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 2023, students completed
2,149 distance education degree programs at online colleges and
universities near Columbia. That was an increase of 40% from completions reported in
2019.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2023
Est. Online Completions (Last 5 Years)
2019:1532
2020:1451
2021:1682
2022:1709
2023:2149
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 Columbia, South Carolina
There are at least 5 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Columbia, South Carolina, where students completed
2,660 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 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
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 2023, 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™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
3
Associate: 3
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 0
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$14,304 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 minimal programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
Allen University. In 2023, 15 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 15 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
31%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
30
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 15
Master's: 15
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Columbia International University
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$27,900 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. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Columbia International University. In 2023, 39 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 3 associate degrees, 34 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
12%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
76
Associate: 3
Bachelor's: 34
Master's: 39
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate3Bachelor's34Master's35Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's4Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$16,745 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 2023, 226 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 154 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
82%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
380
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 154
Master's: 226
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's24Master's26Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's14Master's0Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's7Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's11Master's177Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's27Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's28Master's13Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's40Master's10Doctoral0
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 97 distance education degree programs.
Source Details South University-Columbia
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$16,452 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 most programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
South University-Columbia. In 2023, 67 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 30 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
68%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
97
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 67
Master's: 30
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's53Master's21Doctoral0
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's6Master's8Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's6Master's0Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's1Doctoral0
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 $17,132. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools near Columbia is $16,452, 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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