Online Colleges With Monthly and Frequent Start Dates (2027)

Ranks #1 of 11 because it publishes monthly starts (12 a year). 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

American Public University starts online courses monthly, and its criminal justice BA runs them in eight- to sixteen-week formats. You can begin soon after your transfer evaluation instead of waiting for a semester. Coursework traces how evidence, constitutional protections, and procedure shape a case, and you can choose a general, maritime, or leadership concentration.

Before you apply: Up to 90 approved transfer credits can apply. The BA is not designed to meet licensure or certification requirements, so check any job credential separately.

Ranks #2 of 11 because it publishes monthly starts (12 a year). 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

CSU Global publishes 12 start dates a year, one each month, for its online healthcare administration and management degree. Courses run eight weeks and are asynchronous, so your first class can begin shortly after admission. The curriculum covers healthcare finance, operations, policy, and information systems, and it ends in a policy-focused capstone.

Before you apply: Standard transfer entry asks for a 2.30 GPA, 24 semester credits, and two years of work, internship, or volunteer experience. Provisional routes have separate conditions.

Ranks #3 of 11 because it publishes monthly starts (12 a year). 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

National University offers monthly course starts and year-round enrollment for its online homeland security and emergency management degree, and students take one course at a time. That rhythm suits a returning adult who wants to begin now and carry a single course alongside work. Study covers risk assessment, continuity planning, intelligence, and agency relationships.

Before you apply: The degree requires 30 credits in residence and 51 upper-division credits. The senior project is a two-month course presented to a committee.

Ranks #4 of 11 because it publishes 11 start dates a year. 3 programs on this list publish more start dates.

Columbia Southern publishes 11 start dates each year for its fully online information technology degree. The curriculum ties technical systems to information-systems management and organizational communication, a fit for someone whose earlier credits span business and computing. Up to 90 approved transfer credits can apply toward the 120-credit degree, and courses are available around the clock.

Before you apply: If you want heavy programming, compare these management-focused IT courses with your goals. Ask which earlier computing classes count toward the major.

Ranks #5 of 11 because it publishes 6 start dates a year. 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

Charter Oak publishes six start dates for its fully online general studies degree, which was built for adults with credits spread across subjects. Your first semester is when you develop the individualized concentration with an academic counselor, so an earlier start gets that plan moving sooner. The concentration needs at least 36 credits across two or more areas of study.

Before you apply: The concentration plan needs faculty approval. Applicants with a career GPA below 2.0 start on academic probation with added conditions.

Ranks #6 of 11 because it publishes 6 start dates a year. 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

Point Loma Nazarene’s adult degree completion program in public administration publishes six start dates a year, with fully online, asynchronous classes that run eight weeks. The program admits students transferring credit and can also admit students with no completed college units. It ends with a project proposing a partnership across sectors to address a societal issue.

Before you apply: Most courses carry three units, but Biblical Perspectives carries four. Ask how that requirement fits your remaining credits.

Ranks #7 of 11 because it publishes 6 start dates a year. 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

Saint Leo’s online division uses rolling admission and six start dates during the year, so you can apply when you are ready and join the next session. The emergency management BA pairs nine core courses with four electives, uses industry software, and closes with an applied project. A fire science concentration adds prevention and community risk reduction.

Before you apply: Credits older than ten years receive a separate transfer review. At least 25% of the degree, half of it in the major, must be completed at Saint Leo.

Ranks #8 of 11 because it publishes 4 start terms a year. 7 programs on this list publish more start dates.

Oregon State offers four start terms a year for its online supply chain degree, which counts progress in quarter credits. Four entry points give you more choice than a fall-only program while keeping a structured term calendar. Courses address supply chain analytics, contracting, and inventory, and an applied learning requirement can be met through a project, a thesis, an internship, or study abroad.

Before you apply: At least 45 of the final 75 quarter credits must be completed at Oregon State, and the degree needs 60 upper-division quarter credits.

Ranks #9 of 11 because it publishes 3 starts a year (fall, spring, and summer). 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

Florida International starts its fully online international relations BA in fall, spring, and summer, so you can begin in the next term rather than waiting a full year. The degree organizes study around law, security, political economy, and regional knowledge, followed by a two-course theory sequence. Bring any earlier coursework in government, world history, or economics, since an advisor can compare them with the degree’s distribution areas.

Before you apply: The two theory courses cannot be taken in the same term, which affects your timeline. Major courses require a C or better.

Ranks #10 of 11 because it publishes 3 starts a year. 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

Southwest Minnesota State offers three program starts a year for its online political science BA, and courses follow 16-week terms. That longer pace suits a returning student who prefers a full semester per course. The 37-credit major moves from national government into comparing political systems, world geography, and international law, and electives can include an internship or independent study.

Before you apply: The program page lists a 2.5 minimum GPA. Ask how earlier government or history courses apply to the 37-credit major.

Ranks #11 of 11 because it publishes 3 starts a year (spring, summer, and fall). 3 programs on this list share that number of starts, so they appear in alphabetical order.

UMGC offers rolling admission for its online legal studies BS and lists course start dates in the spring, summer, and fall terms. Required study builds research and writing skills before ethics, and substantive courses include contracts, torts, litigation, and domestic relations. Earlier paralegal coursework may fit parts of that sequence, so request a course-by-course review.

Before you apply: Up to 90 credits from four-year schools or 70 from two-year schools may transfer. Confirm whether the research sequence must come before the capstone.