2025 Guide to Top Online Colleges Near Columbia, South Carolina
Looking for information about the best online colleges and universities serving Columbia? Here's your guide to the top schools offering online degrees to students in the area, including
institutions located within 20 miles of Columbia, South Carolina.
There are at least 7 colleges
serving the area by offering distance learning programs, including 5 nonprofit online colleges, 1 for-profit online college, and 1 community college offering 2-year online degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of online colleges serving Columbia, with details about trends, school type, online degree offerings, and online program completions. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Columbia, South Carolina Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near
Columbia, South Carolina have been growing over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed
1,710 distance education degree programs at online colleges and
universities near Columbia. That was an increase of 118% from completions reported in
2018.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2022
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
2018:785
2019:1551
2020:1409
2021:1563
2022:1710
Estimate derived from 2022 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™ 2022 (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 Columbia, South Carolina
There are at least 5 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Columbia, South Carolina, where students completed
2,300 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 5 were private nonprofit
institutions and 1 was
a public school. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges
serving Columbia, 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 Columbia, South 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 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%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,820
Associate: 94
Bachelor's: 1,011
Master's: 676
Doctoral: 39
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate64Bachelor's631Master's402Doctoral21
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate18Bachelor's89Master's24Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate3Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate5Bachelor's107Master's101Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate4Bachelor's54Master's11Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's28Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's16Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's34Doctoral0
Visual and Performing ArtsAssociate0Bachelor's17Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's18Doctoral3
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's49Master's58Doctoral0
Columbia International University
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$26,840 Accredited
Yes
Columbia International 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
Columbia International University. In 2022, 38 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 8 associate degrees, 29 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
12%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
75
Associate: 8
Bachelor's: 38
Master's: 29
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate8Bachelor's38Master's29Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$18,678 Accredited
Yes
Columbia College is an institutionally 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 most programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Columbia College. In 2022, 224 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 151 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
82%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
375
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 151
Master's: 224
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's20Master's34Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's5Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's169Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's34Master's7Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's52Master's14Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
N/A Accredited
No
W L Bonner College is a non-accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
part-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and all programs completed were offered
online. Associate degrees are the most popular at
W L Bonner College. In 2022, 3 distance education associate degrees were completed. In addition, 0 bachelor's degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
3
Associate: 3
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 0
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$13,422 Accredited
Yes
Allen 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 some programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Allen University. In 2022, 14 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 13 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
36%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
27
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 13
Master's: 14
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
For-Profit Online Colleges Near Columbia, South Carolina
Get a list of four-year for-profit online colleges and universities near Columbia, South Carolina here. According to 2022 data from
the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, there was 1 for-profit 4-year school
near Columbia, South Carolina where students completed 95 distance education degree programs.
Source Details South University-Columbia
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$16,560 Accredited
Yes
South University-Columbia is an institutionally accredited
for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
adults and some programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
South University-Columbia. In 2022, 57 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 38 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
63%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
95
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 57
Master's: 38
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's5Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's33Master's21Doctoral0
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's10Master's6Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's0Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's7Master's0Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's7Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's4Doctoral0
Affordable Online Colleges Near Columbia, South Carolina
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree near Columbia, South Carolina? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average
tuition at Columbia-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $17,129. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools near Columbia is $16,560, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
Accredited
Online Colleges Serving Columbia, South 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 Columbia, South Carolina is institutionally accredited? View a list of
institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Columbia, South Carolina here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
Accredited Online Nonprofit Colleges Serving Columbia, South Carolina
- Franklin University
- Allen University
- Columbia International University
- Columbia College
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Columbia, South Carolina
- Midlands Technical College
Accredited Online For-Profit Colleges Serving Columbia, South Carolina
- South University-Columbia
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