Online Colleges: A 2025 Guide

An increasing number of learners are choosing to earn their degree online in recent years. According to the Oxford Learning College, 21 per cent of people enrolled in some sort of online learning course in recent years [1]. Taking an online learning programme—whether from an institution entirely online or a brick-and-mortar university with online programmes—can be beneficial. Not only does it broaden access to education for students who cannot relocate, but the schedule can be more flexible, making it easier to keep working. 

Discover more about the degrees you can earn from an online university and other key factors to consider when determining whether it's the best option. 

What is an online university?

An online university is an institution that awards degrees earned virtually. Two common types typically exist:

• Institutions that primarily serve as brick-and-mortar campuses, with some online degree options, such as the University of London

• Institutions that exist as a virtual campus, such as The Open University

5 degrees you can earn from an online college 

You can earn different degrees online—and even certain professional degrees depending on your educational needs. 

1. Foundation Degree

A foundation degree takes around two years to complete. With it, you can transfer into a bachelor’s degree programme or begin working in several different professions, including business, hospitality, and social and healthcare.

2. Bachelor’s degree

A bachelor’s degree takes around three years to complete, though thanks to the self-paced nature of some online degree programs, you may be able to speed up that timeline. With an online bachelor’s degree, you can either seek a more advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or enter the workforce and begin a career in various fields. 

3. Master’s degree

A master’s degree generally takes one year to complete full-time. Like the subject you choose for your bachelor’s degree, you can expect to focus almost exclusively on a particular area, such as applied data science, international business, and mechanical engineering. 

4. Doctoral degree

A doctorate, or PhD, is a terminal degree in many disciplines and generally takes three to four years. While earning your doctorate online is less common, you’ll find some programmes available to explore, though specific disciplines may have less choice. 

5. Law degree

A Master of Law degree, or LLM, is a professional degree that takes between ten months and two and a half years and is the primary credential for people who wish to practise law. As with a doctoral degree, earning your LLM from an online university is possible. 

Benefits of attending an online college

Education at any level has benefits, and pursuing degrees through an online college helps to remove potential barriers to access, making it more equitable for a wide range of students. Numerous other benefits associated with attending an online university or enrolling in an online degree programme include:

Lower overall costs

The costs associated with studying at an online university may be lower than attending an in-person institution, especially since you won’t be responsible for expenses like commuting to campus. Tuition and fees differ between institutions and even programmes. For example, an online degree at the London School of Economics costs £17,644 for UK residents and £25,072 for non-UK residents [2]. The average total cost of attending one year of tuition and fees in person is £9,250 [3].

Flexible scheduling and learning environments

Online classes typically fall into one of two categories: synchronous classes (meaning you and your classmates meet with your instructor at a set time) or asynchronous classes (meaning you do not meet with your instructor but instead work through lessons and assignments individually). With either one, you can decide your learning space and study where it’s most comfortable or convenient. Online classes also tend to be more flexible than in-person classes, which can be helpful if you prefer to keep working while attending school. 

Strengthen key transferable skills 

Earning your degree from an online university often necessitates more significant time management and self-discipline than attending in-person classes because sitting down to learn, study, and complete assignments is up to you. While attending an online university isn’t for everyone because of these demands, it can help you refine critical transferable skills, like working independently, that employers value.

How to choose the best online university for you

As with an in-person institution, you’ll find particular factors to consider when determining whether attending an online university is your best option. It’s a good idea to research which degree programmes are available in the subject or discipline you’d like to study and review what learning in each programme will look like. 

A few ways you can explore your options include: 

1. Determine what you’d like to learn. 

You’ll find many degree disciplines available to study online. Spend time figuring out what you’d like to study and the type of degree you’d like to earn in that subject. Then, verify which online universities offer degree programmes in that discipline. Start keeping a list of programmes that sound like a good potential fit. 

2. Research each potential programme. 

Once you have an idea about what you’d like to study and where you can do it, spend time researching the programmes on your list and pay attention to the following factors: 

• Coursework: Embarking on a degree programme is an exciting choice, but ensuring it’s the right one for you is important. Review the coursework you’ll complete and make sure the course descriptions match the outcomes you hope to achieve. Ensure the program's general scope aligns with your educational goals, and you’ll walk away having gained new knowledge or strengthened skills. 

• Types of classes: When you take your courses fully online, you may have the option of synchronous or asynchronous classes. Look at the kinds of classes each programme offers and whether it aligns with your needs. For example, if you intend to keep working full-time whilst earning your degree, finding a programme with asynchronous classes may be helpful. Alternatively, one that offers synchronous classes in the evening could work. 

• Departments: Spend time reading department and staff information for each programme, and pay attention to the credentials and experience each professor or tutor has to offer. Depending on what you want to study, you may want to seek out a department with more professional experience—or a more pedigreed academic background. 

• Location: Even though an online university can provide more location flexibility because you can learn from anywhere with internet access, you may want to investigate in-person options if you live nearby. However, typically, online colleges aim at a wide variety of students, not just local attendees, so their pricing tends to be lower for the geographically diverse body of learners. 

Other ways to learn online 

You’ll find many ways you can strengthen your educational credentials—or learn about a specific subject—without enrolling in a more extended degree programme. 

Certificate programmes

Many colleges and universities worldwide offer certificate programmes designed to teach you skills in a number of professional areas, like copyediting, commercial property management, financial planning, and more. You can enrol in beginner and advanced Professional Certificate programmes from industry leaders such as Google, IBM, and Meta. 

Bootcamps 

If you’d like a more in-depth, but ultimately shorter, dive into a subject or field, bootcamps can be a helpful alternative to degree programmes. Generally, for professionals in the tech industry, you can gain job-ready skills in areas like computer science, data science, and UX. You can complete bootcamps in a concentrated amount of time, making it possible to accelerate your learning. 

Courses 

You can take independent courses online globally from renowned university partners outside of a traditional degree programme. For example, you can learn about statistics with an Introduction to Statistics from Stanford University, develop deeper financial knowledge with Financial Markets from Yale University, or gain an Introduction to User Experience (UX) Design from Georgia Tech.

Continue your online college journey on Coursera 

Online university opportunities in the UK offer variety, accessibility, and affordability. Consider exploring these flexible opportunities and courses available in other countries to further your education. You can find an array of prestigious European universities on Coursera. With each programme, you’ll learn from the same faculty members who teach on-campus for their respective institutions.