The 7 Best Universities Offering Online Learning

When it comes to education, there is no one right way to do it, and in the modern world of today, this is truer than ever. You can now easily get a decent education online and without ever having to leave the home, and that is something that a lot of people are availing themselves of more and more. Of course, a big part of that decision will always be choosing the right institution to learn through, as this will make a huge difference to the quality of the education in question.

With that in mind, here are some of the very best universities offering online learning. Any of the following could be exactly what you are looking for, and you might find that they are certainly worth considering for your next step in education.

1. University of Melbourne Online

Australia’s number one university offers an online educational service that is truly one of the best in the world. The University of Melbourne Online gives you a chance to take full control of your online learning experience, where you can choose to tune into lessons in real time or at a time that suits you. It’s up to you whether you take a break or accelerate your learning, but in any case you are going to find that the quality of the teaching is second to none. It’s an easy and complete online learning service, and easily one of the best in the world.

Best For

• Studying alongside other commitments – courses are structured into eight-week blocks to ensure you have plenty of breathing room for everything else in your life.

2. Penn State World Campus

A long-standing leader in online education, from way back when the Internet was in its infancy, Penn State offers an online arm of over 200 programs that are still going strong. You’ll find it a hugely impressive offering, and one that ranks well in US News and World Report across various disciplines, including number one in online bachelors in Psychology and number two in master’s in Media Design. Whatever you choose to study, you are going to feel that you are really in amongst the best of the best, and with a service that is top of its game still after all these years.

Best For

• Although it offers a wide range of courses, some of the finance MBAs and Engineering courses are particularly well-revered, so it’s certainly worth looking into if that is your study area.

3. Oregon State University Ecampus

More and more universities are starting to open up campus style learning, and Oregon State University is one of the original in these. It’s still going strong too – the online bachelor’s programs here have consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally for 11 consecutive years, and they hold high spots in fields like Psychology and Business in the rankings that really matter. So for those disciplines in particular you are going to find that Oregon is a really good place to consider all in all.

Best For

• Anything to do with business is likely to be a very good education here, and you will not regret studying through the Oregon Ecampus for that qualification.

4. University at Buffalo (SUNY)

Some places actually do offer fully online bachelor’s degrees, but few of them do it well. However, SUNY Buffalo must surely be on the list here, claiming the top spot in News rankings. You might not have considered Buffalo for your degree, but it is well-respected and does genuinely offer an incredible educational program that you are going to find incredibly useful to behold. So it’s one that you should consider adding to your list if you want to keep your options open.

Best For

• Having the trust and confidence of a well-respected institution behind you. You can be sure of a high quality of education if you go through SUNY Buffalo, whatever you choose to study.

5. University of Central Florida

While it might not admittedly be your first choice in person, for online learning the University of Central Florida is actually one of the best out there. Offering a huge amount of breadth and flexibility, UCF’s online system stands out for sure – you’ve got over 130 programs, strong retention at around 92%, and a 77% graduation rate, which is a very strong rate for an online campus. This is definitely something you’ll want to consider if you are keeping your options open and you are not concerned with labels of prestige.

Best For

• The tuition rates at UCF are incredibly budget-friendly, so it’s a great choice if you are looking at trying to reduce your outgoings a little as a student.

6. Western Governors University

You may not have heard of WGU, but it’s actually proving to be quite a popular and well-constructed institution with a strong online showing. This is an education model built around competency-based learning, and it delivers flexible pacing, recognised accreditation, and scales effectively for working professionals – with around 157,000 students at present and growing. It’s definitely a choice to consider.

Best For

• If you are balancing your education with your working life, this could be the ideal institution for you to consider.

7. University of London

The University of London is obviously one of the best all-round universities in the world. It is also, as it happens, an early adopter of distance education, and one of the pioneers of this form of teaching. It offers globally accessible degrees through partnerships with elite institutions like LSE and UCL, and serves over 50,000 students from around 190 countries. In this sense, it’s a genuinely modern and international student base, which can be hugely rewarding.

Best For

• Who said online learning can’t have a little prestige attached? That’s exactly what you’ll get here.

Those are just some of the best universities offering online learning that you may want to consider. Depending on your subject, any of these could be exactly the place that you are booking for in your educational needs.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.