You want to get your associate degree in business online, but how do you know which program is the best? To help answer this question, our rankings breaks down the best online associate degree business programs in the country. It identifies schools that prioritize your needs as a student and provide academic and professional services that ensure your success after graduation. It also considers each program’s ability to let you customize your learning experience. This flexibility makes it easier for you to learn while taking care of other personal or professional obligations as well as making sure your degree teaches you the skills and knowledge you want and need. See which programs earned top honors for 2024.
Best Online Associate Degrees in Business for 2024
We have ranked the top schools below. Our Rankings Data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES.) Click the About the Ranking link below for more information about our methodology.
- Create List of Eligible Schools and Programs
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Assign Weightings
- Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education. Because exact numbers change often and can be difficult to verify, we use a range-based scoring system: 0-5 online programs = 1 star; 6-10 = 2 stars; 11-15 = 3 stars; 16-20 = 4 stars; 21+ = 5 stars. In our design, laptop icons = stars.
- For degree-specific pages, ex: Psychology degrees, we list the current number of online programs available at that school for that degree type, as self-reported by the schools.
- Cost – Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
- Students w/ Institutional Aid – Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.
- Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
- Career Placement – Existence of this service on campus or online.
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Tulsa, OKPublic $
Those interested in business administration, accounting, and economics should consider the associate’s degree in business from Tulsa Community College. While the program gives an overview of the business field, it primarily focuses on these three fields and has electives in each. By the end of the program, students should be ready to enter the workforce or to continue on to a four year program. Because this program has three focuses, students will be better prepared to choose a four year degree than those who get a more general business degree. To add extra flexibility, Tulsa offers the program both online and in-person at their Southeast Campus. Should a student choose the online version, they can complete the degree without ever having to set foot on campus.
Program Highlights:
Associates in Business Administration
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $116.55 per credit in-state | $341.55 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Associates in Business Administration
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $116.55 per credit in-state | $341.55 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: In-person
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
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Houston, TXPublic $
Houston Community College offers a flexible, high-quality associate’s degree in business for anyone interested in entering the field. Students can choose between a more general associate of arts in business or a business management degree. If they choose the latter, students also select an area of specialization in their second year. The specializations include general business, entrepreneurship, human resource management, or insurance specialist. Each specialization has specific online resources to help students transfer to a four year program or enter the field upon graduating. The program is available online or in-person, though online students do face some restrictions around what classes they can take. Depending on a student’s course schedule, some online classes might also require some face-to-face sessions.
Program Highlights:
Associate of Arts in Business
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $33 per credit in-district | $121 per credit in-state | $151 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online or in-person
- Accreditation: Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Associate in Business Managemnet
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $33 per credit in-district | $121 per credit in-state | $151 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online or in-person
- Accreditation: Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
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Fulton, MSPublic $
Students interested in pursuing a future in business should consider the AA in Business Conc – Gen Studies from Itawamba Community College. The program is designed to keep up with the unprecendented and growing demand for qualified business professionals by preparing graduates to enter the workplace after completion of the program or to continue their education. Beyond teaching the traditional elements of business, the program from Itawamba helps students develop the necessary skills for functional teamwork, oral and written communication, and information technology. After completion of their AA, students can seamlessly transfer to other universities to continue their education.
Program Highlights:
Associate in Business and Marketing Management Technology
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $140 per credit
- Mode: online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
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Alamogordo, NMPublic $
Students looking for a comprehensive, general associate’s degree in business should check out the program from New Mexico State University. While hosted by their Alamogordo campus, the program is fully online and students can complete all coursework without setting foot on campus. For this 61 credit degree, students take a combination of general education courses and business courses which provide a foundation for all business disciplines. Upon graduating, students will have a better idea what specialization or major they want to pursue. New Mexico State University also offers online academic resources to help make the transfer student application process and the transition to a four year university easier.
Program Highlights:
Associate of Applied Science in Business Management
- Credits: 61 credits
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: $78 per credit in-district | $93 per credit out-of-district | 116.25 per credit out-of-state
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
9/1
-
Midwest City, OKPublic $
Students who are unsure if a four year or two year degree in business is right for them will want to check out Rose State. This Oklahoma-based college offers a two-year associate degree and four-year bachelor degree in business. Students can also easily continue on to get their bachelor’s after they have successfully completed their associate – and they can do so without all the transfer paperwork of switching to a different institution. While the degree is general, students in both programs can take electives in specific business fields, such as economics, finance, and marketing. The program not only offers curriculum flexibility, it also lets students complete the coursework online and offers a schedule which easily fits around personal and professional obligations.
Program Highlights:
Associate of Business Management
- Credits: 60
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: 167 per credit for residents | 379.55 per credit for non-residents
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: North Central Commission on Colleges
Bachelor of Arts in General Business
- Credits: 120
- Length: 4 years
- Cost: 167 per credit for residents | 379.55 per credit for non-residents
- Mode: Online
- Accreditation: North Central Commission on Colleges
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
21/1
-
Lima, OHPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
9/1
-
Athens, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Harrison, ARPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Mesa, AZPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Sioux Falls, SDPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Creston, IAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Beebe, ARPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Worcester, MAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Tucson, AZPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Salt Lake City, UTPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Cleveland, WIPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Calmar, IAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Hot Springs, ARPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Norfolk, NEPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Shreveport, LAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Wye Mills, MDPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Killeen, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Chicago Heights, ILPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
10/1
-
Appleton, WIPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Inver Grove Heights, MNPublic $
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Hudson, NYPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Largo, MDPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Corsicana, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Rockville, MDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Cleveland, OHPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Coon Rapids, MNPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
27/1
-
Newtown, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Watertown, SDPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
New Orleans, LAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Warwick, RIPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Haverhill, MAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
21/1
-
Alexandria, MNPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
La Plata, MDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Baltimore, MDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Bethlehem, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Binghamton, NYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
West Windsor, NJPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Bel Air, MDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Youngwood, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Harrisburg, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Hagerstown, MDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Greenwood, SCPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Bossier City, LAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
24/1
-
Johnstown, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Schnecksville, PAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
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Base Methodology for OnlineColleges.me’s 2024 Online College Rankings
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
After creating the list of eligible schools, OnlineColleges.me data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability metrics. Online program availability and overall affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings.
Online Program Availability
Affordability
Support Services
About Our Data
OnlineColleges.me’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: January of 2024
Program Outcomes for the Online Associate Degree in Business
Many schools offering online associate degrees in business offer similar content, but they tweak their curriculums based on the overarching policies and philosophies of school administrators. This means there are differences in available classes, student services, and areas of specialization. Most online business programs offering associate degrees have the following outcomes in mind for their students.
Business Technology
Businesses are some of the first adopters of new technology, especially in the information technology realm. Most online associate degrees in business teach you about various types of information technology, such as information storage, data analytics, and e-commerce and how companies implement these technologies within their business operations. Depending on your concentration, you may complete a class project where you apply a certain technology, like a database or data mining, to solve a real-world problem or challenge.
Ethics and the Law
Laws exist to outline how businesses should operate. This includes criminal laws explaining what a business can’t do as well as civil concepts that dictate the legal actions businesses can take against each other for certain types of wrongdoing. When no law applies to a given situation, professional rules and ethical guidelines often dictate how a business should proceed. When you earn your online business associate degree, you’ll learn about the most common laws and ethical rules that could affect you and your future employer, including how those rules and laws control business operations.
Business Strategy
The highest paying jobs in business often revolve around identifying an objective or problem, then achieving the goal or fixing the issue. To do this, you need to learn to think like a businessperson. This is one of the most important ideas or concepts you’ll learn in your online associate degree in business. You’ll learn to see the big picture and find ways to make major changes in how an organization runs. For example, you’ll learn production and inventory strategies and how changes can lead to increased efficiency through reduced production and transportation costs. You’ll also discover how to spot global, national, and regional factors affecting profitability.
Leadership
The best ideas mean little if they aren’t implemented. For this reason, many programs offering online associate degrees explain what it takes to be an effective manager. You’ll learn organizational theory and behavior concepts in addition to the basics of human resources and personnel management. You may also have group projects that don’t directly relate to leadership but require you to learn how to delegate tasks and manage different personalities.
What You’ll Learn: Associate Degree in Business Online Coursework
When it comes to the core classes in your online associate degree business program, most schools are very similar to one another. The main differences are usually related to the concentrations offered. Below is an overview of some of the foundational core classes along with some specialization classes you’ll likely encounter in your online business program.
Financial Accounting
This introductory course covers the basic concepts and theories of financial accounting. You’ll learn about different types of financial documents, such as a statement of cash flows and income. In addition to how to reach conclusions from these statements, you’ll also learn about the accounting processes behind them.
Managerial Accounting
Managerial accounting teaches you how to use the concepts in a basic financial accounting course to make tactical and strategic business decisions. In managerial accounting, you’ll take financial information and learn how to use it to make management-level decisions for an organization. This includes developing both short-term and long-term business strategies across various departments.
Business Law
A business law course teaches you about the history of the business legal landscape, including landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions and how the Great Depression led to the creation of federal agencies that oversee the operations of investment and capital markets. There is also instruction on specific laws and legal principles, like contract creation, agency law, product liability, the Securities Act of 1933, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Principles of Finance
This introductory course covers the basic concepts of finance. It starts by covering fundamental formulas and definitions (e.g., compound interest, measuring the growth of securities investments, and interest rates) and moves into teaching you how to use these metrics to identify the direction your organization is going as well as how to make any necessary long-term and short-term changes.
Marketing
The various components of a successful marketing campaign are covered in this class. You’ll learn how to identify and analyze a potential market, then move on to adjusting your service or product to meet the demands of potential customers. This class also teaches you how to distribute, develop, and promote your product or service using marketing principles.
Economics
Some programs divide learning about economics into microeconomics and macroeconomics courses. Microeconomics deals with how certain economic principles, like supply and demand, apply to smaller and individual transactions. Macroeconomics focuses on broader concepts like national or global policies concerning money supply, interest rates, and gross domestic product. You’ll also learn how these economic principles affect business strategy and leadership decisions.
Supply Chain Management
Courses in supply chain management cover everything from production operations to logistics. Professors discuss introductory concepts like just-in-time manufacturing and how they affect overall profitability in terms of costs, personnel management, and revenues.
FAQs About Online Business Associate Degrees
An online associate degree in business is one of the most popular two-year degrees available. Before you apply to a program and start classes, you probably have a few questions about how these programs work and what you’ll encounter on your first day of class. Below are some of the most common questions students like you have about online business associate degree programs.
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Are online associate programs in business fully online?
It depends on the school, but online associate degrees in business are usually 100% online. Unlike other degrees that train students for hands-on careers, like those in healthcare, there are rarely any hands-on learning requirements for an associate degree in business. Since your program might require one or two campus visits during the program though, it’s best to double-check before enrolling.
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What career paths are open to associate graduates in business?
An online associate degree in business opens up a plethora of entry-level positions at a variety of companies. Because of the broad level of knowledge obtained, your business degree prepares you for positions in almost any type of business, from a small company to a major corporation. The jobs listed below are usually immediately available to those with an associate degree in business.
- Information clerk
- Customer service representative
- Insurance sales agent
- Advertising sales agent
- Financial clerk
- Accounting clerk
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What accreditation should I look for in an online associate business program?
Before choosing an online associate degree in business program, make sure it’s accredited. At the very least, make sure any school you apply to has institutional accreditation, usually obtained from a regional or national accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Ideally, you want a business program that also has programmatic accreditation. The two biggest accrediting organizations for business programs are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). A third, less common, business organization is the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).
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What does the admissions process look like for this degree?
The admission process for an online associate degree in business is about as simple as it gets. You’ll likely only need to complete an online application and provide an official copy of your high school transcript or other documents to show that you have a GED, high school diploma, or equivalent. Some schools also want SAT or ACT scores to potentially place you out of certain first-year courses.
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How much does an online associate degree in business cost?
The cost of an online associate degree in business depends on a school’s particular tuition rate and fees as well as the number of credits needed. Most require about 60 credits and have rates that range from the $295 per credit hour rate at the University of Arkansas to the $514 rate at DeVry University. Keep in mind that these rates only tell half the story since grants, scholarships, work-study, and other forms of financial aid are widely available and can dramatically reduce the total cost of your online associate degree in business.
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How long does it take to complete an associate degree in business online?
If you’re a full-time student taking online classes, you can usually earn your business associate degree in about two years. You can reduce the amount of time it takes to graduate by accelerating your degree by taking more credits per term and attending classes during the summer. Graduating high school with college credit, such as by taking AP classes, also helps. If you attend school as a part-time student, expect to take closer to three years to earn your associate degree in business online.
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What specializations can I choose from for associate degree business students?
There are many business concentrations and specializations available. Some are more popular than others and found at most schools. A few are more unique and may only exist in a handful of business programs. The more common areas of specialization for an associate degree business online program include:
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Healthcare
- Retail management
- Hospitality
- Entrepreneurship
- Sales
- Sports entertainment
- Information technology
Salary and Advancement with Your Associate Degree in Business
An online associate degree in business makes you eligible for many entry-level careers that are both respectable and have promising earnings and growth potential. Below are careers where an associate degree in business allows for advancement and increased salary. The table also indicates earning and job growth potential for each position.
| Career | Median Annual Earnings (2021) | Job Growth (2020-2030) |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising sales agent | $52,340 | 3% |
| Logistician | $77,030 | 30% |
| Information clerk | $37,450 | 2% |
| Insurance sales agent | $49,840 | 7% |
| Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative | $62,890 | 5% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics