Associate degrees have been the second-most awarded degree in the United States every year since the 2011-2012 school year over a decade ago, second only to bachelor’s degrees, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For many people, this dynamic and versatile degree can be a career game changer or serve as the first step on the way to a baccalaureate education. After all, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) still indicates that education pays—the higher the degree, the higher your earning potential.

Online education, including online associate degrees, has been on the rise for years. Between the fall of 2012 and 2018, distance education course enrollment increased by 29%, said the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Data from the NCES’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Fall Enrollment component in 2023 stated that approximately 53.2% of college students were enrolled in at least one online course. The public recognizes the unique benefits of online education, and you should too—that’s why we’ve assembled this guide to give you everything you need to know about earning your associate degree online.

What is an associate degree?

Associate degrees are postsecondary undergraduate degrees that consist of at least two years of full-time study, but no more than four. They are awarded by universities and junior, community and technical colleges. The credits you earn in an associate degree program can often be applied toward a bachelor’s degree under certain conditions.

The majority of associate degrees are formally called either Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees, but some associate degrees from professional or technical programs go by Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees and other names. Most associate degrees require at least 60 semester or 90 quarter credit hours to graduate. 

Associate degrees provide students with an undergraduate education that can grant entry-level access to numerous careers. In most associate degree programs, you get to choose a major or an area of focus. Depending on the program, you may have to still take courses in foundational subjects such as English and mathematics no matter what you major in.

According to the BLS, people who hold an associate degree have higher median usual weekly earnings ($1,005) compared to those with a high school education alone ($853). This indicates that an associate degree has the potential to advance your job prospects and earning potential, and this becomes even truer if an associate degree is used as a stepping stone towards a bachelor’s degree.

Advantages of online associate degrees

If you’re thinking about earning an associate degree, it’s worthwhile to consider earning your degree online. Online associate degrees have many advantages over traditional degree programs, including:

• Flexibility and convenience of online learning: Online education provides a host of benefits. When you don’t have to go to a physical location to attend class, you can complete your studies from home or wherever else you like. In addition, many online courses may not require you to log on at specific times (to watch a live lecture, for example). Instead, you can consume the course materials, such as pre-recorded lectures, whenever you want.
• Access to a wide range of programs and courses: The possibilities for what you can study in an online associate degree program are practically endless. According to the NCES, postsecondary institutions awarded approximately one million associate degrees in the 2020-2021 school year. More than three-quarters (79%) of those degrees were concentrated in six fields of study: liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities; healthcare, health services and health information professions; business and marketing; engineering technologies; homeland security, law enforcement and firefighting; and computer and information sciences and support services.
• Lower cost compared to traditional on-campus programs: Associate degrees already tend to cost much less than bachelor’s and graduate degrees, in part because they take less time to complete. When you add an online element into the mix, the credits are usually less expensive and you can avoid many of the costs associated with an in-person education, such as transportation to and from campus and on-campus housing.
• Ability to balance work, family and other commitments: The flexibility of online learning can be a huge asset for people who are still working, take care of family or have any other commitments that make a traditional in-person program difficult—or impossible—to balance with their demanding schedule.

Choosing the right online associate degree program

With so many schools and online programs out there, it can quickly become overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. Finding the right program is a balancing act between your professional goals, needs and limitations.

Consider the following as you begin your search for the online associate degree program that’s right for you:

• Identifying your career goals and interests: Start by asking yourself what it is you want to go to college for. Knowing the type of program you are looking for can make your search a lot easier from the start. Chances are you already have some idea if you’re considering earning a degree in the first place, but if you’re still unsure what exactly you want to study, evaluate your personal interests to figure out careers you might like to have. Would you rather be a medical biller and coder or work as a medical administrative assistant for example? There may be some overlap between careers with a preferable edge to one or the other. Career counseling can also be very useful. It’s okay though if you still haven’t settled on your dream career—in many associate degree programs, you don’t have to pick a major right away.
• Researching accredited institutions and programs: Both schools and the programs they offer should be accredited. Accreditation is given by national and/or regional accreditation bodies which verify that a school (and/or its programs) meets certain academic standards. Accreditation is also important because it’s required to receive federal financial aid.
• Evaluating program curriculum and course offerings: Once you’ve found some accredited schools that offer the programs you’re interested in, you should start to compare each program’s curriculum and unique perks. Look at the individual courses you’ll have to take, the kinds of projects you’ll complete and other offerings such as internships or externships you may be able to participate in.
• Consider faculty qualifications and student support services: Another way to compare programs is to look at the school’s faculty and support services. Read up on the professors you might have including their own education, background and qualifications. Identify whether the school offers services such as career assistance, academic support and tutoring, counseling and any other services that may be important to you, such as a multicultural center, veteran support and more. 

Admission requirements and application process

Getting admitted to an online associate degree program is usually quite simple. The first step is to apply to the academic institution of your choice. Two-year community, junior or technical colleges—which is where you’ll find the vast majority of associate degree programs—often have an ongoing admissions process where you can apply to the college at any time, or they have multiple admission cycles throughout the year. Check with the colleges you’re interested in to find out what their application deadlines are.

Often the only prerequisite to apply to a two-year college is a high school diploma. Even if you didn’t graduate high school, many colleges have a high school completion program that you can do before moving on to your associate degree. This can vary from school to school, however, and if you are applying for direct entry into a given program, the program itself may have more admissions requirements.

Most college applications today can be completed online, but paper applications are usually still available too. The application procedure and the contents of said application can vary from college to college, but in general, most associate degree applications simply have you include the following information:

• Personal information including your contact info, address, demographics and more
• Citizenship status and residency information
• Previous education such as your high school and any other colleges you may have attended
• Transcripts from your previous education
• Documents that attest to any standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.) if applicable

Once your application has been reviewed and accepted, you’ll receive detailed information about your next steps. This usually includes info such as your student ID, how to access the learning management system your school uses and how to register for classes.

Financial aid and scholarships

Finally, you’ll want to make sure you apply for any financial aid before starting classes. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be your first stop to determine how much you may be able to get from the federal government based on your income. Figuring out when you should apply to FAFSA is a little tricky: the FAFSA has its own federal deadlines, but so do states and individual colleges. Check out their deadlines page for more information to determine when you should complete the FAFSA. Bottom line: start looking for financial aid resources as early as possible to avoid missing any critical deadlines.

If you plan to enroll in a professional or technical program, you may be eligible for additional aid if you qualify. Qualifying factors usually include being laid off or furloughed, considered low-income, receiving food stamps or other food assistance and more.

Veterans should take advantage of the GI Bill which may be able to cover a significant portion—if not all—of your tuition and expenses.

Scholarships are also an incredibly useful tool to ease the financial burden of college. Schools typically have a separate scholarship application process that can be used to apply to multiple different scholarships at once. These may be based on financial need, academic merit or some other metric. Scholarships may be offered on an annual, quarter/semester basis or another timeline. Even once you’ve explored the scholarships that your college offers, it’s important to remember that there are tons of external scholarships offered by numerous different organizations such as non-profits and private companies.

Online learning experience

The basis of the online learning experience begins with a learning management system (LMS), a software program used by academic institutions to manage the virtual learning experience. Once you’re admitted to a school, you’ll receive instructions on how to access and set up an account with your school’s LMS. Some of the most popular learning management systems include Canvas, Moodle, edX, Blackboard Learn and more.

If you’ve ever taken a college course before, chances are you’ve used an LMS before. They’re also used for hybrid and in-person courses for various assignments and assessments.

The online interface for each LMS is different, but in general, you’ll be able to view all the classes you’re enrolled in when you log in to the LMS and view your “dashboard” or home page. When you click on a course, you’ll see all the upcoming assignments, quizzes, assessments and other action items you must complete for that course, including their deadlines.

Balancing work and study

For those who are working while earning their online associate degree, balancing work and study can be particularly difficult. Luckily, many associate degree programs have working students in mind and can be more flexible. Even still, there’s no doubt that juggling a job and devoting yourself to your studies requires some planning and support from others.

Before your first day of class, you should create a study schedule so you know exactly when you should be doing schoolwork when you’re not at your job. Be realistic about what you’re capable of—find frequent pockets of time in your schedule to space out your learning. (Don’t, for example, plan for a five-hour study session after that double shift at work). This is especially important for people taking asynchronous courses that can be completed at any time, since synchronous courses already give you a fixed schedule.

If the going gets tough, don’t shy away from seeking support from your network. Ask your employer if you can adjust your schedule or reduce your hours if that would help. Reach out to family and friends, too. They might be able to help ease the burden of other time-consuming tasks, such as childcare, grocery shopping and other errands. If needed, they may even be willing to help you out financially if that is a concern. You don’t have to earn your degree alone—tapping into a support system is essential to anyone’s success!

Don’t forget also that your school probably has many resources to help students overcome academic or personal challenges. Your school wants you to succeed, so remember to take advantage of everything they have to offer like tutoring, counseling and more. 

Support services for online students

Just because you may not be going to a college campus every day doesn’t mean there aren’t numerous resources available to you as an online student. Lots of the resources you’d find on a college campus can now be conducted virtually. These resources exist to help you maximize your potential and support you when you need some extra help. After all, it’s in your school’s best interest to see you succeed.

Academic advising and counseling

Academic advisers, sometimes called academic counselors, are your go-to people to guide you on your academic journey. Academic advisers can help you pick a major, choose which courses to take, set realistic academic goals, make sure you’re on track to complete what you need to graduate and connect you with other resources you may be looking for.

Online tutoring and writing assistance

Practically all schools have tutoring services and other academic support available to their students. If you’re struggling in any of your classes, you can probably get connected with a tutor who can meet with you via video call. Depending on what your school offers, you may also be able to connect with a tutor in an online chatroom or submit assignments to them virtually which they can review and give feedback on.

As part of their academic support services, many schools also have some kind of writing center to help students improve their writing skills through one-on-one tutoring or group workshops. Again, these kinds of services can usually be accessed online. 

Career services and job placement support

Many schools have a career center devoted to helping their students figure out how to apply their college education to the workforce and find a fulfilling career. As an online student, you can meet with career counselors virtually via video or phone call without having to go to a physical location. Since two-year colleges have a lot more trade-specific programs compared to many four-year universities, career counselors at these institutions are often more focused on helping students get placed in jobs that fit their degrees.

Completing your online associate degree

Every degree program is going to be structured a little differently. That means that a program’s sequence of classes and graduation requirements will vary, too. There are many courses you can’t take until you’ve completed others in a logical, scaffolded sequence. An academic adviser can help you figure out precisely which courses to take and when. Your first few academic terms will probably consist of introductory-level classes that build the foundation for the more advanced classes you’ll take later on.

Career opportunities and further education

Bachelor’s degrees have a reputation for being the go-to degree to qualify for most entry-level jobs. While there is some truth to that idea, the fact is there are still so many other jobs for which an associate degree can be sufficient. Plus, an associate degree can get you into the workforce faster due to its shorter timeframe, and that means you’ll start getting experience under your belt sooner. For many jobs, experience sometimes trumps education.

Every position has its particular requirements that can vary depending on the employer and their needs, but in general, here are just some of the many jobs you may qualify for with an associate degree in the appropriate subject:

• Healthcare assistants such as medical assistant, dental assistant, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy assistant, medical admin assistant and more
• Registered nurse from an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program
• Skilled trades in the electrical, automotive, masonry, carpentry and other industries
• Administrative positions such as a paralegal, human resources assistant, officer manager and more
• Public health roles such as community health workers and social work assistants
• IT support specialists and other entry-level IT/IS positions
• Paraeducators or childcare assistants
• Business professionals such as junior accountants, payroll clerks, retail managers, data or business analysts
• Legal professions such as paralegals and legal assistants

Transferring credits to a bachelor’s degree program

You may able to able to transfer the credits you earn in an associate degree program to another school and apply those credits towards a bachelor’s degree, or later on a master’s degree. This is done through articulation agreements between academic institutions. Articulation agreements specify which subjects completed at a community college (or other college) may be considered for acceptance at the bachelor’s degree level.

They also determine what standard of performance must be met for the credits to be accepted. These agreements are negotiated between the institutions—it’s best to consult with an academic adviser to figure out if and how you can apply your associate degree credits to a bachelor’s degree program.

Continuing education options and professional development

Plenty of community colleges offer many continuing education, personal and professional development opportunities through affordable, non-credit courses. These can be a fantastic addition to your resume to supplement your online associate degree. Non-credit classes are often available to anyone, not just students of the college, which means you aren’t limited to the institution from which you earned your degree. You can check out the continuing education opportunities from other schools, too.

Every school’s course offerings are going to be a little different, but many schools offer the following continuing education programs: 

• Certification preparation
• Test preparation (e.g. GRE, Praxis, LSAT and more)
• Short-term language learning programs
• Personal enrichment courses in subjects such as drawing, music, photography, yoga, CPR and first aid, personal finances and more
• Professional development courses for careers in  business, hospitality, information technology, health and wellness, trades, education, art and design, communications and more

Final say

An associate degree can be both a career enhancing move on its own and a valuable first step on the way to a bachelor’s degree and all the way up to a doctorate or beyond. For many working adults or people who simply desire more flexibility with their education, earning your associate degree online can make earning a college degree easier than ever. As online learning programs continue to grow and evolve, the online learning experience should only continue to improve.

If you want to improve your life and career with higher education, consider which online associate degree programs might work best for you. If you need a place to start, begin by using our “Find Schools” feature to discover online associate degree programs near you.

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