Good, Reasonably Priced Online Bachelors and Associates Degrees

An online degree program almost automatically saves you money over a traditional school, simply because you don't pay to live on the college campus. At state university schools in my home state of New York, for example, the room and board for a student costs about twice as much as the tuition for a bachelors or associates degree.
Click To List Of Reasonably Priced Bachelor and Associate Degree Schools

But while an online degree program can help you avoid the kind of whopping $200,000. four-year cost that students pay at many top private colleges today, online schools aren't necessarily cheap. And while you don't want to choose a school based only on its cost, economic conditions today make it necessary for students to be smarter than ever about finding the best possible deals on tuition.

Your local community college is probably a good place to start looking for a cheap online degree. These schools often have the best bargains on tuition. But community colleges generally give the lowest tuition rates only to local students. Since many of them offer only associates degrees or bachelors degrees in limited areas, you're likely to want to shop around further to get a good tuition deal on a program that really matches your career goals.

Flex Scheduling
Bachelors and associates degrees from online schools can be done on a accelerated basis, taking much less time to complete than a traditional program, or can be stretched out over much more than the usual two (for associates) or four years (for bachelors). Colleges that specialize in online learning tend to very flexible about a student's study schedule, because they deal with so many students who are working adults. Many distance learners actually take breaks in the middle of their education to fulfill other commitments. The leading online schools are also usually willing to allow you to transfer credits toward their programs that you may have earned previously at another school.

A Range Of Tuition Costs
While the cost of a college degree can be a bit daunting, it's worth keeping in mind that a 2007 study by The College board showed that people who have a bachelor's degree earn an average of 60% more than those who have only a high school diploma. Here's a listing of some of the more reasonably priced bachelors and associates degree programs, which you can get free information on to start doing your research on. The estimated fees here are for the 2011 - 2012 school year, and do not include books and other costs unless otherwise noted.

Baker College Baker is an affordable online school with a solid accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This not for profit college, which was founded way back in 1911, offers more than 40 different associates and bachelors degrees in specialties of:
- Business (associates, bachelors and MBA degrees)
- Computers and IT
- Health Services, Nursing & Psychology
- Criminal Justice
Get information on Baker College Online

California Coast University CCU's tuition is just $150. per credit. This 18-year old school offers 100% online courses to about 8,000 students from its headquarters in Santa Ana, CA. Total cost of your program can be reduced even further through credit transfer or various types of financial aid available. California Coast offers bachelors degrees in business, health administration and criminal justice, as well as master's degrees in education.
Get information on California Coast University Online

American Sentinel University offers bachelor degrees that are exceptionally affordable, particularly if you have previous credits to transfer in. AS' bachelor of science degree programs focus on computer science, with specializations in information technology, information systems security, game programming, geographic information systems and web design & development. Also has one of the lowest-cost nursing RN to BSN online degree programs available anywhere.
Get Free Information on American Sentinel University

Western Governors University A unique non-profit university that's 100% online, and has grown very rapidly since it was started in 1999. Two reasons for it's growth are it's good accreditation and very low tuition rates. WGU charges flat rates and not cost per credit. Tuition is less than $3,000. per term for most programs, and under $4,500. per term for nursing and MBA degree programs. Offers almost 50 different online degrees in:
- Nursing
- Education & teaching
- Computers & IT
- Business
School specializes in bachelor's and masters degrees.
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Walden University Walden University is an accredited institution with over 40 years of experience and more than 40,000 students. It offers over 60 online degree programs with more than 300 specializations and concentrations, including:
- Business
- Criminal Justice
- Education and Leadership
- Nursing
- Health Sciences
- Psychology
Get free information on Walden University

Colorado State University Global Campus This is the online extension of Colorado State's public college system. The school has high-quality regional accreditation and, unlike most state schools, does not charge a premium tuition to out of state students. The cost per credit is $350. The school also offers a great guarantee: that it won't raise your tuition while you are in school. One of the big hidden costs in college, particularly for adult learners who take more than the standard amount of time to finish a degree, is the way most schools raise tuition each year. A typical student can end up paying thousands of dollars more in the third year of school than at the start. CSU's tuition guarantee can eliminate thousands of dollars in cost, on top of the moderate tuition rate. Offers bachelor's degrees in:
- Business
- Information technology
- Organizational leadership
- Social services
- Public management
as well as master's degrees online in management and teaching.
Get free info on Colorado State University Global Campus

Penn Foster College. A school that calls itself "America's Online Community College," Penn Foster has taught over 100,000 students since it began offering degrees in 1975. It is focused on associate degree programs, and makes a big effort to stay affordable. Fees are among the lowest of all online colleges. Degrees offered online include:
- Associate in Business
- Associate in Criminal Justice
- Associate in Human Resources
- Associate in Retail Management
- Associate in Veterinary Tech
Get free information on Penn Foster College