Most Affordable Distance Learning Colleges in California 2023

Last Updated on August 8, 2023 by Sidharth PS

Hi readers! In this post, I’ve compiled a list of best distance learning colleges, universities, and institutes in California. Here, readers will find the following details – rankings, list of distance education colleges, their address, type of institute, fees/cost, degrees and awards, distance learning majors/degrees and more.

Affordable/Cheapest Distance Learning Colleges in California for 2022

For ranking colleges, we have used the ‘affordability’ factor. With each passing year, cost of higher-education is rising. Keeping this fact in mind, we have decided to rank institutes on the basis of cost/expenses and affordability.

Best Distance Learning Programs/Majors

Here are some popular distance learning programs/majors –

1. Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences

   • Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
   • Agricultural and Food Products Processing
   • Agricultural Business and Management
   • Agricultural Mechanization
   • Agricultural Production Operations
   • Agricultural Public Services
   • Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences, Other
   • Agriculture, General
   • Animal Sciences
   • Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
   • Food Science and Technology
   • International Agriculture
   • Plant Sciences
   • Soil Sciences

2. Architecture and Related Services

3. Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies

   • Area Studies
   • Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

4. Biological and Biomedical Sciences

5. Business, Marketing, Management, and Related Support Services

   • Accounting and Related Services
   • Business Administration, Management and Operations
   • Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
   • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
   • Business/Commerce, General
   • Business/Corporate Communications
   • Business/Managerial Economics
   • Construction Management
   • Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
   • Finance and Financial Management Services
   • General Sales, Merchandising, and Related Marketing Operations
   • Hospitality Administration/Management
   • Human Resources Management and Services
   • Insurance
   • International Business
   • Management Information Systems and Services
   • Management Sciences and Quantitative Methocs
   • Marketing
   • Real Estate
   • Specialized Sales, Merchandising, and Marketing Operations
   • Taxation
   • Telecommunications Management

6. Communication Technologies/Technicians and Support Services

   • Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians
   • Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services, Other
   • Communications Technology/Technician
   • Graphic Communications

7. Communication, Journalism, and Related programs

   • Communication and Media Studies
   • Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other
   • Journalism
   • Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
   • Publishing
   • Radio, Television, and Digital Communication

8. Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

   • Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
   • Computer and Information Sciences, General
   • Computer Programming
   • Computer Science
   • Computer Software and Media Applications
   • Computer Systems Analysis
   • Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
   • Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
   • Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications
   • Data Processing
   • Information Science/Studies

9. Construction Trades

   • Construction Trades, General
   • Construction Trades, Other

10. Education

    • Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
    • Curriculum and Instruction
    • Education, General
    • Education, Other
    • Educational Administration and Supervision
    • Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
    • Educational/Instructional Media Design
    • International and Comparative Education
    • Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
    • Special Education and Teaching
    • Student Counseling and Personnel Services
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
    • Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
    • Teaching Assistants/Aides
    • Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

11. Engineering

    • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering
    • Agricultural Engineering
    • Architectural Engineering
    • Biochemical Engineering
    • Biological/Biosystems Engineering
    • Biomedical/Medical Engineering
    • Cermic Sciences and Engineering
    • Chemical Engineering
    • Civil Engineering
    • Computer Engineering
    • Construction Engineering
    • Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
    • Electromechanical Engineering
    • Engineering Chemistry
    • Engineering Mechanics
    • Engineering Physics
    • Engineering Science
    • Engineering, General
    • Engineering, Other
    • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
    • Forest Engineering
    • Geological Engineering
    • Industrial Engineering
    • Manufacturing Engineering
    • Materials Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering
    • Metallurgical Engineering
    • Mining and Mineral Engineering
    • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
    • Nuclear Engineering
    • Ocean Engineering
    • Operations Research
    • Paper Science and Engineering
    • Petroleum Engineering
    • Plastics Engineering
    • Surveying Engineering
    • Systems Engineering
    • Textile Sciences and Engineering

12. Engineering Technology and Engineering-Related Fields

    • Architecture Engineering Technicians
    • Civil Engineering Technicians
    • Computer Engineering Technicians
    • Construction Engineering Technologies
    • Drafting Engineering Technicians
    • Electrical Engineering Technicians
    • Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technicians
    • Engineering Technicians, Other
    • Engineering Technology, General
    • Engineering-Related Fields
    • Engineering-Related Technologies
    • Environmental Control Technicians
    • Industrial Production Technicians
    • Mechanical Engineering Related Technicians
    • Mining and Petroleum Technicians
    • Nanotechnology
    • Nuclear Engineering Technicians
    • Quality Control and Safety Technicians

13. English Language and Literature/Letters

    • English Language and Literature, General
    • English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
    • Literature
    • Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

14. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

    • Apparel and Textiles
    • Family and Consumer Electronics Related Studies
    • Family and Consumer Sciences Business Services
    • Family and Consumer Sciences, General
    • Family and Consumer Sciences, Other
    • Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
    • Housing and Human Environments
    • Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
    • Work and Family Studies

15. Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

    • African Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • American Sign Language
    • Celtic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other
    • Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Persian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
    • Middle Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Modern Greek Language and Literature
    • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Slavic, Baltic, and Albanian Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
    • South Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Southeast Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
    • Turkic, Uralic-Altaic, Caucasian, and Central Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

16. History

17. Legal Professions and Studies

    • Law
    • Legal Professions and Studies, Other
    • Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
    • Legal Support Services
    • Non-Professional General Legal Studies (UG)

18. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities

19. Library Science

20. Mathematics and Statistics

    • Applied Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Mathematics and Statistics, Other
    • Statistics

21. Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians

22. Military Technologies and Applied Sciences

23. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

24. Natural Resources and Conservation

    • Fishing and Fisheries Sciences Management
    • Forestry
    • Natural Resources and Conservation
    • Natural Resources and Conservation and Research
    • Natural Resources Management and Policy
    • Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management

25. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies

    • Health and Physical Education/Fitness
    • Outdoor Education
    • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management
    • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
    • Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies, Other

26. Personal and Culinary Services

    • Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
    • Culinary Arts and Related Services
    • Funeral Service and Mortuary Science
    • Personal and Culinary Services, Other

27. Philosophy and Religious Studies

    • Philosophy
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other
    • Religion/Religious Studies

28. Physical Sciences

    • Astronomy and Astrophysics
    • Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
    • Chemistry
    • Geosciences
    • Materials Sciences
    • Physical Sciences
    • Physical Sciences, Other
    • Physics

29. Precision Production

30. Psychology

    • Psychology, General
    • Psychology, Other

31. Public Administration and Social Service Professions

    • Community Organization and Advocacy
    • Human Services, General
    • Public Administration
    • Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
    • Public Policy Analysis
    • Social Work

32. Science Technologies/Technicians

33. Social Sciences

    • Demography and Population Studies
    • Economics
    • Geography and Cartography
    • International Relations and National Security Studies
    • Political Science and Government
    • Rural Sociology
    • Social Sciences, General
    • Social Sciences, Other
    • Sociology
    • Sociology and Anthropology
    • Urban Studies/Affairs

34. Theology and Religious Vocations

    • Bible/Biblical Studies
    • Missionary Studies
    • Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
    • Religious Education
    • Religious Music
    • Theological and Ministerial Studies
    • Theology and Religious Vocations, Other

35. Transportation and Materials Moving

    • Transportation and Materials Moving, Other

36. Visual and Performing Arts

    • Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
    • Design and Applied Arts
    • Fine and Studio Arts
    • Visual and Performing Arts, General
    • Visual and Performing Arts, Other

Come, let us take a close look at the admission process and requirements –

Admission Requirements

While evaluating candidates who’ve applied for admission, colleges take the following factors into consideration –

• Secondary school GPA
• Secondary school rank
• Secondary school record
• Completion of college-preparatory program
• Formal demonstration of competencies
• ACT/SAT test scores
• TOEFL
• Other relevant tests

The factors mentioned above are divided into the following groups – Admission considerations that are ‘Required/Mandatory’, admission considerations that are ‘Recommended’ and admission requirements that are ‘Considered but not required’.   Admission requirements may vary from one college to another. Most of the colleges rely on secondary school GPA, secondary school record, ACT/SAT scores and TOEFL (as mandatory considerations). Community colleges usually have an open admission policy.

Distance Education Degrees

Depending upon the level of the program, Degrees or Awards can be classified into the following types –

• Certificates
• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Advanced Degrees

Certificates

• Less than one year certificate: The duration of the program is less than one year.
• One but less than two years certificate: The duration of the course is 1 year (or more, but less than 2 years).

Associate’s Degree

Associate’s Degree program is two years long. After completing this program, you’ll obtain an Associate’s Degree from the college/university/accrediting body.

Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree program is four years long. After completing this program, you’ll obtain an Associate’s Degree from the college/university/accrediting body.

Advanced Degrees

Here are some of the popular advanced degrees –

• Master’s Degree
• Doctor’s Degree
• Post-master’s certificate

Vishnu Nambiar

I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.

I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.