Draper, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/01/2019 -- Cost has been the top factor in the online college student's decision making process since 2015, according to an Education Dynamics report, with 60% of undergraduates selecting affordability as a top three factor. 46% of graduate students did the same.

With so many options available to students, Education Reference Desk has recently published its list of the 10 Most Affordable Accredited Online Colleges. Pulling data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), colleges were evaluated based on their affordability, while also providing insight into academic quality, and student satisfaction and outcomes. As part of the rankings, EduRef.net also published detailed profiles outlining each school on its list. Students can use these profiles to evaluate each school's cost, retention and graduation rates, and return on investment.

"Online programs can offer an affordable, flexible learning environment for students who have to balance classes with working a full-time job, caring for their family or other responsibilities," said Education Reference Desk's spokesperson, "The Most Affordable Online Colleges ranking allows students to compare accredited schools and find those that best fit their education interests, career goals, and budget."

The EduRef.net 2020 ranking for the Most Affordable Accredited Online Colleges ranks the University of North Florida #1 as the most affordable with the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater and Sam Houston State University rounding out the top three.

The complete rankings are as follows:

Rank School
1 University of North Florida
2 University of Wisconsin Whitewater
3 Sam Houston State University
4 Ball State University
5 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
6 University of Wisconsin Platteville
7 University of North Dakota
8 Old Dominion University
9 University of Michigan
10 Indiana University of Pennsylvania

University response to EduRef.net rankings has been very positive. Sharing the rankings on their websites and via social media has helped schools attract new students and excite existing students and alumni.

The rankings and data were produced for EduRef.net, a leading higher education research organization. All evaluated data was gathered from IPEDs, U.S. Dept. of Higher Education, school websites, and other reputable sources.

The rankings have been published at https://www.eduref.net/cheapest-accredited-online-colleges/

About EduRef.net
EduRef.net reviews publicly available data to produce independent ranking assessments of various educational programs, in addition to student guides and resources. The site is regularly updated by a committed team of writers and researchers, who produce college rankings and resources that will help prospective and current college students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.

Media Contact
Company Name: EduRef.net
Contact Person: Tyson Stevens
Phone: (707) 595-0736
City: Draper,UT
Email: tstevens@EduRef.net
https://www.eduref.net/