Who qualifies for reduced tuition costs in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program was started in 2020. It provides financial support to children who are part of the state’s foster care system. The waiver can be used at all Pennsylvania colleges and universities, including public, private, community colleges, and state-related schools.
Pennsylvania also offers a Pennsylvania State Grant program that provides funding to eligible state residents to help them afford the costs of higher education at the undergraduate level. The program is entirely based on need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Grants can be used for online programs if the college or university is located in Pennsylvania.
College Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grant Programs in Pennsylvania
If you don’t qualify for a tuition waiver or grant from the commonwealth, there are many other sources of financial support available that can help you cover the cost of college. Some of these programs are based on income, whereas others are awarded based on factors such as demographics or academic merit. We’ve reviewed a few of the most prominent scholarship options for you below:
PASFAA Scholarship
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (PASFAA) , this scholarship is for Pennsylvania residents enrolled in a degree-seeking program in a postsecondary institution of higher education. Preference will be given to applicants attending colleges and universities that are part of the PASFAA membership.
Who’s eligible? In addition to the requirements above, applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA. They must also have completed 30 credits or the hours equivalent from a postsecondary institution of higher education at the time of application.
Contact information: [email protected] | 717-573-8721
New York Women in Communications Scholarships
Also eligible to applicants from New Jersey, these scholarships are awarded to women planning to major in (or already pursuing an advanced degree in) a communications-related field at a U.S.-accredited college or university. Acceptable communications fields include advertising, broadcasting, communications, digital media, English, film, journalism, marketing, public relations, or publishing.
Who’s eligible? In addition to the requirements above, applicants should have an overall GPA of 3.2 or higher and be able to participate in an online interview.
Contact information: [email protected] | 212-251-7255
Horatio Alger State Scholarship - Pennsylvania
This is a national scholarship program named after American author Horatio Alger. In Pennsylvania, it’s funded by the Neubauer Family Foundation and Alan B. Miller and offered to students who exhibit integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity. You may begin your studies at a two-year institution and later transfer to a four-year institution.
Who’s eligible? High school seniors who have at least a 2.0 GPA, financial need, and Pennsylvania residency.
Contact information: [email protected] | 844-422-4200
First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania
This nonprofit organization oversees 15 private funds that provide scholarships to students from Pennsylvania. You only need to fill out one application to be considered for all scholarships you’re eligible for.
Who’s eligible? Although each scholarship has different criteria in terms of GPA and course of study, most require Pennsylvania residency. Most also look for strong involvement in community service, extracurricular activities, and financial need.
Contact information: [email protected] | 570-321-1500
5 Fastest Growing Careers in Pennsylvania
If you still don’t know where you will attend college, it’s also quite possible you don’t yet know what you will major in. In that case, one of the most important factors to consider is which industries are growing the fastest in Pennsylvania — this will make it easier to find a job, and more demand should also help you earn a higher salary.
By examining the Pennsylvania Occupational Employment 2018-2028 Long-Term Projections, we’ve determined that the following five industries will have the highest growth rates in the Keystone State over the next several years.
Healthcare Support
Driving the demand for healthcare support workers in Pennsylvania is the state’s aging population — the ninth highest in the nation. Within this sector, the most common occupations are home health and personal care aides, nursing assistants, and medical assistants. Other occupations in this domain include psychiatric aides, physical therapy assistants, veterinary assistants, massage therapists, and pharmacy aides. The average statewide salary for all jobs in this industry is $30,250.
- Growth: 16.2%
- Degree options: Associate in Veterinary Technology, Associate in Nursing, Associate in Dental Assisting, Associate in Clinical Laboratory Technician, Bachelor’s in Health Administration, Bachelor’s in Health and Human Services, Bachelor’s in Pre-Occupational Therapy
Personal Care and Service
The personal care and service industry is a broad sector that mostly focuses on consumer quality-of-life services across the age spectrum. In Pennsylvania, the most common occupations in this sector are child-care workers, hairdressers, and recreation workers. Other occupations include funeral attendants, makeup artists, animal trainers, and gambling service workers. All jobs in this industry have an average salary of $30,030 in Pennsylvania.
- Growth: 14.4%
- Degree options: Associate in Cosmetology, Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor’s in Recreation and Leisure, Bachelor’s in Funeral Service Management, Bachelors in Animal Behavior, Master’s in Leadership, Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Pennsylvania’s senior citizen population also contributes to its robust healthcare practitioner job market. Within this sector, the most common occupations in Pennsylvania are registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physicians, and pharmacy technicians. Other occupations in this domain include dental hygienists, speech-language pathologists, and athletic trainers. The average statewide salary for all jobs in this industry is $80,640.
- Growth: 11.3%
- Degree options: Associate in Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor’s in Nursing, Bachelor’s in Recreational Therapy, Bachelor’s in Audiology, Master’s in Genetic Counseling, Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Doctor of Medicine
Computer and Mathematics
Pennsylvania is the home of top tech companies such as SAP America and Duolingo, so it’s no surprise to see that this industry is one of the strongest in the state. Within this sector, the most common occupations are software developers, computer systems analysts, and computer user support specialists. Other occupations in this domain include information research scientists, actuaries, and web developers. The average statewide salary for all jobs in this industry is $87,970.
- Growth: 9.6%
- Degree options: Associate in Computer Science, Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity, Bachelor’s in Cloud Computing, Bachelor’s in Front-End Design Development, Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics, Master’s in Data Science, Ph.D. in Statistics
Community and Social Service
There are many job openings in Pennsylvania for professionals in the mental health, behavioral health, and substance use fields. Within this sector, the average salary in Pennsylvania is $48,360, with the most common occupations being child, family, and school social workers. Many occupations in this sector, such as community health workers and career counselors, do not require a graduate degree.
- Growth: 9.2%
- Degree options: Associate in Psychology, Bachelor’s in Psychology, Bachelor’s in Sociology, Bachelor’s in Addiction Studies, Master’s in Psychology, Master’s in Social Work, Ph.D. in Psychology