If you are looking to gain an education, but you want to do it as easily as possible, one option is to try and do it online. A lot of people are doing it this way these days, and it is actually easier than ever. Of course, one of the decisions you will need to make early on is which institution to go through, and you’ll soon discover that there are a whole host of these to contrast and compare. Finding the right one may be something of a challenge in itself.
To help you out, we have compiled here some of the very best institutions around the world that you can use to gain an online education in 2025. All of the following are revered in some way or another, as you will see, with some of them being some of the best all-round institutions. Let’s take a look and see which you might want to consider.
University of Melbourne Online
Some institutions are universities which offer a specific online portion of their educational facilities, and the University of Melbourne online is one such place. Simply put, this is one of the very best all-round universities, the number one university in Australia, and one of the most well-curated and put together online learning platforms in the world. With a wide range of subjects on offer, this is a great choice regardless of what you are studying, and there is a huge amount of support on offer for students to avail themselves of as well. It’s a great choice for pretty much anyone.
Best For
- A truly flexible approach to online learning means you can easily balance any of the University of Melbourne’s online courses with your working life, making this a perfect choice for anyone who is finding a balance.
University at Buffalo (SUNY)
You may or may not have put much thought into this university. It is not always one that ranks highly in general, but as it happens it is one of the best for online learning. In fact, it ranks number one across the US in the US News and World Report in 2025 for Online Bachelor’s programs. So you can be sure that you will genuinely be getting one of the leading online learning experiences if you do choose to go through SUNY Buffalo. It’s also an all-round well-managed institution and incredibly well budgeted for students of all kinds and backgrounds too.
Best For
- Known for strong student support – sometimes lacking in online programs – and rolling admissions, you can be sure of feeling genuinely held here.
University of Florida
A well-regarded university in general, the University of Florida secured number two in the US News’ 2025 rankings for online bachelor’s programs, just behind Buffalo. Clearly, then, you can expect to get a decent online education here, and it is definitely one of the world’s best options when it comes to getting your online degree. If you have been wondering which institutions to go through for an all-round experience, you are certainly going to want to consider the University of Florida at least. It might prove to exceed your expectations, and the reports of previous students are very positive indeed.
Best For
- Excellent value and great flexibility, and particularly good for accredited business programs.
University of Southern California
The USC is another great global ranking education provider, and this is especially true when it comes to its online offerings. There are highly interactive, professionally-focused programs here, and you’ll find that you are probably able to find the course you need easily enough. It’s also got a lot of flexibility with funding, which a lot of students are happy for, and the option to do part-split online and offline courses, for those whom that suits.
Best For
- It’s particularly strong in MBA, engineering and social work, though also has a wide range of other fields to consider.
Coursera
Not all institutions are traditional universities and colleges. Actually, one of the best offering online learning has to be Coursera, which is known to empower access to degrees and certificates in alignment and partnership with some of the top universities of the world – Yale, Stanford, and much more. With over 7,000 offerings from over 300 institutions, this is like a hub of breadth and convenience, and it’s certainly one to consider if you are keen on breaking out of the traditional way of doing things.
Best For
- A well-structured and easy to use platform that aligns you with amazing institutions for a great price – what’s not to love?
University of the People
In a somewhat similar vain, you have the option of going through the University of the People too. This is a tuition-free, fully accredited online university that charges only minimal course fees. It has been purposefully designed for affordability, which means that it is also incredibly flexible, and hugely accessible, part of the reason it has been winning so many awards in those kinds of areas already. It’s one that you should definitely consider if budget is a big part of your decision, as it is for so many.
Best For
- This is especially fitting for self-motivated learners as well as those who are watching the pennies.
Open University
This UK-based online university is one of the true early pioneers of online educational learning, and it’s still going strong with a huge amount of courses to choose from. It is also untarnished with any of that lesser online vibe that some places get: the OU is a genuinely well-respected institution in the UK and beyond, and you can be sure of gaining a decent education here from home.
Best For
- An old-world educational experience without leaving the home.
Those are just some of the best places around the world that you can look to if you want to gain an online education in 2025. You’ll find that any of those are really worth considering, and could be exactly what you are hoping for.