A Guide to Online Bachelor's Degrees

Online education in India has grown remarkably, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Delhi University first offered distance learning with correspondence courses in 1962, the recent surge in online learning has transformed the educational landscape. Today, with more than 200 distance m programmes available, choosing the right degree is more crucial than ever [1].

If you opt for an online degree, you'll find benefits associated with learning online, including the flexibility to study from any location, reduced travel costs, and the possibility of a schedule tailored to your needs, especially if your programme offers asynchronous learning.

Discover more about what it takes to earn your bachelor’s degree online and how you can determine whether it’s the best degree option for you. 

Online bachelor’s degrees: Costs + time

The average yearly tuition for an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree costs anywhere from ₹6,500 to ₹20,000, which tends to be less expensive than traditional degree courses [1]. Because you can access your courses from home—or anywhere you have internet access—you most likely won’t have several traditional college expenses, such as commuting, which can often balloon yearly costs.  

When you embark on an online bachelor’s programme, it may take around three years to finish your degree if you can attend full-time. That’s about the same time it takes a full-time student to earn an in-person bachelor’s degree. When you attend part-time, your timeline depends on how many courses you can take each semester.

Ways to Accelerate Your Online Degree Completion 

You may be able to speed up the time it takes to earn your online bachelor’s. Credits from institutions with accreditation that you’ve previously earned may be eligible to transfer, which can reduce the time it takes to reach the minimum number of credit hours required to graduate.

Some online degrees are also self-paced, so you can determine when you’re ready to take the exam. Additionally, with this format, you can access resources and ask for help at a time that works best for you. 

Benefits of earning your bachelor’s degree online 

Graduating with your bachelor’s degree is a major accomplishment. Beyond the subject knowledge you’ll have gained, you may be able to boost your earning potential, lower your risk of unemployment, and qualify for more roles. If you choose to participate in an online bachelor’s degree programme, you may also find a few extra benefits. 

• Flexibility: Online courses occur asynchronously, potentially making it easier to earn your education around your other responsibilities. 

• Work while going to school: Thanks to that flexibility, you may find it easier to continue working part-time or full-time while earning your degree rather than taking time off to focus solely on your education. 

• Develop valuable workplace skills: Online bachelor’s degree programmes often include internships, development opportunities, and assistance with job placement.  

• Network with your classmates: In response to online students’ demand for socialisation, many online bachelor’s programmes offer opportunities to interact with classmates and professors through orientation initiatives and on-campus events.

6 factors to help you choose the best online bachelor’s programme 

When choosing an online bachelor's degree programme, consider what you want to accomplish by earning your degree and the type of programme (online or in-person) that will help you achieve that. Understanding your motivations for beginning a degree programme, the resources you have to work with, and how you learn can help you get closer to the best decision. Six other factors to keep in mind as you explore online bachelor’s degree programmes include:

1. Degree programme

You have a lot of degree programmes to choose from online, but you may find that not every course is available—or available from the online college you’d most like to attend. When you know what you’d like to study, do some initial research to ensure it’s available.  

2. Flexibility

Institutions often design online degrees to provide greater flexibility, but what that looks like depends on the programme you choose. Take time to learn how they will teach your courses (asynchronously or synchronously), how self-paced your semesters will be, any requirements around assignment deadlines, and other factors that could impact your schedule.  

3. Accreditation

To offer online degrees, Indian universities must have the approval of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Distance Education Bureau (DEB). Without this approval, any degrees offered are invalid. Research your desired university online and ensure it has the UGC-DEB stamp of approval before enrolling.

4. Credit transfer 

If you’ve previously earned some university credits, you may be able to transfer a portion (or all) of those credits to your new online degree programme. That can help accelerate the time it takes to finish your degree. 

With the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Texas, you can transfer up to 90 credits towards the 120 required to graduate.

5. Learning technology

The way you learn online will depend on your programme's curriculum. Still, you will need to understand how to work with various e-learning materials, such as e-text documents, video lectures, virtual classes, virtual simulations, and interactive aspects.

6. Student services

Depending on your online bachelor’s degree programme, you may have access to a range of student services, like advising, career support, and financial aid. If having more in-person help throughout your programme and in the lead-up to graduation is important, then inquire about what resources your programme offers. 

How to pay for your online bachelor’s degree 

How you plan to pay for your degree, whether online or in-person, is an important question. As you research the potential cost of your education, consider these options for paying for your online bachelor’s degree. 

1. Apply for federal student aid

The Ministry of Education offers the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for College and University Students to help support national students who cannot afford college. Research to see if you qualify for this programme, as it may cover fees in part or full. 

2. Apply for college scholarships

Some online colleges offer scholarships to help lower the overall cost of attendance. A few of these are Jain University, Alagappa University, and Manipal University Online. Visit your school’s student financial services page to learn more about applying for school-specific financial assistance.

3. Work part-time or full-time

While many students work part-time while earning their in-person bachelor's, the added scheduling flexibility and self-paced nature of online learning can make working full-time while going to school easier. With either part-time or full-time work, you can allocate some of your income towards your education expenses and offset the overall cost of your degree.  

4. Take out student loans 

Student loans can be helpful to cover any gaps you face in paying for your education, but they tend to be expensive. It’s better to explore all other options before taking out student loans.  

Other ways to learn online 

An online bachelor’s degree can strengthen your subject knowledge and add a helpful credential to your resume. But it’s also a significant time commitment. Consider the options below if you’re interested in bolstering your skills in a faster timeline. 

• Short-duration certificate courses: Interested in learning more about a specific topic? Take short courses in several areas from universities in India. 

• Professional Certificates: Develop job-ready skills in a matter of months with a Professional Certificate. Enrol in beginner and advanced programmes from Google, IBM, and Meta. Each certificate programme takes less than a year to complete, and you can gain important industry knowledge and career skills.  

• Bootcamps: With coding, data science, and UX design, you can participate in a shorter but more in-depth programme called a bootcamp. Also designed to help you develop job-ready knowledge and skills, bootcamps can help you accelerate your learning, and many also feature career placement support. 

Explore online bachelor's degrees further 

Online bachelor’s degrees are a flexible and affordable alternative to in-person courses that still provide the same high-quality education as you’d expect from an on-campus degree course. 

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree offered outside of India, you can discover more about online bachelor’s degrees on Coursera. Offered from the University of London in computer science and the University of North Texas in applied arts and sciences, these undergraduate degrees are designed to be flexible and self-paced, so you can discover these degree courses on your own time.