2023 Best Associate Degree Schools
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Associate Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 1,251 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Southeastern University the best school in the United States for students working on their associate degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $28,320 to cover tuition and fees at SEU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. On average, associate degree students take out $14,888 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at SEU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 49% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Associate Degree Schools list.
American Military University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $7,360. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $23,232 in loans while pursuing their degree.
American Military University is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Columbia Southern University is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
Columbia Southern University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $5,775. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $20,725 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Brandman University is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Brandman, expect to pay an average of $12,480 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $18,359 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, Brandman is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The excellent associate degree programs at Excelsior College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in the United States.
Associate Degree recipients from Excelsior College accumulate an average of $15,946 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Since Excelsior College is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
National University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools list.
On average, associate degree students take out $16,212 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since National University does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 39% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Elizabethtown College landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at Etown is $34,600. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $19,362 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Online courses are available at Etown, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 71% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Thomas Jefferson University does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $42,966. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $37,956 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Thomas Jefferson University. During the 2019-2020 year, about 96% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
If you want to attend IWU, expect to pay an average of $9,239 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,876 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at IWU. In fact, around 94% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Reinhardt University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools list.
If you want to attend Reinhardt University, expect to pay an average of $26,180 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
Reinhardt University does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $1,328 in tuition and fees if they attend SRJC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,952. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,716 in student loans.
SRJC does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 70% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Stanly Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Stanly Technical College is $2,794. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,245. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,203 in student loans.
Stanly Technical College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 92% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average tuition and fees at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus is $5,515. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,645 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids Campus. During the 2019-2020 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
University of Phoenix - Arizona ranked #14 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools list.
On average, associate degree students take out $23,839 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UOPX - Arizona does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Bismarck State College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Students from North Dakota who attend BSC full time pay an average of $4,926 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $6,930. Associate Degree recipients from BSC accumulate an average of $17,120 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at BSC. In 2019-2020 about 66% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Waldorf University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #16 on the list.
Waldorf does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $23,666. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Waldorf accumulate an average of $22,165 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Waldorf does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 73% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Ranken Technical College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools list.
The average tuition and fees at Ranken Technical College is $16,164. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $15,083 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Ranken Technical College. During the 2019-2020 year, about 66% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Central Texas College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,657 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Central Texas College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 74% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Columbia College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
On average, associate degree students take out $29,271 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Columbia College Missouri. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Canada College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Canada College is $1,362. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,006. On average, associate degree students take out $13,439 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
Full-time students from New Jersey pay an average of $15,804 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Rutgers New Brunswick. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $33,005. On average, associate degree students take out $19,147 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Rutgers New Brunswick does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 37% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
El Centro College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #22 on the list.
Associate Degree recipients from El Centro College accumulate an average of $18,961 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at El Centro College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 92% took at least some of their classes online.
Johnson County Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #23 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at JCCC is $2,688. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,352. On average, associate degree students take out $15,979 in loans while pursuing their degree.
One thing to take note of is that JCCC does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 84% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #24 on the list.
Full-time students from Indiana pay an average of $9,992 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Purdue. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $28,794. On average, associate degree students take out $26,254 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Purdue does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 89% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #25, Rockhurst University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
The average tuition and fees at Rockhurst is $40,480. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rockhurst does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 75% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Rest of the Top 15% Best Associate Degree Schools in the United States
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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