Online Associate Degree Programs

Online associate degree programs are perfect choice for individuals who either want to gain more credentials to elevate their career, save tuition cost by transferring later into a four-year degree program, or gain a fast degree to prepare for employment.

Online associate of arts degree and associate of science programs are offered by campus colleges with online degrees as well as by these top accredited distance learning colleges and universities.

Types of Associates Degree Programs

Most colleges and universities offer one of four types of associate degree programs:

Associates of Arts degree (A.A.) - the presumption for earning an A.A degree is that you plan to continue your education at a four-year college. Thus the coursework completed toward your A.A. can be transferred to pursue a bachelor degree in social sciences or humanities or general studies.
Associate of Science degree (A.S.) - is specifically designed to prepare you to transfer into a four-year college or university and pursue a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, sciences or technology.
Associate of Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) - prepares you to immediately enter the career field or pursue a four-year degree at a college or university.
Occupational degree (O.D.) or an applied degree program - is designed to prepare learners for entry-level careers (electronics, auto mechanics, programming) that may not require a bachelor's degree. Although occupational degrees are considered terminal degrees, some credits may be transferred to a bachelor degree program.

The future looks bright for those who earn an associate degree. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2008-18 projections indicate that 12 out of the 20 fastest growing occupations require an associate degree or higher.

Online Associate Degree Programs Specializations

Associate degrees online are available in the following focuses and areas of study:

Top Colleges & Universities with Online Associates Degree Programs

University of Phoenix

Associate Degree Online Programs

AA in Accounting
AA in Communications
AA in Criminal Justice
AA in General Studies
AA in Health Care Administration
AA in Health Care Administration - Medical Records
AA in Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism
AA in Human Services Management
AA in Information Technology
AA in Information Technology/Database Development
AA in Information Technology/Information Technology Support
AA in Information Technology/Networking
AA in Information Technology/Programming
AA in Information Technology/Web Design
AA in Paraprofessional Education
AA in Psychology
Associate of Arts in Accounting
Associate of Arts in Business
Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts in Elementary Education
Associate of Arts in Foundations of Business
Associate of Arts in General Studies
Associate of Arts in Information Technology
Associate of Arts in Information Technology/Visual Communication
Associate of Arts in Paraprofessional Education

Colorado Technical University

Online Associate Degree Programs

Associate of Science in General Studies
Associate of Science in Health Administration Services
Associate's Degree in Accounting (ASACC)
Associate's Degree in Business Administration (ASBA)

Westwood College

Associates Degrees By Distance Learning

Associate Degree - Paralegal
Associate Degree - Surveying
Associate Degree - Automotive Technology
Associate Degree - CAD - Architectural Drafting
Associate Degree - Computer Network Engineering
Associate Degree - Construction Management
Associate Degree - Graphic Design and Multimedia
Associate Degree - Information Technology
Associate Degree - Medical Assisting
Associate Degree - Business Administration

Liberty University

Online Associates of Arts Degree Programs

AA in Accounting
AA in Business
AA in Criminal Justice
AA in General Studies
AA in Management Information Systems
AA in Psychology
AA in Psychology - Christian Counseling
AA in Religion

American Intercontinental University

Online Undergraduate Associate Degrees

Associate's (AABA) - Criminal Justice Administration
Associate's (AABA) - Information Systems
Associate's (AABA) - Visual Communication
Associate's of Business Administration

International Academy of Design & Technology Online

Associates Online Degrees

Associate of Science (A.S) in Building Information Modeling
Associate of Science (A.S) in Graphic Design
Associate of Science (A.S) in Information Technology
Associate of Science (A.S) in Web Design and Development

Kaplan University

Online Associate of Applied Science Degree Programs

AAS in Accounting
AAS in Business Administration
AAS in Business Administration - Banking Service
AAS in Business Administration - Business
AAS in Business Administration - Customer Service
AAS in Business Administration - Event Planning
AAS in Business Administration - Food/Hotel Management
AAS in Business Administration - Health Club Operations
AAS in Business Administration - Information Processing
AAS in Business Administration - Office Management
AAS in Business Administration - Retail Management
AAS in Business Administration - Sales
AAS in Business Administration - Small Business Management
AAS in Business Administration - Travel Counseling
AAS in Information Technology - Application Development
AAS in Information Technology - Help Desk Administration
AAS in Information Technology - Network Administration
AAS in Information Technology - Web Development
AAS in Criminal Justice
AAS in Fire Science
AAS in Health Information Technology
AAS in Human Services
AAS in Information Technology
AAS in Medical Assisting
AAS in Medical Office Management
AAS in Medical Transcription
AAS in Paralegal Studies
Advanced Start BSCJ - Juvenile Justice

South University

Associate of Science Online Undergraduate Degree Programs

Associate of Science in Accounting
Associate of Science in Allied Health Science
Associate of Science in Business Administration
Associate of Science in Information Technology
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies
Associates of Criminal Justice

Everest University Online

Associates Degrees Online Programs

Accounting (Associate's)
Applied Management (Associate's)
Business (Associate's)
Criminal Investigations (Associate's)
Criminal Justice (Associate's)
Homeland Security (Associate's)
Paralegal (Associate's)
Computer Information Science (Associate's)

Keiser University eCampus

Online Associate of Arts Degree Programs

Associates of Arts in Accounting
Associates of Arts in Criminal Justice
Associates of Arts in Health Services Administration
Associates of Arts in Homeland Security
Associates of Arts in Paralegal
Associates of Science in Information Technology

Potomac College

Online Associate of Science Degree Programs

Associate of Science in Accounting
Associate of Science in Information Systems
Associate of Science in International Business
Associate of Science in Management
Associate of Science in Network Security Management

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Associate degrees traditionally take two years to complete and are awarded by community colleges, junior colleges and nationally accredited colleges and universities upon completion of 60 undergraduate credits.

Many online students, however, complete their associate's degree online in less time. Some online colleges also offer accelerated online associate degree programs. Although online associate degrees are accomplished by distance learning, the quality of education achieved is the same as traditional on-campus associate degree programs.

You can earn an associate degree online, from applied science or occupational associate degree which prepares you for an immediate career to associates of arts in business, liberal arts degrees and other associates degree which transfer towards a bachelor's degree program.

Best of all, online associate degree programs allow you to work at your own pace, which will enable you to successfully balance your academic commitments with your other responsibilities.