Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $131-$137
Out-of-State | $138

Credits to Graduate: 60

Eastern Gateway Community College offers dozens of associate degree programs in areas spanning business, education, health science, and public service. You can also earn a two-year degree in multiple engineering, information technology, and technical machining disciplines.

With 96% of students attending virtual classes, EGCC caters to the needs of online learners. A 2022 IPEDS Data Feedback Report on graduation rates also found that EGCC significantly outperformed a control group of peer institutions. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $210
Out-of-State | $320

Credits to Graduate: 60

Part of the CUNY system, Kingsborough Community College offers 100% online associate degrees through its KCC FLEX program. You can prepare for a bachelor's degree with a general liberal arts program or pursue one of 10 career-focused associate degrees. 

Career-track degrees focus on niche specializations like mental health services, community health, addiction studies, tourism, and the business of fashion. Through its Riggio Scholarship program, KCC offers scholarships, emergency grants, and tuition support for new and returning students. 

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.

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $176
Out-of-State | $726

Credits to Graduate: 60-66

At Roane State Community College, you can earn a 100% online associate degree in computer programming, criminal justice, elementary education, geographic information systems, or health information management. You can also prepare to transfer into a four-year college by completing an AS degree in general science.

Roane State's online learning model includes fully online courses, along with interactive video-based classes and hybrid options that enhance traditional learning methods. The method works — in 2021,13 Roane State programs reported 100% job placement rates.

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.

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.