2023 Best Online Colleges with Open Admissions

Florida's Full Sail University (FSU) is a private, for-profit school serving over 80% of its student body entirely online. The school's educational programs are unique and focus on preparing students for careers in entertainment, media, arts, and technology, which is convenient since it's located close to Disney and Universal Studios. Students can earn online certificates, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees in fields of interest — such as 3-D arts, computer animation, game design, creative writing, cinematography, entertainment or music business, and music production. Students receive laptops, professional software, and industry technologies, which are included in program tuition costs through FSU's Project LaunchBox. FSU's online students receive the same support as their on-campus peers, including access to advisors, library resources, and career development.

FSU is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

Located in the Buffalo, NY suburb of Orchard Park, Bryant & Stratton College Online is a private, for-profit institution serving approximately 8,700 undergraduate students through its 15 diploma, 16 associate, and eight bachelor's degree programs. Online diplomas can help students obtain entry-level positions in law, hospitality, healthcare, education, and information technology, to name a few sectors. Online associate degrees can help students interested in earning transfer credits. Associate degrees are available in fields of interest that range from human resources and digital marketing to criminal justice. Online bachelor's degrees include Nursing (RN to BSN), General Management, and Medical Services Management. Online students have the same access to student services as those on campus. These services include remote access to career resources, the library and student store, and academic advising and coaching.

Bryant & Stratton is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Savannah, Georgia's South University Online (SUO) is a private, for-profit institution serving approximately 6,700 online undergraduate and graduate students. SUO offers 36 online associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs that include popular majors — such as Nursing (RN to BSN), Family Nurse Practitioner, Business Administration, Information Technology, Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies, Allied Health Science, Public Health, and Psychology. Standard and fast-track options may be available depending on the course of study and how quickly you want to finish. SUO supports online learners through remote access to career services, the library, its student store, and tutoring services. While SUO has an open admissions policy, individual programs may have specific enrollment requirements, so it's best to check with an admission advisor before applying.

SUO is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctorate degrees, and certificates.

Located in Ogden, Utah, Weber State University (WSU) offers over 25 fully online degree and certificate programs — 18% of undergraduates and 40% of graduates attend entirely online. Options include certificates in fields such as healthcare information management and healthcare coding and associate degrees ranging from Computer Science to General Studies. Available bachelor's degrees include Nutrition Education, Professional Sales, and Radiologic Sciences. Graduate programs include Criminal Justice and Respiratory Therapy. Distance learners can access virtual tutoring services, software tutorials, counseling, the library, and career preparation services. While ACT and SAT scores are not required, they may help with placement in math and writing courses.

WSU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Academy of Art University (AAU) — in the heart of the creative and culturally diverse city of San Francisco — is a private, for-profit institution offering online associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in over 20 areas of interest. More than half of its undergraduate and graduate students attend entirely online. Prospective students can choose from fields of study in the fine arts, such as illustration, motion picture and television, fashion, photography, and game development. AAU provides online access to its music library, reference library, guest speaker archives, tutorial and how-to libraries, online learning platform tutorials, and its Academic Resource Center (ARC) to support distance learners.

AAU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).