Accredited Associate Degree Programs Online

Online Associate Degree Programs - Earn More

The College Board reports 25-34-year-olds with a college degree earn 63-70% more than people with only a high school diploma. That's a total of almost $1 million over the course of a lifetime. Nevertheless, many people do not have the time to sit in a traditional classroom after working all day to then work on getting their associate degree. That is where online education comes into play offering a wide range of associate degrees for busy students.

Online education opportunities, including online associate degree programs, have become more common in the age of the Internet. An online program affords the opportunity for students to study any time of day or night, without having to worry about dressing and travelling to a traditional school. This makes it easier to study while working a full-time job or, in the case of the military, while serving overseas or on a ship even. This is also helpful for parents of small children who do not want to rely on daycare just to take a class. An online associate degree may even work well for those with physical challenges who have difficulty maneuvering outside their home or have trouble getting to and from learning institutions.

Some online associate degrees combine what is called a low-residency program with online learning. In a low-residency associate degree program, students study at home via the Internet while keeping in close contact with an advisor located at a traditional school. Once or twice per year, students gather at the school for a period of up to two weeks to share information, attend workshops and seminars, or to meet with their advisor. This type of online associate program combines the best of both worlds; face-to-face contact combined with the ability to get an online education in your spare time.

A variety of online associate degrees are available. University of Phoenix is one of the most popular online degree programs. They offer online associate degrees in a variety of areas including criminal justice, hospitality, travel and tourism, and even elementary education and paraprofessional degrees. If you are interested in an online associate degree related to computer graphics or software, Westwood College has an online associate program geared toward the more technical online student. In addition, do not forget online business degrees. Strayer University specializes in subjects such as business, accounting, and marketing, all of which are offered from a program conducted completely online.

There are several online learning programs available that you can research here before signing up for one of them. A good online associate degree program is accredited. This means it has passed a series of predetermined standards of educational quality. If a school claims it is “state-approved” or “state-licensed,” it means it meets its state's qualifications. This may cost less, but can also result in a sub-standard education or irrelevant training.

Online education is a real option for many people who have limited time to pursue an associate degree. With a little research, you can find an online associate degree program that can add to your marketability on the job or help you get into a completely new career.