Best Online Associate Degrees 2025
Are you looking to begin your higher education journey without having to commit to a four-year program? Online associate degree programs typically only take two years to complete. And they can help prepare you for various roles in the workforce or further education in a bachelor’s program.
With online delivery, you can often make your own schedule and complete assignments at your convenience. Distance learning also extends your reach to schools that would otherwise require relocation or significant travel.Explore our ranking of the best online associate degrees in this in-depth guide.
Why Earn Your Associate Degree Online
- Save money on tuition compared to campus-based programs.
- Complete schoolwork anytime and anywhere with asynchronous classes.
- Prepare for entry-level jobs and professional certifications.
- Earn a higher wage than you would with just a high school diploma.
- Meet the general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree.
Top 10 Accredited Schools for Online Associate Degrees
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Ivy Tech Community College offers 44 online associate degree programs, including accounting, business administration, and data analytics. Programs may include synchronous or asynchronous courses. Â Approximately 75% of full-time students receive financial assistance via scholarships or grants.Â
Highlights
- Includes lectures, group work, online assignments, and discussion boards for a diverse learning experienceÂ
- Provides 25 hours of free online tutoring per term
- Does not charge an application feeÂ
Know Before You Apply
- Students who do not meet GPA or testing requirements may need to take an online assessment or corequisite courses.Â
- Curricula may not have electives for major courses.Â
- In-State$4,487
- Out-of-state$8,777
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate46%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled89,705
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
Northern Virginia Community College
- Annandale, VA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Northern Virginia Community College provides 22 online associate degrees with multiple start dates throughout the year. The school has a 71% retention rate for full-time, first-year students. Attendees paid an average annual net price of $8,242 in 2022-2023.
Highlights
- Provides a virtual orientation
- Offers multiple pathways to receive credit for prior learning
- Has virtual career counseling sessionsÂ
Know Before You Apply
- Programs may not be designed to facilitate credit transfers to other institutions.Â
- Students must complete an ID check via webcam. Â
- Scholarships for certain programs only have a one-month application window.Â
- In-State$5,051
- Out-of-state$10,790
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled51,896
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Houston Community College
- Houston, TX
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Houston Community College offers 41 associate degrees split between academic and workforce programs. Academic programs prepare students to transfer to a four-year college, while workforce programs prepare attendees to secure jobs after graduation. Enrollees paid an average net price of $6,033 after financial aid in 2022-2023.Â
Highlights
- Provides academic advising, including degree planning and transfer informationÂ
- Offers free tutoring servicesÂ
- Has multiple scholarship opportunities through the Houston Community College Foundation
Know Before You Apply
- Programs may require online students to complete up to 15% of courses on campus.
- Certain programs have limited elective choices.
- In-State$2,904
- Out-of-state$3,624
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled48,159
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Tidewater Community College
- Norfolk, VA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Tidewater Community College offers 17 online associate degree programs, including five transfer programs. The school has a 100% scholarship and grant award rate for incoming first-year students. As of 2022-2023, attendees paid an average net price of $7,599 annually.Â
Highlights
- Provides a free online application for admission
- Offers virtual appointments for academic advisingÂ
- Has free individual and group tutoring sessions
Know Before You Apply
- Courses can be asynchronous or synchronous, and some offer compressed timelines.Â
- Some program specializations may only be available on campus.
- In-State$4,680
- Out-of-state$9,978
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate61%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled16,195
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Fayetteville, NC
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Fayetteville Technical Community College offers 30 online associate degree programs. The school has a 59% retention rate for first-year full-time students. Attendees pay an average annual net price of $3,616 after grant or scholarship aid.Â
Highlights
- Has academic agreements with four-year institutions for students who plan to transfer
- Assigns an academic advisor to new enrolleesÂ
- Offers educational credit for military training
Know Before You Apply
- Online students who require assessment tests must complete tests at an assessment facility.Â
- Attendees who drop a class before 10% of the course is completed must pay 25% of tuition and fees for the course.
- In-State$2,432
- Out-of-state$8,576
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled10,233
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Gaston College
- Dallas, NC
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Gaston College offers 15 online associate degree programs, including accounting, information technology, and human resources management. The school has a 75% retention rate for first-year, full-time students, and 66% of students received a grant or scholarship in 2022-2023.Â
Highlights
- Offers full-time and part-time programs
- Provides a general scholarship application that covers multiple internal scholarships
- Has student success coaches who offer video conferences
Know Before You Apply
- Applicants with a GPA lower than 2.8 may need to take a placement test.
- Students must attend the online orientation.
- Online courses may require proctored exams.
- In-State$2,432
- Out-of-state$8,576
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled5,558
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Central Georgia Technical College
- Warner Robins, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Central Georgia Technical College offers 13 associate degree programs that can be completed in 60-72 credit hours. The school has a low 14-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Over 90% of first-year students were awarded grants or scholarships in 2022-2023, and 59% of first-year attendees return for their second year.Â
Highlights
- Has a simple application process and checklist
- Provides free online tutoring in individual or group sessions
- Offers confidential distance counseling servicesÂ
Know Before You Apply
- Online courses may require in-person labs or exams.
- School scholarships require a current instructor's recommendation.
- In-State$2,400
- Out-of-state$4,800
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate59%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled9,683
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
Washtenaw Community College
- Ann Arbor, MI
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Washtenaw Community College offers 21 online associate degrees in seven categories, including broadcast media, computer technology, and workforce development. In 2022-2023, full-time, first-time students paid an average net price of $3,588.Â
Highlights
- Offers academic advising online or via phoneÂ
- Provides a student welcome center to assist with online orientation, admissions, and registration
- Has scholarships that can cover childcare costs
Know Before You Apply
- Individual courses may be synchronous or asynchronous.Â
- Only half of full-time, first-time students receive grant or scholarship aid.
- In-State$4,056
- Out-of-state$5,736
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate65%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled10,622
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment71%
- AccreditationYes
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Lexington, KY
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Bluegrass Community and Technical College offers 34 online associate degree programs with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous courses. Over 90% of enrollees receive financial aid through grants or scholarships. Full-time attendees paid an average annual net price of under $8,000 in 2022-2023.Â
Highlights
- Provides digital literacy courses to help students adjust to online learning
- Has a single application for all institutional scholarshipsÂ
- Offers accessibility services, including specialized software and counselingÂ
Know Before You Apply
- First-year applicants must complete the SAT, ACT, or placement testing.
- The school has a 38% graduation rate.
- In-State$4,368
- Out-of-state$15,288
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate64%
- Acceptance RateNot provided
- Students Enrolled10,318
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
Cuyahoga Community College District
- Cleveland, OH
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Why We Chose This School
Cuyahoga Community College District offers 20 fully online associate degree programs in accounting, business, marketing, and more. As of the 2022-2023 academic year, the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 11-to-1 and an average annual net price of $4,675.Â
Highlights
- Provides concentration options for certain programsÂ
- Offers free tutoring servicesÂ
- Has virtual counseling for academic, career, and personal support
Know Before You Apply
- For each class, enrollees must log in twice and complete one assignment per week for the first two weeks.
- Admission requirements vary by program.
- In-State$3,230
- Out-of-state$6,521
- In-StateNot provided
- Out-of-stateNot provided
- Retention Rate39%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled15,764
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Why Accreditation Matters for Associate Programs
Independent accrediting agencies evaluate colleges based on their student learning outcomes, faculty qualifications, and academic missions.
This means a degree from an accredited school is worth more than a degree from an unaccredited school. Plus, you must attend an accredited school in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.
If you are pursuing a field that requires licensure or certification, then programmatic accreditation is another important factor. Prospective registered nurses, for instance, typically need associate degrees to be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing to qualify for licensure.
Types of Online Associate Degrees
Schools confer several types of associate degrees, which typically align with subject material for your chosen major. For example, you’ll typically encounter associate of arts and applied arts programs for the humanities. Online associate degree programs typically operate under these four distinctions:
- Associate of Science: AS degrees generally focus on science- and math-related subjects, which are reflected in their curriculums. These programs are a bit more rigid than arts degrees and may have fewer opportunities for elective studies.
- Associate of Applied Science: AAS degrees typically prepare you for specific roles and intend for you to make direct entry to the workforce rather than continue your education in a bachelor’s program.
- Associate of Arts: AA programs usually cover liberal arts subjects like English, history, and psychology, though you are still likely to encounter some math and science programs as AA degrees.
- Associate of Applied Arts: Like AAS degrees, AAA programs prepare you for specific professional roles. However, these degrees focus more on humanities and liberal arts subjects than AAS programs.
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Is an Online Associate Degree Worth It?
$51,108
Average starting salary for associate graduates
2.8%
Unemployment rate for associate degree-holders
It depends on your personal and professional goals, but an online associate degree can be a worthwhile pursuit for many. For example, associate degrees are typically more affordable than bachelor’s programs and allow you to more quickly pursue employment to begin paying down any loans.
Online associate degree programs also allow you to continue working while enrolled, offering the opportunity to maintain an income.
You can also receive a strong return on your investment, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a median weekly income of $1,099 for workers with associate degrees — this amounts to a median annual income of $57,148.
An associate degree offers a great jumping off point, as well. If you want to continue your education and pursue a wider job market with higher salaries, you can also transfer your associate credits into a bachelor’s program to qualify for more roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, during the 2019-2020 academic year, the average tuition and fees for an online associate program was $4,443 for full-time students and $2,362 for part-time students. Like bachelor’s programs, students can lower their overall financial burden for an online associate degree by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to access federal and state aid.
