Affordable online associate degree programs provide value and flexibility. After graduating, you can pursue entry-level jobs or continue your education. You can use a two-year degree from an accredited college to transfer into many bachelor's programs.
You'll also enjoy higher earning power. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people with associate degrees earned median weekly salaries of $1,005 in 2022. That's about 7.5% more than workers with some college education but no degree, and 17.8% more than workers with only a high school diploma.
This guide to cheap online associate degrees explains the value of two-year programs and explores popular subjects you can study at the associate level. Use it to kick-start your research into suitable learning opportunities.
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Top Online Associates Programs
Find a program that meets your affordability, flexibility, and education needs through an accredited, online school.
Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees of 2024
#2 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $330
Out-of-State | $330
Credits to Graduate: 60
Southern New Hampshire University offers a renowned online learning experience. The school develops all its e-learning programs under the guidance of subject-matter experts in online education. Students enjoy excellent flexibility and on-demand access to a strong support network.
You can earn a 100% online associate degree in your choice of 10 career-focused subjects. SNHU's lineup of online associate degrees mainly focuses on STEM subjects. You can also study accounting, business, criminal justice, and creative pursuits like digital photography.
Students Enrolled
145,533
Percent Online Enrollment
96%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
New England Commission on Higher Education
#3 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Purdue University Global
- West Lafayette, IN
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $280
Out-of-State | $315-$371
Credits to Graduate: 60
Purdue Global pairs the name recognition of one of Indiana's largest public colleges with the convenience of 100% online learning. At Purdue, you can earn an associate of arts or applied science in nine subject areas. Popular options include business, education, information technology, legal studies, and nursing.
Interactive learning methods define the Purdue Global student experience, and online programs use asynchronous schedules so you can study anytime. Beyond standard forms of federal aid, Purdue Global students can also access need-based, merit-based, and other state-level grant programs.
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
100%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#4 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Eastern Wyoming College
- Torrington, WY
- 2 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $105
Out-of-State | $315
Credits to Graduate: 60
At Eastern Wyoming College, you can earn a 100% online associate degree in business, criminal justice, education, or interdisciplinary studies. Beyond scheduling flexibility, EWC delivers customized academic support, tutoring, and research assistance services to online students.
If you need help paying for college, EWC offers lots of options. The school features a generous lineup of foundation-based, private, and institutional scholarships. EWC also participates in Wyoming's Hathaway Scholarships program, which awards both merit-based and need-based funding.
Out-of-state
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
27%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#5 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Southern Arkansas University Tech
- Camden, AR
- 2 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $186
Out-of-State | $186
Credits to Graduate: 60-65
The online associate programs at Southern Arkansas University Tech prepare you to successfully transfer into four-year degree paths. SAU Tech offers 100% online two-year programs in business administration, criminal justice, education, and health sciences. You can also earn an associate degree in environmental management, fire science management, or general studies.
SAU Tech's online learning experience emphasizes both flexibility and peer interactions. You can take live-streamed courses in real-time, which immerse you in a virtual environment that replicates the traditional classroom.
Out-of-state
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
41%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#7 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Panola College
- Carthage, TX
- 2 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $60
Out-of-State | $200
Credits to Graduate: 60
Panola College delivers some of the lowest in-state tuition rates of any regionally accredited school. Nonresident and international students also enjoy tuition fees that fall well below national averages.
Panola offers degree programs through its schools of nursing and health sciences, liberal arts and sciences, and professional and technical studies. The college mainly focuses on equipping you with career-ready skills, or preparing you to transfer into a four-year institution.
You'll also benefit from a flexible online learning model. Panola supports asynchronous learning, and you can choose to enroll in self-paced options for certain courses and programs.
Out-of-state
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
71%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#9 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
God's Bible School and College
- Cincinnati, OH
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $275
Out-of-State | $275
Credits to Graduate: 60-68
You can study more than just theology at God's Bible School and College. GBSC also offers a 100% online associate program in business, and you can also design your own customized two-year degree. Graduates of the design-your-own-degree path have gone on to careers in construction, education, nutrition, physical therapy, and more.
GBSC wants you to graduate with little to no debt. The school supports this goal through strong financial aid programs, including institutional scholarships valued at up to $5,500.
Percent Online Enrollment
86%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#10 Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees
Lone Star College System
- The Woodlands, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $103-$231
Out-of-State | $290
Credits to Graduate: 60
The Lone Star College System supports your educational journey with a diverse lineup of academically focused online associate degrees. Study English, history, political science, or sociology, or earn a career-oriented credential in fields like computer science, engineering, business, or speech communication.
All LSC degrees are designed for transfer students preparing for four-year programs. To help you meet costs, LSC offers five types of aid: grants, scholarships, workforce grants, workforce scholarships, and relief funding. You can receive more than one type of aid as long as the total amount awarded doesn't exceed your tuition fees.
Out-of-state
Not provided
Retention Rate
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
67%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
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Why Get an Online Associate Degree?
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Flexibility: You have many options after completing an affordable online associate degree. You can start a career or continue your studies at the bachelor's level. Online learning also offers you the freedom to study wherever and whenever you like.
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Practicality: Associate programs often focus on career-oriented training. They also lay the educational foundations for additional degrees. Both features make them practical and useful.
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Affordability: Lots of accredited community colleges offer cheap online associate degrees. You'll also avoid the costs associated with commuting, parking, and physical relocation. Online programs also make it easier for you to work while you study, which eases the financial sting of higher education.
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Efficiency: If you study full-time, you can earn an associate degree in about two years. That's a quick, efficient timeline. Accelerated programs can help you graduate even faster.
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Higher Earning Power: Workers with associate degrees earn higher median salaries than those with just a high school diploma. In fact, the BLS reports those with an associate degree make an average of $150 more per week.
How Much Does an Online Associate Degree Cost?
You'll spend a lot less on an associate degree than you would in a four-year program. Two-year colleges tend to have much lower tuition rates, and you'll also cut your attendance time in half.
Stats from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the 2021-22 school year show just how much you can save by pursuing an associate degree. This data covers average tuition rates and required fees at public two-year colleges:
Compare that with average tuition rates and required fees at public four-year colleges:
Affordable online associate degrees also give you many other ways to save. Some schools charge their online learners low, flat-rate tuition fees regardless of location. If you live in a state where you're not a resident, you can use this to save on out-of-state attendance costs.
You'll also save both time and money by avoiding commuting and parking costs, and you won't have to move to attend your preferred school.
7 Popular Online Associate Degrees
You'll find all kinds of interesting and worthwhile things to study at the associate level. The following seven subject areas are particularly popular with online students in two-year programs.
1. Accounting
Online associate accounting programs can help you become a bookkeeper or accounting clerk. You'll also build an educational foundation that you can transfer to a four-year degree program. With an accounting bachelor's, you can become a certified public accountant (CPA) or certified management accountant (CMA).
2. Business Administration
With an online associate degree in business administration, you can qualify for supporting roles in business management. Job options include:
- Customer service representatives
- Sales representatives
- Human resource specialists
These career paths pay median salaries of $67,650 per year.
3. Criminal Justice
An online associate degree in criminal justice can help you become a police officer, corrections counselor, or court officer, among other roles. Your earning potential may approach the level of Medical billing and coding programs equip you with in-demand skills. BLS projections cite 9% job growth for medical records specialists from 2023-33. Those who work for private businesses and hospitals earn about $50,000 per year, on average.
5. Nursing
There's a reason online associate degrees in nursing are so popular: They lead to well-paid, in-demand healthcare careers. Registered nurses earn a median salary of more than $86,000 per year, according to the BLS. A two-year nursing degree can help you get started.
6. Psychology
With an online associate degree in psychology, you could work in counseling, community service, or mental healthcare. According to the BLS, these career paths are poised for job growth rates as high as 19% from 2023-33.
7. Radiology
If you're looking to enter a stable, well-paid career in healthcare, an associate degree in radiology might be just the ticket. Radiologic technicians earn median salaries of more than $73,000 per year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Associate Degrees
Yes. Hundreds of accredited institutions offer affordable online associate degree programs in a full selection of subject areas. You can study online full-time or part-time. In some programs, you can enjoy complete control over your learning schedule, while others require you to attend online lectures at set times.
If you study full-time, you can earn an associate degree in about two years. Associate degree programs usually cover about 60 semester credits, which is about half the number typically covered in a four-year bachelor's program.
Well-paid careers open to people with associate degrees include jobs in nursing, policing, and healthcare technology. For example, you can become a registered nurse with an associate degree and earn a median salary of more than $86,000 per year.
Dental hygienists also typically hold associate degrees. These health professionals commanded median salaries of $87,530 per year as of May 2023. However, these career paths may require in-person clinicals to meet graduation requirements.
In terms of time, the easiest online associate degrees to get come from fast-paced accelerated programs. You can graduate from an accelerated online associate program in as little as one year.
With regard to academic difficulty, "easy" and "hard" are relative concepts, and it's difficult to make generalizations. If you're new to higher education, general studies programs often provide a solid introduction free of heavy academic pressure.
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