Best Online Associate in General Studies Programs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.