Chances are that when you think of online degrees, you likely think of something that is too expensive and is a for-profit (looking at you, University of Phoenix), or that may not offer all you want to do (such as community college classes that are taught online), or that are simply a hangover from the darkest days of the pandemic.
However, that’s not the case elsewhere in the world. In fact, some of the first distance degrees were established overseas, and they are still world leading, no matter what a late night commercial from Southern New Hampshire University tries to tell you (or the Starbucks recruitment poster for Arizona State).
When it comes to undergraduate degrees, the picking is rather slim; the best choices are offered by the University of London. London does a great job, however, and many of its degrees are rather affordable.
There are degrees in everything from English and history to theology and computer science, as well as plenty offered through LSE in Economics, Political Science, and Math (among others). These are all good, with the possible exception of the law degree, and only there because it may or may not let you practice law in your jurisdiction. Full disclosure, I’m starting that one for fun later this year, so I’ll let you know how it goes.
Your options really expand when it comes to masters degrees. Many UK universities offer online masters degrees, and in a wide variety of subjects. Here the University of London, having done it for more than a century (back then they were mail-order courses), does some of the best, like an MBA, a degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the like. There are also graduate diplomas on offer from LSE, which if you do well enough, LSE tends to offer full scholarships to come do a masters degree.
The best buy here is to be had at Oxford and Cambridge. Their departments of Continuing Education offer taught masters degrees in a number of subjects, and it comes with the ability to be a member of a Cambridge or Oxford college. This is somewhat similar to the Harvard Extension School, but you’ll be fully recognized as a graduate of either institution and not ‘just’ an extension grad.
However, the real winner comes with the PhDs. If you’ve toyed with going back to get your doctorate, there are a lot of options. Oxford, Edinburgh, and the University of London all offer options in subjects as varied as Latin American Studies, Political Science, or English literature.
Finally, there is the issue of cost. The undergraduate degrees tend to be the best deal; a typical one through the University of London costs under 10,000 USD for the full course of study. However, they don’t offer financial aid, and US federal loans can’t be used. For graduate qualifications, the prices are often comparable with what you’d pay in tuition in person, but you can do them part time. It might not be for everyone, but it is definitely an option for some.