To earn a place on the Best Online Colleges for Certificates ranking list, an online college must meet two criteria. First, they must offer their online certificate programs at an annual tuition rate that students can reasonably pay off within 10 years of graduation. Second, they must offer a large number of online certificate programs to students (minimum of 10).
The online schools that meet these criteria are ranked against each other based on how well they meet each standard. For more information on this ranking please see the ranking methodology. Access the ranking seal, here.
| Rank | College Name | Location | # Online Certificate Programs | Full Time, In-state Tuition | Per Credit, In-state Tuition | Full Time, Out-of-state Tuition | Per Credit, Out-of-state Tuition |
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Mitchell Community College | Statesville, NC | 42 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Georgia Piedmont Technical College | Clarkston, GA | 40 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $176 |
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Rasmussen College-Florida | Ocala, FL | 39 | $9,360 | $310 | $9,360 | $310 |
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Madison Area Technical College | Madison, WI | 38 | $3,911 | $130 | $5,866 | $196 |
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Rasmussen College-Minnesota | St. Cloud, MN | 38 | $9,360 | $310 | $9,360 | $310 |
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Central Georgia Technical College | Warner Robins, GA | 36 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,727 | $178 |
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American Public University System | Charles Town, WV | 33 | $6,480 | $270 | $6,480 | $270 |
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Rasmussen College-Kansas | Topeka, KS | 33 | $9,360 | $310 | $9,360 | $310 |
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Central Texas College | Killeen, TX | 32 | $2,940 | $98 | $6,420 | $214 |
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Rasmussen College-Wisconsin | Green Bay, WI | 32 | $9,360 | $310 | $9,360 | $310 |
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Georgia Northwestern Technical College | Rome, GA | 30 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Albany Technical College | Albany, GA | 29 | $2,140 | $89 | $4,280 | $178 |
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Rasmussen College-North Dakota | Fargo, ND | 29 | $9,630 | $310 | $9,630 | $310 |
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Rio Salado College | Tempe, AZ | 28 | $2,064 | $86 | $7,848 | $327 |
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University of Maryland-University College | Adelphi, MD | 28 | $6,816 | $284 | $11,976 | $499 |
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Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | 27 | $5,138 | $171 | $5,138 | $171 |
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Rasmussen College-Illinois | Rockford, IL | 27 | $9,360 | $310 | $9,360 | $310 |
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University of Phoenix-Arizona | Tempe, AZ | 27 | $11,219 | . | $11,219 | . |
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South Seattle College | Seattle, WA | 26 | $3,393 | $103 | $3,800 | $201 |
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Southwestern Oregon Community College | Coos Bay, OR | 26 | $4,092 | $91 | $4,092 | $91 |
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Allen County Community College | Iola, KS | 25 | $1,800 | $60 | $1,800 | $60 |
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Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford, FL | 25 | $2,393 | $104 | $9,494 | $382 |
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Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO | 25 | $4,107 | $137 | $6,161 | $205 |
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Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood, PA | 25 | $7,320 | $244 | $10,980 | $366 |
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North Seattle College | Seattle, WA | 24 | $3,393 | $103 | $3,800 | $201 |
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North Hennepin Community College | Brooklyn Park, MN | 23 | $3,922 | $182 | $3,922 | $182 |
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Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | 23 | $4,824 | $161 | $4,824 | $161 |
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Bismarck State College | Bismarck, ND | 21 | $2,916 | $121 | $7,785 | $324 |
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Columbus State Community College | Columbus, OH | 21 | $3,808 | $136 | $8,430 | $301 |
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Three Rivers College | Poplar Bluff, MO | 21 | $4,200 | $173 | $5,340 | $211 |
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Forsyth Technical Community College | Winston-Salem, NC | 20 | $1,906 | $76 | $6,688 | $268 |
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Sinclair Community College | Dayton, OH | 20 | $3,169 | $146 | $6,436 | $282 |
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Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN | 20 | $4,055 | $135 | $7,932 | $264 |
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Jackson College | Jackson, MI | 20 | $4,680 | $195 | $6,480 | $270 |
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Minnesota State College Southeast | Winona, MN | 20 | $4,969 | $166 | $4,969 | $166 |
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Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | Valdosta, GA | 19 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC | 19 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Lanier Technical College | San Francisco, CA | 19 | $2,670 | $89 | $5,340 | $178 |
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Great Basin College | Oakwood, GA | 19 | $2,745 | $92 | $9,390 | $192 |
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Bluegrass Community and Technical College | Elko, NV | 19 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Minnesota West Community and Technical College | Lexington, KY | 19 | $5,094 | $188 | $10,190 | $358 |
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Pennsylvania State University-World Campus | Granite Falls, MN | 19 | $13,174 | $542 | $13,174 | $542 |
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Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | University Park, PA | 18 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College | Salisbury, NC | 18 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Pitt Community College | Elizabethtown, KY | 17 | $1,824 | $76 | $6,432 | $268 |
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Southeastern Technical College | Winterville, NC | 17 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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St Petersburg College | Vidalia, GA | 17 | $2,428 | $113 | $9,717 | $389 |
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Central Carolina Community College | Clearwater, FL | 17 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Fayetteville Technical Community College | Sanford, NC | 17 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Gateway Community and Technical College | Fayetteville, NC | 17 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Big Sandy Community and Technical College | Florence, KY | 17 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Coastal Pines Technical College | Prestonsburg, KY | 17 | $4,005 | $89 | $4,005 | $89 |
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Mesa Community College | Waycross, GA | 16 | $2,064 | $86 | $7,848 | $327 |
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West Georgia Technical College | Mesa, AZ | 16 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Stark State College | Waco, GA | 16 | $2,796 | $117 | $5,904 | $246 |
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Ashland Community and Technical College | North Canton, OH | 16 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Jefferson Community and Technical College | Ashland, KY | 16 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Northcentral Technical College | Louisville, KY | 16 | $3,911 | $130 | $5,806 | $194 |
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Charter Oak State College | Wausau, WI | 16 | $6,888 | $287 | $9,048 | $377 |
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Linfield College-Online and Continuing Education | New Britain, CT | 16 | $12,960 | $480 | $12,960 | $480 |
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Southern Regional Technical College | McMinnville, OR | 15 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Hutchinson Community College | Thomasville, GA | 15 | $2,688 | $103 | $3,680 | $134 |
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Milwaukee Area Technical College | Hutchinson, KS | 15 | $3,911 | $148 | $5,866 | $213 |
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University of Alaska Fairbanks | Milwaukee, WI | 15 | $5,936 | $212 | $19,628 | $701 |
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Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Fairbanks, AK | 15 | $8,141 | $271 | $28,727 | $958 |
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San Joaquin Delta College | Indianapolis, IN | 14 | $1,104 | $46 | $6,168 | $257 |
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Craven Community College | Stockton, CA | 14 | $1,824 | $76 | $6,432 | $268 |
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Yavapai College | New Bern, NC | 14 | $2,280 | $95 | $9,120 | $125 |
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Stanly Community College | Prescott, AZ | 14 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Riverland Community College | Albemarle, NC | 14 | $4,888 | $192 | $4,888 | $192 |
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Pamlico Community College | Austin, MN | 13 | $1,824 | $76 | $6,432 | $268 |
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Southern Crescent Technical College | Grantsboro, NC | 13 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Laramie County Community College | Griffin, GA | 13 | $2,136 | $89 | $6,408 | $267 |
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Holmes Community College | Cheyenne, WY | 13 | $2,230 | $127 | $4,810 | $237 |
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Clovis Community College | Goodman, MS | 12 | $1,008 | $42 | $2,136 | $89 |
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Garden City Community College | Clovis, NM | 12 | $1,824 | $57 | $2,432 | $76 |
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Lenoir Community College | Garden City, KS | 12 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Central Community College | Kinston, NC | 12 | $2,520 | $84 | $3,780 | $126 |
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Dakota College at Bottineau | Grand Island, NE | 12 | $3,469 | $145 | $5,204 | $217 |
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Chemeketa Community College | Bottineau, ND | 12 | $3,600 | $94 | $10,890 | $256 |
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Columbia Southern University | Salem, OR | 12 | $5,040 | $210 | $5,040 | $210 |
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Community College of Allegheny County | Orange Beach, AL | 12 | $6,467 | $216 | $9,698 | $323 |
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University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus | Pittsburgh, PA | 12 | $12,984 | . | $12,984 | . |
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University of the Potomac-VA Campus | Washington, DC | 12 | $12,984 | . | $12,984 | . |
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Kaplan University-Davenport Campus | Vienna, VA | 12 | $13,356 | $371 | $13,356 | $371 |
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Surry Community College | Davenport, IA | 11 | $2,128 | $76 | $8,040 | $268 |
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Ogeechee Technical College | Dobson, NC | 11 | $2,136 | $89 | $4,272 | $178 |
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Nash Community College | Statesboro, GA | 11 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Spokane Community College | Rocky Mount, NC | 11 | $2,688 | $103 | $7,625 | $279 |
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Shoreline Community College | Spokane, WA | 11 | $3,328 | $101 | $6,054 | $192 |
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Seattle Central College | Shoreline, WA | 11 | $3,393 | $103 | $3,800 | $201 |
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Eastern Gateway Community College | Seattle, WA | 11 | $3,510 | $117 | $4,350 | $145 |
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Hazard Community and Technical College | Steubenville, OH | 11 | $3,744 | $156 | $13,104 | $546 |
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Mountain Empire Community College | Hazard, KY | 11 | $4,133 | $138 | $9,431 | $314 |
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Lincoln Land Community College | Big Stone Gap, VA | 11 | $5,520 | $230 | $8,280 | $345 |
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University of Alaska Southeast | Springfield, IL | 11 | $5,936 | $212 | $19,628 | $701 |
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Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg | Juneau, AK | 11 | $6,390 | $260 | $7,680 | $308 |
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Ferris State University | Harrisburg, PA | 11 | $11,144 | $398 | $17,910 | $597 |
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Trinity Valley Community College | Big Rapids, MI | 10 | $1,080 | $36 | $3,540 | $118 |
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Cerro Coso Community College | Athens, TX | 10 | $1,288 | $46 | $7,196 | $257 |
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Arizona Western College | Ridgecrest, CA | 10 | $1,920 | $80 | $7,512 | $313 |
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Broward College | Yuma, AZ | 10 | $1,944 | $114 | $1,944 | $369 |
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Miami Dade College | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 10 | $1,983 | $118 | $7,947 | $403 |
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Ozarka College | Miami, FL | 10 | $2,112 | $88 | $4,464 | $186 |
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Barton County Community College | Melbourne, AR | 10 | $2,304 | $104 | $3,296 | $135 |
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Montgomery Community College | Great Bend, KS | 10 | $2,432 | $76 | $8,576 | $268 |
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Collin County Community College District | Troy, NC | 10 | $2,460 | $83 | $4,260 | $143 |
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Hinds Community College | McKinney, TX | 10 | $2,640 | $110 | $5,440 | $220 |
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North Central Missouri College | Raymond, MS | 10 | $3,270 | $109 | $4,440 | $148 |
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Arapahoe Community College | Trenton, MO | 10 | $3,288 | $137 | $13,488 | $562 |
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George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville | Littleton, CO | 10 | $3,510 | $117 | $7,020 | $234 |
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Thomas Nelson Community College | Hanceville, AL | 10 | $4,193 | $140 | $9,491 | $316 |
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Rochester Community and Technical College | Hampton, VA | 10 | $4,874 | $162 | $4,874 | $162 |
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Thomas Edison State University | Rochester, MN | 10 | $6,350 | $385 | $9,352 | $499 |
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University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Trenton, NJ | 10 | $13,932 | $596 | $30,500 | $1,286 |
See Other Best Colleges for Online Degree Lists
- Best Colleges for Online Associate Degrees
- Best Colleges for Online Bachelor's Degrees
- Best Colleges for Online Master's Degrees
Methodology
To earn a rank on the Best Colleges for Online Certificates list, an online college needs to offer a wide variety of affordable online certificate programs. The online colleges on this list meet the following two criteria:
- Offer their online certificate programs for a reasonable annual tuition rate - $15,000 is the upper tuition limit (annual in-state tuition) for this list. The annual salary for those with "some college, no degree" according to the BLS is $39,312. BankRate recommends that students not accumulate more student debt than they will make the first year after graduation. As certificate programs can be 1-2 years, we used $15,000 as the maximum annual tuition.
- Offer a large number of certificate programs in a variety of study areas. We used 10 as the lowest number of certificate programs an online college could offer in this ranking list. If these conditions were met, online colleges were sorted from top to bottom based on the number of online certificate programs that they offer to students.
