Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in General Studies

Updated November 15, 2022

Find the most affordable school for your BA or BS degree in general studies online on this top-ranked list.

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A BA or BS degree in general studies online can be a great way to put a diploma on a college career that has wandered from its original major. With the help of an advisor, you can often select a theme or path for your previous coursework, complete the required residency hours at your new school and graduate forthwith. Some of these programs allow you up to three minors to fully explore your interests and still get the diploma. As the 30 cheapest online bachelor's in general studies in the entire country (based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator website), most of these schools' tuition rates are below the cost of a standard college education. For your convenience, we've sorted them in descending order of cost, with the most expensive school at the bottom. We simply ranked these BA in general studies programs according to their affordability. See below for the best cheap bachelor's in general studies online, ranked from least to most expensive, according to their per credit hour online rate, along with several handy facts about each program.

Top 30 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in General Studies

  1. Brigham Young University-Idaho
    Location

    Rexburg, ID

    Tuition

    $3920

    The online bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies degree at BYU-Idaho is a 120 credit hour program offering seven areas of concentration, including business management, computer information technology, and health promotion. With a student to faculty ratio of 23 to 1, the school requires completion of their Pathway Connect program or transfer from another CES institution. For non-participants of the Pathway Connect program, BYU-Idaho charges an undergraduate tuition rate of $167 per credit for this affordable online BS in interdisciplinary studies. A lower tuition rate is available for participants of the Pathway Connect program.

  2. Fort Hays State University
    Location

    Hays, KS

    Tuition

    $14426

    This online bachelor of general studies offered by Fort Hays State University is a 120 credit hour program with multiple available concentration areas. You also have the option of designing your own concentration area. The school is looking for applicants with an ACT score of 21 or better or an SAT score of 980 or higher. Students in the general studies program must maintain a GPA of 2.0+. Fort Hays State University asks an online hourly tuition rate of $218.67 for the very reasonably priced bachelor of general studies. The school does not charge out of state tuition fees.

  3. Eastern Oregon University
    Location

    Le Grande, OR

    Tuition

    $19682

    Eastern Oregon University's online bachelor of science in integrative studies allows you to choose two minors for a breadth of knowledge and expertise. One option for a minor is to turn your work experience into college credit. The school has a student to faculty ratio of 17 to 1 and provides an online academic advisor to ensure that the application process goes smoothly. Regardless of residency, Eastern Oregon University charges a bargain online, out of state, tuition rate of $240 per credit for its BS in integrative studies degree. The school is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

  4. Arkansas State University
    Location

    Jonesboro, AR

    Tuition

    $14260

    With nine possible areas of emphasis, Arkansas State University features an online bachelor of general studies. In addition, it is a 120 credit hour program that places an emphasis on critical thinking, a skill sorely needed in today's employment marketplace. The school requests that freshman applicants submit high school transcripts and have an ACT score of 21 or higher, or an SAT score of 980 or better within the last five years. Tuition at Arkansas State University goes for $248.25 per unit for this affordable bachelor of general studies degree.

  5. Missouri Southern State University
    Location

    Joplin, MO

    Tuition

    $11568

    The online bachelor of general studies at Missouri Southern State University is a degree well-suited for someone with interests in several disciplines. The school recommends getting in touch with the admissions team before you put in your application, so they can give you the inside scoop on the admission process.For this highly affordable bachelor of general studies or BGS Missouri Southern State University charges an online, out of state, undergraduate tuition rate of $270.70 per hour of instruction.

  6. Western Illinois University
    Location

    Macomb, IL

    Tuition

    $12897

    Western Illinois University's offering of an online bachelor of arts in general studies is a 120 credit hour program that has the option for, but does not require, a minor. The school will accept transfer students with a C average who were in good academic standing at their last school. Western Illinois University's hourly tuition rate is $284.70 for this affordable BA in general studies, regardless of residency.

  7. Mayville State University
    Location

    Mayville, ND

    Tuition

    $9073

    Mayville State University has an online bachelor of university studies degree that is open to students with previous college coursework, but not a bachelor's degree. The school offers a student to faculty ratio of 13 to 1 and will accept the maximum number of accredited college hours. Students must complete 30 hours of enrollment at Mayville State University. The school charges an hourly instructional fee of $295 for this cheap bachelor in university studies degree, regardless of residency.

  8. Governors State University
    Location

    University Park, IL

    Tuition

    $21136

    The online bachelor of arts in interdisciplinary studies that is offered by Governors State University is a 120 credit hour program that allows you to choose from 21 available minors. With a student to faculty ratio of just 10 to 1, the school is looking for applicants with 45-60+ credit hours and good academic standing at their last school. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Governors State University features an online tuition rate of $313 per unit for this cheap BA in interdisciplinary studies program, regardless of residency.

  9. Iowa State University
    Location

    Ames, IA

    Tuition

    $22472

    Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, Iowa State University has an online bachelor of liberal studies that is a degree completion program open to those with 60 or more previous college credits. The school, having a student to faculty ratio of 19 to 1, is looking for candidates with at least a 2.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale. Iowa State University charges a tuition rate of $323 per credit for their very affordable bachelor of liberal studies.

  10. Georgia Southern University
    Location

    Statesboro, GA

    Tuition

    $16847

    Priding itself on choice, opportunity and flexibility, Georgia Southern University offers an online bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree that is a 124 credit hour program that allows you to choose up to three of six available areas of study. The school requires at least 32 hours of classwork be accomplished at GSU and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be maintained. Georgia Southern University charges tuition of $350 per hour for this bargain online bachelor of interdisciplinary studies degree.

Methodology: Here's How We Rank Schools

At Best Value Schools, we help students of all ages get the best possible value for their education. When choosing the best schools and programs, we prioritize tuition rates, student debt, financial aid opportunities, graduation rates, and the availability of online programs. We source unbiased data from government and educational databases like the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 6,374 schools across the U.S. We organize that data into five weighted categories to compile our school rankings.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 25%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 35%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 15%
Program Offerings Number of program options 10%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 15%
You can read more about our comprehensive evaluation process on our methodology page.

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