The 25 Largest Public Colleges with Online Bachelor’s Programs

Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University (WVU, est. 1867) is the most affordable (by average Net Price) of the 25 largest public universities with online bachelor’s degrees selected for this list. It can boast winners of prestigious scholarships and prizes, including Rhodes, Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, Boren, Gilman and many more, each awarded in multiples and even dozens. Over a dozen of its graduate programs were ranked in the top 100 for 2018 by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), as well as programs in previous years. Other recognition includes: USNWR (Best Online Programs for Veterans, with three graduate programs in the top 3 or 5); Victory Media/ GI Jobs (Military Friendly School – 2017 and previous years); Military Times (Best for Vets: College – 2017 and previous years); plus international rankings from CWUR (Center for World University Rankings) and ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities).

WVU offers a considerable 340+ majors across bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees. Its Online division has eight certificates, 20 minors, 30+ degrees, and 600+ courses — which includes five online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Studies (BSCDFS); BS Business Administration – General Business (BSBA); Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMDS, student chooses three minors); BS Nursing – RN to BSN (blended/ hybrid, completion); Regents Bachelor of Arts (RBA) with 33 areas of emphasis (AOE) and no limit on AOEs or minors. Graduation requires at least 120 credits for these online programs.

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University (FAU, est. 1961) is part of the State University System of Florida, serving students on six campuses and online. While it was established in 1961, it actually opened in 1964 by then President Lyndon Johnson, on the site of a former U.S. airbase with a radar training school. FAU is the 2nd most affordable institution in this list of largest public colleges offering online bachelor’s degrees. It has earned a range of awards and recognition including from: Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2018 and previous years); U.S. News & World Report (USNWR Best Online Graduate Programs 2018 and other years, for multiple topics including nursing, business, and more; Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for Veterans 2017 – #1 in Florida); Bloomberg Businessweek (top public universities – #27 2016 for part-time MBA); Florida Board of Governors (top-performing public university in the state 2016); Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (AY2009-10 – #12 nationally for most bachelor’s degrees awarded to African-American students, and #28 similarly for Hispanic students).

FAU’s academic offering covers associate’s through doctorate level degrees (over 170 degree programs across 10 colleges), plus certificates — including 11 online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS); Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with four major options (Accounting, Marketing, Management with a Concentration in Leadership and Applied Managerial Skills, with a minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management); BA Criminal Justice (BACJ); BA Geography (BAG); BS Nursing – RN to BSN (BSN, completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA); BS Computer Science (BSCS); Bachelor of Public Management (partially online).

Tampa, Florida

University of South Florida (USF, est. 1956) is the main campus in the USF system and also a member of the State University System of Florida. USF, a top-50 research university (as per TARU – Top American Research Universities), is the third most affordable institution in this list of largest public colleges offering online bachelor’s degrees. It counts amongst its Points of Pride highly-awarded faculty, top student scholars (Fulbright, Gillman, Boren, tec.), and recognition as a top-50 “best values in public higher education” college (2016, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance). U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranked them #68 in publics and #140 amongst all American universities in 2018, and nine graduate programs ranked between #2 and #36 in the same list — with additional rankings in previous years, including for online graduate programs. Both USNWR (2016) and Military Times (2018 – #1 publics) ranked USF in veteran-positive lists, including for specific topics. These reasons and numerous additional awards/ rankings contributed to ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities) designating USF as top-300 worlds best colleges/ universities candidate (2017). Both Sierra Club and The Princeton Review ranked the university for sustainability/ green initiatives (2017). The USF System as a whole ranks 5th for public universities with the most granted U.S. patents (as per the Intellectual Property Owners Association/NAI, 2016).

USF’s 14 colleges collectively offer over 180 undergrad majors and concentrations (associate’s through doctorate degrees as well as certificate programs). Undergrads have seven online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Science in Applied Sciences (BSAS) with two majors (Information Studies, Public Health); BS Information Studies (BSIS); BS Information Technology (BSIT); BS Nursing, RN to BS (BSN, completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); BS Applied Sciences – Criminal Justice (BSAS-CJ); Bachelor of Arts in Criminology (BAC). Graduation requirements include completion of at least 120 credits.

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University-Bloomington (IU, est. 1820) is the primary campus of the eight-campus Indian University System and has a long history of prestige and accomplishment that includes awards such as “Tonys, Oscars, Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, Emmys, Grammys, Olympic medals, Guggenheims, and Fulbrights.” U.S. News & World Report ranked IU #1 for four graduate programs, including their online MBA, while Kiplinger deemed IU a “Best Value” and ranked it #33 for public colleges on the basis of “in-state value,” as well on their list of 300 Best College Values 2018.

IU Bloomington offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — over 200 undergrad majors and over 550 academic programs in total. Online programs for all IU campuses are offered through the IUOnline division. While 18 online bachelor’s programs are offered across all IU campuses, one of these is available only at non IU Bloomington campuses, leaving 17 online options at IUB: Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science (BSAHS); Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS); BS Business Administration (BSBA); BA or BS Communication Studies (BACS, BSCS); BS Criminal Justice (BSCJ); BA English (BAE) in Technical and Professional Writing; BS Health Information Management (BSHIM); BS Health Sciences (BSHS); BS Informatics (BSI); BS Labor Studies (BSLS); BS Mathematics (BSM); BS Medical Imaging Technology (BSMIT); BA Natural Science and Mathematics (BANSM) – Mathematics Concentration; BS Nursing, R.N. to B.S.N. (completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); BS Political Science (BSPS); BS Psychology (BSP). Additional courses may be available for IUB students.

Greenville, North Carolina

East Carolina University (ECU, est. 1907), a part of the prestigious University of North Carolina System, enjoyed record enrollment in Fall 2017 (over 29K students). Enrollment is diverse, and recognized as so by Insight into Diversity magazine, who awarded ECU in multiple years with inclusion on their Higher Education Excellence in Diversity list. Other awards/ recognition for ECU includes: Social Mobility Index (top 100 in 2016); Washington Monthly (Best Bang for the Buck Colleges Southeast and other rankings, 2016); Victory Media (Military Friendly School Gold Award 2017, Military Spouse Friendly School 2017); Princeton Review (multiple rankings in 2017, including Best Southeastern College, Best Business Schools (Southeast and national), Best Medical Schools); U.S. News (2018: Best Colleges – Online Bachelor’s Programs; topical graduate and online graduate rankings; Top Public Schools; National Universities; rankings in other years).

ECU’s 12 colleges/ schools offer 175 degree programs (bachelor’s through doctorate levels) and 80+ certificates. Of the 40 online degree programs available, undergrads can choose from 23 online bachelor’s degree options (all of which are completion programs requiring previous college credit or even a specific associate’s degree): Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with five Concentrations (General Business, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Operations and Supply Chain Management), BS Communication (BSC), BS Education (BSE) with five majors (Birth – Kindergarten Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Special Education), BS Health Information Management (BSHIM), BS Health Services Management (BSHSM), BS Hospitality Management (BSHM), BS Industrial Distribution and Logistics (BSIDL), BS Industrial Technology (BSIT) with six Concentrations (Bioprocess Manufacturing, Health Information Technologies, Industrial Distribution Logistics, Industrial Supervision, Information and Computer Technology, Manufacturing Systems), BS Nursing: RN to BSN (requires RN licensure), BS University Studies (BSUS, interdisciplinary, hybrid – may require some on-campus presence).

Miami, Florida

Florida International University (FIU, est. 1965) is part of the State University System of Florida. It claims the tile of “Miami’s First Public Research University” and is an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI, 61% of students). The student population (all levels) at FIU has been increasing yearly since AY2011-12 through AY2017-18. The university makes an effort to help qualified students by offering tuition coverage if their expected family contribution on FAFSA for is zero. Other claims, awards and recognitions include: having the only underwater ocean lab in the world; multiple grad programs ranked by USNWR (U.S. News & World Report) in the top 100 in 2018, up to #15 (grad International Business); ranked #7 in USNWR’s 2017 Best Colleges – International Business; as well as Forbes, Washington Monthly, United Nations and Brookings Institute (upward social mobility for students).

FIU offers associate’s through doctorate level degrees and certificate programs. There are 34 online bachelor’s degree options, including Track/ Concentration options: Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies (BAAS); BA Communication Arts (BACA) – Organizational Communication Studies Track; Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ); BS Early Childhood Education (BSECE) – Early Childhood Development Track; Bachelor of Business Arts (BBA) with six Concentration options (Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing); BS Health Services Administration (BHSA); BS Hospitality Management (BSHM) with five Track options (general, Event Management, Hotel Lodging Management, Restaurant and Food Service Management, Travel and Tourism Management); BA International Relations (BAIR); BA or BS Information Technology (BAIT, BSIT); BA Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS); BA Latin American and Caribbean Studies (BALACS); BS Nursing: RN to BSN (completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); BA Political Science (BAPS); BA Psychology (BAP); Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA); BS Public Relations, Advertising and Applied Communication (BSPRAAC); BS Recreation and Sport Management (BSRSM) with two Track options (Pre-Recreational Therapy/ Adaptive Recreation, Recreation and Sport Management); BA Religious Studies (BARS); BA Spanish (BAS); BA Sociology/ Anthropology (BASA) with two Track options (Anthropology, Sociology); BA Sustainability and the Environment (BASE); BA Women’s and Gender Studies (BAWAGS).

Logan, Utah

Utah State University (USU, est. 1888) — part of the Utah State University System — serves students three regional campuses, one regional college, 28 learning centers/ extension offices, plus through USU Online. Awards and recognition include rankings from: U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges – Online Bachelor’s Programs 2018 – #5 nationally, #1 statewide; plus 2017 and other years; Veterans Bachelor’s 2017); Washington Monthly (National Universities Rankings 2017 – #5 public); Forbes (America’s Best Value Colleges – #2 2017); Princeton Review (Guide to Green Colleges); Tree Campus USA; STARS/ AASHE (Silver for sustainability); LEEDS (two Platinum certified buildings – for energy and sustainability).

USU’s eight colleges collectively offer associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — nearly 160 undergrad degrees, 110+ minors and 110 grad degrees. Bachelor’s students have seven online degree options: Agribusiness; Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education (CDDE) with two track options (regular, 2nd BS); Economics; Family Life Studies; Liberal Arts; Psychology. Graduation requires 120 credits minimum. Other options for undergrad students include 16 online minors and 10 online certs.

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa (UI, est. 1847) is on a bike-friendly, tree-lined campus, in a city that ranks #5 in best college towns (American Institute for Economic Research, 2017) as well as #2 Best Places to Live (Livability.com). Princeton Review ranked UI #9 for Happiest Students — 95% of whom either find a job or continue into advanced studies within six months of graduation. Part of the reason for student happiness and the 86% freshman retention rate might have to do with IU’s career services, which Princeton Review ranked #14 in their Best Career Services list.

Other rankings and recognition: U.S. News & World Report (top 25 business schools; #31 Best Public Universities; Best Colleges for Veterans 2016 and other years; 11 grad programs ranked in the top 10; best public universities 2016, Best National Universities – #34 2016); Fiske Guide to Colleges (Best Buy list for over a dozen straight years); Victory Media (Military Friendly Schools 2015). Milestones for UI include: first university in the state; first to admit men and women of all races “on an equal basis;” “first university to broadcast educational TV;” Van Allen radiation belts named after UI Professor James Van Allen; first U.S. co-ed medical school; site of creation of the Gallup Poll and the ACT college admissions test; and dozens of other milestones.

IU’s 13 colleges (including Graduate College, University College and the Distance and Online Education division) collectively offer over 200 academic programs and 5,000+ courses (yearly), with 40 distance and online programs, and 600+ distance and online courses. Undergrads have 18 online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) with four optional Emphasis areas (Creative Writing, Human Relations, Justice Studies, Political Science); Bachelor of Arts in Enterprise Leadership (BAEL); BA Political Science (BAPS); Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with Management major/ Entrepreneurial Management track; Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) with six Track options (Expression in Writing and Arts; Family, Community and Social Support; Global Studies; Health and Human Studies; Justice and Ethics; Organizational Studies); Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management (BSSRM); BS Nursing – Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN, completion); BS Radiation Sciences – RT to BSRS (completion) with three modality options (CT, CV, MRI). A minimum 120 credits completed is a requirement for graduation. BAS and BLS students can have no more than 60 prior college credits or an associate’s degree to transfer towards a bachelor’s degree.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University (NAU, est. 1899) serves students on 22 campuses plus NAU Online. It has seen “220% growth rate in admissions applications since 2003,” leading PolicyMic to recently rank it as the 15th most popular American university. The student population is fairly diverse, earning it at least three ranking awards: Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (#11 for awarding undergrad degrees to Native American students, #55 for awarding undergrad degrees to Hispanic students); Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education (#53 for awarding undergrad degrees to Hispanic students). Additional rankings sources include: -Military Times (Best for Vets: Business Schools – multiple years); Princeton Review (The Best 296 Business Schools for 2013); U.S. News & World Report (Best Graduate Schools – topical, multiple years), amongst many others. Campus sustainability initiatives have earned the university a Gold rating from AASHE/ STARS (one of only 40 American universities), as well as a place on Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges,” plus a $1M grant from NSF (National Science Foundation) to “increase public awareness of global climate change,” amongst other goals.

NAU’s eight colleges collectively offer over 150 degrees (bachelor’s through doctorate level). Undergrads can choose from 44 online bachelor’s degree options, including a choice between a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science) for most study areas. With far too many programs to list here, here are some of the study areas/ concentrations: Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, Emergency Management, Justice Studies, Business Administration, Career and Technical Education, Communication Studies, Computer Information Technology, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Medical Imaging and Therapy, Medical Assisting, Paramedic Care, Physical Therapist Assisting, Public Health, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Speech-Language Sciences and Technology, BS Nursing – RN to BSN, Parks and Recreation Management, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology. Graduation requirements include completion of 120 credits or more. Note that some programs require an associate’s degree for admission.

Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida (UFL, est. 1853), part of the State University System of Florida, offers a reduced tuition rate for Florida residents taking online courses (nearly half of the residential rate). The university has a number of milestones, the most famous of which is arguably the creation of “Gator-Aid” (now Gatorade) by the College of Medicine in 1965. Awards, rankings and other recognition include: U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges – Online Bachelor’s Programs -#12 2018 and other years; #9 2018 Best Public Research Universities; plus various topical rankings -undergrad and graduate); Forbes (Best Value Public Colleges – #4 2017, #2 2016); Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (Best Values in Public Colleges – #2 2018 (#1 statewide), #2 2015 and previous years); Bloomberg Businessweek (MBA rankings – #24 2017 publics, and other years); Princeton Review (Top 25 Online MBA Programs 2018, #4 public); The Economist (Which MBA 2017 – #5 public); Financial Times (Online MBA – #2 2017, plus other years); Washington Monthly and others.

UFL’s 16 colleges offer associate’s through doctorate level degrees, and certificate programs. There are over 200 degree programs online (undergrad and grad), including 19 online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (BAA); BA Biology (BAB); BA or Bachelor of Science Business Administration (BABA, BSBA); BS Communication Sciences and Disorders (BSCSD); BS Computer Science (BSCS); BA Criminology (BAC); BS Environmental Management (BSEM); BS Fire and Emergency Services (BSFES); BA Geography; BA Geology ; BS Health Education and Behavior (BSHEB); BS Microbiology and Cell Science (BSMCS); BS Nursing (BSN, completion – for working RNs); BA Psychology; BS Public Relations; BA Sociology; BS Sport Management; BS Telecommunication Media and Society.

Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University (TTU, est. 1923) serves students on this campus, seven regional teaching sites, and online, and is part of the Texas Tech University System, which has other main campuses. The campus has enjoyed record enrollment for eight straight years including Fall 2017, as well achieving HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) status, with nearly 28% of undergrads being LatinX. As well, Fall 2016 marked a record number of African-American students, with more than a 60% increase since 2010. This diversity earned it a Diversity Champion designation from INSIGHT Into Diversity (2017). TTU faculty have earned 37 Fulbright Scholar awards over a decade, and students earned four in 2017 alone.

In 2013, TTU was amongst the first institutions to earn a Purple Heart Universities designation, and later ranked for “best for veterans.” Other awards and recognition include: U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs 2018 – topical undergrad and graduate; Top Public Universities – #95 2017; National Universities – #176 2017); Washington Monthly (#101 Top Research Universities 2017, #142 Top National Universities 2017); Forbes (Best Value Colleges 2017 – #115 Top Colleges Public); Money Magazine (#261 Best Colleges for Your Money 2017); Payscale.com (Return on investment 2017 – #21 amongst Carnegie high-research institutions, #46 publics, #146 all); and other rankings.

TTU’s 12 colleges/ schools offer bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Fully online degree programs number over 100, including seven online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science in Agricultural Leadership (BAAS-AL, completion – requires associate’s degree); Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in University Studies (BAUS, BSUS); Bachelor of General Studies (BGS, custom specialization incorporating three study areas); BS Early Child Care (BSECC); BS Human Sciences (BSHS); BS Plant and Soil Sciences (BSPSS). Graduation requirement include completion of at least 120 credits. Undergrads also have seven online minors or concentrations from which to choose.

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida (UCF, est. 1963), part of the State University System of Florida, serves students at this main campus and a dozen other campuses (including regional), plus online. UCF has significant diversity, with nearly 45% of the student body in a Minority category as of Fall 2016. One-quarter of undergraduates are First-Generation college students, and 44% of undergrads “graduate debt-free.” Fourteen Fulbright Scholars are in the ranks of graduate students. Recognition and rankings for UCF include: U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs – Bachelor’s #16 2018 and Veterans Bachelor’s #13 2018; Most Innovative 2018; various graduate topical rankings); Princeton Review (Best Value Colleges; #2 graduate video game design program); Kiplinger’s (Best Values in Public Colleges); Forbes (most affordable colleges); Washington Monthly and others.

UCF has more than 210 degree programs in 13 colleges, including over 80 online degree (associate’s through doctorate level) and certificate programs. Undergrads have 24 online bachelor’s degree options: BA Anthropology (BAA); BA Communication and Conflict (BACC); BA or BS Criminal Justice (BACJ, BSCJ); BA English (BAE) with three majors (Creative Writing, Literature, Technical Communication); BS Health Informatics and Information Management (BSHIIM); BS Health Services Administration (BSHSA); BA History (BAH); BA or BS Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS, BSIS); BA International and Global Studies (BAIGS, BSIGS); BA Latin American Studies (BALAS); BA or BS Legal Studies (BALS, BSLS); BS Nursing – RN to BSN (completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); BA Political Science (BAPS); BS Psychology (BAP); BA Religion and Cultural Studies (BARCS); BS Social Sciences (BSSS); BA Sociology (BAS); BS Technical Education and Industry Training (BATEIT)

Ann Arbor, Michigan

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich, est. 1817) — the oldest university in the state (celebrated 200th anniversary in 2017) — is the main campus of the UM System. Author Richard Moll deemed it a “Public Ivy” (1985) with academic characteristics of private Ivy League universities such as Yale, Columbia, Princeton, etc., but with more affordable public institution tuition. Part of the reason is due to faculty/ students/ alumni being collective winners of prestigious awards including Emmy, Guggenheim, MacArthur Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize, National Academy of Science, Sloan, and more, and UMich is in fact the leader nationally for Fulbright and Sloan fellowships for several years running.

Other recognition for UMich’s overall offering comes from publishers/ organizations such as: U.S. News & World Report (2017 undergraduate – #4 Public University, #28 National University; 2017 top ten graduate programs in 97 topics); National Science Foundation (#1 U.S Public Research University); Forbes (#7 Top Public Schools); QS World University Rankings (#1 U.S. public university); Money Magazine (#2 best colleges for the money); Washington Monthly and others.

A long list of notable alumni graduated from UMich, including actors/ filmmakers/ playwrights/ screenwriters, athletes, astronauts, architects, designers, entrepreneurs, chef/ restaurateurs, doctors, educators, writers and many other categories.

UMich’s 19 schools/ colleges offer 260 degrees (bachelor’s through doctorate levels), plus certificate programs. The university is fairly new to offering online undergraduate programs, offering seven online bachelor’s degree options (mostly completion programs), with some yet to launch, in Fall 2018: Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS, completion program for any AAS concentration); Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, completion) with three Majors (Accounting, General Business, Marketing); Bachelor of Science in Nursing – RN to BSN (BSN, completion program for registered nurses; fully online); BS Respiratory Therapy (BSRT, fully online with one M-Flex course); BS Substance Use Treatment and Intervention (BS-SUTI, fully online). The majority of these programs are degree completion (requiring associate’s degree or equivalent), with the exception of the last two. For graduation, these programs require a minimum 120-124 credits, depending on selection. Additional non-program-specific courses (credit) are available online, as well as non-credit Coursera and edX/ MichiganX online courses.

Fort Collins, Colorado

Colorado State University-Fort Collins (CSU, est. 1870) — part of the Colorado State University System — claims nearly half of undergrad students (43%) graduate without debt, while the rest owe an average of $23K — resulting in CSU being tops for the lowest graduate debt. Campus sustainability initiatives earned CSU an STARS/ AASHE Platinum ranking — first in the world, as well as recognition from Sierra Club (Cool Schools), Princeton Review (The Best 381 Colleges 2017; Guide to Green Schools – #4) and other organizations. Bike-friendliness earned it a Platinum ranking from the League of American Bicyclists (1 of 5 universities).

Other awards/ recognition: Military Times (Best Colleges 2018 – # 5 public universities national and #7 national; #4 Best for Vets: Colleges – Public 2017; plus other years, including topical rankings); Victory Media (Military Friendly School); Forbes (Top Colleges 2016); Fiske (Fiske Guide to Colleges 2017); Kiplinger (Best College Values 2016 – top 100 publics); U.S. News & World Report (America’s Best Colleges – #61 publics 2017; 2016 Best Graduate Schools topical; top 100 positions for various topical rankings nationally – undergrad and graduate, including specific programs ranked best for veterans); Washington Monthly and others.

CSU’s eight colleges collectively offer bachelor’s through doctorate degrees and certificate programs. Undergrad students have nine online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business (BSAB); Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (BAA); BA Economics (BAE); BS Fire and Emergency Services Administration (BSFESA); BS Horticulture (BSH); BS Human Development and Family Studies (BSHDFS); BA Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts (BAILA); BS Psychology (BSP). Graduation requirements include completion of a minimum of 120 credits.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMN, est. 1851) is part of the University of Minnesota System, which includes this main campus plus four others, and online. Awards granted to UMN’s faculty and alumni include Guggenheim Fellowships, MacArthur Fellowships, and Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes, one of the latter going to musician/ writer Bob Dylan (alumni) for Literature. Students at UMN have earned Fulbright awards and contributed to the university ranking sixth (national, public, 2015-16) in number of these awards. For just over 20 years, undergrads have seen a doubling of four-year graduation rates, and freshman retention rate at this campus has grown for three years to just over 93%. These are just some of the milestones that UMN has enjoyed, and they in turn have earned rankings in college review lists published by Forbes, Washington Monthly, U.S. News & World Report.

UMN offers bachelor’s through doctorate level programs, plus certificates. Undergrad students have a choice of 21 online bachelor’s degree options (17 fully online and four partially online): Bachelor of Applied Health (BAH); Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology (BASP); Bachelor of Arts in Tribal Administration and Governance (BATAG); Bachelor of Manufacturing Management (BMM) with two concentrations (general, Quality Management); BS Accounting (BSA); BS Agricultural Business (BSAB); BS Applied Studies (BSAS); BS Communication (BSC); BS Entrepreneurship (BSE); BS in Finance (BSF); BS Health Management (BSHM); BS Information Technology Management (BSITM); BS International Business (BSIB); BS Management (BSMgmt); BS Marketing (BSMktg); BS Sport and Recreation Management; BAS Manufacturing Operations Management (BASMOM); BS Medical Laboratory Sciences (BSMLS); Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies (BMS); Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Note: the last four programs are partially online. Some programs may require on-campus presence. A minimum 120 credits are required for graduation.

Columbia, Missouri

University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou, est. 1839), part of the University of Missouri System, has had over a decade of record enrollments, with the average graduation time being 4.2 years. Mizzou claims the prestige of being only 1 of 60 universities with membership in the AAU (Association of American Universities), based on overall “quality of teaching, research and scholarship.” Faculty members back up the prestige of Mizzou by publishing over “1,600 books and scholarly articles” yearly, and spend nearly $240M in yearly scientific research. As a Yellow Ribbon School, tuition discounts are available for qualified military personnel, including for online programs. Victory Media ranked Mizzou a Military Friendly School in 2017, 2016 and other years. The university also enjoys other rankings, including: U.S. News & World Report (2018: Best Online Programs for both bachelor’s and grad levels; various topical rankings including Business).

Mizzou’s 18 colleges/ schools collectively offer 300+ degree programs (bachelor’s through doctorate levels), plus certificate programs. With over 100 online programs and over 1,000 online courses, 11 online bachelor’s degree options are available for undergrad students: Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM); Bachelor of General Studies (BGS); Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (BAIS); BA or Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BABA, BSBA – both completion); Bachelor of Educational Studies (BES); Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHS); BHS Radiologic Science (BHSRS, completion); BHS Respiratory Therapy (BHSRT, completion); BS Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society (BSECE); BS Nursing – RN-to-BSN (BSN, completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing). A minimum of 120 credits is required to graduate.

Tucson, Arizona

Founded before Arizona became a state, sun-drenched University of Arizona (UA, est. 1885) has a long reputation for innovation and discovery, winning many awards and achieving numerous milestones. This includes: Nobel-Prize-winning faculty members; having Arizona’s first and only public health college; a world-first Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (1975); a U.S.-first Department of Hydrology and Water Resources (water science); home of the first BA Law program in the USA; founding of tree-ring research; being a world-class university (as per Center for World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities) and many more.

UA is an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), with just over 25% of freshmen in AY2014-15 being Hispanic/ Latinx. Other diversity statistics including ranking #1 in the U.S. for Native American PhDs awarded, and #38 for Hispanic/ Latinx PhDs awarded. Other rankings: Payscale (#1 Arizona publics for undergrad salary potential); Wall Street Journal (#1 Most engaged university in Arizona); Forbes (America’s Best Value Colleges; #1 Best College in Arizona); Princeton Review (Top 200 Colleges That Pay You Back); Washington Monthly (top 100 Best Bang for the Buck); Money Magazine (top 25 accessible institutions for aspiring STEM students); U.S. News & World Report (top 15% of best online bachelor’s programs; nearly two dozen undergrad and graduate topical rankings over multiple years, including #1 and other top-5 spots).

UA offers bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Over 80 fully-online degree programs are available, including 31 online bachelor’s degree options: Administration of Justice; Africana Studies; Arts, Media and Entertainment; Business Administration; Care, Health, and Society; Communication; Cyber Operations; Early Childhood Education; Economy and Industry; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Geographic Information Systems Technology; Global and Intercultural Understanding; Government and Public Service; History; Human Services; Informatics; Information Science and eSociety; Intelligence Studies; Law; Literacy, Learning and Leadership; Meteorology; Nutritional Sciences; Organizational Leadership; Philosophy: Ethics Specialization; Psychology; Public Health; Regional Commerce; Science, Technology, Health and Society; Social, Behavioral and Human Understanding; Sports and Society; Sustainable Built Environments.

Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw State University (KSU, est. 1963) serves students on two campuses and online, with sustainability initiatives that led Princeton Review to rank the university on their Green Colleges list. It has a top national admissions yield rate (2018 – #1 Georgia, #13 national), and its diversity in the student population has earned it several awards: Diverse: Issues in Higher Education (2016); Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award; Diversity Champions. KSU is also a military-friendly institution, ranked as a “Military Friendly School” by Victory Media, and a “Best for Vets – Colleges” candidate by Military Times. Other rankings from: Bloomberg BusinessWeek; U.S. News & World Report (2018 Best Online Programs – bachelor’s programs, plus graduate topical rankings including MBA and Computer Info Tech, First-Year Experience, National University).

KSU’s 13 colleges/ schools, including the new School of Government and International Affairs (est. 2018), offer associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificates – over 150 programs in total. Of these, over 70 are fully online or hybrid degree and certificate programs. Undergrads have 14 online bachelor’s degree options to choose from: Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security and Assurance (BBA-ISA); BBA Management; BBA Marketing; Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Information Technology (completion – requires AAS); Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT); BS Cybersecurity eMajor (BSC); BS in Industrial Engineering Technology (BSIET); BS Integrative Studies (BSIS); BAS Manufacturing Operations (BASMO, completion – requires AAS); BAS Supply Chain Logistics (BASSCL, completion – requires AAS or AAT); Bachelor of Arts in Geography (BAG); BS Political Science (BSPS); BS Psychology (BSP); BS Sociology (BSS). Minimum credit requirements for graduation in these programs range from 120 to 126 credits. Programs requiring an AAS or AAT refer to either an Associate of Applied Science or an Associate of Applied Technology degree from “a member institution of the Technical College System of Georgia.” Undergrads also have a choice of seven online certificates and 17 online minor options, as well as general education courses offered online.

Pullman, Washington

Washington State University Pullman (WSU, est. 1890) is the main campus of the WSU system, serving students on five campuses and online, plus extension centers and four main research centers. The latter contribute to WSU’s inclusion in a list of 115 American universities (public or private) designated by the Carnegie Classification for “high research activity.” While the university is not designated an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution), students now have access to a “fully translated student financial services website in Spanish.” WSU’s Hispanic undergrad student population has more than doubled over seven years to 14.1% (as of Fall 2016). Rankings/ recognition for WSU include: Money Magazine (50 Colleges that Add the Most Value -#4 2016, #37 Best Colleges); Campus Pride (Top 25 LGBT Friendly Colleges and Universities); Victory Media (2017 Military Friendly School); U.S. News & World Report (various topical rankings in multiple years, including online MBA; #19 Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans 2016); Forbes; Washington Monthly; and others.

WSU’s 11 colleges offer degree and certificate programs in over 200 fields of study, which includes nearly 100 undergrad majors and nearly as many minors and in-major specializations. WSU Online is one the oldest online learning programs in the U.S. Undergrads have a choice of 12 online bachelor’s degrees plus concentrations, for a total of 32 options: Criminal Justice; Data Analytics; Economic Sciences – Business Economics option; Hospitality Business Management; Human Development with two optional certificate options (Gerontology or Early Childhood Education); Humanities with 11 Concentration options (American Studies, Anthropology, Communication, Comparative Ethnic Studies, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Language and Cultures, History, Music, Philosophy, Women’s Studies) and two Plans (A and B, with two and three Concentrations, respectively); Integrated Strategic Communication; Management; Management Information Systems; Social Sciences with 12 Concentration options (Administrative Studies, Anthropology, Communication, Comparative Ethnic Studies, Criminal Justice, Economic Sciences, History, Human Development, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies); Psychology. Graduation requirements include a minimum of 120 credits.

Norman, Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma-Norman (OU, est. 1890) is the primary campus of the three-campus University of Oklahoma System (OUS). OU also serves students online and has a presence in Mexico, Brazil and overseas in Italy. The student body includes nearly 30 Rhodes Scholars, and Latino Leaders Magazine ranked OU in the top 50 best colleges for Latinx students. The university has awards/ rankings/ recognition from the likes of: U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs 2018 (#9) and 2017, most affordable online bachelor’s programs in-state 2018, Best Veterans Bachelor’s 2017, plus topical rankings); Military Times (Best Colleges – #84 2018); Princeton Review (tops for “excellence and cost”); Insight Into Diversity (Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award – Diversity Champion 2017); Forbes; Washington Monthly; Academic Rankings of World Universities (ARWU) and others.

OU offers 170+ degrees (bachelor’s through doctorate level) plus certificate programs, and online programs are offered through the College of Liberal Studies, including six online bachelor’s degree options: Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Leadership (BAAL); BA Liberal Studies (BALS); BA Lifespan Care Administration (BALCA); BA World Cultural Studies (BAWCS); Bachelor of Science in Aviation (BSA); BS Criminal Justice (BSCJ). Graduation requirements include completion of 120 credits.

Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University (GMU, est. 1949) serves students on three US campuses, a learning center, a Korean campus, and online. It claims to be “the largest public research university” in the state, by student population. Recognition for GMU includes that from: Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2017); Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine (ranked in 100 Best Values in Public Colleges over multiple years); Forbes (America’s Best College Buys/ Best Value College – multiple years); Fiske (Fiske Guide to Colleges 2017 – top 21 best buys public); Washington Monthly (best four-year colleges for adult learners – #5 2018); Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2016); Academic Rankings of World Universities (top 200 universities worldwide, top 100 U.S. plus topical rankings; additional rankings in various years); U.S. News & World Report (campus diversity 2018, top 100 colleges for veterans, various topical rankings).

GMU’s 10 schools/ colleges offer bachelor’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Over 50 online/ hybrid programs available include six online bachelor’s options: Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) with three Concentrations (Cybersecurity; Health, Wellness, and Social Services; Technology and Innovation); Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT, hybrid; also has completion track for students with an associate’s degree); BS Management (BSM); BS Nursing (RN to BSN Pathway, completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing). Note: some of these options are part of the Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program.

Kent, Ohio

Kent State University (KSU, est. 1910) is part of the KSU System (KSUS), with eight Ohio campuses, plus learning centers elsewhere in the USA and four international campuses. KSU serves students at the Kent main campus, and online. Originally established for teacher training, Kent has established itself as a research university, with nearly 200 active U.S. patents, over a dozen Pulitzer Prize winners, and a claim to creating LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays, 1966) that were once ubiquitous in consumer electronics, digital watches, calculators and more. Awards/ recognition include: Victory Media (Military Friendly School 2018); U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges – first-tier Best National Universities 2018 and previous years).

Kent’s 13 colleges/ schools/ divisions — including the Office of Continuing and Distance Education — collectively offer over 280 undegrad programs and 300+ degrees at all levels (bachelor’s through doctorate) across the entire KSU system. Kent students have 17 online bachelor’s degrees options including concentrations: Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses (RN to BSN, completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing); Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies (BTAS) with nine optional concentration (Applied Business, Computer Technology Application Development, Computer Technology Applied Computer Security and Forensics Technology, Computer Technology General, Computer Technology Internet/Multimedia, Computer Technology Networking, Fire and Emergency Services Administration, Fraud Examination, Industrial Security, Nonprofit-Human Services); BS Insurance Studies (BSIS); BS Public Health (BSPH) with four Concentration options (Allied Health, Clinical Trials Research, Health Promotion and Education, Health Services Administration); BS Respiratory Care (BSRC).

Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University (OSU, est. 1868) serves students on two campuses, several dozen extension offices, plus online. It lays claim to being the top “public research institution in the state,” and Corvallis has a reputation for safety and sustainability/ green-consciousness. Recognition and awards for OSU include that from: U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs Bachelor’s – top 10 2015-2018, topical grad programs, Best Global Universities – top 2%); Fiske (Fiske Guide to Colleges – top 44 Best Buy Schools in 2016); Princeton Review (top 125 in the West); Center for World University Rankings (top 1% of degree granting institutions worldwide).

OSU’s 13 colleges/ schools collectively offer 200+ undergrad and 100 grad degrees (bachelor’s through doctorate levels), plus certificate programs. Of these, over 45 are online programs (undergrad, grad; over 100 subjects and 1,100 classes), including 32 online bachelor’s degree options across 22 study areas: BS Agricultural Sciences; BA or BS Anthropology; BA or BS Business Administration; BS Computer Science (2nd bachelor’s only); BA or BS Economics; BS Environmental Economics and Policy; BS Environmental Sciences; BS Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences; BA French; BA German; BA or BS History; BS Horticulture; BS Human Development and Family Sciences; BA or BS Liberal Studies; BS Natural Resources; BA or BS Political Science; BA or BS Psychology; BS Rangeland Science; BA or BS Sociology; BA Spanish; BA or BS Sustainability (double degree only; BA or BS Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Graduation requires completion of at least 180 quarter credits.

Cincinnati, Ohio

University of Cincinnati (UC, est. 1819), part of the University System of Ohio, caters to a student population that is comprised of more than a quarter (27%) first-generation college students. Milestones for UC include being home to the creation of Benadryl and contributing to the defeat of polio. Awards and recognition include that from: INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine (Excellence in Diversity Award 2017); Money magazine (elite value in higher education); Washington Monthly (national universities); Forbes (world’s most beautiful college campuses); Academic Ranking of World Universities (top 200 universities worldwide); Princeton Review (green universities; best business schools; Best 378 Colleges 2014; Best 373 Colleges 2011); U.S. News & World Report (Best Online Programs – Bachelor’s #35 2018; Best Online Programs – various topical grad programs 2018; #68 Top public school 2018; Best National Universities 2018 -#63 publics, #133 national; additional rankings in other years, including for veterans); Bloomberg Businessweek; and others.

UC’s 14 colleges/ schools offer associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs. Undergrads have over a dozen online bachelor’s degree options, several of which are completion programs requiring an associate’s degree — and possibly professional licensure — for admission: BSHS Health Information Management (completion); BSHS Behavior and Occupation Studies (completion); BS Medical Laboratory Science (completion); BS Respiratory Therapy (completion); BSW Social Work (completion); BS Interdisciplinary Studies; BS Radiation Science Technology (completion); BS Early Childhood Education [Birth-Age 5; PreK only licensure]; BS Criminal Justice; BS Substance Abuse Counseling; BS Information Technology; BS Fire Science Technology (some hybrid courses); RN to BSN (completion – requires associate’s degree in nursing). Note: some programs may require registration at an UC regional campus. In general, UC considers online students to be Ohio-resident, but out-of-state students pay a surcharge of $15/credit.

Amherst, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMA, est. 1863) is the main campus of the University of Massachusetts System. It is an LGBT-friendly, military-friendly, and research-heavy institution (#3 for NSF grants, behind MIT and Harvard) with students who have earned Fulbright, Goldwater, Beinecke and other scholarships. Campus Pride ranked UMA as a “best campus” for LGBT students, and Military Times ranked it a Best for Vets Business Schools. Other rankings and recognition include: Money magazine (most bang for the buck); Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine (Best Values in Public Colleges – top 100 in 2018 and eight previous years); Businessweek (#1 Public Business School in the Northeast); U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges – Online Bachelor’s Programs and bachelor’s programs for veterans 2018; Best Colleges – National Universities Public top 30 2018; additional rankings in other years); Forbes; Washington Monthly; Academic Ranking of World Universities; Financial Times; and others.

UMA’s 12 schools and colleges offer associate’s through doctorate level degrees, plus certificate programs — numbering over 240 degree programs in total. Undergrad students have two ways to find online bachelor’s programs. One is UMA’s University Without Walls (UWW) — offering 100% online degree completion programs for adults. The second way is to search for options by the department you are interested in. UWW offers a dozen areas of study, plus a “design your own” degree option: Advocacy and Social Justice; Applied Psychology; Arts Management; Business Studies; Children’s Learning and Development; Criminal Justice Studies; Early Care and Education; Health Studies; Human Services; Journalism Studies; Sustainability Studies; Writing.