Why This Matters
-
ASSOCIATE DEGREES ARE REQUIRED FOR NEARLY 50 OCCUPATIONS
From air traffic controller to veterinary technician, there are 49 occupations that typically require an associate degree for entry-level positions.
-
AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IMPROVES YOUR EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
Among those with an associate degree in the United States, the unemployment rate is only 2.7%. That’s compared to 4.0% for those with only a high school diploma and 5.5% for those with less than a high school diploma.
-
EARN $1,005 PER WEEK ON AVERAGE WITH AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Across all occupations, people with an associate degree earn $1,005 per week on average. Compare that to the average of $853 per week for those with only a high school education.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online associate in liberal arts degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online associate in liberal arts degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Liberal Arts degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 57 hours to write this article
- 40 universities and colleges we assessed
- 70 education programs we compared
Best 34 Online Associate in Liberal Arts Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Trinity Valley Community College
Intelligent Score: 98.77In-state: $19,123
Out-of-state: $20,173
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 560 or higher
ACT: 26 or higher
Resident: $39
Non-Resident: $150
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Pamlico Community College
Intelligent Score: 97.65In-state: $20,283
Out-of-state: $24,891
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $76
Non-Resident: $268
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60-61
Colby Community College
Intelligent Score: 96.32In-state: $15,470
Out-of-state: $17,010
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 490 or higher
ACT: 18-20
Thomas County: $127 Kansas: $132 Regional (CO, MO, NE, OK, TX): $152
Out-of-State: $186 International: $212
Online
Higher Learning Commission
62
Valencia College
Intelligent Score: 95.85In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $103
Non-Resident: $390
Online, On-Campus
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Saint Leo University
Intelligent Score: 95.31In-state: $23,990
Out-of-state: $23,990
In-state: $14,568
Out-of-state: $14,568
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$410
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
60
Syracuse University
Intelligent Score: 95.02In-state: $53,432
Out-of-state: $53,432
In-state: $40,392
Out-of-state: $40,392
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$722
Online, On-Campus
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
60
Southern New Hampshire University
Intelligent Score: 94.93In-state: $9,600
Out-of-state: $9,600
In-state: $18,810
Out-of-state: $18,810
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$330
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
University of Delaware
Intelligent Score: 93.75In-state: $12,730
Out-of-state: $34,160
In-state: $34,164
Out-of-state: $34,164
SAT: 1150-1330
ACT: 25-30
Resident: $660
Non-Resident: $693
Online
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
60
Providence College
Intelligent Score: 89.99In-state: $53,440
Out-of-state: $53,440
In-state: $9,750
Out-of-state: $9,750
SAT: 1210-1360
ACT: 27-31
$404
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
Faulkner University
Intelligent Score: 89.75In-state: $21,000
Out-of-state: $21,000
In-state: $10,350
Out-of-state: $10,350
SAT: 1020-1175
ACT: 18-23
$325
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
62
Las Positas College
Intelligent Score: 88.44In-state: $31,264
Out-of-state: $38,272
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
Resident: $46
Non-Resident: $338
Online
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
60
City College of San Francisco
Intelligent Score: 87.71In-state: $27,159
Out-of-state: $37,707
In-state: NA
Out-of-state: NA
SAT: 1304
ACT: 21-23
Resident: $46
Non-Resident: $406
Online
Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
74
Northwest Nazarene University
Intelligent Score: 86.14In-state: $32,130
Out-of-state: $32,130
In-state: $10,836
Out-of-state: $10,836
SAT: 980-1190
ACT: 19-25
$425
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
63
Park University
Intelligent Score: 85.19In-state: $8,251
Out-of-state: $8,251
In-state: $6,224
Out-of-state: $6,224
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$550
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
Amridge University
Intelligent Score: 84.33In-state: $9,000
Out-of-state: $9,000
In-state: $11,700
Out-of-state: $11,700
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$335-$365
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
64
Catholic International University
Intelligent Score: 83.95In-state: $13,165
Out-of-state: NA
In-state: $11,160
Out-of-state: $11,160
SAT: NA
ACT: NA
$345
Online
Higher Learning Commission
60
New England College
Intelligent Score: 83.52In-state: $25,439
Out-of-state: $25,439
In-state: $15,624
Out-of-state: $15,624
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$375
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
Holy Apostles College and Seminary
Intelligent Score: 82.92In-state: $25,600
Out-of-state: $25,600
In-state: $18,433
Out-of-state: $18,433
SAT: 1070
ACT: 24
$390
Online, On-Campus
New England Commission of Higher Education
60
What You Should Know About This Degree
Degrees that are somewhat similar include associate degrees in history, English, and communications. These degrees are all typically considered liberal arts degrees, but they concentrate on a specific topic or niche. A general associate in liberal arts may allow you to spread your classes over more topics.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). These organizations evaluate the faculty and curriculum of postsecondary education institutions to ensure they offer students a high-quality academic experience.
Those who hold an associate degree may be able to get jobs that require more than a high school education. That opens the door to more positions and can potentially improve your job outlook.
No certifications or licensing is linked specifically to this degree. However, you may want to get a certification to demonstrate your skills or knowledge if you’re moving into a specific field.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online associate in liberal arts programs:
- Am I eligible for this program? Most associate degree programs require you to have a high school diploma or GED. They don’t tend to require a certain score on standardized tests or GPA, though in some cases you may need to take a placement test with the school. This helps determine where you should be placed with regard to math and language classes.
- Are courses offered synchronously or asynchronously? Synchronous programs require you to log in during specific class times. You’ll be able to get a more classroom-like experience, interact with others, and ask the teacher questions in a live environment. Asynchronous programs offer more flexibility as you learn at your own pace, but they do typically require self-motivation.
As you’re researching online associate in liberal arts programs, keep track of the information you find. Facts to write down include number of credits required, cost per credit, deadlines for applications, and what you have to do for admissions. You might also want to contact the school’s financial aid office to learn more about your options for paying for your degree.
Compare School Options
Related Degrees
- Sociology
- Communications
- Anthropology
- Environmental Science
- General Studies
- Social Work
- Media Communication
- Writing
- English
- Art and Art History