If you live in Wyoming, commuting to a physical classroom in order to earn your college degree may be a challenge. That's where online education can make a difference. You can attend an online college in Wyoming and complete an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree program from any location, whether you live in a bigger city like Cheyenne or Casper, or further afield.
Here's a closer look at online colleges in Wyoming:
By 2020, 65 percent of the jobs in the state are expected to require some level of postsecondary education by 2020, according to a study by Georgetown University. Growth in new industry sectors like wind energy and data centers may be contributing to this increased demand for degree holders. One way state leaders are addressing this need is by making higher education more accessible: the Wyoming Distance Education Consortium, a collaboration between community colleges in the state and the University of Wyoming, allows students to enroll in online classes or complete online degree programs from any of the colleges in the consortium.
Check out our rankings on the best online colleges in Wyoming below. We've also listed Wyoming specific scholarships and grants that can help you pay for your education.
Identifying the top online colleges can be a tough task, but our rankings of the best online colleges in Wyoming can help to make this process easier. The schools included in our rankings are all accredited by approved agencies, such as:
To find out why accreditation is important, take a look at our "What is College Accreditation?" page. For details about accreditation in Wyoming, see the Wyoming State Higher Education Association website, operated by the Wyoming Community College Commission.
Of course, more went into our rankings than just finding all the accredited online colleges in Wyoming. We analyzed these colleges using metrics such as credit offerings, availability of tuition plans and the ratio of students participating in distance education. We selected these data points so that our rankings can better reflect the online student experience. If you are interested in why we used the metrics we did, check the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section of our "About Us" page.
With so many options available for distance education from online colleges in Wyoming and national universities, it can be hard to find the college that's right for you. Don't worry: we're here to help. Using data from the NCES and our unique methodology, we have created a ranking of the best online universities in Wyoming.
Visit our methodologies page to learn more about how we use official data to evaluate schools.
What is UW like?
Founded in 1886 and surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, the University of Wyoming is a land grant research and educational institution found in the state's Laramie Plains. As Wyoming's only university, UW educates students from all 50 states and 90 different countries, both through its international presence and its multiple distance learning opportunities.
Notable UW alumni include NFL quarterback Josh Allen, former Vice President Dick Cheney and current Wyoming senators Jim Anderson, Eli Bebout and Floyd Esquibel.
What online programs are at UW?
Canvas is UW's learning management platform of choice. It manages coursework for the school's handful of distance education degree programs, which are delivered either fully online or mostly over the internet with some elements on-site. UW also lists online certificate and endorsement programs, mostly in the field of education.
Three bachelor's degree options can be completed entirely online: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, a professional child development degree completion option and an RN to BSN completion program. Also worth noting is UW's online MBA program, which can be taken in a lock-step or cohort format specifically designed to fit working students' schedules.
What online resources does UW offer?
Online assistance maintained by UW Distance ranges from academic advisement to online tutoring. The school library is also well-equipped to provide services for students outside of Laramie, even offering online research consultations with library staff.
UW's Veterans Services Center aids military personnel, veterans and dependents in navigating VA and federal educational benefits. Non-financial aid matters, such as work-study opportunities and disability support services, are also handled by this department.
What is LCCC like?
Laramie County Community College was established in 1968 and remains a public community college. As a full-service community school, LCCC hosts a comprehensive set of academic, health and social services for its community and student population as well as their family members.
Most LCCC classrooms are Smart Classrooms, using technology like LCD touch screen monitors and control panels as well as document cameras and webcams with accompanying sound systems. The school's penchant for working with technological advancement is also seen in its online education initiatives, which include multiple computer programming offerings.
What online programs are at LCCC?
LCCC's distance learning arm lists a few online programs in the health information technology field and several combination-delivery programs. Canvas is LCCC's preferred method of managing coursework for distance learning and is also used to supplement face-to-face classes. Non-credit training courses are also available through a partnership with Ed2Go.
As one of our ranked best online colleges for computer programming, LCCC is a versatile choice for those seeking to earn an associate degree in computer information systems online. Related certifications offered by the school — such as those for Cisco certified networking associates, datacenter technicians or systems administrators — can be applied toward the associate degree program, helping students to diversify their education.
What online resources does LCCC offer?
The community college has a handful of surveys to self-assess time management, computer skills and learning style capabilities, helping students to determine their readiness to take distance learning programs. Technology assistance for LCCC students is part of their full-service status, even including a discount on Dell computers purchased for school use.
Apart from federal financial aid, eligible distance learners may also apply to be considered for an LCCC Foundation Donor Scholarship, which more than 400 students are awarded yearly.
What is Casper like?
Casper College was founded in 1945 as Wyoming's first junior college and has grown to be one of the largest public community colleges in the state. The school's Veterans and Military Members Benefit Office offers military-friendly services relatively unique to Casper through its participation in the Peer Advisors for Veterans Education (PAVE). The school is also part of the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The list of former Casper attendees includes former Vice President Dick Cheney, physicist Marlan Scully and former NBA players Earle Higgins, Bob Lackey and Flynn Robinson.
What online programs are at Casper?
Casper's Digital Learning Center uses the Moodle distance education management software to reach online students in various ways, such as through pre-recorded or interactive video coursework formats.
Among Casper's 100 percent online degree and certificate programs are options in the fields of accounting, agriculture, fire science, health science, office management, psychology and more. Many other offerings are available in hybrid formats, such as programs that have required field components like animal science and range management.
What online resources does Casper offer?
Casper prides itself in having the same application and financial aid resources available for its entire student body, online and on-campus alike. Online tutoring for all is managed via NetTutor. The school also maintains a special tuition rate applied exclusively to online programs.
The school's Adult Learning Center offers assistance at no cost to out-of-school adults in need of basic math, reading and writing skills improvement to meet educational and employment requirements. These state and federally funded services may be availed of on-site, at the students' homes or both.
What is CWC like?
Serving as both an educational institution and cultural center for the region, Central Wyoming College is a public community college with several outreach centers. CWC also owns the state's only public television network and a student-operated radio station. To complement its physical reach and help students fit professional and career development into their busy schedules, the school also offers distance education programs.
Distinctive CWC alumni include actor Jack Bradford and former U.S. State Reps. Liz Bangerter, Patrick Goggles and Martin T. Rucker.
What online programs are at CWC?
CWC uses Canvas as its learning management platform for its completely online associate degree programs. Particularly useful distance learning programs aligned with CWC's teaching focus are in the related fields of entrepreneurship and business administration. In addition, there is a business management associate degree program, which offers electives in income tax, microcomputer applications and other related disciplines.
The school also has an online Electrical Apprenticeship Certificate II vocational program that meets the related requirements for apprenticeship training with the state's Department of Fire Prevention & Electrical Safety. This program can help students to prepare for the Licensed Journeyman Electrical test.
What online resources does CWC offer?
Distance learners can expect full library privileges as well as a myriad of support services like academic advisement, success coaching, counseling and tutoring. Institutional scholarships based on academic or career focus, demographics, need or merit like the Hathaway Scholarship or the CWC Gear Up Scholarship may be awarded to eligible CWC students applying for consideration, on top of usual federal aid options.
What is WWCC like?
As one of more than half a dozen community colleges in the state, the public and tax-supported Western Wyoming Community College sets itself apart through its unique architecture and displays. The mostly indoor layout and dinosaur skeleton reproductions in public areas may not necessarily be of much help to distance learners, but school's many online degree programs are definitely worth more than a cursory look.
What online programs are at WWCC?
WWCC's learning management system of choice is Blackboard, which is accessible through the online student portal Mustang Cruiser. Distance learning at WWCC follows the school's on-campus calendar.
The school offers several online associate degree programs in disciplines such as criminal justice, office information systems and accounting. WWCC's associate program in sociology is available with or without an emphasis on social work; students should take note of this program, as we have ranked WWCC as one of the best online colleges for sociology. Online certifications may also be earned in fields like website development and emergency management.
What online resources does WWCC offer?
Distance students may take advantage of online tutoring services offered by the school via NetTutor and may also be eligible for some institutional and external scholarships. WWCC partners with other educational institutions like Valley City State University and Upper Iowa University to create seamless opportunities for its graduates to pursue further degrees elsewhere.
WWCC is a military-friendly school that honors VA and other military educational benefits through programs like the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance and VA Vocational Rehabilitation.
What is NWC like?
Founded in 1946 as the University of Wyoming Northwest Center through an agreement with the state university, Northwest College in Powell has since become its own public school with a residential campus. Notable NWC alumni include politician and professional skier Monte Olsen as well as NBA players Chris Boucher and John Johnson.
What online programs are at NWC?
Affordable and easily accessible through open enrollment, career training programs available through NWC's partnership with Ed2Go are a significant part of the school's online education initiatives.
Coursework delivery through the internet is managed entirely by the learning platform Moodle. Apart from selected online courses that can be taken to introduce a hybrid element to otherwise on-campus programs, the school also offers two completely online degree program options: associate degrees in the fields of sociology and social science. The former can lead to a transfer to the University of Wyoming's social work program.
What online resources does NWC offer?
The school offers online tutoring services via NetTutor, which gives students access to personalized assistance in subjects such as business, math, science and writing. Assessment of job skills is made available to NWC students through WorkKeys. Test proctoring services are available for distance learners, as well.
What is EWC like?
As a community college, Eastern Wyoming College strives to be an innovative educational environment for the school's student body and surrounding community. Along with Wyoming Community College and the University of Wyoming, EWC was recognized by the Center for Transforming Student Services for its participation in the Wyoming Distance Education Consortium (WyDEC) and its part in developing distance learning course locator WyCLASS. The school's Adult Education arm also offers English Language Acquisition (ELA) classes online through the WIZIQ platform.
Founded in 1948 in Torrington, EWC currently maintains outreach centers in five counties as well as a satellite campus in Douglas.
What online programs are at EWC?
EWC uses CampusCruiser (aka LancerNet), a relatively uncommon learning management system. The distance courses delivered by this platform follow the school's on-campus schedule and are not asynchronous. Proctored live exams and web conferencing are typical components of EWC's distance programs, as well.
Noteworthy online offerings from EWC are those in the growing occupational criminal justice field, such as the criminal justice associate degree program and the criminal justice corrections certificate. In fact, OnlineColleges.com has ranked EWC as one of the best online colleges for corrections.
What online resources does EWC offer?
Distance learning support from EWC is apparent in student services such as academic advisement and an online bookstore and library access. In particular, EWC students can utilize online tutoring services via a school partnership with NetTutor.
EWC's veteran assistance services are comprehensive, including more than just the usual military-friendly administrations of VA educational benefits through the Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The school also honors the Wyoming National Guard Educational Assistance Plan and the Wyoming Educational Assistance for Veterans and Survivors, among others.
What is Sheridan like?
A member of the Northern Wyoming Community College District, Sheridan College is a public community college that has strong roots in supporting its regional economy. Some of its on-site programs focus on agriculture-adjacent skills such as diesel and welding technology.
Sheridan's online education initiatives are mostly focused on enhancing traditional face-to-face classroom courses, although there are a few fully online courses available.
What online programs are at Sheridan?
Canvas is the online learning platform of choice for Sheridan and its sister school Gillette College. Coursework delivered through the management system is often to support and hybridize on-site classes, or to allow Sheridan students to take selected classes entirely online.
A handful of distance learning associate degree programs may be completed online. Of note are options featuring modern technology, such as Sheridan's computer networking administration program and IT support technician certificate. These are specifically designed to familiarize students with techniques and tools that are standard for companies like Cisco, CompTIA and Microsoft. The IT Support Technician Certificate can help students prepare to take several in-demand certifications exams, such as those for Linux + and Network + by CompTIA.
What online resources does Sheridan offer?
Sheridan's list of online learning resources includes access to its Student Help-Zone, which provides remote staff assistance in IT matters. The school also maintains two online learning orientation options: a downloadable self-paced guide and an official credit-hour course called Introduction to Online Learning.
Military student services at Sheridan are fairly comprehensive, with veteran-specific resources like VCARES transitional training program access and help with VA educational benefits applications. As a military-friendly school, Sheridan also honors the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, the Montgomery G.I. Bill and other similar government initiatives.
The following list features a few schools in Wyoming that offer online degree programs at low tuition costs.
The state of Wyoming does not offer student loans, preferring to focus instead on the Hathaway and Douvas Scholarships. Keep in mind that scholarship and grant money does not need to be paid back, so you should always seek out all available options for those awards before looking into loans. If you find that you are still in need of financial assistance, you can apply for federal or private loans to help cover remaining tuition costs and related expenses. You will need to fill out the FAFSA and supply information about your family's financial situation in order to apply for federal aid.
Learn more about student loans in the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.
Out-of-state tuition at the University of Wyoming costs roughly four times as much as it does for graduates of Wyoming high schools, but there are programs in place at the university level and beyond that can bring down your basic enrollment costs:
If you're looking for more information on the options that out-of-state students have at UW, browse the institution's website or reach out to an adviser or registrar to have your specific questions answered.
Wyoming's economy includes traditional industries such as oil production and mining, as well as emerging industries such as blockchain technology. With so many different industries in Wyoming, the careers that Wyoming students can pursue in their professional lives are very much affected by the majors they pursue in college. Because of that, it's important to consider what kinds of jobs you might be interested in before you even begin earning a college degree.
To that end, we've compiled statewide employment figures, job projections and average salaries for many of the top jobs in Wyoming. This data can help students decide which careers they might like to pursue after graduation.
| Employment | Employment Growth | Median High School Salary | Median Bachelor's Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 293,270 | 9.4% | $32,417 | $48,396 |
*Industry rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
| Top Industries | Employment | Projected Growth | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipeline transportation | 77,470 | 13% | $71,843 |
| Petroleum and coal products manufacturing | 102,340 | 12% | $67,095 |
| Oil and gas extraction | 108,340 | 13% | $65,046 |
| Support activities for mining | 115,620 | 14% | $63,093 |
| Utilities | 141,970 | 11% | $61,141 |
| Mining (except oil and gas) | 108,350 | 13% | $61,233 |
| Waste management and remediation services | 118,460 | 10% | $61,142 |
| Primary metal manufacturing | 102,260 | 10% | $62,896 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 178,160 | 9% | $59,438 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 204,210 | 9% | $58,798 |
In 2018 Wyoming produced just under 88 million barrels of oil — the eighth-highest production total of any state in the U.S. With this in mind, it's easy to see why so many of the top industries in Wyoming are tied into the state's prominent natural resources. Oil and gas extraction and mining is necessary for harvesting these resources; manufacturing and utilities process them; and pipeline transportation sends them to where they are needed. Waste management and metal manufacturing are vital for creating and maintaining the plants where these procedures are conducted.
Jobs such as gas plant operators, industrial mechanics, oil pumping station systems operators and infrastructure installers all play an important role in the process. Extraction jobs, meanwhile, include equipment and refinery operators, as well as front-line supervisors and managers. However, the petroleum industry also requires a variety of skilled professions to support it and keep it running, such as attorneys, risk managers, analysts, general managers and many other fields that require a college education.
Outside of the petroleum industry, the healthcare industry is easily the second most prominent field in the state. Access to healthcare, especially in Wyoming's sparsely populated rural and frontier areas, is a major issue. Students who pursue medical and healthcare degrees could potentially find employment in physician's offices, managed care facilities and hospitals in Wyoming -- and perhaps nab a sign-on bonus to shed some of their student loan debt in the process. The Wyoming Provider Recruitment Grant Program pays up to $50,000 to hospitals and healthcare clinics that are able to recruit eligible healthcare providers.
Let's get a little more specific. In this next section, we'll take a closer look at some of the most needed jobs in Casper and Cheyenne — two of Wyoming's biggest metro areas.
Located in the heart of the state, Casper serves as a hub for the state's oil and gas industry, explaining why petroleum engineers lead our list of high-paying jobs in Casper. Additional high demand jobs in Casper include oil and gas drill operators, rig operators and related technical careers.
Employment opportunities also are available in Casper for supervisors and managers with experience in the oil and gas industry. Students who pursue college subjects such as accounting or public relations could also potentially find skilled employment at the many energy companies and manufacturing companies operating in the greater Casper region.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $122,320 | 180 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,960 | 340 |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $110,140 | 790 |
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | No formal educational credential | $49,260 | 460 |
| Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | No formal educational credential | $71,140 | 100 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Wyoming's capital city has deep ties to the oil industry, and drill rig operators and related professions are among the most in demand jobs in Cheyenne. However, Wyoming also is becoming widely known for its forward-thinking policies regarding blockchain technology and virtual currencies, which could create many new jobs for students who major in technology-related fields. Other high demand jobs in Cheyenne include civil engineers, construction and oil industry supervisors, and general managers.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas | No formal educational credential | $55,230 | 100 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor's degree | $94,550 | 240 |
| General and Operations Managers | Bachelor's degree | $100,550 | 830 |
| Civil Engineers | Bachelor's degree | $71,930 | 230 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | High school diploma or equivalent | $74,960 | 340 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.