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Online Associate Degree Colleges

Online Colleges Offering Associate Degrees

Are you interested in pursuing an associate’s degree program? Are you a little unsure of whether you can pursue this type of program and that it will actually allow you to follow your chosen career path? Have you decided to do your homework so that you can learn the most important information regarding an associate’s degree program, which will surely make your decision making process much easier? Well, then you have come to the right place! First of all, it is important to understand that there are many different associate’s level degree programs that you will be able to choose from. However, for many of these fields of study, an associate’s level degree program will only qualify you to obtain an entry level position. Keep in mind, it is completely feasible for you to complete an associate’s degree program and to then transition into a bachelor’s level degree program in order to further your education. For many students, it makes better sense to complete an associate’s degree program and to obtain a position in their field of study and to then further their educational degree while maintaining their employment. After all, in our society it is very possible to complete practically any degree program through an online learning format, which will allow you to set a flexible schedule that will work with your lifestyle.

There are many associate’s degree programs that are available in the medical field for you to choose from. For instance, many aspiring students choose to complete a program in areas such as medical assistant, dental assistant, or physical therapy assistant. Or, perhaps an associate’s degree program in an area of humanities will be more to your liking. If this seems to fit you, then you could consider degree programs in areas such as social sciences, history, humanities, or literature. It is important to note that individuals who complete an associate’s degree in the medical field will definitely be qualified to enter the work force without any future plans to continue their education. However, if you complete an associate’s degree in the area of humanities you should be prepared to further your level of education so that you will be able to attain gainful employment. Keep in mind, there are many additional areas in which you can work to complete an associate’s level degree program. It is critical that you do your homework and find the best educational fit for you and your long-term goals.

Top Associate's Degree Colleges

If you have completed your high school coursework and have your diploma in hand, then obtaining your associate's degree may be the next milestone on your list! Before you seal the educational deal, be sure you know all there is to know about this degree program and what it can do for your future career. Find online associates degree programs below to get started. An Online Associate's Degrees typically require students to complete two years of coursework towards a specific field of study. This academic degree is generally offered by community colleges, technical or vocational colleges, junior colleges, and some four year colleges and universities. For the most part, an associate's degree is equivalent to the first two years of course work for a bachelor's degree. Although an associate's degree is the lowest degree program in a hierarchy of post-secondary degrees, it still makes many opportunities available to students. For instance, because this degree program is shorter in length the debt a student incurs to get their post-secondary education will surely be less. Additionally, many career paths do not require that an individual have anything higher than an associate's degree.
As you work to obtain your associate's degree you will most likely be required to complete coursework related to humanities, English composition, social sciences, and mathematics. However, if you are required to take any remedial level courses it may take you longer than two years to complete your associate's degree. Typically, an individual's grades and test scores in a high school subject area will determine the need for remedial courses at the post-secondary level. An online Associate's degrees are ideal for individuals who only plan to attend college on a part-time basis. This makes it more feasible for a student to maintain a job or to raise a family while still working on his or her degree program. In fact, many higher learning institutions offer coursework during weekend and night hours to accommodate these students. An associate's degree can be completed at a traditional brick and mortar school or through an online institution.
As long as you do your homework to ensure that the learning institution is accredited, your associate's degree will be the same from either establishment. Most higher learning institutions offer associate's degree programs in: business and commerce technologies, health services and paramedical technologies, data processing technologies, public service related technologies, natural science technologies, and mechanical and engineering technologies. Keep in mind, if none of these degree programs fits your intended career path, and then be sure to check with the learning establishment that you plan to attend. It is perfectly reasonable to locate a school that offers the degree program that you plan to complete. If you feel that your existing skills base is adequate, you may want to consider taking the CLEP (College Level Examination Program) test to eliminate courses that you already excel in. Not only will you be able to skip some unnecessary coursework, this could help you complete your degree program sooner than you originally planned! Get started on your online AA degree.

Online College Enrollment Process

One of the biggest advantages of taking an online associates degree program vs. a campus based one is your access to complete the program on your own time. If you are forced to work while in college to pay for your rent and bills then an online degree allows you time to work during the day and off hours when you aren’t studying. The first step is the researching of schools. Because you are taking your degree online the choices of schools and colleges aren’t limited to your area. We recommend at this point to first look for schools that offer the type of Associate’s degree you are wanting but really pay attention and research schools based on reputation. We say this because when you graduate with your degree you graduate from that school and it doesn’t matter if you attended the campus or achieved your degree online. Larger state schools now in almost every state offer online degrees so if you can get accepted we recommend going with the one with the highest reputation and brand name.
Before you enroll you’ll want to really research the college. If the college is close we recommend doing a campus visit. We realize you won’t be attending classes at the campus but it will still give you a chance to talk to the Admissions Department and learn more. Also you might find out you really want to attend the campus and switch from taking the program online. Many times students start out online and then perhaps attend the college after they earned their Associate’s degree. When you talk to the school be sure to go over the program you are interested in taking in great detail. Ask lots of questions regarding not only tuition rates and scholarships that could be available but find out more about job opportunities after graduation. Once you make the final decision on attending you’ll need to fill out a school application to be accepted. This could take several months so make sure to plan ahead as some schools only offer two start dates per year. Many of the schools will require you to take the SAT or ACT to qualify with a passing score.
To increase your chances of being accepted we also recommend providing the school with letters of recommendation from professionals that you know. This could include business associates, former bosses and even your pastor. Many schools will require an admissions essay explaining to them why you should get accepted into the college. This is a great time to shine and prove to the school all of the hard work and extracurricular activities you did in high school. Remember you are applying to the college so you can earn your associate’s degree however once accepted as long as you maintain a 2.5 GPA then you’ll be allowed to continue at the school and even eventually earn a higher degree.

Different Types of Associate's Degrees

Business Degrees
Earning your Associate’s degree in a business related field is a great way to get the right amount of training necessary for an entry level position in business. Not all careers require you to have an advanced degree. Study subjects in accounting, business administration, economics, event planning, global management and even marketing. The possibilities are endless and earning your Associate’s degree will be transferrable if you ever decide to get a higher degree later. Most schools you attend if they offer Bachelor’s degrees will automatically accept your credits so they will be applied to the next degree level.
Computer/IT
One, if not the fastest growing industries is in the field of computers. Not only does every company use them but they are becoming more advanced and the need for qualified computer programmers is growing. Earning your online associate’s degree in computer technology is your first step toward a great and rewarding career. Schools that offer AA degrees typically offer training programs in: network administration, java programming, database administration, game programming and app development. It is recommended that you start with your degree but continue on to an advanced degree as more jobs will open up the higher an education level you complete.
Criminal Justice
One industry that hires graduates who earned their associate’s degree are those jobs in the criminal justice industry. Jobs such as a corrections officer, fire science and forensic science all offer entry level jobs in your field of study. Other considerations include becoming a private investigator, going into legal studies or becoming a legal administrative assistant. Lawyers hire legal assistants to help out on cases and front office duties.
Education/Teaching
If you have ever wanted to become a teacher than the first step is getting your teachers license. To teach however you’ll need 4 years of education, not the 2 years from an Associate’s degree program. This would be a good starting point, just make sure the program you are taking will allow you to get into the Bachelor’s degree program once you graduate. If you only want to only study 2 years but still be in education then you can still become a teacher’s assistant and even go into child care.
Healthcare and Medical
The great thing about earning your Associate’s degree online is the vast number of healthcare related careers that are available in so many different subject matters. Many go into training programs to become a dental hygienist, EMT, home health assistant, medical assistant, nursing (LVN and PN), radiologic technologist and even a veterinary assistant. These careers are perfect for those just looking to earn your Associate’s degree many of them are available 100% online.
Psychology
Finding the right training program to start your psychology degree has never been easier. Many Associate’s degree programs you can start are in child development, marriage and family therapy, pastoral counseling and sports psychology.

Many high school graduates don’t know what they want to become when they enter college. With starting with a shorter degree like an AA it gives you a chance to see if that subject matter interests you. Another advantage of earning your Associate’s degree is it even allows you to earn your degree at community colleges, and then transfer those credits into a 4 year degree. The credits earned at the Associate’s level at a community college are often at a lower price per credit vs. those at a larger state school. The goal in all of this is for you to start. We urge anyone looking to attend school to research any of the topics and schools shown to see if any of them interests you.