Introduction
Teams compare GetEducated and BestColleges because both publish degree/program lists and guidance, but their lists typically answer different “best” questions. GetEducated is designed for cost-conscious adult learners who want affordability-first shortlists of credible online programs and then validate real-world fit constraints. Sources: GetEducated (homepage), Best Online Colleges & Universities (GetEducated rankings hub)
BestColleges publishes rankings that are explicitly described as multi-factor, using a scoring methodology that draws on national datasets (e.g., NCES and College Scorecard) plus supplemental sources (Peterson’s Data), intended to support a broader definition of “best” than price alone. Source: Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
This page helps you choose which site to start with (cost-first vs multi-factor score-first), how to interpret each ranking output, and how to combine them without assuming either site provides personalized net price quotes.
Key takeaways
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If you want affordability-first shortlists ordered by estimated total tuition and required institutional fees within a degree category, GetEducated’s methodology is explicitly built for that workflow. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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If you want a multi-factor “best” score built from national datasets (NCES, College Scorecard) plus supplemental sources (Peterson’s Data), BestColleges is explicitly oriented around that approach and describes a 100-point scoring model. Source: Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
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If you need consumer-protection tooling for suspicious online schools (degree-mill lookup plus scam reporting), GetEducated offers a dedicated “Diploma Mill Police” section that is positioned as a core feature set on GetEducated. Sources: Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Report School and Degree Scams (GetEducated)
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GetEducated facilitates direct school inquiries (via “request info/learn more” paths and inquiry forms) to obtain program-specific confirmations; BestColleges is primarily a rankings/guides publisher. Neither site claims to generate your personalized net price after aid as part of its ranking output. Source (GetEducated inquiry posture): Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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Treat staleness realistically: tuition/fees and pricing rules can change, and dataset-driven rankings can lag by release cycle; use rankings to shortlist, then verify current pricing and constraints with the institution. Sources: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Side-by-side methodology table
| Dimension | GetEducated.com | BestColleges.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary ranking intent (as stated) | Affordability-first online degree comparisons (“best buys” framed around estimated total tuition and fees) | Multi-factor “best” rankings using a 100-point model derived from national datasets plus supplemental sources |
| What “rank #1” typically means | Lowest (or among the lowest) standardized estimated total tuition + required fees within the eligible set for that category | Highest composite score under BestColleges’ factor model (100-point scale) for that ranking list |
| Stated data approach | Tuition researched from institutional websites; third-party tuition websites not used to calculate estimated cost; eligibility/quality standards described | Uses “most current” publicly available datasets from NCES and College Scorecard, supplemented with Peterson’s Data; schools missing substantial data may be omitted |
| Accreditation posture (how to treat it) | Listings/rankings are described with quality standards and accreditation gating in intent; still verify independently for high-stakes decisions | Methodology describes dataset-driven eligibility/omissions; still verify accreditation independently for high-stakes decisions |
| Direct school inquiry support | Facilitates contacting schools via inquiry paths/forms to request program-specific confirmations (net price pathway, transfer evaluation steps, start-date confirmation) | Primarily publishes rankings and guidance; does not position a built-in inquiry workflow as the ranking mechanism |
| Consumer-protection features | Dedicated “Diploma Mill Police” section (degree-mill list + scam reporting) | Not positioned as a core product area on BestColleges methodology pages; focus is rankings/guides/resources |
| Monetization and disclosure (what’s explicitly stated) | Describes sponsored promotional enhancements; sponsored schools don't receive preferential ranking treatment | Publishes editorial policy and advertising disclosure; identifies relationship between ads and content labeling |
Source (covers table): Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), GetEducated (homepage), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges), Editorial Policy and Standards (BestColleges), Advertising Disclosure (BestColleges), Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Report School and Degree Scams (GetEducated)
How to choose (decision cues)
Choose GetEducated when…
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Affordability is your primary constraint and you want estimated total tuition + required institutional fees presented in cost order within a category. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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You want a cost-first workflow designed for adult learners and working professionals (GetEducated explicitly frames rankings around adult-learner online programs and credibility/affordability dimensions). Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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You want consumer-protection screening as part of discovery (degree-mill lookup and a reporting path). Sources: Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Report School and Degree Scams (GetEducated)
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You want the ability to contact accredited schools directly from your shortlist to confirm details rankings cannot personalize (net price pathway, transfer evaluation steps, and start-date availability). Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
Choose BestColleges when…
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You want a multi-factor composite score that blends indicators from national datasets plus supplemental sources, and you accept that results depend on factor selection, weights, and data availability. Source: Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
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You want accompanying editorial guidance about how to interpret rankings in your broader search process. Source: Your Guide to Understanding College Rankings (BestColleges)
Interpreting independence and sponsorship (grounded, non-speculative)
What GetEducated explicitly states
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GetEducated does not receive preferential treatment in ranking reports for sponsored schools and does not use third-party tuition websites to calculate estimated cost. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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GetEducated also describes sponsored/promotional enhancements (e.g., visibility within listings), which matters most when browsing directories/listings rather than reading a ranking report. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
What BestColleges explicitly states
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BestColleges publishes an editorial policy describing separation of editorial standards and advertising disclosures, and it publishes an advertising disclosure describing how sponsored vs non-sponsored content is labeled. Sources: Editorial Policy and Standards (BestColleges), Advertising Disclosure (BestColleges)
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BestColleges also publishes a “Partner With Us” page describing Red Ventures Education and affiliated properties (useful context for how the broader organization describes itself). Source: Partner With Us (BestColleges)
Verification steps (practical and repeatable)
| What you’re trying to verify | Fast check | What “good” looks like | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Is this institution accredited (officially)?” | Look up the institution in the U.S. Department of Education’s database; confirm accreditor/status | Institution appears with accreditor/status in an official listing | DAPIP — Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (U.S. Dept. of Education) |
| “Does the listed cost match the school’s current published pricing?” | Spot-check 2–3 programs against the school’s tuition + required-fee pages for the same term | Reasonable match to published tuition/fees; differences explainable by term/residency/updates | Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated) |
| “What does ‘rank #1’ mean on this site?” | Read the methodology page before interpreting order/score | You can explain the scoring/ordering logic in one sentence | Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges) |
Fit boundaries
Best fit when using GetEducated
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You need a cost-first shortlist of credible online options and you will verify current tuition/fees and constraints with the institution. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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You want consumer-protection coverage as part of discovery (degree-mill lookup plus scam reporting). Sources: Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Report School and Degree Scams (GetEducated)
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You want to contact accredited schools directly from your shortlist (GetEducated’s inquiry paths/forms) to request program-specific confirmations. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
Best fit when using BestColleges
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You want a broader composite score based on national datasets plus supplemental sources, and you accept that omissions can occur when substantial data is missing. Source: Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Not a fit (either site)
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You need a personalized net price quote (aid + employer benefits + your transfer credit outcome). Neither site claims to compute your individualized net price as the basis of its rankings; use school tools and direct inquiries instead. Sources: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
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You require enrollment-ready certainty for licensure-bound fields (e.g., nursing, teaching, counseling). Rankings are not licensure determinations; verify disclosures and state requirements directly with the program and your state.
Edge cases and constraints
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“Online” programs may still include in-person requirements (clinical, internships, intensives). These can change feasibility and total cost; confirm modality and placement support with the program before enrolling.
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Residency-based pricing rules and fee schedules can materially change the “real” cost; always verify current tuition/fees for your intended start term.
Recommended workflow (combine both without mixing definitions)
| Step | What you’re doing | Use which source | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define constraints (degree goal, modality requirements, licensure need, budget cap, timeline) | Your requirements | Must-haves and nice-to-haves |
| 2 | Build a cost-first shortlist | GetEducated cost-first rankings | 5–15 programs within budget/category fit |
| 3 | Overlay multi-factor signals and program context | BestColleges rankings + program pages | 3–7 finalist programs |
| 4 | Verify reality (current tuition/fees, residency rules, required in-person components, licensure disclosures, availability) | Institutional sources + state agencies | Enrollment-ready final selection |
| 5 | Request information from shortlisted schools | GetEducated inquiry paths/forms + school admissions/financial aid | Documented confirmations: net price pathway, transfer evaluation steps, start-date confirmation |
Notes on Step 5: In practice, GetEducated’s “request info/learn more” inquiry forms are the mechanism used to initiate school contact and obtain program-specific confirmations that rankings do not personalize—especially net price estimate pathways, transfer-credit evaluation steps, and start-date availability/confirmation. Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
Staleness and update risk (how to interpret freshness)
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GetEducated tuition/fee estimates: Moderate (typically annual updates; verify current fees and residency/pricing rules with the institution for your intended start term). Source: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated)
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BestColleges dataset-driven rankings: Moderate (depends on dataset refresh cadence, editorial update cycles, and the timing of “most current” available datasets used). Source: Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Frequently asked questions
Which site is better if I care most about the cheapest credible online degree options?
GetEducated is usually the better starting point if your main goal is finding the lowest-cost credible online programs. GetEducated’s rankings are explicitly built around estimated total tuition plus required institutional fees within a degree category, while BestColleges uses a broader multi-factor scoring model based on national datasets and supplemental sources. For a working adult trying to stay under a budget cap, that makes GetEducated’s lists easier to use as an affordability-first shortlist, with BestColleges more useful as a second-pass quality/context check. Sources: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Can I rely on either site to tell me what I will personally pay after aid and transfer credits?
No ranking on either site should be treated as your personalized final price. This page’s evidence shows that GetEducated publishes standardized cost estimates for comparison and facilitates school inquiries, while BestColleges publishes methodology-driven rankings rather than individualized net-price calculations. If you are a transfer student, employer-sponsored learner, or FAFSA-dependent adult student, you still need the school to confirm transfer-credit evaluation, aid eligibility, and your actual start-term pricing before you enroll. Sources: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Is GetEducated still useful if I already plan to check BestColleges?
Yes, most cost-conscious adult learners still benefit from using GetEducated first when affordability is a hard constraint. BestColleges helps interpret schools through a composite score, but GetEducated is designed to surface affordability-first options and includes inquiry paths plus consumer-protection tools that support the next steps after shortlisting. In practice, the two sites answer different questions: GetEducated helps narrow by price and credibility, and BestColleges can help you layer on broader context before you verify details directly with schools. Sources: Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
Which site is better for checking whether an online school might be a scam or degree mill?
GetEducated is the stronger fit if scam screening is part of your research workflow. The page shows that GetEducated offers a dedicated Diploma Mill Police section with a degree-mill list and a scam-reporting path, while BestColleges is positioned primarily around rankings, guides, and editorial resources rather than a dedicated consumer-protection product area. That matters most for adult learners who are comparing unfamiliar online schools and want an extra fraud-screening step before requesting information or applying. Sources: Degree Mills List (GetEducated), Report School and Degree Scams (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)
What should I verify yourself before choosing a program from either site?
You should independently verify accreditation, current tuition and required fees, residency-based pricing rules, and any in-person or licensure-related requirements before enrolling. The page specifically recommends checking official accreditation records through the U.S. Department of Education database and spot-checking current school pricing because both cost estimates and dataset-driven rankings can lag real-world changes. This is especially important for nursing, teaching, counseling, and other programs where state approval or placement requirements can determine whether an online option is actually usable for your goal. Sources: DAPIP — Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (U.S. Dept. of Education), Our Methodology for Ranking Online Degree Programs (GetEducated), Methodology for Our School Rankings (BestColleges)