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Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee

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2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee

19 Schools Ranked
$14,135 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$22,061 Avg Student Debt

A student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. As online education opportunities 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. Also there are many trade schools and bootcamps that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This report analyzed 19 schools in Tennessee 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.

Learn more about these popular schools with online programs:

#1

Volunteer State Community College

Gallatin, Tennessee
1,250 Total Awards
$4,384 Average Tuition & Fees
$15,586 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Volunteer State Community College to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a associate degree in Tennessee. Volunteer State Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Gallatin, Tennessee that handed out 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. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,200. On average, associate degree students take out $15,586 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 98% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Volunteer State Community College Report

#2

South College

Knoxville, Tennessee
945 Total Awards
$17,335 Average Tuition & Fees
$28,086 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 945 students in 2020-2021.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $17,335 to cover tuition and fees at South College. 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 $28,086 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 87% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 89% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#3

Cleveland State Community College

Cleveland, Tennessee
453 Total Awards
$4,400 Average Tuition & Fees
$16,157 Avg Student Debt

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Cleveland State Community College is a great place for students working on their associate degree. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, the small public school awarded 453 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.

Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,400 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cleveland State Community College. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $17,216. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,157 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 53% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Cleveland State Community College

#4

Strayer University - Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee
71 Total Awards
$13,515 Average Tuition & Fees
$30,752 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Strayer University - Tennessee. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the small private for-profit school awarded 71 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees at Strayer University - Tennessee is $13,515. 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 $30,752 in student loans. Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.

Since Strayer University - Tennessee 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.

Full Strayer University - Tennessee Report

#5

Walters State Community College

Morristown, Tennessee
945 Total Awards
$4,399 Average Tuition & Fees
$10,502 Avg Student Debt

You’ll be in good company if you attend Walters State Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Located in Morristown, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school handed out 945 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.

The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WSCC is $4,399. Out-of-state students pay an average of $17,215. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $10,502 in student loans. Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.

To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 61% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Walters State Community College

#6

Union University

Jackson, Tennessee
53 Total Awards
$16,520 Average Tuition & Fees

Union University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

If you want to attend Union, expect to pay an average of $16,520 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 34% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Union University

35 Total Awards
$19,878 Avg Student Debt

Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the very small private for-profit school handed out 35 associate degree awards in 2020-2021.

Associate Degree recipients from Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting accumulate an average of $19,878 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 71% of those degree recipients were women.

Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting is one of the schools on our list that is primarily online. Each undergraduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read More…

#8

Bethel University

McKenzie, Tennessee
98 Total Awards
$13,981 Average Tuition & Fees

Bethel University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Bethel is a small private not-for-profit school situated in McKenzie, Tennessee. It awarded 98 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $13,981 to cover tuition and fees at Bethel. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.

Around 38% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#9

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
46 Total Awards
$26,898 Average Tuition & Fees

Trevecca Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 46 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $26,898 to cover tuition and fees at TNU. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Of those students who received their degree, 72% were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Trevecca Nazarene University Report

#10

Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga, Tennessee
1,147 Total Awards
$4,430 Average Tuition & Fees
$18,949 Avg Student Debt

Chattanooga State Community College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. Chattanooga State Community College is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,147 associate degrees to qualified students.

In-state students pay an average of $4,430 in tuition and fees if they attend Chattanooga State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $16,934. Associate Degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College accumulate an average of $18,949 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 65% were women.

Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#11

King University

Bristol, Tennessee
13 Total Awards
$32,838 Average Tuition & Fees
$27,039 Avg Student Debt

King University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #11 on the list. King is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bristol, Tennessee. It awarded 13 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

King does not offer a discount to in-state students, so the average tuition and fees for all undergraduates is $32,838. 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 $27,039 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 77% were women.

In 2019-2020 about 83% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full King University Report

#11

Motlow State Community College

Tullahoma, Tennessee
1,113 Total Awards
$4,416 Average Tuition & Fees
$9,423 Avg Student Debt

Motlow State Community 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 #11 on the list. Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,113 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.

Full-time students from Tennessee pay an average of $4,416 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Motlow. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $17,232. Associate Degree recipients from Motlow accumulate an average of $9,423 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 68% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 78% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Motlow State Community College Report

#13

Miller-Motte College Chattanooga

Chattanooga, Tennessee
30 Total Awards
$32,431 Avg Student Debt

Miller-Motte College Chattanooga came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. Miller-Motte College Chattanooga is a small private for-profit school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 30 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

On average, associate degree students take out $32,431 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.

Around 30% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Miller-Motte College Chattanooga Report

6 Total Awards
$6,610 Average Tuition & Fees

Huntington University of Health Sciences landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. HUHS is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and has a very small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 associate degrees to qualified students.

The average tuition and fees at HUHS is $6,610. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 83% were women.

Since HUHS 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.

Full Huntington University of Health Sciences Report

#15

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee
2 Total Awards

Freed-Hardeman University landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular associate degree programs. FHU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 50% of those degree recipients were women.

In 2019-2020 about 16% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#16

Williamson Christian College

Franklin, Tennessee
1 Total Awards
$14,755 Average Tuition & Fees

Williamson Christian College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee list. Williamson Christian College is a very small private not-for-profit school located in Franklin, Tennessee that handed out 1 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

If you want to attend WCC, expect to pay an average of $14,755 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. Of those students who received their degree, 100% were women.

Read full report on Williamson Christian College

#17

Welch College

Gallatin, Tennessee
16 Total Awards

With a ranking of #17, Welch College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their associate degree. This very small private not-for-profit school is located in Gallatin, Tennessee, and it awarded 16 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 94% of those degree recipients were women.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 15% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on Welch College

#17

Lane College

Jackson, Tennessee
2 Total Awards
$11,790 Average Tuition & Fees

Lane College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools in Tennessee ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and it awarded 2 associate degrees in 2020-2021.

If you don’t receive financial aid, you can expect a bill for $11,790 to cover tuition and fees at Lane College. The school does not offer an in-state discount. Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.

Lane College is primarily an online school, so it is a great choice for returning adults and students who work full time.

Read More…

#17

Lipscomb University

Nashville, Tennessee
$35,752 Average Tuition & Fees

Lipscomb University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get an associate degree. It came in at #17 on the list.

If you want to attend Lipscomb, expect to pay an average of $35,752 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid.

During the 2019-2020 year, about 52% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Full Lipscomb University Report

View Most Popular Online Associate Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 19 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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