We all know that exorbitant tuition fees have discouraged many to pursue, and even complete their academic degrees. But with the advent of online education, distance learning, open universities and colleges, not only is accessibility of education being addressed but affordability as well. Relative to traditional schools, there are online colleges and universities that provide more affordable options for the individual, because the indirect costs are reduced.

Tuition in online institutions vary greatly, depending on the degree or program offered as well as the online institutions themselves. There are a few cases when the fees in online courses are similar for those of on-campus classes. For most courses, a tuition fee is charged by the credit hour although there are also institutions who charge by the term or semester. The range for tuition fees goes from as low as $175 to as high as $3000 per credit hour.

For instance, an online Masters of Engineering degree in the University of Illinois in Chicago goes for $560 per credit hour, while a BS Information Technology degree in Cappella University charges about $290 per credit hour or $870 for a 3-credit course. Baker College Online boasts of cheaper tuition fees compared to other online schools in the U.S., with their undergraduate programs going for $175 per credit hour.

Sometimes online schools have different fees as well for residents and non-residents of a certain state. The University of West Florida as an example charges $110 per credit hour if you’re a resident of Florida, and for non-residents $526. For those seeking a career in the military, security, public administration or government service, American Military University on the other hand offers a flat fee of $250 per credit hour for all their online degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. There are of course other fees to consider like application ad registration fees, “library” fees, graduation fees and other miscellaneous charges that the different online schools may charge.

For students wishing to explore their option of taking an online degree it would help to study and compare the tuition fee schemes of the different online institutions. The schools usually provide their fees on their web sites or you can contact them directly to inquire. Online schools are also required to provide options for student loans, financial aids, grants and scholarships much like the traditional schools, so that you are also offered these resources to help you map out a payment scheme that you can afford and manage.

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