2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Santa Barbara, California
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Santa Barbara? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including
institutions located within 40 miles of Santa Barbara, California.
There are at least 4 colleges
serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 3 nonprofit online colleges, 0 for-profit online colleges, and 1 community college offering 2-year online degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of online colleges serving Santa Barbara, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Santa Barbara, California Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near
Santa Barbara, California have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed
1,598 distance education degree programs at online colleges and
universities near Santa Barbara. That was an increase of 1278% from completions reported in
2019.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2023
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
2019:116
2020:192
2021:1811
2022:1407
2023:1598
Estimate derived from 2023 Lightcast™ completion data.
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%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Adult Students
77%
Students 25+ 77
Students Under 25 23
Source: College Scorecard 2022
Undergraduate Cost / Credit Hour
Best Nonprofit Online Colleges Serving Santa Barbara, California
There are at least 3 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Santa Barbara, California, where students completed
2,513 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 3 were private nonprofit
institutions and 0 were public schools. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges
serving Santa Barbara, including an estimate about online degree availability and popular online degree
programs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Source Details
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$9,577 Accredited
Yes
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Santa Barbara, 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 2023, 1,429 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
2,171
Associate: 88
Bachelor's: 1,429
Master's: 616
Doctoral: 38
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate69Bachelor's801Master's313Doctoral17
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate13Bachelor's106Master's31Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate1Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate2Bachelor's157Master's128Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate3Bachelor's163Master's10Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's44Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's4Master's31Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's100Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's10Doctoral6
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's50Master's49Doctoral0
Fielding Graduate University
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
N/A Accredited
Yes
Fielding Graduate 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 all programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Fielding Graduate University. In 2023, 228 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 91 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
319
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 228
Doctoral: 91
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's75Doctoral11
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's40Doctoral10
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's95Doctoral55
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's18Doctoral15
The Colleges of Law at Ventura
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
N/A Accredited
Yes
The Colleges of Law at Ventura is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and some programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
The Colleges of Law at Ventura. In 2023, 23 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
39%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
23
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 23
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's23Doctoral0
Affordable Online Colleges Near Santa Barbara, California
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Santa Barbara, California? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average
tuition at Santa Barbara-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $9,577. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools near Santa Barbara is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
Accredited
Online Colleges Serving Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara, California is institutionally accredited? View a list of
institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Santa Barbara, California here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
Accredited Online Nonprofit Colleges Serving Santa Barbara, California
- Franklin University
- Fielding Graduate University
- The Colleges of Law at Ventura
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Santa Barbara, California
- Santa Barbara City College
Find Online Degrees Near Santa Barbara, California