SNHU vs. ASU Online (Tuition & Degree Comparison)
SNHU and ASU Online can both lead to a bachelor’s degree, but the better value depends on your major, accepted transfer credits, financial aid, and remaining time to graduate. Compare written degree plans and total costs for the same program and catalog year. Do not choose from a per-credit rate alone: fees, course fit, and scheduling can change your final bill.
Each fall and spring, students and families revisit school lists, application tasks, and aid forms. If you are comparing Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with Arizona State University (ASU) Online, the key question is not simply which school costs less. It is which one lets you complete the right degree, on a schedule you can manage, for a clear and affordable total.
I start this comparison with the student’s goal, not the school’s headline price. A business degree, for example, may have different required courses at each school. The same is true of transfer-credit rules, course schedules, and program approvals. Use the steps below to compare your actual options.
Quick comparison: what should you compare first?
A useful comparison looks at the same bachelor’s major at both schools and counts the cost of finishing, not just the cost of starting. “Net cost” means the amount you may need to pay after grants and scholarships. Compare that figure alongside transfer fit, course access, program requirements, and your expected time to graduation.
| What to compare | SNHU Online | ASU Online | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institutional accreditation | New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) | Current status in the accreditor’s directory |
| Tuition approach | Online undergraduate tuition is generally shown per credit | Price varies by program and may depend on credit load and other factors | Current estimate for your major and planned course load |
| Degree size | Many bachelor’s plans are near 120 semester credits | Many bachelor’s plans are near 120 semester credits | Exact total and required course distribution |
| Transfer credit | Evaluation depends on your prior courses and the degree | Evaluation depends on your prior courses and the degree | Which accepted credits meet major requirements |
| Financial aid | Depends on eligibility and the aid year | Depends on eligibility and the aid year | Written grants, scholarships, fees, and renewal rules |
These are starting points, not a ranking. Before deciding, ask both schools for a transfer evaluation and an estimated cost for the credits you still need. Your major and prior coursework can change the result.
Tuition: how to compare the real cost
Sticker price is the listed tuition before your full aid and degree details are considered. Your real comparison should include tuition for remaining credits, required fees, books and materials, and any extra term caused by course order. Compare the same major, course load, and aid year at both schools.
SNHU generally presents online undergraduate tuition as a per-credit rate. ASU Online tuition varies by program and may also depend on credit load and other factors. Since rates and fees can change, check each school’s current official tuition information and request an estimate for your specific degree.
Use this calculation for each school:
Estimated remaining cost = tuition for required credits + fees + books and required materials − grants and scholarships
Do not subtract loans as if they were discounts. Loans can help you pay now, but they must be repaid. Also ask whether an aid offer depends on full-time enrollment, a minimum GPA, or other conditions.
| Cost item | Questions to ask SNHU and ASU Online |
|---|---|
| Tuition | What is the current rate for this exact program and course load? |
| Fees | Which fees are required, and how often are they charged? |
| Materials | Are books, software, or other materials required for courses? |
| Aid | What grants and scholarships are offered, and can they renew? |
| Extra terms | Could course sequencing require another term before graduation? |
Submit the FAFSA for the correct aid year and check each school’s priority dates. FAFSA rules and school deadlines can vary. Ask for your aid package in writing, then compare the amount you are expected to pay, not just the amount of aid listed.
Next step: Ask each financial aid office for a term-by-term estimate that includes tuition, fees, expected aid, and the planned number of credits.
Transfer credits and degree requirements
A transfer credit is a course or other approved learning that a school accepts toward your degree. Acceptance alone does not mean it will replace a required course in your major. The most useful document is a written degree plan that shows what still remains, including general education, major courses, and any capstone or residency rules.
Both schools review prior learning under their own policies. A course may count as an elective at one school but satisfy a required course at another. That difference can affect how many classes you need to take and how long you stay enrolled.
Send complete transcripts from every prior college. Include course descriptions or syllabi if asked, and gather records for military learning or other prior learning you want reviewed. Then ask each school to show how accepted credits apply to your selected major.
| Transfer result | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Counts toward a major requirement | May replace a course you would otherwise need |
| Counts as general education | Can meet a broad degree requirement, but not a major course |
| Counts only as an elective | Adds credit but may not reduce required major courses |
| Not accepted or not applicable | May leave you with the same requirement still to complete |
A bachelor’s degree often requires about 120 semester credits, but the exact total and course distribution depend on the program. Do not assume that having 60 prior credits means you have only 60 left. Some credits may not fit the degree, and prerequisites may affect the order in which you can take remaining courses.
Next step: Compare the number of required credits left, not only the number of credits each school accepts. Request a final degree audit before registering.
Admissions, accreditation, and online program details
Institutional accreditation is a review of a school as a whole by an outside accrediting body. Programmatic accreditation, when relevant, reviews a particular field or program. SNHU is accredited by NECHE, while ASU is accredited by HLC. Check each accreditor’s current directory and ask whether your specific program needs additional approval.
Neither school has one admissions rule that applies to every online undergraduate applicant and major. Requirements can differ based on your program, prior credits, residency, and route to admission. Check the current program-specific admissions page rather than relying on a general summary or another student’s experience.
If your career goal involves a license or certification, check requirements early. Rules can depend on the state where you plan to work, the type of program, and the licensing body. Ask the school whether the online program meets the academic requirements for your intended location. Confirm the answer with the relevant state or professional authority as well.
For either school, compare:
- Admission requirements for your intended major
- Any required prerequisite courses
- Program accreditation or state approval, if needed
- Course availability and expected sequence
- The degree’s total credit requirement
Next step: Get written answers about your program, especially if you plan to transfer or need a degree that supports licensure.
Academic support, schedules, and completion planning
Online learning can offer flexibility, but it still takes regular study time and careful planning. A course schedule is the school’s plan for when classes are offered. It matters because a required course that is not available when you need it may delay your next course or graduation.
Ask both schools how often required courses run, whether courses have set meeting times, and what support is available for online students. Check access to academic advising, tutoring, library resources, technical help, and career services. Also ask how quickly you can speak with an adviser if a course or transfer decision affects your plan.
Before each term, review your degree audit and prerequisites. Track your GPA and satisfactory academic progress, which is the standard a school uses to check whether you are making enough academic progress to keep receiving federal aid. Ask how withdrawals, repeated courses, and changes in enrollment can affect aid.
A schedule that looks flexible on paper still needs to fit work, family, and study hours. Build a realistic course load with an adviser. If you need to study part time, ask how that affects aid, course availability, and your expected graduation date.
Next step: Request a term-by-term degree map and identify which courses could delay progress if they are not offered when expected.
Career relevance and program outcomes
Career relevance means the degree’s courses and required experiences connect to the work you want to do. A school-wide job or salary figure does not prove that a specific degree will lead to a particular result. Look for program-level information and check how the school defines and reports it.
Compare course lists and learning goals for the major at both schools. For a career that requires a license, focus on the academic and field requirements first. For other fields, ask about internships, projects, employer connections, career advising, and alumni resources that relate to your area of study.
When reviewing outcomes, ask what group of graduates the data covers, when it was collected, and what “employed” or “career placement” means. If the school cannot provide program-level data, treat broad figures as background, not a promise.
Next step: Match the degree plan to job postings or licensing rules in your target field. Note any skills or credentials you may need beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Two planning scenarios: how the comparison can change
These scenarios show why written degree plans matter. They are examples, not claims about a particular student or a promise of how either school will evaluate credit. Your own result depends on the transcript, major, and current school policies.
Scenario 1: A transfer student with prior college credits.
A student has completed general education courses and wants a bachelor’s degree in business. Both schools may accept several courses, but the student should check whether they meet the chosen program’s exact requirements. If one school applies more credits to required courses, it may reduce the remaining workload. Compare the written plans and full cost estimates before choosing.
Scenario 2: A student who needs a career-specific program.
A student wants a degree that supports a regulated career. The first task is to verify that the program meets the relevant state or professional requirements. Then compare tuition, course sequence, and any required experiences. A lower initial price is not useful if the program does not meet the student’s career goal.
In both scenarios, the student should confirm the same details: total credits remaining, required courses, likely time to finish, total estimated cost, and any program approval needed.
A step-by-step decision plan
A decision plan turns school research into a clear comparison. Use the same major and the same assumptions for each school. That makes it easier to spot meaningful differences in cost, credit fit, time, and career requirements.
- Set your goal. Name the major, intended career or license, target completion date, and maximum net cost.
- Gather records. Collect transcripts, course descriptions, and any records of other learning you want reviewed.
- Request evaluations. Ask both schools for a preliminary transfer review and a degree map for the same major.
- Build full estimates. Include tuition, fees, books, aid, remaining credits, and any likely extra term.
- Check program fit. Confirm accreditation, state approval, prerequisites, and career-related requirements where relevant.
- Review the final plan. Before enrolling, confirm the official degree audit, course sequence, aid conditions, and remaining credit rules.
I use one practical test when advising families: can the student explain why this degree, why this school, and how the plan reaches graduation within budget? If the answer depends on an unwritten transfer promise or an unclear cost estimate, pause and ask for details in writing.
Frequently asked questions
These answers address the most common questions students ask when comparing the two online options. Because tuition, admissions rules, transfer decisions, and aid can change, confirm details with each school for your intended major and enrollment year.
Is SNHU or ASU Online cheaper?
There is no reliable answer without your major, transfer evaluation, course load, fees, and aid offer. Compare each school’s estimated net cost for the credits you still need.
How much does an online bachelor’s degree cost at SNHU or ASU?
The total depends on the program, tuition rate, fees, materials, aid, and credits remaining. Request a current program-specific estimate from both schools.
Do both schools accept transfer credits?
Both review prior learning under their policies, but accepted credits may apply differently. Ask for a written evaluation showing which credits meet your major requirements.
Is a bachelor’s degree usually 120 credits?
Many bachelor’s programs require about 120 semester credits, but exact requirements vary by program. Check the degree plan for your selected major.
Is SNHU accredited?
SNHU is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Confirm current status in the accreditor’s directory, and check for any program-specific approval you need.
Is ASU Online accredited?
Arizona State University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Confirm current status in the accreditor’s directory and review any additional requirements tied to your program or career.
Do SNHU and ASU Online have the same admissions requirements?
No single rule applies to every applicant or major. Check the current admissions page for your program and applicant type.
Should I compare tuition per credit?
Use per-credit tuition as one input, not the final answer. Compare remaining credits, fees, aid, materials, and possible extra terms.
Can online programs prepare me for a licensed career?
It depends on the degree, state, and licensing rules. Verify program approval with the school and the relevant licensing authority before enrolling.
What document should I request before choosing?
Ask for a written transfer evaluation, degree plan, and full cost estimate for your intended major. Together, these show what remains and what you may pay.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
