When planning your future, college and degree choices are important. Impactful News has scoured the data provided by Niche.com’s powerful college research tools to compile a list of the top online post-secondary institutions for aspiring students from middle-class backgrounds.
Niche uses an in-depth analysis process based on multiple variables, including student and professor reviews, statistics on affordability, graduation rate, post-graduation averages, safety reviews, and more. Each of the following schools earned a Niche score of B- or above, meaning they all offer high-quality programs, good reviews, and impressive graduation and post-graduation statistics.
Impactful News organized these schools based on tuition cost, ranking from most affordable to least. All mentioned have tuition rates under $10,000 and student populations composed primarily of middle-class students. Each offers courses and degree programs in a convenient virtual format.
Online Colleges for Middle-class Students
University of South Florida – Sarasota-Manatee
- Tuition + fees: $2,734
- Location: Sarasota, FL
- Acceptance rate: 24%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 958
- Graduation rate: 47%
- Median earnings: $43,500
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
California State University – Dominguez Hills
- Tuition + fees: $4,683
- Location: Carson, CA
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 23:1
- Enrollment: 12,451
- Graduation rate: 48%
- Median earnings: $44,700
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
Indiana University – Northwest
- Tuition + fees: $5,453
- Location: Gary, IN
- Acceptance rate: 82%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
- Enrollment: 2,476
- Graduation rate: 32%
- Median earnings: $36,300
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
Brigham Young University – Idaho
- Tuition + fees: $6,871
- Location: Rexburg, ID
- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Enrollment: 18,832
- Graduation rate: 56%
- Median earnings: $42,700
- Two-year employment rate: 78%
Fayetteville State University
- Tuition + fees: $7,016
- Location: Fayeteville, NC
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 3,959
- Graduation rate: 36%
- Median earnings: $31,200
- Two-year employment rate: 88%
Louisiana State University – Alexandria
- Tuition + fees: $7,302
- Location: Alexandria, LA
- Acceptance rate: 64%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 24:1
- Enrollment: 2,066
- Graduation rate: 31%
- Median earnings: $33,700
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
University of Texas – Permian Basin
- Tuition + fees: $7,424
- Location: Odessa, TX
- Acceptance rate: 88%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: 2,004
- Graduation rate: 41%
- Median earnings: $46,100
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Franklin University
- Tuition + fees: $7,658
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 1,204
- Graduation rate: 42%
- Median earnings: $48,500
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Utah Valley University
- Tuition + fees: $8,184
- Location: Orem, UT
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 27:1
- Enrollment: 19,413
- Graduation rate: 32%
- Median earnings: $43,800
- Two-year employment rate: 85%
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Tuition + fees: $8,276
- Location: Durant, OK
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 2,349
- Graduation rate: 31%
- Median earnings: $35,800
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
Marshall University
- Tuition + fees: $8,387
- Location: Huntington, WV
- Acceptance rate: 89%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
- Enrollment: 7,002
- Graduation rate: 50%
- Median earnings: $35,600
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
University of West Florida
- Tuition + fees: $8,452
- Location: Pensacola, FL
- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 6,559
- Graduation rate: 48%
- Median earnings: $38,900
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
California State University – San Bernardino
- Tuition + fees: $8,492
- Location: San Bernardino, CA
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 23:1
- Enrollment: 14,580
- Graduation rate: 59%
- Median earnings: $44,500
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Indiana University – East
- Tuition + fees: $8,676
- Location: Richmond, IN
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 1,916
- Graduation rate: 45%
- Median earnings: $31,200
- Two-year employment rate: 87%
Louisiana State University – Shreveport
- Tuition + fees: $8,676
- Location: Shreveport, LA
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
- Enrollment: 1,719
- Graduation rate: 37%
- Median earnings: $35,700
- Two-year employment rate: 89%
University of Texas – El Paso
- Tuition + fees: $8,758
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1
- Enrollment: 14,632
- Graduation rate: 44%
- Median earnings: $40,000
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Western Governors University
- Tuition + fees: $8,786
- Location: Salt Lake City, UT
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 31:1
- Enrollment: 104,919
- Graduation rate: 47%
- Median earnings: $41,900
- Two-year employment rate: 87%
Florida International University
- Tuition + fees: $8,988
- Location: Miami, FL
- Acceptance rate: 59%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Enrollment: 27,551
- Graduation rate: 67%
- Median earnings: $46,300
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
Peirce College
- Tuition + fees: $8,993
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 225
- Graduation rate: 16%
- Median earnings: $46,500
- Two-year employment rate: 85%
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
- Tuition + fees: $9,209
- Location: Fort Smith, AR
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 3,811
- Graduation rate: 31%
- Median earnings: $31,000
- Two-year employment rate: 88%
Indiana University – South Bend
- Tuition + fees: $9,446
- Location: South Bend, IN
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
- Enrollment: $3,350
- Graduation rate: 38%
- Median earnings: $34,900
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
North Carolina A&T State University
- Tuition + fees: $9,541
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Acceptance rate: 57%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 18:1
- Enrollment: 9,933
- Graduation rate: 52%
- Median earnings: $34,700
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
San Jacinto College
- Tuition + fees: $9,625
- Location: Pasadena, TX
- Acceptance: 100%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 21:1
- Enrollment: 9,024
- Graduation rate: 27%
- Median earnings: $37,700
- Two-year employment rate: 87%
University of Houston – Victoria
- Tuition + fees: $9,657
- Location: Victoria, TX
- Acceptance rate: 67%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 1,831
- Graduation rate: 19%
- Median earnings: $41,800
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
University of Washington
- Tuition + fees: $9,661
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 29,350
- Graduation rate: 82%
- Median earnings: $57,700
- Two-year employment rate: 91%
Northern Kentucky University
- Tuition + fees: $9,664
- Location: Highland Heights, KY
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
- Enrollment: 8,024
- Graduation rate: 47%
- Median earnings: $37,500
- Two-year employment: 93%
McNeese State University
- Tuition + fees: $9,721
- Location: Lake Charles, LA
- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1
- Enrollment: 5,401
- Graduation rate: 44%
- Median earnings: $38,200
- Two-year employment rate: 90%
East Central University
- Tuition + fees: $9,776
- Location: Ada, OK
- Acceptance rate: 96%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
- Enrollment: 2,456
- Graduation rate: 39%
- Median earnings: $36,800
- Two-year employment rate: 88%
University of North Florida
- Tuition + fees: $9,789
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 18:1
- Enrollment: 10,817
- Graduation rate: 66%
- Median earnings: $43,200
- Two-year employment rate: 92%
Northeastern State University
- Tuition + fees: $9,790
- Location: Tahlequah, OK
- Acceptance rate: 99%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 4,155
- Graduation rate: 36%
- Median earnings: $35,800
- Two-year employment rate: 88%
University of North Carolina – Greensboro
- Tuition + fees: $9,853
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Acceptance rate: 88%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 13,391
- Graduation rate: 59%
- Median earnings: $37,500
- Two-year employment rate: 92%
Hallmark University
- Tuition + fees: $9,887
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 929
- Graduation rate: 55%
- Median earnings: $32,600
- Two-year employment rate: 87%
Eastern New Mexico University
- Tuition + fees: $9,922
- Location: Portales, NM
- Acceptance rate: 51%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
- Enrollment: 2,222
- Graduation rate: 36%
- Median earnings: $29,500
- Two-year employment rate: 84%
University of Wisconsin – Parkside
- Tuition + fees: $9,938
- Location: Kenosha, WI
- Acceptance rate: 66%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1
- Enrollment: 2,947
- Graduation rate: 39%
- Median earnings: $39,900
- Two-year employment rate: 94%
Governors State University
- Tuition + fees: $9,998
- Location: University Park, IL
- Acceptance rate: 48%
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
- Enrollment: 1,829
- Graduation rate: 24%
- Median earnings: $40,800
- Two-year employment rate: 88%
