How Much Do Online Degrees Typically Cost?

The cost of earning an online degree—including tuition and fees—will vary from school to school. It is actually a common misconception that online degrees are always cheaper than traditional degrees, as some online degrees can cost more than traditional degrees at some private 4-year universities in your area. However, other online degree programs will cost much, much less, so it pays to do your homework and choose an online university with the best balance of quality and affordability. Here we will discuss some examples of tuition costs at some of today's top online universities to give you an idea of how much an online degree typically costs.

Online education leader Kaplan University charges $371 per credit hour as of June 2010 for students pursuing an online bachelor's degree in business administration resulting in a total tuition cost of $66,780, according to Kaplan's website. However, your costs can be greatly reduced if you transfer in credits from another school for a degree completion program. For instance, an online bachelor's degree in business administration from Memorial University will only run you much less at $85 per credit hour .

The real savings come from going to school from home. The costs you will always miss out on by choosing an online degree over a traditional degree are the costs associated with student housing & dorm life, relocation & moving expenses, gas for the commute, and meal plans, which is why choosing an online degree can actually save you money. You will also never need to pay amenity fees for gym or recreation center usage, for example, or any sort of facility fee when you earn your degree online, because everything you are paying for is related directly to your education, not your "college experience."

If the above-mentioned tuition costs sound expensive to you, remember that an overwhelming majority of online students receive financial aid in the form of grants, loans and tuition reimbursement programs offered through their work. Federal student loans are available to help meet the needs of students who wish to attend accredited online schools. Representatives in the financial aid offices of the online school you choose are available to help guide you through the process of applying for various forms of financial aid.