After finding a selection of universities that offer an appropriately accredited and credentialized program, the next consideration is its cost. Traditional colleges can cost $20,000 or more per year, which is well beyond what most working adults can afford. Online degree programs, on the other hand, are much more affordable, and are often times 25-50% less expensive than traditional programs are, making online degrees programs an affordable option. When deciding on an online university make sure you are aware of all costs associated with your degree program, because while some programs may have a smaller per credit cost, additional fees and monetary requirements may end up making the total cost more expensive then you can handle.
The University of Phoenix has straightforward pricing. They charge an application fee of $110 and have a base price of $450 per credit hour. Books and software are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials. Professional testing is also required in addition to the program materials and courses provided by this school, and all costs associated with these professional tests are the responsibility of the student and are in addition to the costs stated above.
Capella University has a $75 application fee, a $350 per credit hour fee, and a $350 graduation fee. Books and software are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials.
WGU has the most associated fees of the three featured programs. They charge $65 for their application fee, $288 per credit hour, a library fee of $45 per term, an $800 Demonstration Teaching Fee, and an $1900 Internship Teaching Model Fee. Like the other two programs featured in this article, books and materials are not included in the tuition price, and students should budget out between $150 and $200 per course for books and materials.