Why Choose an Associate Degree in Small Business Management?
Small business management degrees are there to help students develop the basis for a career as an entrepreneur. Some of the basic knowledge they learn in their associate degree include business management, financial management, business law, leadership, marketing, and accounting. Students can go on to work in business development, marketing, and accounting, but most do go on to run their own small businesses.
Depending on the career choice, it’s possible to make solid wages, many of which are quite high. For example, if a student goes on to work as a financial manager, they may have a career with a salary over $100,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that financial managers with a bachelor’s degree earn around $129,890 annually, and the field is expected to grow by 15% between 2019 and 2029.
Choosing an Associate Degree in Small Business Management
When you look for a school where you can take courses for an associate in small business management, find one that offers a well-rounded curriculum. You’ll also want to find a program that has good transfer prospects, so you can transfer your credits to a four-year institution if needed.
The following are the top 15 schools for an associate in small business management. They are ranked from our top choice to our last choice based on tuition and enrollment rates.
The Top 15 Schools for an Associate Degree in Small Business Management
1. Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College tops our list for being affordable and having a small student-to-teacher ratio. The program is available in person or online, giving students an option of how to seek their Associate in Applied Science in Business, Small Business Track. Students learn about project management, business communications, and more in this program.
• Tuition (in-state): $2,004
• Enrollment: 877
2. Craven Community College
In just 70 credit hours, students at Craven Community College can receive an Associate Degree in Entrepreneurship. This program takes five semesters to complete and has more credits than most. Students receive a thorough education in entrepreneurship learning about computers, business law, and more.
• Tuition (in-state): $2,023
• Enrollment: 2,961
3. Great Basin College
Great Basin College offers an AAS degree in Entrepreneurship. This program requires students to complete 60 credit hours before graduation and teaches entry-level skills.
• Tuition (in-state): $3,248
• Enrollment: 3,852
4. West Virginia Junior College
West Virginia Junior College offers an Associate’s in Business Administration program. Students learn about basic business law, take certifications in Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, and more. Students may go on to work as customer service specialists, bookkeeping staff, or in other roles.
• Tuition (in-state): $13,210
• Enrollment: 567
5. North Central Technical College
North Central Technical College offers a 64-credit program to receive an Associate’s Degree in Small Business Entrepreneurship. The program covers skills such as managing, marketing, accounting, and others. Students can take courses online or at one of several campuses.
• Tuition (in-state): $3,609
• Enrollment: 6,177
6. Southern State Community College
Southern State Community College offers affordable, accessible, high quality education that can connect you to your future. They tailor their business degrees and certificates to reflect growing trends in employment opportunities. Check out their program offerings TODAY!
• Tuition (in-state): $5,162
• Enrollment: 2,399
7. Strayer University
Strayer University offers hybrid and online courses for its associate’s degree in small business management program. The program uses a quarter-term system, which allows students to finish it faster. Students also work with a personal success coach and can go on to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field.
• Tuition (in-state): $14,940
• Enrollment: 815
8. Pierce College
Pierce College offers an associate’s degree in business. This program can be taken in person or online, based on a student’s preferences. The degree can be transferred to a four-year institution to continue on for a bachelor’s degree.
• Tuition (in-state): $4,041
• Enrollment: 6,195
9. Polk State College
Polk State College offers a degree in small business management that results in an Associate in Science in Business Administration degree. The students complete a management practicum to complete the associate’s program.
• Tuition (in-state): $6,780
• Enrollment: Polk State serves approximately 15,000 degree-seeking students annually
10. Sullivan University
Sullivan University offers an Associate of Science in Business Administration. It can be completed in as few as 18 months and can be used as a springboard into the bachelor’s in business administration program.
• Tuition (in-state): $14,160
• Enrollment: 2,482
11. North Hennepin Community College
North Hennepin Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Entrepreneurship. The degree teaches courses in management, consumer behavior, and more. The business core consists of 19 credit hours, and additional courses are required to reach the 60 needed for graduation.
• Tuition (in-state): $4,566
• Enrollment: 6,198
12. Illinois Central College
Illinois Central College generally provides two-year programs for students intending to transfer to a four-year institution. It has a 60 credit hour program in Business Administration that may be taken online or on campus. The program may be completed in two years.
• Tuition (in-state): $4,500
• Enrollment: 8,749
13. Stark State College
Stark State College offers an online associate’s degree in business management, or students can opt to attend in person. Students may attend full- or part-time as needed. Two specialty certificates are available, and students may opt to continue on to a major in business administration.
• Tuition (in-state): $4,190
• Enrollment: 11,830
14. Vista College
Vista College offers an Associate of Applied Science that students can complete in 100 weeks. Classes start every five weeks, making it easy to begin at almost any time. Graduates can successfully go on to work in entry-level positions in management.
• Tuition (in-state): $15,680
• Enrollment: 3,482
15. Columbus State Community College
Columbus State Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration. This program is available online or in a hybrid formal. Students learn about marketing, organizational behavior, and prepare to work in entry-level business positions.
• Tuition (in-state): $4,588
• Enrollment: 28,159
Ranking Methodology
The schools here are ranked from our top-scoring institutions to the lowest-scoring. Schools with low tuition rates and low enrollment scored higher due to low costs and small class sizes. Check here for even more business management degrees.
Do You Have Questions About Our Listings?
Interested in finding out more about a school on our list? Do you want to have your school added or correct information that you see here? Let us know, and we would be happy to discuss your questions or concerns with you.