Are online bachelor’s degrees different than face to face?

An undergraduate degree is a two- or four-year degree earned by a student. They come in two levels – associate and bachelor’s. These degrees are typically obtained after an individual has graduated from high school or completed a general education exam. There are some exceptions. Some states and school districts allow students to simultaneously take courses in high school and at a community or state college. Through this dual enrollment, a student may graduate from high school with both a high school diploma and an associate degree.

An associate degree is typically earned through a two-year institution such as a state or community college. Many students earn 60 credits during this period. A bachelor’s degree is, at minimum, an additional 60 credit hours beyond an associate degree. While 22 states now allow for state or community colleges to confer bachelor’s degrees, most bachelor’s degrees are typically obtained through a university or private college. With the advent of the internet, a student can now complete an undergraduate degree fully online.

First semester enrollment is limited to part time to assure students’ academic success. UCF Online students do not commonly have in-person access to resource offices and faculty.  First time in college (FTIC) students are new to the college experience and are given a major semester (Fall or Spring) to become accustomed to UCF’s online services and class modalities, after which they are able to enroll in a full-time class load, if desired. If an online student requires full time enrollment for scholarship purposes, they are encouraged to contact the Undergraduate Admissions office regarding a possible waiver.

A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree that can be obtained after completing high school. Typically, a bachelor’s degree consists of 120 credit hours of study. However, some degrees and circumstances require more.

A fully online bachelor’s degree is a distance-education program that results in a four-year degree. At UCF, a fully online bachelor’s degree can be obtained by completing coursework strictly via the internet. Besides the method in which you receive instruction, there is no difference between a face-to-face bachelor’s degree and a fully online bachelor’s degree.

Yes. UCF’s online bachelor’s degrees are valued the same as the face-to-face alternative. The University of Central Florida is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredited institution and is a leader in education, research and partnership. The online degree is simply an alternative mode to receiving instruction that allows for additional flexibility in scheduling. The online courses are taught by the same instructors as the face-to-face/in-person degree pathway. In fact, many online courses are mixed with online-only and in-person students.

No! When you receive your diploma, it will not make a distinction between online or face-to-face. Your bachelor’s degree will be that – a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida carries weight. With graduates spanning the hospitality, engineering, and healthcare industries, UCF is fulfilling the demand for critical, high-value jobs across the state.

The time it takes for you to complete an accredited online bachelors degree from UCF depends on several factors. These factors include the number of credit hours already obtained, FTIC first semester restriction, and the number of credit hours you choose to take per semester.

There are two path to becoming a UCF Online bachelor’s student: enter as a first time in college (FTIC) student or transfer from an accredited institution. A FTIC student’s first semester enrollment is limited to part time to assure students’ academic success. This restriction will impact the time to completion.

Those transferring in will already have some credit towards a bachelor’s degree. The number of credits you transfer will impact how quickly you can finish a fully online degree. Even then, there are several scenarios that could impact that speed.

It is recommended that, if possible, full-time students aim to take 30 credit hours a year to graduate on time. A student is considered full-time if they take 12 or more credit hours a semester. According to the Think30 website, there are cost savings benefits and additional earning potentials to graduating on-time.  If you’re transferring with an associate’s degree completed and able to commit to 30 credits a year, you can complete any of our online bachelor degrees in as little as two years.

Not everyone is able or willing to commit to 30 credit hours a year and that’s ok! In fact, the majority of UCF Online students are considered half-time or less (8 or fewer credit hours per semester). A full list of enrollment statuses can be found on the registrar’s enrollment verification page. At exactly half time (15-credit hours per year), transfers with an associate’s degree can complete an online degree in as little as four years.

Getting your online degree through UCF Online costs less than UCF’s in-person degrees. In fact, UCF Online students save $33.09 per credit hour. View a full breakdown of tuition costs.

Florida Residents pay $179.19 per credit hour for a UCF Online bachelor degree. The estimated tuition for Florida residents pursuing an online degree full-time is $5375.70 per year (30 total credit hours taken).  Compared to a full-time in-person student, an online bachelor’s degree will save you $992.70 a year.

Out-of-State residents pay $715.80 per credit hour for a UCF Online bachelor degree. The estimated tuition for out-of-state residents pursuing an online degree full-time is $21,474 per year (30 total credit hours taken). Compared to a full-time in-person student, an online bachelor’s degree will save you $992.70 a year.

In addition to tuition costs, you should also consider the cost of class materials (e.g. books), lodging, and other living expenses. These costs are not included in tuition.  Please see Financial Aid’s Cost of Attendance page for a breakdown of estimated living expenses.

Yes! UCF offers over 20 bachelor’s degrees fully online. To apply for a fully online bachelor’s program through UCF, you must transfer from an accredited institution. See our Online Student Guidelines for a full list of eligibility requirements.

Yes, transfer students are eligible for UCF’s fully online bachelor’s degree programs! See our Online Student Guidelines for a full list of eligibility requirements. UCF Online has partnerships with select state and community colleges around Florida to support you in your quest to become a knight. While working with our partner institutions will not guarantee you admissions to UCF Online, our success coaches will help you to navigate the admissions process and answer all questions along the way.  Our partner institutions:

Hillsborough Community College
Florida Gateway College
College of the Florida Keys
Indian River State College
North Florida College
Northwest Florida State College
Miami Dade College
Pasco-Hernando State College
Polk State College
St. Petersburg College