2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps 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 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. This report analyzed 318 schools in the Southeast Region to see which ones had the most popular online associate degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from schools with online programs.
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Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:
Our analysis found Ultimate Medical Academy - Clearwater to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in the Southeast Region . This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 6,351 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,458 in student loans. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 98% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means St Petersburg College is a great place for students working on their associate degree. Located in Clearwater, Florida, the large public school handed out 4,371 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at SPC is $2,682. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,286. Associate Degree recipients from SPC accumulate an average of $22,838 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 87% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you attend American Public University System. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Charles Town, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 3,411 students in 2020-2021.
If you want to attend American Military University, expect to pay an average of $7,360 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 $23,232 in student loans. Around 33% of those degree recipients were women.
Since American Military University 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 be in good company if you decide to attend Hillsborough Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. HCC is located in Tampa, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,137 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at HCC is $2,506. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $9,111. On average, associate degree students take out $19,707 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Northern Virginia Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular schools in the Southeast Region . Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school located in Annandale, Virginia that handed out 6,023 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Virginia pay an average of $5,565 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Northern Virginia Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,648. On average, associate degree students take out $17,116 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 74% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #6, Seminole State College of Florida did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Seminole State College of Florida is a fairly large public school located in Sanford, Florida that handed out 2,926 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,131 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Seminole State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $11,456. On average, associate degree students take out $18,707 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Georgia Military College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Georgia Military College is located in Milledgeville, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,039 associate degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,673 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 58% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Wake Technical Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. This large public school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 3,141 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from North Carolina pay an average of $2,768 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wake Technical Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,912. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,857 in student loans. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 94% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Indian River State College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Indian River State College is a fairly large public school located in Fort Pierce, Florida that handed out 2,353 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $2,764 in tuition and fees if they attend Indian River State College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,201. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,642 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #10, Eastern Florida State College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Cocoa, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 2,325 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $2,791 in tuition and fees if they attend EFSC full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $10,976. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,729 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
In 2019-2020 about 93% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Florida SouthWestern State College ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 2,380 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,401 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend FSW. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $12,979. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,085 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 73% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Daytona State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Daytona State College is a fairly large public school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 2,332 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Florida who attend Daytona State College full time pay an average of $3,106 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,994. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,832 in student loans. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 77% took at least some of their classes online.
Polk State College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Polk State is a medium-sized public school situated in Winter Haven, Florida. It awarded 1,758 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $3,366 in tuition and fees if they attend Polk State full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $12,271. On average, associate degree students take out $15,235 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 67% were women.
In 2019-2020 about 90% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Columbia Southern University landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Columbia Southern University is a fairly large private for-profit school situated in Orange Beach, Alabama. It awarded 1,582 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
If you want to attend Columbia Southern University, expect to pay an average of $5,775 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 $20,725 in student loans. Around 30% of those degree recipients were women.
If you are interested in distance education, Columbia Southern University is an excellent choice, since the school is online.
Tidewater Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Tidewater Community College is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,414 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Tidewater Community College is $5,561. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $11,564. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,057 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
Around 96% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #16, Bluegrass Community and Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Bluegrass Community and Technical College is located in Lexington, Kentucky and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,826 associate degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College is $4,568. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,320. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $20,015 in student loans. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 65% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #17, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. This medium-sized public school is located in Perkinston, Mississippi, and it awarded 2,162 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $3,950 in tuition and fees if they attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College full time. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $7,250. Associate Degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College accumulate an average of $13,702 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 63% were women.
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 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Pasco-Hernando State College ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in New Port Richey, Florida, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,468 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Florida pay an average of $3,155 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend PHSC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $12,032. On average, associate degree students take out $15,342 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
In 2019-2020 about 98% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Hinds Community College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Located in Raymond, Mississippi, the fairly large public school handed out 1,789 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Hinds Community College is $3,750. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $6,800. On average, associate degree students take out $21,598 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
Around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Jefferson Community and Technical College landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Jefferson Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Louisville, Kentucky. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,463 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from Kentucky who attend Jefferson Community and Technical College full time pay an average of $4,568 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $15,320. Associate Degree recipients from Jefferson Community and Technical College accumulate an average of $19,839 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 63% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 57% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Liberty University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. It awarded 1,146 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at Liberty University is $16,160. 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 $28,805 in student loans. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 88% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #22, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. CGTC is located in Warner Robins, Georgia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,217 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from Georgia who attend CGTC full time pay an average of $3,042 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $5,442. On average, associate degree students take out $19,777 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 73% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 63% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #23, Holmes Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. Located in Goodman, Mississippi, the small public school handed out 1,196 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Holmes Community College is $3,510. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $6,210. On average, associate degree students take out $13,848 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 70% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Volunteer State Community College landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. This medium-sized public school is located in Gallatin, Tennessee, and it awarded 1,250 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,384 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend VSCC. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,200. Associate Degree recipients from VSCC accumulate an average of $15,586 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Saint Johns River State College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Palatka, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,042 students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at St. Johns River Community College is $2,830. Out-of-state students pay an average of $10,347. On average, associate degree students take out $18,613 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.
To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region of the U.S.
Not only did these schools make the top most popular online 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 most popular online schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Northeast Mississippi Community College | Booneville, MS |
| 50 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Hudson, NC |
| 51 | Florida Gateway College | Lake City, FL |
| 52 | Saint Leo University | Saint Leo, FL |
| 53 | Arkansas State University - Beebe | Beebe, AR |
| 54 | Southern Union State Community College | Wadley, AL |
| 55 | Craven Community College | New Bern, NC |
| 56 | Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta, VA |
| 56 | West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah, KY |
| 58 | New River Community College | Dublin, VA |
| 59 | Vance-Granville Community College | Henderson, NC |
| 60 | Mitchell Community College | Statesville, NC |
| 61 | Randolph Community College | Asheboro, NC |
| 62 | Davidson County Community College | Thomasville, NC |
| 62 | Cleveland State Community College | Cleveland, TN |
| 64 | Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg, VA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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