Key Takeaways:
- The article ranks top online colleges from Montana to Wyoming, providing key details about their programs and tuition.
- It highlights the quality and affordability of online education, focusing on flexibility for both undergraduate and graduate students.
- Each state’s top institutions are discussed, emphasizing their unique online offerings and accreditation status.
While online colleges peaked in popularity during the pandemic, online education was already on the rise. Thanks to advancements in technology, reputable colleges and universities across the United States were able to offer many of their online courses and programs to virtual students. Now, colleges with online programs are becoming more the norm rather than the exception to the rule.
Today, when you search online for colleges close to you, you’ll find more options than ever. In fact, locating a school that doesn’t offer some of its courses and programs through online learning is the real challenge.
Since there are so many different options for getting an online education, you may find yourself struggling to pick just one. In this ranking, our editors offer assistance to distance learners by identifying the top colleges online in the states of Montana through Wyoming.
Ranking the Best Online Colleges in Montana Through Wyoming
This is the second article in the two-part series, Best Online Colleges Near Me. This follow-up article explores the best online education institutions in the states of Montana through Wyoming (alphabetically). Specifically, our editors identify the two best colleges online in those states.
The schools are listed alphabetically by state and hierarchically within each state category. Our universal undergraduate methodology was applied, so a point value was assigned to each school.
Montana
Montana Technological University
Butte, Montana
Points: 13
One of Montana’s top colleges for online education for graduate students is Montana Technological University, widely known as Montana Tech. Here, online students will find quality as opposed to quantity; the school offers just two online master’s degree programs:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Industrial Hygiene
- Online MS in Project Engineering and Management
The school offers a single post-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program for undergraduate online students. Montana Tech is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities to offer these online college programs. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the university among the top 15 public schools in the nation.
Undergraduate Tuition: $7,390
Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana
Points: 13
Montana State University will no doubt stand out as a viable option for Montana residents. That’s because the school offers several affordable courses and programs through online education for both undergraduate and graduate online students. In particular, students seeking a master’s credential will find a variety of fully online degree programs, including:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Education
- Online Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum & Instruction
- Online MS in Family Financial Planning
- Online MS in Land Resources and Environmental Planning
For undergrads, an online Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies degree completion program is also available. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities has fully accredited Montana State University to confer these credentials for these online programs.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked its online master’s degrees in nursing among the best in the country.
Undergraduate Tuition: $7,371
Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Points: 11
Nebraskans searching for online degree programs may find precisely what they’re looking for at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A pioneer in online education, the school currently offers a handful of online bachelor’s program options for its undergraduate students and a wide range of programs for graduate students to choose from. Standout offerings for these online students include:
- Online Bachelor of Applied Science (BSAS)
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Dietetics: Nutrition and Health Sciences
- Online Master of Engineering Management (MEM)
A variety of undergraduate and graduate certificates are also available online. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln holds full institutional accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission. The school’s online MBA program has been ranked among the top 20 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
Undergraduate Tuition: $9,690
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska
Points: 13
Another of Nebraska’s top accredited colleges offering online education is the private, non-profit school Bellevue University. The school has been offering online college degree programs for nearly a quarter-century and is now home to more than 80 different programs for undergraduate and graduate students alike. This includes dozens of online bachelor’s degree programs such as:
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in International Business Administration
- Online BS in Cybersecurity
- Online RN to BSN
- Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
Nearly as many master’s credentials are available online, including:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Management Information Systems
- Online Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Online MS in Instructional Design and Technology
- Online Master of Arts (MA) in Human Services
The Higher Learning Commission has accredited Bellevue University to offer these online education programs. U.S. News & World Report has recognized the school as one of the best regional universities in the Midwest.
Undergraduate Tuition: $7,851
Nevada
University of Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nevada
Points: 12
Students who land on the University of Nevada-Reno’s website after searching for online education programs will find that most of the school’s online programs are geared toward graduate students. With the exception of the Online RN to BSN, all of the school’s virtual learning resources have gone toward graduate study. As a result, some of its top online college degree programs include:
- Online MBA (Executive)
- Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Education: Equity and Diversity in Education
- Online MS in Cybersecurity
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities has accredited the University of Nevada-Reno at the institutional level to confer these online college degrees. The school’s online master’s programs in business administration, education, and computer information technology have all been highly-ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
Undergraduate Tuition: $8,366
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Points: 13
Known for its leading online master’s degrees in nursing, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas has positioned itself as one of the best and most affordable providers of online education in the state of Nevada. In addition to over 200 individual online courses, the school offers full degree programs online for its undergraduate and graduate online students. Standout options include:
- Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Urban Studies
- Online Executive Master of Hospitality Administration
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Educational Psychology
UNLV holds the institutional accreditation necessary to award these online degrees by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Its online programs in graduate nursing have been ranked among the top 10 nationwide.
Undergraduate Tuition: $8,685
New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Durham, New Hampshire
Points: 11
One of the top online colleges in New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire is home to one of the leading online MBA programs in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school offers dozens of other online programs for graduate students, including:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management
- Online Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Studies
- Online MS in Global Conflict and Human Security
- Online Master of Social Work (MSW)
A number of graduate certificate programs are also available via distance education. The University of New Hampshire is institutionally accredited to offer college programs through online education for graduate students by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Undergraduate Tuition: $18,938
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
Points: 12
Residents of New Hampshire may find themselves struggling to find affordable, high-quality options when searching “online colleges near me.” Enter Southern New Hampshire University. The school is one of the best colleges offering online education in the state due to the number of rigorous online degrees it offers as well as its economical tuition rates.
Sample online degree offerings include:
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Criminal Justice
- Online BS in Computer Information Systems
- Online Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Data Analytics
SNHU is fully accredited to award these online college credentials at the bachelor’s and master’s levels by the New England Commission of Higher Education. It’s been called the most innovative university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Annual Tuition: $9,900 (More info here)
New Jersey
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, New Jersey
Points: 10
Residents of New Jersey who search for online education programs have plenty of options, but not all of them are affordable. Rutgers University-Camden, however, combines quality with affordability when it comes to online learning. The school offers nationally ranked business programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Two other first-rate distance education options can be found here for online students as well:
- Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- Online Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS)
Individual online courses are also available to non-degree-seeking students. Rutgers University-Camden is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school’s undergraduate business program among the top 15 in the country.
Undergraduate Tuition: $14,877
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Points: 11
Among the top colleges offering online education in New Jersey is Rutgers University-New Brunswick. While this top-rated public school emphasizes distance education for graduate students, a few options for undergraduates do exist:
- Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA)
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Labor and Employment Relations
- Online RN to BSN in Nursing
For students seeking online master’s credentials, there are myriad options, including:
- Online Master of Education (MEd) in Adult and Continuing Education
- Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Online Master of Science (MS) In Digital Marketing
- Online MS in Supply Chain Management
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has fully accredited Rutgers University-New Brunswick to confer these online college credentials. According to U.S. News & World Report, its online master’s degree programs in education are among some of the best in the nation.
Undergraduate Tuition: $15,003
New Mexico
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Points: 12
One of the best accredited online colleges in New Mexico and the state’s flagship university, the University of New Mexico offers over two dozen fully online undergraduate degree programs, many of them accelerated. Bachelor’s degree-seeking online students may choose from top-notch distance education offerings such as:
- Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Intercultural Communication
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Instructional Technology & Training
- Online BA in Psychology
- Online BS in Radiologic Science
Just as many options are afforded to the school’s graduate students, including:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Computer Engineering: Internet of Things
- Online Master of Arts (MA) in Educational Leadership
- Online Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM)
- Online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Leadership
The University of New Mexico is institutionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission to award these online college degrees. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the school’s online master’s degree program in engineering as one of the top 50 nationwide.
Undergraduate Tuition: $8,161
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Points: 13
Students who find New Mexico State University after searching “online colleges near me” will discover over 70 different online college programs to choose from. These programs span fully online and hybrid programs from associates to master’s credentials. For bachelor’s seeking online students, offerings include:
- Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Journalism and Media Studies
- Online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA): Information Systems
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Counseling and Community Psychology
- Online Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Graduate students have even more options, such as:
- Online Master of Arts (MA) in Criminal Justice
- Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Nursing Administration
- Online MA in Higher Education
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychopharmacology
The Higher Learning Commission has institutionally accredited New Mexico State University to confer online college degrees. The school’s undergraduate business programs online have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 30 nationwide.
Undergraduate Tuition: $7,301
New York
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, New York
Points: 12
Among the top online colleges in the state of New York, SUNY Polytechnic boasts a comprehensive distance education program. Fully online degree programs for undergraduate students include:
- Online Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accounting
- Online BS in Health Information Management
- Online BS in Business Administration
Graduate students can choose from several different fully online or hybrid degree and certificate programs, such as:
- Online Master of Science (MS) in Health Informatics
- Online MS in Information Design Technology
- Online MS in Network and Computer Security: Cybersecurity
- Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has accredited SUNY Polytechnic at the institutional level to offer these online college programs. The school’s online master’s program in computer information technology is one of the top 50 in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Undergraduate Tuition: $8,427
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
Points: 14
Prospective graduate students in New York searching for “online colleges near me” will find a gem in Stony Brook University. In addition to undergraduate programs in nursing and engineering, the school offers roughly twenty different online college programs at the graduate level. Sample offerings for online students include:
- Online Master of Science (MS) In Human Resource Management
- Online Master of Arts (MA) in Higher Education Administration
- Onli