2020 Best Online Colleges for Associate Degrees

Founded in 1962 as Edison Junior College, Florida SouthWestern State College went through several name changes before acquiring its present name in 2014. The college’s main campus is located in Fort Myers. A total of nine online associate degrees are offered at FSW, including such subjects as social and human services, early childhood education, business administration, and criminal justice. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system. Guides for the platform as well as 24/7 tech support are available. Tuition at FSW is affordable and competitive, and financial aid is available. Online students can receive a free download of Microsoft Office 365.
 

Broward College is a public college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and part of the Florida College System. Several online associate degrees are offered, and popular subjects include accounting, business administration, psychology, cybersecurity, and criminal justice. Courses are not self-paced; they have the same start and end dates as traditional on-campus programs. Online webinars are available for students to enhance their skills in the online learning environment. Programs at BC are among the most affordable in the country. Broward College offers programs for financial aid through grants, loans, and scholarships. Both online and on-campus students may qualify for federal, state, or private grants.
 

Established in 1858, Highland Community College is a public community college located in Highland, Kansas. The college offers seven online associate degrees. Along with an Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in General Studies, an Associate in Applied Science is available in the following subjects: accounting, business administration, criminal justice, and personal fitness trainer. Coursework is delivered via the Moodle online learning management system. Student services include orientation, library access, tutoring, and IT assistance. Tuition at HCC is affordable, payment plans are available, and students may be eligible for financial assistance.
 

Clovis Community College was established in 1969 as a branch campus of Eastern New Mexico University. Located in the city of Clovis, the college offers several affordable online associate degree programs. Popular subjects include behavioral science, business administration, paralegal, and a liberal arts degree for transfer to a four-year university. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system. Academic advising, tutoring services, and career assistance are offered. Students may be eligible for financial aid in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and veteran benefits. CCC’s Financial Aid Department can assist distance learners in finding financial assistance for which they qualify.
 

Sauk Valley Community College is a public community college located in Dixon, Illinois. Established in 1965, it offers a range of affordable transfer degree majors, career-technical degrees, and certificates. An online Associate of Arts transfer degree is offered along with associate degrees in management, marketing, liberal studies, criminal justice, and accounting. The college offers first-year orientation for new students, academic support, tutoring, and TRIO Student Support Services to assist low-income, first-generation college students, and more. Students may be eligible for grants, low-interest loans, or scholarships; the college’s Office of Financial Assistance works with students to find the best options for their individual needs.
 

Established in 1926 as an extension of the University of Nebraska, Western Nebraska Community College is located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Sixteen online associate degree programs are offered at WNCC in such categories as agriculture, business, computer science, information technology, and health informatics. The college is one of the most affordable in the entire region, and more than half of the students qualify for financial aid or scholarships. Payment plans are also available. Student services include a career and advising center, counseling, military and veteran services, tutoring, transfer assistance, TRIO Student Support Services to assist low-income and first-generation college students, and more.
 

Established in 1903, Albany State University is a public historically black university located in Albany, Georgia. The institution offers 23 online associate degrees in such areas as histologic technician, history, biological science, legal assistant, nursing, and foreign language. Coursework is delivered via the GeorgiaVIEW online platform. Distance learners have access to Smarthinking, a 24/7 online tutoring option provided for free to SAU students. They can also utilize the writing center and IT assistance as well as contact a support specialist throughout the duration of the program. ASU’s associate programs are a convenient and affordable step toward accomplishing educational and career goals.
 

Navarro College was established in 1946 and is a public community college in Texas. The main campus is in Corsicana, with four additional area branches. The college offers over 20 online associate degrees. Popular areas of study include accounting, biology, business, chemistry, child development, psychology, physics, and speech. The programs are available 100 percent online, so students can view lectures, read class materials, participate in discussion topics, and complete assignments when it is convenient for them. Courses are not self-paced, as they run concurrently with on-campus courses according to the standard semester schedule. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system. NC’s associate programs are affordable, and students may be eligible for grants, loans, or scholarships.
 

In continuous operation since 1946, Southeast Community College is a public community college system in southeast Nebraska. The college is comprised of three campuses: Lincoln, Beatrice, and Milford. Affordable online associate degree programs are offered in several disciplines including criminal justice, accounting, business administration, and office management. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system. Student support services include admissions, academic, transfer, and program advising as well as online tutoring and TRIO Student Support Services to assist low-income and first-generation college students. Online orientation for distance learners can be taken in five different modules.
 

Washtenaw Community College, founded in 1965, is a community college located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More than 20,000 students from over 100 countries are enrolled each year. Online associate degrees are offered in such subjects as construction supervision, industrial training, business administration, accounting, and retail management. Online courses follow the same schedule as their on-campus counterparts, and coursework is delivered via the Blackboard online learning management system. Learning is asynchronous, so busy students can log on and study when and where it is convenient for them. WCC’s tuition is one of the lowest in the country; students can earn a degree and pay up to $10,000 less than the national average.
 

The University of North Georgia was established in 2013 by a merger of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College. It is comprised of five different campuses. Nine online associate degrees are offered in such areas as healthcare services, political science, social work, and sociology. Through UNG Online, students can create a schedule of solely online courses or combine online and face-to-face courses. Distance learners have access to 24/7 online tutoring services, a success advisor, and UNG libraries. The university’s low tuition rates together with the convenience that comes with distance learning make UNG’s online programs a good fit for students who want both affordability and flexibility as part of their educational experience.
 

Established in 2011, Oconee Fall Line Technical College is a public community college with campuses in Sandersville and Dublin, Georgia. Online associate degrees are offered in such areas as accounting, criminal jsutice, and business technology. The college uses the Blackboard online learning management system to deliver coursework, and course material can be accessed by computer or mobile device. Programs at OFLTC are affordable, and the Financial Aid Office can assist students to find financial assistance for which they are eligible, whether it is grants, loans, scholarships, or another resource. Students can choose to pay the total tuition at the beginning of the program or use the interest-free payment plan offered by the college.
 

Founded in 1975 as the Mississippi County Community College, Arkansas Northeastern College is located in Blytheville, Arkansas. It offers technical certificates, associate degrees, and certificates of proficiency. A total of 13 online associate degrees are available in such subjects as business, criminology, early childhood education, and general studies with multiple concentrations available. Tutoring, testing, and career services, as well as peer mentors, are available to distance learners. ANC is recognized as one of the most affordable colleges in the state, and a significant number of students qualify for financial aid.
 

Originally an independent institution, Georgia Perimeter College merged with Georgia State University in 2016 to form one of the largest universities in the nation. Over 50,000 students are enrolled, and Perimeter College Online is the largest online service in the University System of Georgia. As an associate degree-granting arm of GSU, Perimeter College offers programs in subjects such as business, health sciences, dental hygiene, sport management, history, mathematics, nursing, and more. A team of advisors works with students — including distance learners — to help them get the most from their education. Because it is part of the much larger GS, the tuition for online learning at Perimeter College is affordable, and financial aid is available in the form of grants, low-interest loans, and scholarships.
 

Established in 1975, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is a public community college with its main campus located in De Queen, Arkansas. The college offers eight fully online associate degrees. Popular subjects include business, accounting, and criminal justice. An Associate of Arts and Associate of General Studies are available as transfer degrees. Coursework is delivered via the Blackboard online learning management system, which has an app for mobile devices. Academic support and career assistance are available to online students. Tuition is competitive, payment plans are available, and the college can assist students to secure grants, loans, and scholarships to make their education even more affordable.

Established by the Nebraska state legislature in 1973, Northeast Community College is a public community college system with four campuses: Norfolk, O'Neill, Sioux City, and West Point. A total of 18 online associate degrees are offered, and popular subjects include accounting, agriculture, behavioral science, business administration, criminal justice, and social science. NCC uses the Canvas online learning management system to deliver coursework. Advising and academic support are available for distance learners as well as career and counseling services. Tuition at NCC is affordable, and students can work with financial aid advisors to see what financial assistance they are eligible for. The TRIO Student Support Services program provides academic and individual support to low-income and first-generation college students and helps them take advantage of all available resources.
 

Carl Albert State College is a community college with campuses in Poteau and Sallisaw, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 as Poteau Junior College but renamed in 1971 in honor of then Speaker of the House Carl Albert. The college offers 14 affordable online associate degrees in such subjects as business administration, child development, psychology, and computer technology. Coursework is delivered via the Blackboard online learning management system, which has an app for both iOS and Android devices. Distance learners are eligible to download Microsoft Office 365 at no cost. The college works with students to find the best financial aid options, whether it is a grant, loan, scholarship, military benefits, assistance for Native Americans, the Oklahoma Promise tuition waiver, or another resource.

Established in 1966 as Central Nebraska Technical College, Central Community College is a two-year public college with campuses in Columbus, Grand Island, and Hastings. Eleven online Associate of Applied Science degrees are offered in the fields of business, health information technology, information technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, and quality technology. Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are also available. Online courses are available 24/7 and follow the same start and end dates as on-campus programs, but the learning itself is asynchronous. Most courses are fully online, but some may require a visit to the campus. Coursework is delivered via the Moodle online learning management system, and free training workshops are available so students can get comfortable with the online learning environment. Course costs are among the most competitive in Nebraska, and a number of financial aid programs are available.
 

Established in 1928, Hutchinson Community College is a community college located in Hutchinson, Kansas. Many affordable online associate degrees are offered. Popular subjects include accounting, business, early childhood, criminal justice, health information management, and paralegal. Students can earn an associate degree with the goal of transferring to a four-year university or as a starting point for a new career. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system. Learning is asynchronous, but classes include assignments and deadlines just as traditional face-to-face classes do. Student services at HCC include technical support, proctoring, writing assistance, tutoring, career services, and more. HCC’s Financial Aid Office can provide guidance and support to help students apply for and receive financial help to make their degree even more affordable.
 

Established in 1967, the College of DuPage is a public community college with its main campus in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. With over 28,000 students, the College of DuPage is the second-largest provider of undergraduate education in the state. The institution offers six affordable associate degrees in such areas as marketing, accounting, management, and library and information technology. Most courses are 100 percent online. Through the college’s website, students can use the SmarterMeasure assessment tool to see if online learning is a good fit for them. Coursework is delivered via the Blackboard online learning management system, where students can use any Internet-connected device to access their course syllabus and calendar as well as assignments, tests, and course discussions.
 

Established in 1970, Rappahannock Community College is a public community college with two campuses in Virginia. Five online associate degree programs are offered in arts and sciences, business administration, criminal justice, health, and psychology/social work. Internet courses are offered in four formats: online (asynchronous), interactive video (synchronous), hybrid, and shared online (in partnership with other Virginia Community Colleges). Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system, and all programs require at least two proctored exams at an RCC site. Student support services at RCC include counseling, advising, tutoring, workshops, financial aid, scholarship assistance, and financial literacy workshops. Program tuition is affordable, and different payment options are available.
 

Founded in 1963, Flint Hills Technical College is a two-year technical college located in Emporia, Kansas. The college offers five fully online associate degrees in business technology, computer programming, healthcare administration and management, interactive multimedia design, and power plant technology. Three hybrid associate degree programs are available as well. Coursework is delivered via the Moodle online learning management system, and can be accessed 24/7 via a computer or mobile device. Throughout the degree program, distance learners can contact instructors by phone, email, and online discussion boards. The flexible online learning environment coupled with affordable programs make FHTC a good option for those looking to pursue an online associate degree.
 

Cochise College is a public college in Arizona. Founded in 1964, it is comprised of two campuses and three centers, all near the city of Tucson. Several affordable online associate degrees are offered, and popular subjects include economics, liberal studies, business administration, and computer programming. The Associate of Arts degrees in social and behavioral sciences and liberal studies are available with multiple emphases. Learning is mostly asynchronous, but classes are not self-paced; they have start and end dates with assignment deadlines and other scheduled activities. Coursework is delivered via the Moodle online learning management system. Online tutoring is available. Students may be eligible for grants, low-interest loans, or scholarships to assist with the already-low tuition.
 

Founded in 1971, Metropolitan Community College is a public community college located in Omaha, Nebraska. The college has multiple campuses throughout the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. More than ten online associate degrees are offered in such categories as accounting, business, computer technology, criminal justice, information technology, and general studies. Online courses have starting dates in September, December, March, and June, following the same schedule as on-campus classes. Coursework is delivered via the Blackboard online learning management system, and can be accessed by computer or mobile device. An orientation program is available so students can become familiar with the online learning environment. Degree programs at MCC are both convenient and affordable, providing a good pathway for students to get started on a new education or career trajectory.
 

Located in the Truckee Meadows of Reno, Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College is a public community college and technical college. More than 20 online associate degrees are offered at TMCC. Popular degrees include anthropology, criminal justice, English, entrepreneurship, history, Spanish, mathematics, and early childhood education. Learning is asynchronous, so students can study when and where it is convenient for them. Online courses have the same start and end dates as traditional on-campus classes at the college. Coursework is delivered via the Canvas online learning management system, and a tutorial is available so distance learners can become familiar with the platform and the online learning environment. Tuition for lower-division courses is significantly less expensive at TMCC than at a public four-year university.