2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Hickory, North Carolina
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Hickory? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 40 miles of Hickory, North Carolina.
There are at least 8 colleges serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 2 nonprofit online colleges, 0 for-profit online colleges, and 7 community colleges offering 2-year online degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of online colleges serving Hickory, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Hickory, North Carolina Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Hickory, North Carolina have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 1,810 distance education degree programs at online colleges and universities near Hickory. That was an increase of 56% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2023
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 Hickory, North Carolina
There are at least 2 nonprofit 4-year schools serving Hickory, North Carolina, where students completed 2,291 distance education degree programs. Of those schools, 2 were private nonprofit institutions and 0 were public schools. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges serving Hickory, 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 Hickory, North Carolina 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%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
2,171
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Lenoir-Rhyne 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. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Lenoir-Rhyne University. In 2023, 54 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 50 master's degrees, and 16 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
19%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
120
Online Completions by Program Area
Best Online Community Colleges Near Hickory, North Carolina
Looking for a 2-year school or online community college near Hickory? According to 2022 data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, there were 7 two-year schools near Hickory, North Carolina where students completed 1,690 distance education degree programs. Browse through the listing below to learn more about each of the online community colleges near Hickory, 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
Wilkes Community College 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 some programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
49%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
216
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Western Piedmont Community College 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 minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
5%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
14
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute 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
73%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
532
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Mitchell Community College 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
81%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
328
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Catawba Valley Community College 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 minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
1%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
6
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Gaston College 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
76%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
562
Online Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Cleveland Community College 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 minimal programs completed were offered online.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
9%
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
32
Affordable Online Colleges Near Hickory, North Carolina
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Hickory, North Carolina? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Hickory-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $20,239. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Hickory is N/A, 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 Hickory, North Carolina
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 Hickory, North Carolina is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Hickory, North Carolina here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Lenoir-Rhyne University
- Wilkes Community College
- Western Piedmont Community College
- Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
- Mitchell Community College
- Catawba Valley Community College
- Gaston College
- Cleveland Community College