1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Distance Learning

Inclusive Directory to Online Programs

If you're looking for an online program, check out a few of these great sites.
Harvard Extension School Profile
Harvard Extension School students can choose from over one hundred online courses taught by Harvard's distinguished faculty. Classes at Harvard Extension School tend to be challenging and require a significant time commitment.
Penn State Online Profile
Penn State Online, also known as Penn State World Campus, offers dozens of programs in subjects such as business, teaching, and criminal justice. Most Penn State Online courses follow the traditional academic calendar, running between 12 and 15 weeks each. Students graduating from Penn State Online receive the same diploma as traditional Penn State students.
AT Still University of Health Sciences
AT Still University of Health Sciences has built its online program on the strength of practical healthcare disciplines for college graduates. Distance learning revolves around a quarter system, enabling attendees to earn a master's degree in 1.5 years (at the rate of two classes per quarter) in Still's Arizona School of Health Sciences.
Baker College Online
Baker College Online bills itself as a career-focused college. While the school's Blackboard system is online 24 hours a day for students to listen to lectures, discuss content, and complete assignments, the school sets regular deadlines for students to get the work done.
Bellevue University Online
Bellevue University Online offers liberal arts and vocation-focused programs year-round, with all-day online access. Students can take classes, discuss lessons and complete research, earning a degree at their leisure within a prescribed timeframe.
Boston University Online
When studying at Boston University Online, students can complete the coursework at their own speed, as long as they meet deadlines designed to push them along at an acceptable pace. Dedicated students usually have enough time to take two courses per semester, one course after the other.
Bryant & Stratton College Online
Bryant & Stratton, a workplace-focused college, has distilled more than 150 years of teaching experience into its online program. Students use software called TopClass to navigate the 7.5-week classes, all conducted in a virtual classroom.
Chamberlain College of Nursing Online
Registered nurses can augment their credentials at Chamberlain College of Nursing Online within a year by earning a BSN online in just three semesters.
Champlain College Online Profile
While Champlain College Online touts the flexibility it offers in its career-focused online education, the college says students should be willing to dedicate 13 to 14 hours per week to "attending" class and doing assignments. Distance-learning classes are spread over six sessions per year.
Eastern Kentucky University Online
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the master's program in homeland security has become a cornerstone of Eastern Kentucky University's online curriculum. Overall, the distance education branch serves more than 10,000 students.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Online
Open only to college graduates, the The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Online offers both a broad curriculum for generalists and the opportunity to focus on a niche.
Everest University Online
Up to 80% of the online classes at Everest University focus on what students can apply in the professional world, making it a practical avenue for obtaining a degree at the associate, bachelor's or master's degree levels.
Stanford Center for Professional Development Profile
The Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) offers students the opportunity to take online courses led by Stanford’s distinguished faculty. SCPD students can enroll in graduate-level courses, certificate programs, and master’s degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and engineering.
Fielding Graduate University Online Profile
Fielding Graduate University seeks to attract adults in mid-career for master's and doctorate programs in the schools of Psychology, Human and Organization Development, and Educational Leadership and Change.
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences Online Profile
Florida Hospital College is arming candidates in those growing ranks with an online bachelor's degree. The faith-based school -- the campus is at Florida Hospital of the Adventist Health System -- runs on the trimester system.
Gonzaga University Online Profile
The ability to handle two three-credit courses per semester can enable Gonzaga University Online students to make steady progress toward a highly regarded master's degree. Gonzaga was recently ranked third among master's universities in the West by US News and World Report.
Graceland University Global Campus Profile
Graceland University developed its virtual global campus in 2005, and it's quickly becoming the school's most popular educational arm. Graceland focuses its online degrees on two service-oriented fields: nursing and teaching.
Herzing College Online Profile
Herzing College Online has made a deep commitment to distance learning with nearly two-dozen undergraduate degrees and a select choice of master's degrees in business administration.
Franklin University Online Profile
Franklin has a full catalog of undergraduate majors in practical disciplines such as business and computers, plus a master's business track. Classes are offered from 15 weeks in duration down to a speedy three weeks.
Iowa Central College Online Profile
A two-year school that focuses on providing job skills and laying the foundation for a bachelor's degree, Iowa Central allows students to complete an associate degree online. The school also has a few correspondence courses, done through the U.S. mail.
Marist College Online Profile
Marist College focuses its online programs on master's degrees and degree-completion for undergraduates. The school's eCourses are open to qualified students around the world.
Mountain State University Online Profile
Mountain State University embraces an accelerated online education program, guiding students through back-to-back eight-week classes in a 16-week semester. The university's Blackboard CE and WebCT virtual classrooms are equipped with everything students need: instructor access, assignments, a discussion room and a schedule of due dates.
National American University Profile
National American University's broad curriculum and inclusive entrance standards provide a welcoming platform for most students. Attendees must finish the work within the eight- and 11-week courses, but there's plenty of wiggle room in that time frame.
New England College Online Profile
A small liberal arts institution with a flexible admissions policy, New England College has incorporated distance learning into the majority of its programs. Its exclusively online format is aimed largely at graduate students who tend to be working professionals.
Norwhich University Online Profile
Norwich University's online graduate studies focus on peer interaction at a brisk pace. A basic load for students to take is one six-credit seminar every 11 weeks, putting them on pace to complete their master's in 18 to 24 months. The school touts the learn-on-your-own-time flexibility of its graduate programs, a departure from Norwich's more regimented undergraduate military bent.
Rasmussen College Online
With a full menu of associate degrees plus select options for a bachelor's degrees, Rasmussen College Online has positioned itself as a viable step into higher education. The college devises the curriculum to suit the working world, assuring the career-minded that their academic pursuits will have professional relevance.
Saint Leo University Center for Online Learning
Many of Saint Leo's associate, bachelor's and master's studies are primarily aimed at building professional competence. The online branch now boasts more than 5,000 graduates from programs in business, law enforcement and technology.
University of Cincinnati Online Profile
The University of Cincinnati devised its menu of distance-learning options primarily from health care, education and criminal justice. In keeping with its distance-learning roots, begun in 1984, Cincinnati continues to offer fire science programs as well.
Winston-Salem State University Online Profile
Winston-Salem State University often blends distance learning with other modes of course delivery. However, transfers from within the state of North Carolina can finish a multipurpose bachelor's degree completely online. Online master's degrees are available in health care -- some with clinical obligations.
Tiffin University Online Profile
Tiffin University welcomes scholars, students who have yet to prove themselves, and established adults alike. Its schools of arts and sciences, business, and criminal justice and social sciences generate degree opportunities for distance learners at the associate and master's levels.
Tulane University Online Profile
A master's certificate in business program highlights Tulane University's distance-learning options. Students receive streaming-video lectures from the same faculty that teaches at Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business, ranked among the top 50 business schools annually by U.S. News and World Report.
Villanova University Online Profile
Villanova reaches out to working professionals with online certifications intended to turbocharge the climb up the corporate ladder -- or strengthen the foothold at the top. The university stakes its reputation -- a No. 1 ranking by U.S. News and World Report in the north region -- on its professional education certificate program.
Cambridge College Online Profile
Blended distance-learning supports Cambridge College's mission to reach out to working adults. The school offers some courses that are fully online and some that are conducted nearly half on the web. Most programs require in-person interaction.
Keiser University eCampus Profile
Keiser University's eCampus caters to students hoping to quickly parlay their degrees into better positions in the workforce. Nearly two-dozen associate and bachelor's options, plus three graduate degrees, are available online. They're aimed at fields that are often in high demand such as computers, business and health care.
Excelsior College Profile
Excelsior College is one of the "big three" online schools known for giving life experience credit. Excelsior College has a generous credit transfer policy and create an individual degree completion plan for each student enrolled. Students at Excelsior College may get credit for their current knowledge and life experience by taking exams or completing portfolio assessments.
Florida Tech Online Profile
Florida Institute of Technology’s distance learning division, commonly known as Florida Tech Online, offers highly-regarded degrees in the fields of science and business. Students enrolled in Florida Tech Online are able to receive undergraduate and graduate degrees from a respected brick-and-mortar university, without stepping foot on campus.
Argosy University Profile
Argosy University is a collective of 19 campuses across the United States, with a strong distance learning division focusing on business, education, and psychology. Argosy University is targeted towards working adults with busy lives.
Strayer University Profile
Strayer University is a network of campuses and online programs designed for adult learners with full time jobs. Strayer University actively works with students to apply transfer credits from other colleges, exams, professional certifications, portfolio learning, and the military.
Walden University Profile
Walden University is an online school offering undergraduate and graduate level programs in fields such as education, health, and management. Students can complete Walden University’s asynchronous online coursework at any time, as long as they meet the scheduled weekly deadlines. Most Walden University courses include discussions, readings, and research assignments.
Grand Canyon University Online Profile
Grand Canyon University is a brick-and-mortar Christian school offering online degrees in the fields of education, business, nursing / health science, and liberal arts. Students enrolled in Grand Canyon University Online complete two courses each semester, focusing on only one course for each half-semester period.
Jones International University Profile
Jones International University was the first 100% online college to be granted regional accreditation. Students enrolled in Jones International University take structured online classes with weekly deadlines. Each week, students must complete a virtual instruction unit, read the assigned materials, participate in a message board discussion, and work on a paper or project.
National University Profile
National University is a private, non-profit university system offering dozens of online programs in addition to its brick-and-mortar courses held on California campuses. Online students at National University take one class per month. National University’s programs are highly interactive with streaming videos, real-time discussions, multimedia learning material, and class chat rooms.
Charter Oak State College Profile
Charter Oak State College is one of the “big three” non-traditional colleges offering flexible degree completion opportunities. Charter Oak allows students to earn personally-tailored degrees by transferring credits from regionally accredited schools, taking exams, proving life experience, and taking online courses.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Online Profile
Worcester Polytechnic considers its distance education another conduit to deliver the same rigorous course content. The school's Advanced Distance Learning Network programs revolve around business, technology, engineering and fire safety.
Ashford University Profile
Ashford University is an Iowa college offering online associates, bachelors and masters programs in an accelerated format. Ashford University students take only one course at a time, and each course lasts between five and six weeks. Transfer students are permitted to apply up to 99 credits to their degrees, making it possible for some at Ashford University to graduate in a year or two.
Western Governors University Profile
Western Governors University is a non-profit virtual college founded by the governors of 19 western states. Western Governors University offers highly personalized bachelors and masters degree programs primarily through competency assessments. Unlike most colleges, Western Governors University requires no coursework – instead, students prove competencies through writing assignments and exams.
American InterContinental University Online (AIU Online) Profile
American InterContinental University is a regionally accredited college system with six campuses, both in the United States and abroad. Its virtual division, AIU Online, offers accelerated associate, bachelor, and master degrees. AIU Online students take one or two multimedia courses during each five-week class session.
Northcentral University Profile
Northcentral University is a regionally accredited for-profit online college with headquarters in Arizona. NCU offers bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees – all 100% online. Northcentral University is known for flexibility in admissions requirements (not asking for standardized test scores) and teaching schedules (no set class times or residencies).
Drexel Online University Profile
Drexel Online is a subsidiary of Drexel University, a reputable brick-and-mortar college in Pennsylvania. Drexel Online's virtual programs are aimed primarily at working professionals. Classes consist of online multimedia material, email discussions, chat boards, and chat rooms. Each Drexel term is only ten weeks long, designed to help students stay focused and on-track.
Online Azusa Pacific University Profile
Azusa Pacific University is a respected brick-and-mortar California college offering accredited online masters’ degrees, certificates, and bachelor completion programs. Azusa Pacific degrees can be earned online or though online / in-class blended learning. Azusa Pacific is an independent college and maintains affiliations with five Christian churches and organizations.
University Of Massachusetts Online (UMassOnline) School Profile
The University of Massachusetts Online offers virtual degree programs from respected and established traditional colleges. Students can enroll in online classes from University of Massachusetts campuses such as Dartmouth, Amherst, Boston, Lowell, and Worcester. Many UMassOnline programs can be completed with no residency.
Thomas Edison State College Profile
Thomas Edison State College is known as one of the “big three” colleges that make it convenient for students to transfer previously earned credits, receive credit via testing, and earn credit for life experience. TESC classes are offered online and through independent study.

Explore Distance Learning

About.com Special Features

A Smarter Future

Tips that will help finance your education, excel in the classroom, and advance your career. More >

How to Ace the GRE

Being well prepared is the first step; here are more essential suggestions. More >

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Distance Learning
  4. Online College
  5. Online Program Directory

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.