Best Online Associate in General Studies Programs
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Editor & Writer
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Editor & Writer
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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.
Best Online Associate in General Studies Programs
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Brigham Young University - IdahoLocation
Rexburg, ID
Tuition$7555
Graduation Rate57%
BYU brings more than 130 years of higher education experience to its online programs, offered through the institution's BYU-Pathway Worldwide. Incoming learners seeking two-year degrees can pursue an associate of applied science in professional studies through the BYU network's Idaho branch.
This flexible study path affords students precision control over their own learning, as the program enables learners to customize their degree plans with coursework and topics of their own choosing. Covering a total of 60 credits, the only major academic requirement is certificates. Learners must commit to completing at least one concentrated certificate path, which comprises 12-15 credits.
Subject options cover a variety of generalized topics that build practical skills in demand among employers. As of the 2019-20 academic year, degree-seekers can choose from 27 certificates. In addition to at least one certificate, learners must also complete 18 credits of general education and nine elective credits to qualify for graduation.
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Olney Central CollegeLocation
Olney, IL
Tuition$2522
Graduation Rate56%
Olney Central College is one of four institutions in the Illinois Eastern Community College system. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the system includes more than 26,000 students. Very affordable tuition rates and small class sizes with intimate learning environments define the Illinois Eastern Community College experience, even in its online iterations.
Covering 64 semester credits, Olney Central College's associate in general studies program includes three main components. About one-third of the program comprises general education requirements, shaped by an additional 12 credits of learning in a declared area of concentration. The remaining credits cover electives, which supplement the student's specialized learning.
Olney Central College offers concentrations in seven subject areas: communications, mathematics, sciences, humanities, social sciences, general business, and technical education. The school supports continued education and adult learning: in 2019, 56% of enrolled students were aged 25 or older.
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Ashland UniversityLocation
Ashland, OH
Tuition$20231
Graduation Rate61%
Ohio-based Ashland University began in 1878 and maintains a forward-thinking institutional philosophy that values active faculty participation in students' intellectual and professional development. Learners seeking to advance their academic knowledge or prepare for enrollment in four-year colleges can pursue an associate in general studies degree through the institution's popular online learning platform.
Comprising 60 credits, this online degree path provides students with various choice and customization options. Beyond requirements in communications, written composition, mathematics and logic, and lifetime wellness, the program allows students to select the classes that interest them most.
Regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Ashland University delivers programs through accelerated seven-week terms. Low tuition rates complement a "no registration fees" policy that saves learners hundreds of dollars over the course of the program.
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Chaminade University of HonoluluLocation
Honolulu, HI
Tuition$22913
Graduation Rate59%
Established in 1955 by leading Catholic educators, Chaminade has matured into an acclaimed regional institution. The school has earned extensive media praise and high rankings for its socioeconomic mobility profile, student diversity, overall educational quality, and value.
Learners seeking a broad, generalized education in the arts, humanities, and social sciences can explore options through the school's online associate of arts degree path. Coursework emphasizes the development of strong critical thinking, academic integrity, and leadership skills. Degree-seekers must complete 60 credit-hours to qualify for graduation, with transfer-friendly policies allowing incoming students to earn advanced standing by covering up to three-quarters of those requirements.
Spanning a multidisciplinary array of academic and practical topics, the program supports eventual transition into four-year degrees. Regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges since 1960, Chaminade University of Honolulu also holds specialized endorsements for various behavioral sciences, education, nursing, business and communications, and humanities and fine arts programs.
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Peirce CollegeLocation
Philadelphia, PA
Tuition$6395
Graduation Rate35%
Philadelphia's Peirce College maintains a strong focus on education, specializing in programs designed for mature, career-oriented students. Regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the historic school has cultivated a prominent reputation for its cooperative community efforts to bring valuable educational opportunities to busy working parents.
The school's online associate of arts in general studies program offers a strong educational base to learners seeking a generalized, customizable introduction to higher learning. Designed to track learners into careers and four-year degree paths, the entirely online program includes 61 credits. Local degree-seekers can also opt for a hybrid format that combines virtual and physical classrooms.
The curriculum emphasizes multiple academic subjects and perspectives. Students can build their own degree plans, drawing on courses in a variety of liberal arts, humanities, mathematics, physical sciences, and technology disciplines. Core requirements cover classes in computer software, communications, English composition, research skills, ethics, math, and sciences, creating a versatile base for continued learning.
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Southern New Hampshire UniversityLocation
Manchester, NH
Tuition$39071
Graduation Rate54%
SNHU balances outstanding affordability with world-class educational standards. Tuition rates for the school's online programs rank among the lowest in the U.S., with armed forces members and their spouses qualifying for generous additional discounts of 30%.
Configured as a private, nonprofit institution with regional accreditation, SNHU features an online associate of arts in liberal arts studies intended for learners who want to pursue higher education but have not yet chosen a specific interest in a specialized degree path. Comprising 60 credits, the program emphasizes essential topics, including English composition and perspective-based courses that cover surveys of specific disciplines in the social sciences, physical sciences, liberal arts, and humanities.
Learning outcomes emphasize tangible hard and soft skills, including strong cultural analysis capabilities along with qualitative and quantitative analysis proficiencies. Students also develop valuable research skills that prepare them for academic success in four-year programs and beyond.
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Utah State UniversityLocation
Logan, UT
Tuition$12738
Graduation Rate50%
Founded in 1888, USU has grown from a small regional college into a major research institute with an international footprint. In 2017, Washington Monthly magazine ranked USU as the fifth-best public university in the United States.
Learners seeking introductory transitions into the world of higher education enjoy flexible and varied study options at USU. The school's entirely online general studies associate programs include paths that lead to associate of arts and associate of science degrees. Both pathways enable students to personalize their learning programs by integrating multidisciplinary course options.
Both the AA and AS programs include 60 credits of degree requirements, which cover both general education and concentrated study components. To qualify for graduation, learners must complete at least 20 credits at USU and maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA.
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Holmes Community CollegeLocation
Goodman, MS
Tuition$5723
Graduation Rate35%
Goodman, Mississippi's Holmes Community College understands that many students want the benefits of higher education credentials but have not yet fully committed to a particular academic discipline or career path. The school's online associate of arts in general college studies was purpose-built for learners in such situations.
This degree plan familiarizes students with a variety of topics through general, introductory courses in a broad cross-section of liberal arts and humanities disciplines. The college's structure makes it an ideal alternative to the standard procedure of declaring a major, and learners pursue coursework that represents the equivalent of a four-year degree's electives requirements. This enables graduates to earn advanced standing in a bachelor's program if they choose to pursue the credential.
Holmes Community College holds full regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school maintains a 100% acceptance rate policy, guaranteeing admission to any applicant meeting basic eligibility standards.
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Amarillo CollegeLocation
Amarillo, TX
Tuition$5670
Graduation Rate31%
Headquartered in Texas, Amarillo College holds the distinction of being the first community college in the Un.S. to embrace the "no excuses" learning outcome policy. Initially embraced by charter schools, this learning model emphasizes high levels of achievement in mathematics and language proficiency, ensuring students emerge with an education that exceeds basic national standards.
AC's online associate of science in general studies helps fill the gap for students who cannot find programs that conform to their individual career development needs or academic interests. With the assistance of dedicated advisors, degree-seekers form tailor-made degree plans covering a standard 60 credits.
Students' freedom to forge their own way remains rooted in a structured approach that includes credit requirements in several critical areas. General education essentials include courses in communications, mathematics, life and physical sciences, cultural studies, creative arts, civics, social sciences, and history. This guarantees that graduates matriculate with a well-rounded knowledge base that supports academic and professional success in their future endeavors.
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Keiser UniversityLocation
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tuition$27649
Graduation Rate69%
Keiser ranks as Florida's third-largest nonprofit higher education institution, with 21 campuses and 20,000 students enrolled statewide. Regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Keiser earned international acclaim and high regional rankings for military friendliness and overall quality.
Online learners can improve their academic credentials by pursuing an entirely online general studies program leading to an associate of arts degree. By design, the study path exposes students to a wealth of academic disciplines, seeking to cultivate curiosity and guide students to explore growing interests.
Degree requirements cover 60 credits, with mandatory classes in behavioral or social sciences, communications, computer science, economics, English composition, mathematics, natural sciences, and humanities or fine arts. These multidisciplinary courses complement a general studies major, including 24 credits in a student's chosen field.
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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
Is an associate degree in general studies worth it?
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.
How fast can I get an associate in general studies degree online?
It may be possible to finish your associate degree in as little as a year by taking an accelerated program. Arkansas State University, for example, offers an accelerated online general studies associate degree with seven-week courses. Students who start in the summer term can finish in the summer term the following year, taking one year and five weeks to complete the degree program.
Taking an accelerated program will keep you busy. You'll need to dedicate most of your time to your studies in order to fit the same amount of material into a shorter time frame.
Is an online associate degree in general studies credible?
Yes, an online associate in general studies is credible as long as the school is accredited. Accreditation shows that the school meets accepted standards for its programs and curricula. Regional accreditation is very important. Credits from regionally accredited schools can usually be transferred if you decide you want to change schools.
Ultimately, the school provides credibility through its reputation. If the school you attend is respected and accredited, your degree will be credible.