2023 Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamp that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This report analyzed 179 schools in the Middle Atlantic Region to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school us, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Excelsior College to be the best school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Middle Atlantic Region .
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,946 in student loans.
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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Elizabethtown College. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,600 to cover tuition and fees at Etown. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Associate Degree recipients from Etown accumulate an average of $19,362 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Etown. During the 2019-2020 year, about 71% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Thomas Jefferson University is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend Thomas Jefferson University, expect to pay an average of $42,966 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Associate Degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University accumulate an average of $37,956 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Thomas Jefferson University. In fact, around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
Students from New Jersey who attend Rutgers New Brunswick full time pay an average of $15,804 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $33,005. Associate Degree recipients from Rutgers New Brunswick accumulate an average of $19,147 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 Rutgers New Brunswick does offer online classes for certain majors. 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.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means New York University is a great place for students working on their associate degree.
If you want to attend NYU, expect to pay an average of $56,500 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 $23,343 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that NYU does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - 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 #6 on the list.
Students from Pennsylvania who attend IUP full time pay an average of $13,144 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,897.
IUP does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Read full report on Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Edinboro is $10,543. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,062. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,315 in student loans.
Some students may be able to take online classes at Edinboro. In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Thomas Edison State University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
On average, associate degree students take out $14,858 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, TESU is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
The New School came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.
If you want to attend New School University, expect to pay an average of $52,338 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 $22,584 in student loans.
New School 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. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Molloy College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #10 on the list.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $34,310 to cover tuition and fees at Molloy. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,850 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Molloy does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #11, Delaware Technical Community College - Terry did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Delaware pay an average of $4,945 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Delaware Tech. Out-of-state students pay an average of $11,808. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,683 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Delaware Tech does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Read full report on Delaware Technical Community College - Terry
With a ranking of #12, Clarion University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $11,173 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Clarion University. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $16,052. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,043 in student loans.
Clarion University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 79% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list.
Students from New York who attend ESF full time pay an average of $9,206 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,966.
ESF does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 93% took at least some of their classes online.
Full SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Report
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree programs.
In-state students pay an average of $8,900 in tuition and fees if they attend AACC full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $13,550. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,455 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at AACC. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 96% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Harcum College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #15 on the list.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $27,132 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Harcum College. In fact, around 87% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Scranton 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.
If you want to attend University of Scranton, expect to pay an average of $48,462 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
One thing to take note of is that University of Scranton does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.
Widener University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.
The average tuition and fees at Widener is $49,706. 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 $20,552 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Widener does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 99% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
University of Pittsburgh - Titusville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking.
Full-time students from Pennsylvania pay an average of $11,792 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Pitt Titusville. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $21,882. Associate Degree recipients from Pitt Titusville accumulate an average of $21,755 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Pitt Titusville 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. In fact, around 91% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #19, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $8,450 to cover tuition and fees at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. The school does not offer an in-state discount. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,250 in student loans.
Since Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology 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.
Rider University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.
Rider does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $35,850. This amount may be reduced if you receive financial aid.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Rider does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 33% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
SUNY Empire State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #21 on the list.
Students from New York who attend SUNY Empire full time pay an average of $7,630 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,540. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,977 in student loans.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SUNY Empire does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 75% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Gannon University 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.
If you want to attend Gannon, expect to pay an average of $35,541 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Gannon. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 48% took at least some of their classes online.
Middlesex County College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region list.
If you want to attend Middlesex County College, expect to pay an average of $7,992 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 $12,313 in student loans.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Middlesex County College. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 63% took at least some of their classes online.
Rochester Institute of Technology 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.
The average tuition and fees at RIT is $50,951. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at RIT. During the 2019-2020 year, about 84% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #25, California University of Pennsylvania did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working on their associate degree.
Students from Pennsylvania who attend Cal U full time pay an average of $11,108 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $15,726. On average, associate degree students take out $27,033 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cal U does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 64% took at least some of their classes online.
Rest of the Top 15% Best Associate Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top 27 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our best schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | York College of Pennsylvania | York, PA |
| 29 | Bucks County Community College | Newtown, PA |
| 30 | Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell, PA |
| 31 | Central Penn College | Summerdale, PA |
| 32 | Harrisburg Area Community College | Harrisburg, PA |
| 33 | Prince George’s Community College | Largo, MD |
| 34 | Berkeley College - Woodland Park | Woodland Park, NJ |
| 35 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 36 | Bergen Community College | Paramus, NJ |
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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