College is expensive — whether you decide to take classes in person or online — but you can still get higher education at an affordable price here in Florida.

FAU was ranked the third cheapest online college in Florida by College Choice in its 2017 Most Affordable College list.

“One of the reasons it ranks so well is due to its research affiliations, activities, and partnerships,” according to College Choice.

Research opportunities at the school include the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter and the first International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior in the United States. There is also FAU’s Harbor Branch campus, which focuses on the study of marine life in South Florida.

The website ranks and reviews colleges based on information from U.S. News and World Report, the U.S. Department of Education and each school’s website.

The average tuition of online classes at FAU is $4,831, according to the survey. Chipola College  ranked No. 1 for cheapest tuition at $3,120, while the University of North Florida was least affordable with an average tuition cost of $6,394.

Joe Pye is the news editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @jpeg3189.