7 Gigantic Colleges and Universities Who Now Offer Classes Online

Online education was once the jurisdiction of non-accredited trade schools and small programs in community colleges. But that is no longer the case. Where students were once able to take perhaps one to five of their major university classes online or in a hybrid, Internet/classroom plan, undergrads can now earn an accredited four-year degree without setting foot on campus. And many of the colleges offering these degrees are known the world over for challenging curriculum, outstanding staff and turning out bright, competent graduates.

Here are seven gigantic universities which now offer classes online.

The Pennsylvania State University

Penn State has always been a pioneer in distance learning, launching one of the nation’s first correspondence courses in 1892. The well-respected state school has come a long way since then, offering dozens of certificates and degrees that can be earned entirely online. Penn State boasts online instruction that exactly matches on-campus learning, and the degrees are indistinguishable to employers. See Penn State’s World Campus for more information.

University of Florida

Gator Nation’s Distance Learning program serves up fifty programs for online learners, covering business, agriculture, design, construction, journalism, engineering and many other topics of study. From the certificate to Doctorate, UF provides opportunity.

Arizona State University

ASU is known for its online program, having been in the game before many of the colleges on this list. Their program offerings are diverse and include areas of study unique, or at least rare, to online colleges. Their Film and Media Studies degree is a good example. See ASU’s Online Programs.

Drexel University Online

Philadelphia’s Drexel University is known as a top-notch arts and technology school, and their online program offers over ninety certificates and degrees that are indistinguishable from those earned on campus. Home to top-ranked business and education programs, this prestigious university is worth your time to research.

Portland State University

Ranked as one of the “Best in the West” by Princeton Review, Portland State University has a well-respected online system that facilitates degrees in education and criminology. To ensure that the quality of an online education closely resembles that of a more traditional education, PSU uses a faculty-approved teaching rubric known as Quality Matters, which students can also view.

Colorado State University

CSU’s Global Campus provides plenty of online-only options, including degrees in business management, social sciences, criminology, healthcare, public communication, information technology, finance and many other fields. The school’s online headquarters are located in Greenwood Village, just outside of Denver.

edX and Coursera

If you’re looking for online courses from prestigious institutions but don’t have funding, take a look at edX and Coursera--two collaborative online learning programs that offer world-class instruction for free. These programs won’t confer credit, but learning from the best instructors at Harvard and MIT might be reward enough.

These days, learning online isn’t a back-up option or second choice. Many top-tier schools offer degrees via strictly distance learning. The pride and accomplishment once reserved for those who could afford (whether financially or otherwise) to earn a degree on campus are now available to all, as the educational system is being democratized by online education.