Cheapest Online Degrees by Field

Why it tends to be affordable

High demand has created competition among online providers, driving tuition down. No laboratory or clinical requirements.

Accreditation to look for

AACSB (best), ACBSP, IACBE for business-specific. Regional accreditation for the institution.

Common careers

Operations manager, financial analyst, marketing manager, entrepreneur

FAFSA eligibility

Yes - most programs

Why it tends to be affordable

Strong employer demand means many schools compete for students. Coursework is delivered entirely online with no physical lab requirements.

Accreditation to look for

ABET accreditation for CS/IT-specific programs. Regional accreditation for the institution.

Common careers

Systems analyst, network administrator, cybersecurity analyst, software developer

FAFSA eligibility

Yes - most programs

Why it tends to be affordable

Administrative degrees do not require clinical placements, keeping costs lower than nursing or allied health programs.

Accreditation to look for

CAHME accreditation for healthcare management programs. Regional accreditation for the institution.

Common careers

Hospital administrator, practice manager, healthcare consultant, health systems director

FAFSA eligibility

Yes - most programs

Why it tends to be affordable

High number of online education programs from public universities keeps competition strong and tuition relatively low.

Accreditation to look for

CAEP or state department of education approval for teacher prep programs. Regional accreditation for the institution.

Common careers

Teacher (requires state licensure), instructional designer, corporate trainer, curriculum developer

FAFSA eligibility

Yes - and often eligible for TEACH Grant ($4,000/yr for qualifying programs)