Why This Matters

  • DEVELOP BUSINESS SKILLS IN OVER 10 AREAS

    As an introductory-level degree, an associate’s program will provide foundational coursework in multiple business areas, including accounting, management, business ethics, and computer programs like QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel.

  • JOB GROWTH IN BUSINESS TO RISE 10% BY 2026

    Thanks to globalization, a growing economy, the development of new marketing strategies, and changes in tax regulations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the U.S. will add about 773,800 new business jobs within the next seven years.

  • YOU COULD SAVE $6,570 PER YEAR ON TUITION

    Many community colleges offer associate’s degrees. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, average annual tuition at a public community college is $3,660, compared to $10,230 per year at a public four-year university.

Our Research

The different types of associate’s degrees are Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science. Our list includes all three types; the degree that works best for you will depend on your educational and career goals.

All of the listed programs have regional accreditation. Attending a regionally accredited school for an associate’s degree is important if you plan to transfer your credits to a bachelor’s program at a four-year institution. These schools will typically only accept transfer credits from regionally accredited schools.

We also included programs that have special business accreditations, such as the AACSB, the ACBSP, and the IACBE.

Once we narrowed our list of programs, we evaluated each of them based on reputation, cost, course strength, and flexibility. We then calculated the Intelligent Score of each degree on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 81 hours to write this article
  • 224 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 417 education programs we compared

The Top 67 Online Associate in Administration and Management Degree Programs

Best Online Associate in Business Administration Degree Programs
01
Intelligent Pick
College of Southern Maryland
01
Best Advisors
Northeast Iowa Community College
01
Most Affordable
Luna Community College
01
Best Community College
Des Moines Area Community College
01
Most Transfer-Friendly
Delgado Community College
01
Best Social Responsibility Focus
University of Arkansas Grantham
01
Best for Business Ethics
Toccoa Falls College
01
Best for Veterans
Pennsylvania State University
01
Best Associate of Business Admin Degree
Southern Maine Community College
01
Best Associate of Science Degree
Bryan College
01
Best for Adult Learners
Thomas Edison State University
01
Best Associate of Arts Degree
Northeast Community College
01
Best Associate of Applied Science Degree
Albany Technical College
01
Best Christ-Centered Curriculum
Belhaven University
01
Most Military Friendly
Excelsior University
01
Best for Experiential Learning
Chaminade University of Honolulu
01
Best Military College
Georgia Military College
01
Best Catholic University
Saint Leo University
01
Best Public University
St. Petersburg College
01
Best in the South
South Texas College
01
Best Christian University
Liberty University
01
Best in the Southeast
Prince George's Community College
01
Best Certificate Availability
Florida State College at Jacksonville
01
Best for Small Class Sizes
Broward College
01
Liberal Arts Emphasis
University of the Cumberlands
01
Best in the Northeast
Cambridge College
01
Best Accelerated Program
Gwynedd Mercy University
01
Best Aviation Business Focus
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
01
Best Private University
McKendree University
01
Best Faith-Based Institution
Campbellsville University
01
Best Liberal Arts University
Drury University
01
Best in the Midwest
Lake Superior College
01
Best Concentration Options
Averett University
01
Good Value
Georgia State University
01
Best in the West
California Coast University
01
Most Diverse Curriculums
American Public University
01
Low Tuition
Washtenaw Community College
01
Best Entrepreneurship Focus
Foothill College
01
Comprehensive Curriculum
Tulsa Community College
01
Most Transfer-Friendly
Illinois Central College
01
Best Technology Institute
Colorado Technical University
01
Best Online University
Southern New Hampshire University
01
Accounting Emphasis
Santa Barbara Business College
01
Low Tuition
Crowder College
01
Best Optionality
Genesee Community College
01
Best for Accelerated Courses
Immaculata University
01
Best Scholarships
Eastern Oklahoma State College
01
Most Flexible Completion Options
Southeast Technical College
01
Best Skills-Based Curriculum
Quinsigamond Community College
01
Best for Multiple Start Dates
American Intercontinental University
01
Best Transfer Planning Assistance
Cayuga Community College
01
Workforce Preparation Focus
Middlesex Community College
01
Most Specialization Options
Seminole State College of Florida
01
Student Recommended
Bay Mills Community College
01
Best Holistic Perspective
Franklin University
01
Best Management Emphasis
Indiana Tech
01
Best Career Services
SUNY Ulster
01
Best Faith-Based Curriculum
Colorado Christian University
01
Business Fundamentals Focus
New England College
01
Best Interdisciplinary Curriculum
Rogers State University
01
Global Economy Emphasis
Strayer University
01
Most Flexible
Medaille College
01
Best Liberal Arts Emphasis
Florida Institute of Technology
01
Personal Success Coach
University of Toledo
01
Most Flexible Pacing
Fulton-Montgomery Community College
01
Best for Multiple Concentration Options
Del Mar College
01
Best for Adult Learners
Saint Joseph's University
01
Simple Enrollment Process
Tabor College
01
Most Flexible Classes
Delaware Valley University

What You Should Know About This Degree

Associate’s degrees are typically designed for individuals who have no prior post-secondary educational experience. As such, the coursework is a combination of general education subjects like English composition, science, and math as well as foundational classes in your major area of focus.

An associate’s degree will prepare you for entry-level jobs in business, but it is not meant to take the place of a bachelor’s degree, which you may need to advance in your career or obtain higher-level jobs. Earning an associate’s degree before you enter a bachelor’s program can save you time and money, as you can transfer the credits you earned in your associate’s program to your bachelor’s program. Just be aware that there is likely additional college education in your future after getting an associate’s degree.

All of the coursework for our listed programs can be completed online, but some of them offer elective internships that require in-person attendance. Check in with your program of interest to find out what their internship requirements are, and make sure you can fit them into your schedule.

Business administration is a broad field, but some programs focus on a particular area of business, like entrepreneurship or aviation business administration. Your career goals will determine whether you want to enter a broad or focused program.

What’s Next?

Here are some questions to ask when researching Associate in Business Administration programs:

  • Does this program offer the specialization that I want? There are many areas of focus within business administration, including management, accounting, and information technology. If you are considering a career in one of these areas, you should find a program that offers a specialization in that topic.
  • Does this school have articulation agreements with four-year universities? If you are planning to transfer your credits to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree, you should find out if the school granting your associate’s degree has an articulation agreement with other schools. Transferring between schools with articulation agreements can make the process easier and faster, and it will guarantee that your credits will transfer.

As part of your research process, you should also check out the school’s admissions requirements and deadlines as well as their financial aid options. This information is typically available on the school’s website, or you can contact an admissions representative directly.