Online colleges have grown more and more popular with today’s college students. For many students, it has become far too hard to ignore the benefits of an online college education. Online colleges provide students with a far more affordable alternative to the traditional on-campus degree. They also allow students to maintain a more significant deal of flexibility over their course schedules, which is excellent for students who are also working professionals. Students can also complete their education much more quickly online. 

With all these added benefits, online colleges and universities have become very plentiful. There are now so many different options to choose from when it comes to an online college or university that it can be overwhelming trying to find one that works best for you. To act as a starting point for your search, we’ve compiled some of the most popular options for online colleges and universities.

Western Governors University

Established in 1997, Western Governors University is one of the most prolific online colleges 

around. Having risen to immense popularity, Western Governors University currently enrolls a student body of almost 120,000 students. This staggeringly high student body has helped the school earn its place among the most popular online colleges and universities. Students at Western Governors University can select from nearly sixty entirely online degree programs. 

Western Governors University has received accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. A number of the programs at Western Governors University have also received additional accreditation. Western Governors University has pioneered a competency-based learning model that provides students much more flexibility over their online education. 

Southern New Hampshire University

Located in Manchester, New Hampshire, Southern New Hampshire University is a private university that has become a leader in online learning. Initially founded in 1932 as a traditional brick-and-mortar university, Southern New Hampshire University was quick to join online learning. Starting in 1995, Southern New Hampshire University was offering its first online distance education program.

Since then, Southern New Hampshire University has grown to enroll just over 87,000 students in its online degree programs. Southern New Hampshire University follows a similar learning model to Western Governors University. Forgoing the traditional cohort-based learning model found on-campus, students enrolled online at Southern New Hampshire University follow a competency-based program. There are over 200 different online degrees to choose from at Southern New Hampshire University.

Liberty University

One of the most popular online colleges by enrollment, Liberty University currently enrolls just over 100,000 students in its online degree programs. Founded in 1971, Liberty University was first established as a private Christian university. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty University has since grown to become one of the largest private universities in the state and one of the most popular online colleges around.

Liberty University maintains a massive offering of online degree programs for its students. Currently, students can choose from over 450 different degree programs, all of which can be completed entirely online. These degrees range from certificate programs up to doctoral degrees. This is one of the most extensive online degree offerings of any online university. Liberty University has invested countless resources into creating one of the most state-of-the-art online learning platforms around, and its popularity is a testament to its quality.

Purdue University Global

Operated by Purdue University, Purdue University Global was founded when Purdue University purchased Kaplan University and converted it into the school’s online college program. Formerly a for-profit enterprise, Kaplan University was converted into a non-profit once Purdue purchased it. Since then, Purdue University Global has made a name for itself in the online college space. Currently, Purdue University enrolls a student body of about 29,000 students. 

Purdue University Global uses the centuries of experience that has helped Purdue University be one of the best colleges in Indiana. Students at Purdue University can choose from over 175 different online degree programs. These programs include associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Purdue University Global. 

University of Maryland Global Campus

Once just a tiny part of the University System of Maryland, the University of Maryland Global Campus has grown to be the system’s largest campus. Currently, the University of Maryland Global Campus enrolls over 90,000 students making it one of the largest online universities in the world. The University of Maryland Global Campus has built upon the University System of Maryland’s decades of academic excellence to help extend that same opportunity to people across the globe. 

Students at the University of Maryland Global Campus can choose from over 120 different academic programs. These programs include associate, bachelor, master, doctoral, and certificate programs. The school has also received accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The University of Maryland Global Campus also provided education to nearly 52,000 active-duty soldiers. 

The Most Popular Online Colleges

These are just some of the most popular online colleges, as determined by the size of their student population. But these are just some of the many different online college and university opportunities available to students. While choosing a famous online college or university is a great way to get a degree from an institution that you know has a lot of experience with online learning, that’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of great online learning experiences available from other online schools. Feel free to browse through our rankings of some of our favorite online colleges and universities here at OnlineCollegeWiz. 

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