Report Highlights. Tuition for a year of online college* costs $6,765 less than a year of classes on campus.
- In the 2025-26 academic year, an average credit hour for an online bachelor’s program costs $509; a typical 4-year institution charges $791.
- An average academic year of room and board for a college student on campus costs $744 more than a full year of living expenses for the average American.
- Online students can expect to pay $12,216 for a year of undergraduate classes; tuition and required fees on campus average $18,981.
- The cost of an online degree represents 64.3% of the cost of a degree earned on campus.
*In this report, “college” refers to any 4-year institution or bachelor’s program unless otherwise noted.
Related reports include | Average Cost of Private School | Cost of a College Class or Credit Hour | Average Cost of College Textbooks | Average Cost of College by State
Online vs. On-Campus Cost per Credit Hour
Public schools often charge higher tuition to online students than those attending classes in person. On-campus students, however, usually pay additional fees.
- Online bachelor’s programs at public institutions charge $501.
- Public institutions charge the average in-state student $431 per on-campus credit hour; out-of-state students pay $1,278.
- At private institutions, an online credit hour averages $519; on-campus tuition for private nonprofit institutions costs $1,748 per credit hour.
| School | Online credit hour | On-campus credit hour |
|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University† | $503 | $1,840 |
| CUNY School of Professional Studies | $289 (in-state) $350 (out-of-state) |
$305 (in-state $620 (out-of-state) |
| Oregon State University–Corvallis | $384 | $272 (in-state) $815 (out-of-state) |
| University of Arizona | $525 | $579 (in-state) $1,796 (out-of-state) |
| University of Illinois–Chicago | $392 | $380 (in-state) $918 (out-of-state) |
**Assuming full-time enrollment.
†Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private university; others are public institutions.
Online vs. On-Campus Cost of Attendance
Traditionally, the cost of attendance includes student expenses, such as room and board (i.e., cost of living). See our report on the Average Cost of College & Tuition for more.
- One academic year of room and board for a college student on the average campus averages $14,411.
- On-campus classes cost the average student living on campus can expect to pay $33,382.
- Housing and groceries for the average American totals $13,667 over 12 months.
- While the cost of books and supplies varies widely, ebooks are typically priced about 50% less than their hardcopy counterparts.
- In any given year, about 15% of on-campus college students actually live on campus; around 85% of students commute from off-campus homes.
- In one survey of 150 universities, 98% required first-year students to purchase a campus meal plan.
- The average on-campus meal plan costs $6,211 for the 2025 academic year while one calendar year’s worth groceries costs $2,648 per person ($6,487 per household).
- Most college students (85%) say the cost of textbooks is the second-largest burden below tuition costs (88%).
| School | Tuition per credit hour | Tuition per academic year |
|---|---|---|
| Capella University | $383 | $3,015 |
| Columbia Southern University | $278 | $6,192 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | $342 | $8,208 |
| University of Phoenix | $398 | $9,552 |
| Western Governors University | $346 | $8,300 |
‡These schools have no traditional campus nor in-person classes.
Student Experience Online vs. On-Campus
Several studies have suggested students are less successful in online programs, and some scholars note that the increased reliance on remote instruction highlights inequities in online access among American communities.
- Among one sample group, student satisfaction with on-campus courses ranked 87%; after the COVID-19 pandemic forced courses online, these students reported a 59% satisfaction rate.
- 45% of the same sample group experienced internet connectivity issues that interfered with their course participation.
- 42% of students surveyed reported trouble staying motivated in their online classes.
- In another survey, 76% of undergraduate students cited motivation as their biggest obstacle with online learning; 56% of graduate students said the same.
- 66% of low-income undergraduates identified a lack of adequate study space as a primary remote-learning obstacle compared to 50% of upper-middle-income students.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics
- U.S. News, Education
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Surveys
- ISBN Services, Ebook vs Physical Book: Which is Better in the Real World?
- Inside Higher Ed, What About the Other 85 Percent?
- ELFI, Meal Plan Study
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Tuition and Estimated Costs
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
- Oregon State University, Finance and Administration: Tuition Calculator
- CUNY School of Professional Studies, Tuition and Fees: Undergraduate
- University of Arizona, Tuition & Aid
- Digital Promise, Suddenly Online: A National Survey of Undergraduates During The Covid-19 Pandemic
- Capella University, Tuition and Fees
- Columbia Southern University, Tuition Overview
- Southern New Hampshire University, Online Tuition & Financial Aid
- University of Phoenix, Online Bachelor’s Degrees
- Western Governors University, Tuition and Financial Aid
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, News