2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Palo Alto, California
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Palo Alto? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of Palo Alto, California.
There are at least 15 colleges serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 5 nonprofit online colleges, 2 for-profit online colleges, and 5 community colleges offering 2-year online degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of online colleges serving Palo Alto, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Palo Alto, California Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Palo Alto, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 7,201 distance education degree programs at online colleges and universities near Palo Alto. That was an increase of 62% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2022
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top Online College for Busy Adults & Transfer Students
Franklin University is a top choice for online learners, transfer students and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Adult Students
77%
Undergraduate Cost / Credit Hour
Best Nonprofit Online Colleges Serving Palo Alto, California
There are at least 5 nonprofit 4-year schools serving Palo Alto, California, where students completed 3,495 distance education degree programs. Of those schools, 5 were private nonprofit institutions and 2 were public schools. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges serving Palo Alto, including an estimate about online degree availability and popular online degree programs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Palo Alto, California area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,820
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Palo Alto University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and some programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Palo Alto University. In 2022, 193 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 16 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
61%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
209
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Santa Clara University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Santa Clara University. In 2022, 403 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
15%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
403
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Stanford University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Stanford University. In 2022, 1,045 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
20%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,045
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
San Francisco Bay University is a non-accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at San Francisco Bay University. In 2022, 18 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
95%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
18
Online Completions by Program Area
For-Profit Online Colleges Near Palo Alto, California
Get a list of four-year for-profit online colleges and universities near Palo Alto, California here. According to 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, there were 2 for-profit 4-year schools near Palo Alto, California where students completed 633 distance education degree programs.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Silicon Valley is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at University of Silicon Valley. In 2022, 3 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
3%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
3
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Sofia University is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Sofia University. In 2022, 625 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 1 bachelor's degree, and 4 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
98%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
630
Online Completions by Program Area
Best Online Community Colleges Near Palo Alto, California
Looking for a 2-year school or online community college near Palo Alto? According to 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, there were 5 two-year schools near Palo Alto, California where students completed 1,810 distance education degree programs. Browse through the listing below to learn more about each of the online community colleges near Palo Alto, including an estimate about online degree availability and popular online degree programs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Foothill College is an institutionally accredited for profit 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and some programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
45%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
481
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Canada College is an institutionally accredited for profit 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
22%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
100
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
College of San Mateo is an institutionally accredited for profit 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
67%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
588
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
De Anza College is an institutionally accredited for profit 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
23%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
501
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Chabot College is an institutionally accredited for profit 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
9%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
140
Online Completions by Program Area
Affordable Online Colleges Near Palo Alto, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Palo Alto, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Palo Alto-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $31,469. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Palo Alto is $20,528, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Online Colleges Serving Palo Alto, California
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a college degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs near Palo Alto, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Palo Alto, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Palo Alto University
- Santa Clara University
- Stanford University
- Foothill College
- Canada College
- College of San Mateo
- De Anza College
- Chabot College
- Sofia University
- University of Silicon Valley