Starting college is sometimes a daunting thought, particularly for prospective students that recently graduated from high school and fear the thought of continuing their education at a large school where they do not know anyone. Adults that have been out of school for several years or that want to change their career likely dread the expensive cost of attending school and the thought of spending several years back in school. Earning an associate’s degree from one of the schools that offer the fastest associates degree often resolves these concerns.
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There are no lengthy wait times just to get into the school and no worries about a confusing, lengthy process of finding your way around a brick and mortar school. Adults that have responsibilities such as work or family do not have to worry about disruptions to their normal routine when they choose an online program.
Are There Other Reasons to Earn One of the Fastest Associates Degrees Online?
Attending college typically requires enrolling in courses that the student must attend at scheduled days and times, regardless of any other responsibilities. Considering the potential opportunity to earn a fastest associates degree online means that you engage in completing most or all course requirements completely online, and at times when you are able to study.
One important reason to earn an associate’s degree is the fact that individuals with a college degree earn a better salary than individuals that do not have an associate’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) compared the 2019 median usual weekly earnings for workers with an associate’s degree to the earnings for workers with some college but no degree, earnings of workers with a high school diploma, and workers with less than a high school diploma, and found the following:
- Workers with an associate’s degree had median usual weekly earnings of $887
- Workers with some college coursework but no degree had median usual weekly earnings of $833
- Workers that had a high school diploma but no college had median usual weekly earnings of $746
- Workers with less than a high school diploma had median usual weekly earnings of $592
These colleges offer the fastest associate’s degrees in an online format. Please note that the tuition rate is only for the cost of per credit hour instruction. It does not cover fees or other expenses. We cannot guarantee exact tuition since schools occasionally adjust their tuition rates.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville, Florida |
| 2 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Georgia |
| 3 | Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon, Illinois |
| 4 | Florida Southwestern State College | Fort Myers, Florida |
| 5 | Central Community College | Grand Island, Nebraska |
Florida State College at Jacksonville
The associate degree programs at the Florida State College at Jacksonville provide the flexibility that many students need to earn their degree. The school also offers several accelerated programs that allow for even faster program completion. Some degree program options include data science technology, early childhood management, accounting technology, or supply chain management.
Students earning a degree online save money on their education by paying the same tuition rate as in-state students. There are several courses that do not require books or course materials as part of the 2017 introduction of Open Educational Resources.
School Overview
University of North Georgia
Students that earn an associate’s degree at the University of North Georgia have the option of continuing their education at the school, earning an online bachelor’s degree or master’s degree. The school offers several online associate degree programs, including the Associate of Arts in Political Science pathway, Healthcare Services and Informatics Administration, Social Work, Sociology and an online associate’s degree in General Studies.
The flexible scheduling means that online students are not tied to the rigid curriculum often delivered in an on-campus traditional format.
School Overview
Sauk Valley Community College
The Associate of Arts General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) at Sauk Valley Community College allows students to complete all core curriculum courses entirely online, and start right into their major program upon transfer to a four-year program. There are four other online degree options, which allows students the ability to complete courses with greater flexibility, less cost for tuition and other expenses, compared to completing the same program at brick-and-mortar campus classes. Consider the online Associate of Applied Science in Marketing degree, or choose to complete the degree in accounting, liberal studies, or management.
Students completing an online associate’s degree pay the same tuition as students with resident status.
School Overview
Florida Southwestern State College
Consider earning an online associate’s degree in criminal justice, social and human services, early childhood education, or other program options at Florida Southwestern State College that either lead to employment upon graduation or seamless transfer of credits to further your education.
Online students have the flexibility to complete courses on their own time, but students seeking the fastest associates degree options likely want to complete the sequence that allows them to complete their program in the shortest amount of time.
School Overview
Central Community College
Central Community College understands the need for students to pursue a degree that offers flexibility at an affordable cost. Students still receive the same high-level of instruction and support services offered to students completing traditional face-to-face classes.
Consider earning an Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration, Information Technology and Systems, Health Information Management Services or Criminal Justice.
School Overview
Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College features the opportunity for new high school graduates or adult learners to complete an associate’s degree in an accelerated online format. Students earn an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree, while completing courses during the seven-week fall and spring semester, and the ten weeks of study during the summer semester.
School Overview
Rasmussen University
Rasmussen University offers affordable associate degree programs that allows students the opportunity to balance their studies with their work and life responsibilities. Earn your degree in web programming, software application development, paralegal, accounting, graphic design, early childhood education or several other options. The school also offers online bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees for students that choose to continue their education after earning their associate’s degree.
Students have the option of shortening the time to complete their degree by paying a small fee for a FlexChoice assessment. The self-directed assessment gives students credit for what they already know.
School Overview
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Avoid the crushing debt of attending college when you earn a degree from the Milwaukee Area Technical College. Choose from programs in business management, marketing, healthcare services management, entrepreneurship, supply management or other options.
Students wishing to complete their online associate’s degree in an accelerated format have the opportunity to complete the IT Network Specialist degree, or three other accelerated options.
School Overview
Truckee Meadows Community College
Study on your own time when you pursue an online associate’s degree at Truckee Meadows Community College. The college offers 13 associate degree programs that can be completed in a 100 percent online format. Although some graduates enter the workforce after completing their chosen degree program, many students continue their education to gain additional skills that increases their career opportunities, or because the particular program typically requires additional education for licensure or employment purposes. Consider earning an associate’s degree in anthropology, business, entrepreneurship, political science or criminal justice. Some students opt for completing the logistics management or the office management program.
School Overview
Navarro College
The Navarro College Online Campus provides the opportunity for students residing outside the State of Texas to complete a degree without ever attending in-person classes. The school offers an impressive list of associate degree online options, including several STEM programs, several computer information technology options, arts and humanities degrees, public safety associate degree programs and other programs. Engage in discussion topics along with completing assignments and viewing lectures in an online format.
School Overview
East Coast Polytechnic Institute
The East Coast Polytechnic Institute offers exciting online associate’s degree programs that provide students with the skills to enter the workforce or to continue their education, and earn a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree online at the school. Students that work towards their degree full-time have the benefit of completing their the program in an accelerated format.
Perhaps you want to earn a technology degree in software development, database programming, mechatronics, cybersecurity or the health sciences. Online degree options include the associate’s degree in EMT training, surgical technology, radiography, sonography or other options. The school also offers online associate’s degrees in culinary arts and nursing.
School Overview
Fremont College
Fremont College offers some of the fastest associates degree options in the country. The school touts the fact that it has a mission to ‘close the gap’ between the traditional college classroom and the 21st century workplace.
Earn an associate’s degree in healthcare information technology, digital marketing, or one of the business options, and gain employment or continue your education after earning your associate’s degree at Fremont College.
Members of the U.S. Military that are Active Duty, the Reserves, and the National Guard receive a generous tuition discount.
School Overview
Barton Community College
Barton Community College is always enrolling students in its sessions, many of which are as little as four to six weeks in length. Students have 24-hour access to online learning, allowing students to complete an associate’s degree that fits their schedule and career goals.
There are more than 50 online degree options. Many students choose to earn a degree in business or economics, humanities or public safety. Some other options include dietary management, medical lab technician or pre-professional degree options such as veterinary medicine or dentistry. There are STEM options, including an online associate’s degree in wildlife sciences.
School Overview
Rappahannock Community College
The specializations offered as part of the online Associate of Arts degree at Rappahannock Community College prepares students for transfer to a four-year program after completing the associate’s degree. Options include Health-STEM, Pre-Engineering, Sustainable Science, Business Administration and other programs. There is also an option to complete an Associate of Applied Science in Administration of Justice.
Another benefit of the school is their statement that the school’s technology department ‘will help ensure that you have the right hardware and software you need to succeed in online learning.’
School Overview
Sinclair College
Sinclair College offers 15 online associate’s degrees, providing the ideal educational experience for students interested in completing a program in criminal justice, computer information systems, sociology, psychology, communication studies, or other options.
Many students likely appreciate the FlexPace option, which allows online students to move through their courses as they demonstrate competency. This allows students to complete individual assignments or entire courses in a faster than the normal pace.
The school indicates that students that graduate from Sinclair typically see a 94 percent median increase in their yearly earnings within a year after graduating from the school.
School Overview
Bismark State College
Bismark State College offers an outstanding variety of online associate’s degree programs, with several unique programs, compared to most other schools. Consider earning an associate’s degree in nuclear power technology, electrical transmissions systems technology, human services, or web page development and design. The school offers other unique programs, along with more-common associate degree programs in areas such as business administration or criminal justice.
School Overview
Endicott College
The Van Loan School of Professional Studies at Endicott College offers six online associate’s degree programs. Consider earning your degree in business, criminal justice, integrated studies, or other options, without the hassle of attending classes in person.
Students that have documented work and life experience have the opportunity to accelerate completion of their degree, with the school permitting up to 15 credits under this program.
The school also offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees for students that wish to expand their career opportunities by continuing their education.
School Overview
Campbellsville University
School Overview
New England College
Schedule your weekly class assignments so that you enjoy the flexibility of pursuing an online associate’s degree at New England College. Each course session is seven weeks long, providing the opportunity for students to enjoy the opportunity to earn one of the fastest associate’s degrees. Complete your associate’s degree in liberal studies, psychology, healthcare administration, business or several other options.
Students often choose to further their education at New England College by enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program at the school, or by transferring their credits to a four-year school.
The school offers a tuition discount for active duty military personnel, veterans, National Guardsmen, reservists, their spouses, and dependents of deceased or disabled veterans.
School Overview
Bryant & Stratton College
Students that pursue an associate’s degree at Bryant & Stratton College benefit from the speed and efficiency of online learning, compared to the strict in-person class schedules. Choose your preferred degree in areas such as the Associate of Applied Science in Business, Associate of Applied Science in Digital Marketing, the Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education, or your choice of more than 12 other online programs.
The school also offers bachelor’s degrees for students that wish to continue their education.
School Overview
Methodology
We gathered information directly from schools across the country to help us develop a list of the fastest associate degree programs. We assigned a unique score based on the program completion time, and then considered the cost of tuition to arrive at our final ranking placement for each school.
Each of these ranked schools have proper accreditation, and offer more than one associate’s degree in online format.
We do our best to rank each school on our lists fairly and accurately. We do not allow any school to pay us for a better ranking placement. Sponsored schools are kept separate from our ranked schools, and are clearly labeled as SPONSORED.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to have your school included in our rankings, or if you would like to update the information for your school.
