Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY

online school nyc

The top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY on this list are world renown universities that have made it their mission to bring their academic excellence to online education. Armed with a reputation for high-quality programs and the ability to create full-service online portals, these schools are setting the standard for online degrees all over the country. And because New York City is a city that has so many schools located within its city limits, it became clear that a ranking was needed to help students narrow down their choices for degree programs.

Students have long been waiting for Public Ivy and Ivy League schools to make their programs available online. More affordable and flexible than traditional programs, these offerings provide students with the chance to complete a degree at their dream school without having to pay high prices for living in the city. With so many options available, it is clear that ranking the best colleges was the best way forward for this list.

Methodology

This list would not have been possible without the research that went into compiling this points-based ranking. The initial group of schools was created by searching for top colleges for online degrees in New York, NY through the National Center for Education Statistics and its College Navigator database. Each school was then independently researched using the school’s website. Points were awarded based on numerous factors, including:

Types of online degree options available (associate, bachelor, master’s, doctorate): 1 point per degree level.

Cost per credit hour:
Under $250 – 4 points
$251 – $350 – 3 points
$351 – $450 – 2 points
Over $451 per credit hour – 1 point

Regional Accreditation:
Present – 1 point

Student to faculty ratio:
10:1 or less – 3 points
11:1 to 15:1 – 2 points
Greater than 15:1 – 1 point

The final 10 schools on this list were chosen and ranked based on the total amount of points they accrued during the selection process. They are listed below in descending order.

10. St. John’s University

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NYTop 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
St. John’s University offers master’s degrees online.

Website

The best online master’s degrees in the city come from St. John’s University. This top-tier institution confers a variety of graduate programs along with certificates that will provide every student with a quality education and a strong online community. Students will find fields such as business management, accounting, public health, and more. Most degrees also come with specializations, making it a great choice for professionals who know what they want the next step in their career to be. This school hosts a full suite of support services, including academic advising, career advising, online office hours, a bookstore and a library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $1,230
Student to Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 5

9. The New School

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
The New School offers six online degrees.

Website

The New School is one of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY. This school is home to Open Campus, the online branch to this interesting school. Students will find that it is possible to complete six different online bachelor’s and master’s degrees, including programs in strategic design and management, media studies, and more. Certificates are also available and can be earned as part of professional and continuing education. Students at this school are met with small class sizes, a faculty trained in the art of online education, and support services; some of these include academic and career advising, online tutoring, 24/7 technical support, an online bookstore, and an online library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $1,640
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 5

8. Concordia College in New York

Bronxville, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
Concordia College in New York offers master’s degrees online.

Website

Students interested in some of the best online degrees available in New York, NY, should look no further than Concordia College in New York. This school confers 100 percent online programs in two graduate programs: Digital Marketing and Digital Media. Students in these programs are met with small class sizes and professors who are still working professionals in the fields that they teach. Add to that a dedicated online support staff, including academic advising, tutoring, an online bookstore, and a library, and this school is a match made in heaven for technologically-minded students.

Types of Degrees Available:
Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $875
Student to Faculty Ratio: 11:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 5

7. CUNY John Jay College

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
CUNY John Jay College offers online bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Website

CUNY John Jay College is one of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY, if not the best school for students interested in earning a degree in criminal justice or emergency management. This school houses its online branch at John Jay Online, which has its own dedicated support staff that helps students 24/7 with technical questions. This school confers the Master of Arts in International Crime and Justice along with two postgraduate advanced certificates that are perfect complements to this degree. Support services at this school include academic and career advising, tutoring, 24/7 technical support, and an online bookstore and library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $455
Student to Faculty Ratio: 18:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 5

6. Columbia University

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
Columbia University offers master’s degrees online.

Website

Some of the best online degrees come from Columbia University. This school’s online portal is known as Columbia Online. It is here where students can earn graduate degrees in everything from engineering to business to education and more, all conferred by a world renown institution that is delivering some of the best online education available. This school has poured a lot of resources in the online portal and have created a full suite of support services, including academic and career advising, online tutoring, 24/7 technical support, an online bookstore, and an online library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $1,635
Student to Faculty Ratio: 6:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 6

5. Fordham University

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NYTop 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
Fordham University offers six online degrees.

Website

Fordham University continues to be one of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY. This school offers a variety of graduate and doctorate programs that focus on ministry and spirituality, a great choice for a school that prides itself on its Christ-centered teaching philosophy. Students can earn any one of the five graduate or one doctorate degree; advanced certificates in spirituality and ministry also exist. Students will be able to complete everything they need on the online portal, which has a dedicated support staff to help with any questions or concern a student may have. Additionally, the school offers online office hours, a bookstore, a library, and academic advising.

Types of Degrees Available:
Master’s, Doctorate
Cost per credit hour: $902
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 6

4. St. Joseph’s College

Brooklyn, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
St. Joseph’s College offers 10 online degree programs.

Website

One of the best places to earn an online bachelor’s program is at St. Joseph’s College. Named as one of the best online programs for bachelor candidates by U.S. News and World Report, this school is offering students the chance to complete undergraduate and graduate programs in 10 different fields. These fields include religious studies, psychology, criminal justice, and business. Students will find that the majority of the programs are offered entirely online and can be completed on an accelerated path. Support services at this school include online academic and career advising, tutoring services, office hours, a bookstore, and a library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $600
Student to Faculty Ratio: 13:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 6

3. Pace University

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
Pace University offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees online.

Website

Pace University continuously provides reasons why it’s consistently named one of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY. This school has a full-service online branch called Pace Online. It is here where students can earn bachelor’s and master’s degree, certificates, or even taken on professional and continuing education. From business and education to nursing and engineering, students have a wide variety of degrees to choose from. Additionally, this school has a full-time online education staff that offers support to students; some services include apps for smartphones and tablets, office hours, academic advising, a bookstore, and a library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Cost per credit hour: $555
Student to Faculty Ratio: 14:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 6

2. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Flushing, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology offers five online degree programs.

Website

Some of the best online programs in the greater New York, NY, area come from Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. This school specializes in aviation degrees that are both affordable and accelerated, which is something most professionals are looking for. It is possible to earn five different associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at this school; a variety of certificates are also available. Students will find the courses are offered asynchronously and 100 percent online, eliminating the need to ever attend campus. The school also offers a host of support services including academic and career advising, tutoring, 24/7 technical support, an online bookstore, and a library.

Types of Degrees Available:
Associate’s, Bachelor’s
Cost per credit hour: $540
Student to Faculty Ratio: 15:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 6

1. New York University

New York, New York

Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY
New York University offers over 25 online degree programs.

Website

New York University is first in this list of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY. This school confers over 25 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate levels. Fields include communication, professional writing, engineering, and more. Most degrees are offered as hybrid or low-residency programs, but some 100 percent online degrees also exist. As one of the top-tier universities in the country, NYU cements its reputation by providing a full host of services to online students, including academic advising, tutoring, a bookstore, a library, and office hours.

Types of Degrees Available:
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
Cost per credit hour: $1,562
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Total Points: 8

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Career Options for an Online Degree?

The sky is the limit with online degrees. There are very few career options that are closed to a professional who earns an online degree. Students will find that nearly every position can be earned with hard work and an online degree.

There are always exceptions. At this time, medical and law professionals must complete their education on a physical campus. This is due to the rigorous nature of the programs and the need for hands-on instruction. However, their undergraduate degrees can be earned online provided they find the best program for their needs.

Is There Any Stigma to Earning an Online Degree?

No, there is no stigma surrounding a student earning an online degree. In fact, most employers prefer having working professionals who have completed or are completing an online degree. This is because completing an online degree is hard work, requires great time management skills, and more; all of this can be used in the workplace, so it is something that employers look for in potential employees.

Additionally, it is difficult for a potential employer to know how a degree was earned. Schools do not distinguish between online degrees or degrees conferred on a physical campus. Students will also find that they will not be asked how they earned a degree, only if the degree is accredited regionally and professionally.

Is it Possible to Complete a Dual Degree Online?

Yes, it is possible to complete a dual degree online. What types of dual degree programs are available online depend on the school and its resources. Not all schools offer dual degree programs but those that do tend to have a high level of pride and commitment to the programs.

Dual degree programs are identified as programs in which students take on two degrees at the same time. These degrees can be earned concurrently or sequentially, depending on the degree itself. For example, a student studying a bachelor’s and a master’s in the same field would need to earn those degrees sequentially while a professional studying two master’s programs can complete them concurrently.

Online education is still relatively new, despite being first put in use in 1996. Students will need to be patient as more schools offer dual degree programs along with their other offerings. It is not uncommon for schools to put out the most popular programs first prior to moving on to more elaborate and comprehensive degree programs.

There are schools that do offer dual degrees; most of these can be found at the graduate level. The most popular combination is the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Public Administration. There are more choices, of course, but students will find that schools with a stated focus in one area will choose to offer similar degrees as dual degree programs.

Students may be surprised at what they can accomplish simply by asking if it is possible for them to complete dual degrees. Please keep in mind that online dual degrees must be completed online; it is not recommended for students to make a case to a school to enable them to take two master’s degrees at the same time if only one degree is available online.

Are There Any Differences Between the Curriculum of an Online and an On-Campus Degree?

In most cases, no, there is no difference between the curriculum of an online and an on-campus program. Students will find that if they were to put their study plan side-by-side with a professional who studies on-campus that there may be no difference in the plan. In fact, most schools use their on-campus degrees as a roadmap to creating the online program.

However, there are sometimes differences between the two programs. This usually happens in professional degrees, where experiential learning is more apparent. Students online may have to do more research and case study work than an on-campus student simply because they must learn by completing the work on their own rather than having a professor describe it to them.

Another change in the curriculum may have to do with work experience. Students online may find that their programs do not require these experiences or make them optional; exceptions for this exist, including education and nursing programs. On-campus students will need to complete these requirements but might have an easier time in doing so because they live near campus and can get the help of the school to secure their placement, something that online students do not have the option to do.

Other than these differences, students will find that the courses, assignments and exams are exactly the same. Schools have spent a lot of time to ensure that the programs are high-quality, regardless of their delivery format, so students do not have that much to worry about. If the curriculum is sound, then it won’t matter whether it is offered identically on campus.

Is it Possible to Become a Certified Professional By Completing an Online Degree?

Yes, it is possible to earn certification through online degrees. However, it is by no means an easy process. The type of certification will be based on the school, its professional accreditation standard, and the student.

Not all schools offer the chance to earn a pathway to certification. This is because they may not meet the requirements of the certification association that hands out the endorsement. They may also not be all that concerned with meeting certification standards and therefore present the program as non-certification programs, a distinction that can be found online at the program’s website.

If a school does provide a pathway to certification, it is most likely due to the school holding both regional and professional accreditation. Professionally accredited degrees are the fastest way to earn certification, particularly if the school offers courses that are directly required to pass the certification test. Students will find that these programs will state that they can help with certification and may even come with a stand-alone certificate that a student can earn.

Lastly, whether a student becomes a certified professional has more to do with them than a degree program. Students must work hard and be dedicated to the idea of earning certification and remain focused on the goal. Online education is not for everyone and some students may find that they are not ready to attempt to earn certification at this point in time. That’s alright because as more time goes on, more programs offer the chance to complete an accredited degree that will lead to certification.

Are Application Requirements Different for Online Students?

No, application requirements are not different for online students. This is true regardless of the degree classification or type. There are very rarely any exceptions to this rule for one good reason: schools strive to provide the same quality of education to online students as it does for on-campus students.

Online and on-campus programs have few differences between them, and one major similarity is the curriculum. Schools do not change the curriculum for online students; they only adapt the curriculum to online study. This refers to the delivery method, not to the actual subject of the curriculum.

Because the program is the same except for the delivery method, it would not be fair to judge on-campus and online students differently. Therefore, students must meet the same criteria as everyone else, with few exceptions. This is to ensure that the school remains competitive and only students who are dedicated to completing the degree are offered placement within the program.

There are some online schools in which the application process is easier. These schools may have a quality education, but there is something suspect about a school that lowers its standards for online students. In fact, these schools tend to be for-profit institutions that are not accredited and cannot lead to licensure or certification in several fields.

In the end, students must do their best to put their best foot forward when it comes to the application process. Everything from transcripts to professional references to a personal statement will play a role in whether a student is accepted into the program. Therefore, it is recommended that students pay more attention to their applications rather than find a way to duck the process in favor of a school that has lower acceptance standards.

Are Online Graduate Programs a Good Fit for Working Professionals?

Online graduate programs were some of the first to come online. They were designed specifically for working professionals, although care has been taken in the past several years to ensure that all adult learners will benefit from earning an online degree. However, in the beginning, they were created to fit into a working professional’s busy schedule.

Working professionals have specific needs when it comes to online education. More often than now, they want to earn an advanced degree in the same field that they work in, meaning that they need a degree that focuses on their needs as professionals; specializations also matter as it can provide a professional with an advantage in the marketplace. If an online degree does not offer them a curriculum that expands on their knowledge, they are less likely to apply for the program.

Another need for working professionals is a flexible program. They need courses that can be accessed at any time or have access to live courses they can review later. Term lengths matter as well; the shorter the term, the faster they can progress through the program and return to their daily life. Additionally, having access to their education on their smartphone, computer or tablet makes it convenient to complete their education.

The last need for a working professional is to earn an accredited degree, preferably with professional accreditation for their field. This is usually the first step to earning certification or licensure in the field and can provide professionals with just the requirements they need to sit for the exams.

Online programs fit the requirements above and more. They are affordable, flexible, fast, and able to provide the same pathway to licensure as an on-campus program. This eliminates the need for an on-campus program, proving that working professionals will benefit from online education.

New York City is a town known for having a high number of working professionals. It should then come as no surprise that so many of them would be looking for online programs in their area. Now that this ranking of the top colleges for an online degree in New York, NY, has been compiled, students can move on to narrowing down their search for the best online education.S

This concludes our ranking of the Top 10 Colleges for an Online Degree in New York, NY.

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