TOP 10 AFFORDABLE ASSOCIATE’S ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS 2017

This ranking is for readers interested in identifying schools with the cheapest online associate’s degree offerings for 2017.

TOP 10 AFFORDABLE ASSOCIATE’S ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS 2017

FEATURED 2-YEAR ONLINE COLLEGES

Kaplan University
Brandman University
Ashford University

Methodology

1) We wanted to include schools from a variety of states, so we limited ourselves to selecting two schools from any given state.

2) Tuition data reported here is the average yearly tuition/fees of each school as found in the NCES College Navigator database. Is it intended as representative only, and actual tuition may differ between degrees within the same university.

3) We used in-state tuition where available. However, universities with the cheapest in-state tuition often have very cheap out-of-state tuition as well, and many online programs offer in-state tuition to out-of-state students. Check with the school’s admissions office for financial details and to know whether the program is offered to residents of your state.

4) To be considered, schools had to be four-year institutions accredited regionally and offering the majority of their associate’s degree online.

While hundreds of accredited institutions offer associate’s degree online programs, only 29 came in under $7,000 tuition/fees. Here are the 10 most affordable associate’s online degree programs for 2017.

#10. BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck State College online associate's degree
Bismarck State’s associate’s degrees online are military friendly and super affordable.
Website
Tuition/fees: $3,604

Our #10 school offers a ton of cheap online associate’s degrees. These include online associate’s degree in Administrative Assistant, Business Administration, Cybersecurity & Computer Networks, Criminal Justice, Information Processing Specialist, and many more. With 44% of its student body enrolled exclusively in online courses, BSC knows how to help students succeed online.

#9. SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

MCALLEN, TEXAS

south texas college online associate's degree
Most of South Texas College’s online associate’s degree students graduate debt- free–a proposition worth considering.
Website
Tuition/fees: $3,486

South Texas offers over 15 kinds of cheap online associate’s degrees and 30 online programs overall, including associate’s degrees in Criminal Justice, Philosophy, Political Science, and Computer Science. Check out all the information packed on their website to find the perfect associate’s degree online for you. South Texas offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the country and is military friendly. This could be the right path to start you off right in your career.

#8. NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN

Northwestern Michigan College online associate's degree
Check out Northwestern Michigan’s cheap associate’s online degree offerings.
Website
Tuition/fees: $3,330

Consider Northwestern Michigan’s associate’s degree online offerings: Nursing, General Studies, Science and Arts, Business Administration, and Criminal Justice. Future nurses, for example, can take all of their theoretical content courses online and then take labs and clinical studies in Traverse City. Business Administration majors can study as they look forward to serving customers or running offices. Either way NMC is a great deal.

#7. ATLANTA METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Atlanta Metropolitan State College online associate's degree

Website
Tuition/fees: $3,250

Atlanta Metropolitan State College offers affordable associate’s degrees online in Business Administration or General Education. Business Administration is a great way to start your office or business career, while General Education could position you to go for a bachelor’s after. Founded in 1974, AMSC enrolls over 3,000 students overall.

#6. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS COLLEGE

ROME, GEORGIA

Georgia Highlands College online associate's degree
Several options exist at Georgia Highlands for a very affordable associate’s degree online.
Website
Tuition/fees: $3,115

Georgia Highlands College offers several cheap online associate’s degrees, designed as transfer programs into bachelor’s degrees. Areas include History, Foreign Language, Teacher Education, and English, among others. The AS in Business online, for example, can be transferred directly into a Bachelor of Business Administration online at the University of Georgia.

#5. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY-OKLAHOMA CITY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

OSU OKC online associate's degree
Start your health or business career at OSU with one of these cheap online associate’s degree programs.
Website
Tuition/fees: $2,859

Oklahoma State University at Oklahoma City offers some cheap associate’s online degree options not found at schools among our other finalists. These include an online associate’s degree in Public Service, Police Science, and Healthcare Administration, as well as General Business and Management. With an amazing price tag and these rare programs, OSU will prove to be a great career start for many students looking for an online associate’s degree.

#4. GREAT BASIN COLLEGE

ELKO, NEVADA

Great Basin College online associate's degree
Great Basin enrolls 3,800 students overall and has online associate’s degree students across the entire country.
Website
Tuition/fees: $2,805

Great Basin College considers itself a pioneer in online education delivery. Its cheap online associate’s degree offerings are worth a look. They include Early Childhood Education, Graphic Communication, Land Surveying/Geomatics, Entrepreneurship, and others. GBC’s helpful website will fill you in on all that’s available to get your career started.

#3. COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

college of southern nevada online associate's degree
College of Southern Nevada offers some rare and cheap associate’s degree online programs.
Tuition/fees: $2,805

At College of Southern Nevada you can start you career with a cheap associate’s degree online in areas such as Web Development, Programming, Ophthalmic Technology, Special Education, and much more. We list CSN at the #2 spot ahead of Great Basin College because it offers slightly more programs at the associate’s level. But Great Basin has associate’s degree online programs that CSN does not, so it would be good to take a look at both schools to know which is a better fit with your career goals.

#2. BROWARD COLLEGE

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

Broward College online associate's degree
Broward knows how to help students succeed in its online associate’s degree programs.
Tuition/fees: $2,753

Broward College encourages students to study online in order to save money (parking, childcare) as well as time (finish in 15 months!). These accelerated associate’s degree online programs come in the form of an AA with Business Focus, an AS in Business Administration, or an AS in Computer Systems Specialist. If you want to finish fast and take advantage of an amazing tuition rate, take a look at Broward’s online associate’s degree offerings.

#1. EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE

COCOA, FLORIDA

eastern florida state college associate's degree online
Eastern Florida State’s tuition rates for their online associate’s degree programs propel their offerings to the top of our ranking.
Website
Tuition/fees: $2,496

Our #1 cheapest online associate’s degree programs are found at Eastern Florida State. If you want to go on to a bachelor’s degree after, take the Associate in Arts option. If you would like to position yourself right away for a career, go with the Associate in Science in Office Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Technology, or Social and Human Services.

This concludes our ranking of the top 10 cheapest online associate’s degree programs for 2017.

Sources:

NCES College Navigator Database

By CVO Staff
January 2017

Are you wondering about the fastest way to get a degree online? Fast online degrees can offer considerable value to today’s student. Not everyone has the luxury of attending school for four years in one stretch – much less to immediately jump into a graduate program for an additional multi-year commitment! From working professionals to busy parents to older adults finally fulfilling their academic goals, there are plenty of nontraditional students out there who have limits on their study time. Thankfully, online colleges cater to this restriction by helping their students learn efficiently, quickly, and conveniently. We’ve listed some of the very best (and most affordable) below. In this ranking, we examine the best value colleges for fast online degrees. Allied American University Fast Online Degrees The fast online degree programs at AAU include numerous certificate options with a quick turnaround. 10. ALLIED AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Website At AAU you can earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business administration, criminal justice, general studies, or medical office management. There are additional certificate options for students seeking jobs in the rapidly growing healthcare field: medical administrative assisting, medical billing, medical coding, and pharmacy technician among them. AAU has a special commitment to serving the military, including benefits such as a no-fee transcript evaluation to see how many of your credits will transfer; military members may also be eligible for textbook grants! AAU sometimes accepts transfer credits from advanced high school programs (AP and CLEP) and other industry and military certifications. Between this and the optional 8-week class schedule (with multiple start dates) AAU is one of the best fast online degrees for motivated students. Net Price: $14,898/yr Score: 58.75 Trident University International Fast Online Degrees With a “Fastrac” program and transfer credit options, TUI has some of the best fast online degree options in the country. 9. TRIDENT UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL Website Trident was the first fully online university to be accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Catering to military veterans and adult learners, its accelerated “Fastrac” program lets you complete courses in just eight weeks, with new sessions starting every month. The Trident Learning Model uses case-based learning instead of traditional tests, with the goal of developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You can get a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctoral degree online in a career-focused field like business, technology, or health sciences. Already have your associate’s degree from a community college? Trident will evaluate your credits and apply them toward your bachelor’s. With tuition breaks for military spouses and dependents, Trident offers affordable fast online degrees to a range of students. Net Price: $11,572/yr Score: 58.85 New England College of Business and Finance Fast Online Degrees Previous jobs, military experience, and past academic coursework will all earn students credit toward the affordable, fast online degree programs at NECB. 8. NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE Website Offering accredited fast online degrees for working professionals, this Boston-based school incorporates group projects into its industry-relevant curriculum. This helps students network with potential colleagues and develop the technology-enabled collaboration skills they’ll need in today’s increasingly distributed workplaces. NECB’s Prior Learning Assessment program considers your work experience and job skills, open source courseware study, volunteer work, job skills and other background (including military experience) in granting you academic credit toward your degree. Looking for professional development or a new skill set in business or finance? You can easily enroll in a course or two without pursuing a degree. Net Price: $9,563/yr Score: 60.13 Grantham University Online Fast Degrees Grantham’s cheap, fast online degrees allow students to earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a fraction of the time. 7. GRANTHAM UNIVERSITY Website Grantham’s accelerated online degree programs allow you to complete your associate’s degree in under two years or your bachelor’s degree in under four years. Bachelor’s degrees focus on in-demand fields like accounting, financial planning, and computer science. For nurses there’s even a RN-to-BSN completion program, making this one of the best fast online degree options in nursing. Grantham recognizes that flexibility is particularly important to first responders – established firefighters, police officers, and EMS professionals – and offers degrees and some scholarship assistance tailored to these groups. There are also scholarships and textbook/software grants for military members and a special partnership with the Community College of the Air Force to help Air Force members complete their bachelor’s degrees through an accelerated program. Net Price: $12,808/yr Score: 62.50 Western Governors University Fast Online Degrees WGU’s customized academic planning make it a source for some of the best fast online degrees. 6. WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY Website This nonprofit university grants bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching, IT, business, and nursing. The Teacher’s College in particular has many subject–specific licensure programs, helping students prepare efficiently for their careers. Because tuition is charged according to the length of time you are enrolled, not the number of courses you take, you are rewarded financially for progressing quickly – a dream scenario for fast-paced students! You can also get personalized Degree Plans that take into account your prior skills and knowledge, performance on pre-enrollment assessments, and remaining requirements, so you only take exactly the courses you need. And because WGU requires “On Time Progress,” you’ll have plenty of support to make sure you don’t languish in your academic efforts. Plus, students who have completed either an associate’s degree or coursework at a community college can transfer credits, expediting their progress and making WGU a standout in this ranking of fast online degrees. Net Price: $8,624/yr Score: 62.82 National Paralegal College Fast Online Degree NPC’s legal studies program is a no brainer for students who want a fast online degree studying law and government. 5. NATIONAL PARALEGAL COLLEGE Website Through this school’s accelerated online degree programs, you can earn your bachelor’s in legal studies in under 3 years or an associate’s degree in just 15 months. Lots of interesting classes run simultaneously, some of which you’d expect in a legal curriculum (American Government; Torts and Personal Injury; Constitutional Law and Criminal Procedure) but others will broaden your education, including The Science of Nutrition, Environmental Science, and Laws of Cyberspace. Depending on your schedule, you can join live online lectures or watch recordings whenever you have time. Unsure if this school is right for you? Simply by filling out an application, you’ll get two free weeks of enrollment, including lectures and discussions with your potential instructors and classmates. This free trial period could be just what you need to decide to complete an affordable, fast online degree at NPC. Net Price: $13,709/yr Score: 69.33 American Public University System Online Fast Degrees Students who are eager to earn an affordable fast online degree can enroll at APU as early as next month. 4. AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Website APUS has been serving non-traditional students since 1991, well before online education became mainstream. Originally founded as American Military University to cater to mobile military learners, it reorganized into APUS in 2002 in order to serve a wider range of learners – and today 42% of its students are civilians. Even so, American Public University continues to enroll more members of the armed forces than any other school. Although it offers nearly 200 degrees and certificates, the school’s most popular programs include business administration, criminal justice, general studies, sports and health sciences, psychology, and homeland security. With courses starting on the first Monday of every month and lasting either 8 or 16 weeks, there’s no need to wait for a new semester to begin, earning APUS a top spot in our fast online degree rankings. Net Price: $9,572/yr Score: 70.60 American InterContinental University Fast Online Degrees Accredited, fast online degrees are in abundance at AIU, which offers programs in everything from business to web design. 3. AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY-ONLINE Website In addition to the career-focused fields found at other online schools – business, criminal justice, IT, education, and healthcare – AIU also has several degrees in design fields, making it a great choice for students who want to blend vocational skills and artistic vision. You can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design, web design, illustration, or even fashion. For students who live in the greater Atlanta or Houston areas and want face-to-face learning and physical classrooms, there are campuses waiting to welcome you. A generous credit-transfer program allows you to save time and money, making this a truly affordable fast online degree. AIU also has a special admissions department just for the military and offers a 45% tuition discount to active service members, as well as a 10% discount for Reserves, National Guard, and their spouses. Net Price: $15,495/yr Score: 71.82 Sessions-College-for-Professional-Design(1) 2. SESSIONS COLLEGE FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN Website Speaking of artistic degrees for vocational trades, Sessions is a great choice for students who want an accredited fast online degree in the arts, such as graphic design, web design, digital photography, and much more. Experienced designers can also take quick professional development courses in Photoshop and other specific skills without pursuing an entire degree. This makes Sessions a standout among the many online colleges that offer more traditional programs in professional fields like business, teaching, or information technology. While Sessions offers numerous certificates and associates degrees, students can also earn credits that transfer to bachelor’s degrees at Excelsior College. All courses have three different start dates a year – January, May and September – giving you plenty of flexibility when planning your schedule. Net Price: $12,352/yr Score: 74.74 American Broadcasting School Fast Online Degrees The American Broadcasting School is #1 on this fast online degree ranking and undoubtedly the best option for aspiring journalists. 1. AMERICAN BROADCASTING SCHOOL Website Granting an inexpensive, fast online degree in radio broadcasting, this school offers a fast track to careers in news, sports, talk, or music radio, as well as other creative voice opportunities. The entire program takes just over eight months to complete (71% of students graduate), uses exclusively one-on-one instruction, and allows you to work at your own pace. You’ll get all the software and equipment you need (as long as you provide your own computer) and personalized vocal coaching. Starting in your very first week, you’ll have the opportunity to record your own radio shows and receive live critiques from professional instructors. Because success in broadcasting requires more than just talent, you’ll also learn digital production, marketing, and other tools of the broadcasting trade. Looking to enroll quickly? You can begin on any Monday of the year! Net Price: $9,459/yr Score: 82.13 See our methodology page for more information about how we calculated this ranking.* *For this ranking, we added an extra feature to the standard methodology. Because we wanted to focus specifically on “speed” rather than general measures of quality, we custom-designed a scale to rank schools based on this highly desirable “fast factor.” Specifically, we researched each online college and asked ourselves the following questions: Does the school offer bachelor’s degrees that one could complete in less than four years? What about associate’s degrees in less than two years? Are there many short certificate options for students who want to quickly augment their skills in an established field? Are there “accelerated” degree paths and options for students who want to earn a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree? Does the school offer credit for life/work experience and past academic coursework in order to help students move ahead on their degree path? Does the school offer multiple course formats so that students have the option to start several times a year and/or to choose between classes of varying lengths? But don’t worry – we still considered graduation rate and tuition costs as well! We hope this has been helpful in providing information about fast online degrees from accredited colleges. There are many fast online degree programs available, and we encourage you to do a broad search to find the program that’s best for you. THIS CONCLUDES OUR RANKING OF THE BEST VALUES IN FAST ONLINE DEGREES. Sources: College Navigator By CVO Staff Published March 2016 https://www.collegevaluesonline.com/rankings/fast-online-degrees-best-values/

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