Best Online Colleges for Return on Investment

MCPHS is a university focused on healthcare above all other avenues for career advancement. The university offers a wide array of healthcare programs from all levels of the medical industry. Many of its programs also incorporate internships or clinical placements, providing an excellent return on investment in terms of networking and real-world experience opportunities.

Bentley is one of the top business schools in the United States, offering a transformative community that combines ethics with proven business knowledge. Many of its programs are interdisciplinary and combine technology with the arts and sciences to create well-rounded graduates with a multitude of career opportunities. Most of the students live on campus, which is just minutes away from the Boston metropolitan center, providing lots of opportunities for networking and real-world experience.

Villanova is an Augustinian Catholic University, and the only one of its kind in the United States. It provides degrees from the undergraduate level to doctoral level and boasts an astounding 96.9% undergraduate placement rate, meaning that those who graduate from here have excellent chances of employment. It’s only 12 miles outside Philadelphia for both social and networking enrichment for all its students.

Neumont College is specifically focused on the modern field of computer science, and its curriculum combines traditional college theory with technical skills and project-based learning. All students will go through real-world work experiences, making them valuable to employers after graduation. The collaborative learning experience that all students go through prepares them well for every stage of their career.

This university is located at the heart of the United States in Washington DC, making it an excellent campus for networking even without considering its academic advantages. It boasts a student body filled with diverse students who can take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime internships. Many of the programs incorporate real-world experience or opportunities with the companies of Washington, DC.

Drexel is one of the 15 largest private universities in the United States, hosting approximately 25,000 students. It has multiple campuses and several educational partnerships that provided students with a multitude of educational and work experience opportunities. It’s a global research university that is one of the top 10 private employers of Philadelphia, where the main campus is located.

Embry-Riddle is known by many for its fantastic aeronautics programs, which are among the best in the world. Embry-Riddle has trained not only pilots, but graduates for positions at all levels of the aviation industry, from mechanics to technicians to aircraft designers to aircraft controllers. There are several worldwide courses available to promote a diverse student body and allow everyone to reach their aviation dreams.

Pepperdine is a university that combines college education with a Christian framework, with many of its classes incorporating this ethical foundation into their material. It hosts top-ranked programs for both undergraduate and graduate studies, with programs ranging from art to liberal arts to psychology to law to business.

BU is one of the most famous colleges in the United States, both for its diverse student body and its exceptional academic programs. It provides more than 300 programs of study across its three campuses, so there’s something for every student. BU’s human resource department is one of the largest of the University, and it helps students find employment after graduation more than most other colleges’ departments.

Wentworth is another Boston college, ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report, and Fortune Magazine found it to be No. 21 in relation to a 20-year net return on investment. It’s located at the heart of Boston, and many of its programs take advantage of the plethora of employers in the city to provide students with work experience opportunities. The Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Sciences has just been constructed to bolster laboratory opportunities for science students.

Capella University was founded just 25 years ago but already provides up to 53 degree programs for its students, as well as two online learning formats to facilitate flexible scheduling. The original online format is extremely flexible but structured with weekly preset deadlines and discussions. The other is more accelerated to let you graduate earlier. Each curriculum is modern and updated every year, so everyone’s education is relevant.

AMU was founded in 1991 but reorganized in 2002 to promote a quality but affordable education to a broad audience of adult learners. Most of its student body are made up of working professionals, as it’s a great school if you need to balance your profession with furthering your education. A low student to faculty ratio ensures that every student gets the attention they need from their professor.

Quinnipiac is a university that offers a multitude of educational opportunities across almost all fields and subjects. Many of its courses combine classroom theory and practical experiences, so all graduates have real-world experience to leverage for employment. This school also offers many accelerated dual degree programs to maximize value.

Rochester was founded in 1829 and has expanded to have multiple international campuses and 19,000 students from over 100 countries. It’s the third largest university in terms of STEM degrees awarded each year. It also has a notable alumni network, including 13 Pulitzer Prize winners. It’s also part of the cooperative education program, enabling students to easily transfer from school to school and network with others.

Syracuse is a private research university that has focused mostly on its students over its 150-year history. It’s located in the heart of central New York, which provides its students with a multitude of business and networking opportunities as well as an excellent learning environment. More than 200 majors and 200 advanced degree programs are available, so there are educational opportunities for interests of all kinds.

NYU is a university that has exploded in popularity and prominence since it was founded in 1831. It now has campuses not only in New York but also in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, enabling its student body to hail from 133 countries. It is also one of the largest private universities in the United States. All of its programs focus on technology enhanced education to keep all of the programs relevant.

American University is a liberal arts university whose programs combine theoretical study with real-world learning experiences. It offers a plethora of online and summer programs to allow busy students to get the most value possible out of their education. This school is home to more than 170 programs, many of which benefit from the low student-to-faculty ratio and the low admission rate of the university as a whole.

Molloy College is a private university in Long Island, and it provides programs that incorporate multidisciplinary curricula and a strong Catholic faith ethical framework. Class sizes are normally small, and the proximity to Manhattan provides this school’s students with a multitude of business or real-world work experience opportunities. It’s also quite affordable, with Money Magazine ranking this college is one of the top three value colleges in the nation.

Pace University is a four-year private college that provides its students the opportunities to become leaders across a broad spectrum of fields, largely by bolstering its academic programs with clinicals, research, and internship experiences. It now encompasses three campuses in New York City and every program has a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. It’s performing arts program is particularly well-known.

Alliant is a university that is committed to four main areas of expertise and excellence: scholarship, education for professional practice, multicultural and international competence, and community engagement. All of its programs incorporate hands-on training and industry immersion in whatever major you choose. Each faculty member is a professional in their field.

National University was founded in 1971 and is the largest nonprofit private university in San Diego. It now boasts an alumni network over 170,000 strong and provides a huge spread of potential majors and pathways for students to follow. All classes move at a rapid pace, meaning students can complete their degree in less time and for less money than many other colleges allow.

Creighton University is located in Omaha, Nebraska and is one of the few strictly Jesuit schools in the nation, incorporating the strong Catholic framework into a majority of its classes. Classes are spread across nine schools and colleges and comprise the arts, sciences, law, business, and health sciences, with plenty of opportunities for service learning or studying abroad. Over 90% of the school’s graduates are employed or moving to graduate school within six months of graduation.

Saint Joseph’s is a Jesuit Catholic University that has been providing students with better futures for over 160 years. It’s located in Philadelphia and is very close to the city center to promote diversity and student opportunity during school and after graduation. Its programs are intense and comprehensive, with 65% of the undergraduate class holding double majors or minors.

Chamberlain University is a school dedicated to providing nursing professionals with the education they need to become the best nurses and healthcare providers in the world. Its programs incorporate self-care and collaboration with professors to promote student health and wellness as they learn the skills they need to succeed. All new students will enjoy customized workshops, so each program is unique to their needs.

Bellin College is a nursing and medical imaging college that’s a perfect choice for students who want to pursue either of these two careers. It was founded in 1909 and offers focused curriculums with lots of hands-on practice and leadership training. It also has a dense and well-integrated alumni network that provides opportunities for employment immediately after graduation.

Adelphi University has been producing quality students for 120 years and has adapted its curriculum to meet the educational challenges of today. It now offers on campus and online programs, as well as special academic programs for those with unique needs. It’s ranked as a best performer for social mobility according to U.S. News and World Report.

Duquesne is one of the top Catholic universities in the nation, founded in 1878 and still extremely relevant today. Its faculty regard themselves as teacher scholars that both produce research and provide excellent classroom experiences. Many of the students here pursue more than one degree because of unique scholarship and transfer credit opportunities.

Mount Carmel is a nursing college that has been producing fantastic nursing graduates for over 115 years. It’s both a private and specialized Catholic college in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, where its proximity to the city center affords its graduates with a multitude of employment opportunities. Many of its classes are smaller in faculty-to-student ratio, allowing students to have better bonds with their peers and teachers.

La Salle University is a Christian school that features a robust and agile program catalog for modern students looking for modern employment. It provides a host of scholarships from across academic fields, making it extremely affordable for the majority of its student body. Many students will undergo internships or mission trips for networking and real-world experience.

Baptist Memorial College is another Christian University that was founded in 1912 and offers specialized education for undergraduates focusing on the health sciences. It combines Christian values with a modern curriculum taught by healthcare professionals. It’s partnered with Baptist Memorial Health Care, offering internship and employment opportunities for students.

Seton Hall is one of the leading Catholic universities in the nation, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students across 90 majors. It’s only 14 miles from Manhattan with a 58-acre main campus. After graduation, students can look forward to earning mid-career wages 50% higher than the national average.

This college is affiliated with the Christ Hospital Health Network, which is extremely valuable to any Christian graduates who want to work in the health industry. Opportunities for employment and financial aid are extremely high, making any investment here well worth the time and money. Every accepted student is guaranteed a clinical placement.

Regis University is located in Denver, Colorado and emphasizes a Jesuit Catholic tradition, although it accepts students of all faiths. Most curriculums emphasize critical thinking in a globalized perspective, thanks in part to an award-winning faculty. It offers programs from the undergraduate to the doctorate level.

Marist College is right on the banks of the Hudson River, in Manhattan, and in Florence Italy as it is spread across three campuses. It’s a liberal arts school that currently offers several fully online graduate degrees. Numerous Centers of Excellence are partnered with the school, providing ample networking opportunities.

AdventHealth University is a health sciences college that specializes in healthcare education with a predominantly Christian environment and ethical framework. It incorporates classes that focus not only on physical care but also spiritual care. The school works with 45 hospital campuses, allowing its graduates lots of chances for work experience.

Saint Louis University is one of the oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities, founded in 1818. It has both a United States and Spain campus, and teaches nearly 13,000 students every year. Its students provide more than 1.6 million service hours each year, so each graduate has significant real-world experience in whatever field they choose to study.

DU is a private institution with many nationally recognized academic programs and many globally focused program curricula. It allows students to head straight into research at the undergraduate level, making it a great school for academically minded applicants. Most programs incorporate internships and job placement assistance, as well.

Sacred Heart is a Catholic university with multiple rigorous and interdisciplinary programs. Many of its educational opportunities emphasize the liberal arts and incorporate a Catholic moral framework into the material. Multiple opportunities to study abroad are available.

This Catholic University is ranked No. 1 for upward social mobility, making it a great choice for those on a tight educational budget. It was founded in 1870 and now prepares students through globalized curriculums across a broad spectrum of topics. Most of its students receive some form of financial aid from the university.

Assumption College provides exceptional academic programs that typically combine real-world learning at some point in their curriculums. It has a 185-acre campus Worcester, Massachusetts, and Rome, both of which are business hubs for new graduates. As a Catholic school, many aspects of that faith are integrated into the classes.

WCU Dallas and blends far-reaching educational resources with creative class and program design. It’s dedicated to higher education for nurses, allowing students to complete a program entirely through evening and weekend options in just a few years. All nurses gain real-world work experience that they can leverage for employment after graduation.

Kettering is near Dayton, Ohio, and offers a series of scientific degrees to the master’s level, as well as a doctorate for Occupational Therapy. It was founded in 1967 and has since expanded. On-campus recruiters for healthcare industries are common.

WNE is a university that focuses on preparing entrepreneurial students for careers in the real world. It was originally a satellite division Northeastern College and now provides degrees in law, pharmacy, occupational therapy, and more. Most students can take advantage of the 223 scholarship programs available to them from this school.

GMercyU is one of the 17 Sisters of Mercy colleges and universities spread throughout the United States and emphasizes the liberal arts and service. It offers more than 40 academic programs and has a 314-acre campus near Philadelphia. This proximity enables many of its programs to take advantage of work internship opportunities and provide chances for student life experiences.

Bellevue was founded in 1966 and has since partnered with countries across the globe. As a result, its programs are world focused and interdisciplinary. It serves 9,000 students annually at campuses spread across four states and online.

This university has been teaching students for over 100 years and has campuses spread across three states with six modern facilities. It offers advanced undergraduate degrees in dental hygiene and nursing. Advanced degrees in health administration, pharmacy, physical therapy, and more are also available.

This college focuses exclusively on health sciences. Students can choose between two dozen academic programs that focus on nursing and ancillary subjects—a perfect fit for those who want to go into the medical industry. Employees of local health facilities can receive 100% tuition reimbursement.

Cal Lutheran is a Lutheran University that currently teaches more than 4,500 students hailing from more than 49 countries. It offers degrees in the liberal arts and sciences and other professional fields. The main 225-acre campus is between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara: a perfect hub for future business professionals and entrepreneurs.

Cleary University was founded in 1883 but now has a host of diverse programs that can prepare graduates for modern companies and professional positions. It provides business degrees for entrepreneurs and future business leaders. Its specialized curricula are all project-based so alumni are ready for real-world business scenarios upon graduation.

Radford is located in downtown Roanoke, Virginia, and provides real-world learning experiences with plenty of rigor for undergraduate and graduate students of the health sciences. The faculty is comprised of practicing clinicians who teach courses in clinical settings. Most students will have employment opportunities after graduation at nearby medical centers.