How Long To Get Associate's Degree

The Best Online Degree Programs

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Online degree programs offer the flexibility and convenience you need to advance your studies while working a day job, raising children or juggling other elements of your busy life. Whether you're looking to earn a bachelor's degree or you're a professional wanting to advance your career by earning updated certifications, there's a range of different degrees and major options available from accredited online colleges to suit your needs and goals. Learn about the best online degree programs to consider as you prepare to enroll.

Oregon State University

Oregon State University offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs online on its "Ecampus," which was ranked as the fifth-best online degree program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The institution's online program also features unique certificate and associate courses for students who want to pursue professional development or continuing education. Oregon State offers more than 20 online undergraduate programs in fields like political science, anthropology, horticulture, sustainability and business administration. The graduate-degree program offerings include several MBAs, and you can also opt for degrees in subjects like environmental sciences, public health and engineering.

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Ohio State University

Ohio State University offers more than 40 online degree programs through its Ohio State Online platform. What's unique about this online school is that students can undergo a test-drive program through which they get a feel for what it's like to take an online course before deciding whether or not to enroll. Ohio State also provides an online readiness assessment you can take that will help you determine how prepared you are to pursue higher education in an online setting. The degree offerings here are diverse and range from associate's degrees to doctoral degrees to professional certificates in fields like business, nursing, engineering and social sciences.

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Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University's distance education program offers mixed-course degrees that blend online classes and in-person instruction — but, according to the college, the majority of education is completed online. This may be the right option for you if you don't want to miss out on some of the social aspects of the college experience but want more time to yourself to work or attend to other important facets of your life. Online coursework here focuses on subjects like nursing, public health, engineering, business, law, geosciences and education.

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Utah State University

With over 500 online courses, it's easy to find a program you're interested in at Utah State University's online campus. This school is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report has having some of the top online bachelor's and graduate degrees and for being one of the best programs for veterans due to its extensive participation in federal initiatives that help vets and active-duty service members complete degrees. When you take online classes with Utah State, you also gain access to face-to-face tutoring sessions via the school's online platform. These one-on-one online conversations allow you to benefit from coaching and mentoring as you develop plans for achieving your goals.

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California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania's online offerings are heavily geared towards students who want to pursue careers in law, law enforcement, criminal justice and science, but it does include a variety of social science and language degrees among its bachelor's, master's and doctoral options. With degrees and certificates in subjects like applied criminology, homeland security, threat assessment and management, and forensic accounting, this school is a top choice if you're interested in working (or already have a career) in a variety of law and justice fields.

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Southeast Missouri State University

Southeast Missouri State University runs its online program on a platform called Southeast Online, which offers a plethora of online bachelor's degrees in fields like applied technology, healthcare management, nursing and business administration, among others. The college also offers graduate courses in fields like criminal justice. Southeast Online is ideal if you're looking to pursue a career in K-12 teaching. Many of its courses are geared toward educators, and it boasts a number of certifications and specialist degrees in topics like child advocacy studies, teaching kids who are on the autism spectrum, K-12 reading specialization and teacher leadership.

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Colorado State University

Colorado State University's online program is focused on providing online students with rich experiences by taking them through courses with the same faculty members who teach the students who attend school on-campus. A large number of traditional degree programs are available in fields like business administration, agriculture and journalism at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. But where this university really shines is with some unique offerings; you can earn a Ski Area Management Certificate if you're interested in resort operations.