What’s the Best Online Undergraduate Degree?

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Distance learning is becoming more popular as students are realizing how flexible these online programs can be. At one time, your options were rather limited, but today, there are hundreds of degree programs, many of which are accredited, to legitimize your education. The growing demand for these programs means that more and more degrees are being offered in a virtual setting, making it more common and much easier to continue our education without having to give up your career or jeopardize time with your family. This is allowing more working adults and parents to study online toward their degree. What are the best online undergraduate degree programs?

According to reports, some of the most popular majors for students in online programs include:

Business
Education
Engineering
Nursing
Public Health

These are not by far your only options; these are just some of the more common. The best online undergraduate degree for you will be a program about which you feel passionate. Luckily, due to the increase in popularity, more and more degree options are becoming more available. Many well-known campus colleges offer online degree programs as well, so this gives students more flexibility if some of their classes may not be offered online. Another option in this case would be to do some sort of combination of online and on-campus courses, if your schedule allows. Here are some of the fastest-growing options:

Business: Business is a popular degree area online because many people are choosing to go back to school for their MBA after working in a job for a number of years. With online learning, you can take classes at your own pace and at times that are convenient for you, so you can still continue to work at the office full time. Along with MBA programs, there are degrees for undergraduates in this area, including business communications, accounting, information technology, global business management, and e-business. Even if you already have one bachelor’s degree, adding another to your resume can help qualify you for higher-paying jobs in a global arena.
Engineering: Engineers are in high demand across the country. Online, you can get your engineering degree for just a fraction of the cost, and you can complete the degree faster than you’d be able to complete it at a campus. Some of the fastest growing fields in engineering include game and simulation programming, networking, computer information systems, and software development. Check with potential schools to find out which engineering programs they offer online.
Legal: Online schools have been pushing criminal justice degrees for many years, and this still remains one of the most popular options for students. If you’re interested in law, though, there are other undergraduate degree programs as well. Check out degrees in security, computer security, computer management, or legal administration. You can even go on to get your Juris Doctorate online.
Health: Many of today’s nurses got their degree online. Along with nursing, medical-related programs in medical transcription, health care management, psychology, health administration, and medical assisting are growing in popularity. With the shortages in health care workers across the country, getting a degree online quickly is attractive to people looking for a career change. In addition, many hospitals will pay for your education if you agree to accept their job offer when you graduate. Some even offer tuition reimbursement programs if you are currently working in the medical field and want to continue your education. This may be done in exchange for a certain number of years of employment with that company.

Other degree programs rising in popularity online include interior decorating, construction management, hospitality and restaurant management, and visual communications. At one time, having a degree from an online institution didn’t carry much weight on a resume, but today, employers are beginning to realize that most programs give students a quality education, as long as they are properly accredited. Choose a degree program from an accredited school, and you’ll find that you’re just as qualified as anyone who graduates from a traditional college.

Best Online Undergraduate Schools

Obtaining an undergraduate degree, either an associate's or a bachelor's, from an accredited college or university will open many doors to new and lucrative careers. The following schools offer undegrad degree programs across a wide array of subjects, including business, education, healthcare, art, and more.

Associate's Degrees Bachelor's Degrees Master's Degrees	Kaplan University — Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degrees. Kaplan University enjoys a good repuation as one of the largest accredited online undergraduate universities in the country. Degrees from Kaplan are available in a wide variety of fields, ranging from nursing to business to technology, and more.
Associate's Degrees Bachelor's Degrees Master's Degrees Doctoral Degrees	University of Phoenix — Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate Degrees. The University of Phoenix is the largest private university in the United States, with almost 200 campus-based locations in addition to an enormous online presence. Simply put, Phoenix has become synonymous with top quality online undergraduate degrees.
Bachelor's Degrees Master's Degrees Doctoral Degrees	Walden University — Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD Degrees. Offering accredited online degree programs in criminal justice, science, business, health, nursing, and more, Walden University is an ideal candidate for any working professional looking to advance his/her career to the next level.
Associate's Degrees Bachelor's Degrees Master's Degrees	Ashford University — Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degrees. Experience a new way of learning through the innovative online experience at Ashford University that integrates engaging curricula, modern digital tools, a vibrant online community, and cherished tradition.At Ashford, you get the feel of a traditional college campus with effective online learning. Your education at Ashford University is a shared experience that unites you with students and faculty around the world.
Associate Programs Bachelor's Programs Master's Programs	DeVry University — Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's Degree programs. With 95+ campuses across the U.S. and in Canada, DeVry University is well known as a leader in online education, offering courses of study in most degree programs, including business, technology, and liberal arts.