The cheapest bachelor's degrees will be those that are the shortest, because each semester you take classes you will need to pay tuition, on top of paying a fee for each credit hour you take. Which degree is shortest will vary widely depending on the school you go to. However, degrees like business, administration, and specialized degree programs such as recording engineering or massage often follow a concentrated path that is intended to get you out of the classroom and into the work field as soon as possible. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor to see which programs at your particular school are the shortest or can be undertaken in the least semesters.
Bachelor's degrees usually take four years to complete, because you have to take general education courses as well as other supplemental courses. However, if you choose a degree program that takes into account course work you have already done, such as college credits you already have, AP classes that you took in high school that count for credits, or work you've already done in the workforce, you can get a cheaper degree because you can do it more quickly. Take a look at your transcript, make sure you choose a bachelor's program that will accept any old work, and talk to your advisor about getting credit for any real-world experiences you have.
Local bachelor's degrees will be cheaper, because of your residence. If you attend a school in the state where you live, and if you go to a public school instead of a private school, both the tuition and the cost per credit hour will be cheaper. Depending on what state you live in, you can find the cheapest degrees at your local state school or community college.
Nontraditional degree programs are created with working and family-centered people in mind. Schools like National American University, the University of Phoenix, and Kaplan University have both online and offline programs that are designed to help you finish a degree you've already started, follow an entire degree program, or work on an additional degree. You can choose daytime, nighttime, or online classes, and go full-time or part-time. With so many choices, the degree programs can be extremely affordable.