Best Online Associate in General Studies Programs
An associate in general studies program can prepare you to continue on to earn your bachelor’s degree. You can fulfill general education requirements while you decide which major to pursue at the bachelor’s level. It can be a great choice for students who don’t know just yet what career path they want to take.
Many community colleges offer associate degrees, which can be completed in about two years. Some schools offer accelerated degrees, which may be completed in as little as one year.
Popular Online Associate in General Studies Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Associate in General Studies Programs
Olney Central College
Olney, IL- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,902
- Out-of-state$10,928
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled869
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Ashland University
- Ashland, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$23,000
- Out-of-state$23,000
- In-State$7,656
- Out-of-state$7,656
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate72%
- Students Enrolled4,174
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Honolulu, HI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$28,430
- Out-of-state$28,430
- In-State$25,200
- Out-of-state$25,200
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled1,892
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment67%
- AccreditationYes
Peirce College
- Philadelphia, PA
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$14,400
- Out-of-state$14,400
- In-State$13,896
- Out-of-state$13,896
- Retention Rate100%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled856
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment100%
- AccreditationYes
Southern New Hampshire University
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,000
- Out-of-state$15,000
- In-State$18,900
- Out-of-state$18,900
- Retention Rate62%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled164,091
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment97%
- AccreditationYes
Utah State University
- Logan, UT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,042
- Out-of-state$23,305
- In-State$6,763
- Out-of-state$23,176
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled27,943
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Holmes Community College
- Goodman, MS
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,700
- Out-of-state$5,400
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate44%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,948
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Amarillo College
- Amarillo, TX
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$1,128
- Out-of-state$2,664
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled8,988
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
Keiser University
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$22,048
- Out-of-state$22,048
- In-State$30,032
- Out-of-state$30,032
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate97%
- Students Enrolled19,019
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
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We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2022. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
What Can I Expect From an Online Associate in General Studies Degree Program?
An online associate in general studies program can prepare you to continue your education in any career path you choose.
You can choose to pursue an associate of arts (AA), associate of science (AS), or (associate of applied science) AAS in general studies. Both the AA and AS degrees are intended to prepare you for further education — the AS focuses more on science than the AA. An AAS focuses on preparing you to enter the workforce after the program.
Associate degrees take about two years to complete and require around 60 credits of coursework. An associate in general studies degree consists mainly of general education requirements: English, math, science, speech, and history.
At Amarillo College, for example, students complete 42 general education credits and 18 credits in major course requirements. The school recommends that students work with an advisor to determine which classes to take to satisfy these electives.
Whenever you consider an online program, you should check with an admissions officer to find out if there are any on-campus requirements. Some schools require students to attend orientation, labs, or practicums in person.
What Can I Do With an Online Associate in General Studies Degree?
According to PayScale, graduates of associate in general studies programs reported making an average annual base salary of $61,000, as of April 2024.
Individuals with an associate in general studies work in many industries, including religious organizations, government, professional and technical services, educational services, and healthcare.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary (May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Secretary | $46,010 |
| Office Manager | $53,000* |
| Executive Secretary | $70,310 |
| Operations Manager | $101,280 |
| Project Manager | $80,000* |
*As of April 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About Associate Degree in General Studies
One way to determine whether an online associate degree in general studies is worthwhile is to consider the cost of the degree compared to the salary you are likely to make once you graduate. For example, if the degree costs $8,000, you make $30,000 now, and you expect to earn $50,000 with the degree, that’s $20,000 more per year from that initial $8,000 investment.
Most people would consider that worthwhile. However, only you can decide what you need to earn to feel like you’ve made a good return on the investment you’ve made in your education.
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