Answer by  
                                                                                          Dean (4035)
                                                            
                          
                          
                                                          Most online schools are proprietary schools, which means they are for-profit businesses that don't receive federal funding (though students can). These schools cater to the non-traditional student and are very expensive. One year at an online university costs as much as private schools. It's about demand; they charge what people are willing to pay.