Earning a business degree can open the door to a multitude of careers. With so many professions to go into such as management, accounting, and entrepreneurship, it can be difficult to find the right career to pursue. Finding an intriguing profession is hard enough which is why we’re here to help you find the right school to attend.
Below we’ve compiled a list of the top schools to attend while earning an Associate Degree in Business. These schools are the most affordable and designed to help you achieve in such a competitive and growing profession. No matter which school is chosen you’ll learn the basics of business and how to become a strong leader. These programs are great for individuals wanting to start their business careers or individuals wishing to pursue more degrees. Starting your future has never been easier.
Methodology
All schools considered for these rankings
- Are regionally or nationally accredited
- Offer at least one fully online business associate degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
- Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.
Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in July of 2022.
2023 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Associate Degree in Business
| Rank | School | Average Net Price |
| #1 | Washtenaw Community College | $3,624 |
| #2 | Arkansas Northeastern College | $3,648 |
| #3 | Clovis Community College – NM | $4,511 |
| #4 | Western Nebraska Community College | $4,958 |
| #5 | Waubonsee Community College | $5,104 |
| #6 | Carl Albert State College | $5,451 |
| #7 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas | $5,715 |
| #8 | Rappahannock Community College | $5,921 |
| #9 | Cochise College | $6,260 |
| #10 | Highland Community College – KS | $6,435 |
| #11 | Panola College | $6,492 |
| #12 | Bay Mills Community College | $6,955 |
| #13 | Southeast Community College | $7,190 |
| #14 | Atlanta Metropolitan State College | $7,293 |
| #15 | Florida SouthWestern State College | $7,950 |
| #16 | Central Community College | $8,069 |
| #17 | Delgado Community College | $8,311 |
| #18 | Pierce College at Puyallup | $8,939 |
| #19 | Northeast Community College | $9,029 |
| #20 | Georgia State University-Perimeter College | $9,316 |
| #21 | Broward College | $12,351 |
| #22 | Albany State University | $13,520 |
| #23 | Navarro College | $14,373 |
10 Best Affordable Colleges for Online Associate Degree in Business
1. Washtenaw Community College
Average Net Price: $3,624
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Washtenaw Community College (WCC) is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ranked by Niche.com as the 4th best community college in the state of Michigan, this school offers 6 online associate degree programs in business. Students at WCC can earn their Associate’s in Applied Science by completing one of the following programs offered by the school: Accounting, Business Office Administration, Management, Retail Management, or Supply Chain Management. The school also offers transfer students a chance to earn their Associate of Arts in Business Administration. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 60 credits to earn their degree through any of these courses of study.
Students who want to earn their degrees quickly can also take advantage of WCC’s accelerated program to earn their associate degree in business. This fast-paced course of study is rigorous and leads to an Accelerated Associate in Business Degree in just 17 months.
2. Arkansas Northeastern College
Average Net Price: $3,648
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) has four campuses located in Blytheville, Burdette, Osceola, and Paragould. This two-year school offers eleven online associate’s degree programs, including one in the field of business. ANC’s Associate of Science in Business Degree is tailored to students who want to earn an associate degree in business before pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Full-time students can expect to spend two years completing this rigorous, 64-credit hour program.
This is a well-rounded course of study and includes classes in various subjects to adequately prepare students for future academic success. In addition to the usual prerequisite courses in mathematics, science, history, and English, students must take classes in art, world literature, and career enrichment. Other classes in this comprehensive degree program include business calculus, computer fundamentals, communications, principles of accounting, and both macro- and micro-economics.
3. Clovis Community College, New Mexico
Average Net Price: $4,511
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Clovis Community College (CCC) is located in Clovis, New Mexico, and is ranked the fourth-best community college in the state by Niche.com. This junior college offers students the chance to earn a business degree online with their program which leads to an associate’s degree in the field of business administration. This program is open to both new and transfer students and can be completed in four semesters.
CCC’s Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration degree (A.A.S.B.A) for new students is a comprehensive 63-credit program. Students must complete 15 credits in general education, 44 credits in program-related courses, and four additional elective credits to earn their A.A.S.B.A. degree from CCC. Transfer students will need to complete the same classes or transfer eligible completed courses when they choose to finish their A.A.S.B.A. degree at CCC. In order to be courses to be considered for credit, students will need to have completed each class they want to transfer with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
4. Western Nebraska Community College
Average Net Price: $4,958
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC), located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is ranked third among the state’s top community colleges, according to Niche.com. This school has six options for students who want to earn a business associate degree online. Online business degrees offered by WNCC include an Associate of Arts in Business Administration and an Associate of Science in Business Administration. Each of these degrees is available in three specialized fields: accounting, business administration, and management information systems.
WNCC’s comprehensive curriculum includes an internship so that students can gain valuable experience by putting their education to work in a real-world environment. After graduation, students will be qualified to start a rewarding career in areas such as sales management and city administration. The coursework is also carefully designed to enable students to transfer to a four-year university as a junior if they want to further their education by earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration or accounting.
5. Waubonsee Community College
Average Net Price: $5,104
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Waubonsee Community College (WCC) has four campuses in Illinois, one each in the cities of Sugar Grove and Plano. Aurora includes two locations, one Downtown and one in Fox Valley. According to Niche.com, WCC is one of the best community colleges in the state of Illinois. Students at WCC can earn one of five business degrees. One can be completed completely online. This Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration will prepare students for a successful career in management or marketing.
WCC requires 15 general education credits, 33 major program credits, and 12 elective credits in this program. . These classes include Fundamentals of Speech Communication, Technical Writing, Accounting Information Systems, Business Law, Business Ethics, Comprehensive Excel Spreadsheet, Supervisory Management, and more.
6. Carl Albert State College
Average Net Price: $5,451
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Carl Albert State College (CASC) is located in Poteau, Oklahoma. CASC’s Division of Business and Technology offers several paths to students interested in earning an online degree. The online path of study that leads to business associate’s degree is the Associate of Arts in Business Administration. This 62-credit program has three degree emphasis options: Accounting, Business Education, or Organizational Leadership.
These can be finished in as little as two years by taking 15-16 credits per semester. Certain labs do require in-person attendance, so check the class requirements when choosing your emphasis. General education requirements include classes such as English, History, Science, Humanities, etc. CASC designs the required general education classes to be easily transferable to other universities if further education is desired. The emphasis requirements for the Business Administration associate’s degree include classes like Managerial Accounting, Business Math, Fundamentals of Human Geography, Organizational Behavior, and more.
7. Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Average Net Price: $5,715
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (UA Cossatot) is located in De Queen, Arkansas. Rated by Niche.com as the 7th best community colleges in Arkansas, UA Cossatot offers two options for earning a business associate degree. The first option, an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management, is for students who plan to transfer to a four-year school to earn their bachelor’s degree. Students in this course of study will also earn a Technical Certificate in Agriculture, which is embedded in the coursework of this associate’s degree. The emphasis of this certificate is placed on owning and operating your farm/ranch operation.
The second online business program offered by UA Cossatot leads to an Associate of Science in Business. This degree is intended to prepare students for success as they transfer to a public Arkansas four-year university to finish their bachelor’s degree. It is a first step towards completing a baccalaureate degree so students can gain employment in accounting, business administration, marketing, or management positions.
8. Rappahannock Community College
Average Net Price: $5,921
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Rappahannock Community College (RCC) is located in Glenns, Virginia. It began in 1970 and is now a two-year college that is home to 3,082 students. This community college offers students the chance to earn an online business degree with their associate’s degree in business administration. There are two business-related programs offered by RCC. Both can be completed in four semesters.
RCC’s Associate of Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree: Business Administration Specialization program is 60 credits and 2 years long. The focus of this program is students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree in a business-related field. The other program is an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management which requires 65 credits and can be done in 2 years but may take a bit longer. This Business Management program meets the needs of recent high school graduates and seasoned employees who want to add or update their existing business case knowledge, gain new knowledge, or revitalize their skill sets.
9. Cochise College
Average Net Price: $6,260
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Cochise College (CC) has two campuses in Arizona, one located in Douglas and the other in Sierra Vista. This school is considered by Niche.com the 7th best community colleges in the state of Arizona. Students interested in pursuing an online business degree at CC have one option. CC’s Associate of Business in Business Administration is designed to prepare students for their future, whether they want to begin their career immediately after graduation or move on to a four-year school to earn their bachelor’s degree.
This rigorous course of study includes 35-37 general education credits in subjects like English Composition, mathematics, laboratory sciences, and humanities. It also includes 28 credits of core curriculum classes, such as Business Communications, The Legal Environment of Business, and Quantitative Methods in Business. Students will also need to complete electives as needed to finish earning the 63-65 credits required for this associate’s degree.
10. Highland Community College – KS
Average Net Price: $6,435
School Type: Public, Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Highland Community College (HCC) is located in Kansas and provides four campuses; Western-Baileyville, Highland, Atchison, Perry, and Wamego. It is expanding it’s number of locations and its offerings of online classes and degrees. HCC’s main goal is to get students started on their college or technical journey. Students are welcome to complete one course in their journey or all the courses needed to complete their associate’s degrees. Highland Community College’s goals for its students are to provide opportunities for students to earn associate degrees, certifications, and skills so they can achieve personally set goals.
HCC Online is flexible, too, with the option to take one or multiple classes. HCC offers six associate’s degrees fully online. An Associate in Applied Sience in Business and Accounting is the only online degree in business available through HCC Online. This 60-credit program can be completed in around 2 years. Examples of classes for this degree include Personal Finance, Personal Finance, Human Resources, and Microeconomics.
Resources for finding acceptance rates and school rankings:
https://www.niche.com/colleges/washtenaw-community-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/cossatot-community-college-of-the-university-of-arkansas/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/carl-albert-state-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/arkansas-northeastern-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/clovis-community-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/bay-mills-community-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/western-nebraska-community-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/waubonsee-community-college/
https://www.niche.com/colleges/cochise-college/
Resources for online business programs:
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/apacct.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/aabatr.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/apboad.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/apmngd.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/apost.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/aprm.php
https://catalog.wccnet.edu/current/programs/apscm.php
https://www.wccnet.edu/learn/accelerated-associate-in-business.php
https://www.cccua.edu/programs-of-study/online-programs
https://www.carlalbert.edu/casc-online-programs-degrees-and-courses/
https://www.carlalbert.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/AS-Enterprise-Development-676.pdf
https://www.anc.edu/degrees/online/index.htm#Associate_of_Science_-_Business
https://www.anc.edu/docs/degree-plans/2016-2017%20Checksheet%20-%20AS%20Business.pdf
https://www.clovis.edu/business/index.aspx
https://www.clovis.edu/degree-plans/AAS_BusinessAdministration.pdf
https://www.clovis.edu/degree-plans/AS_BusinessAdministration.pdf
https://www.bmcc.edu/about-bmcc
https://www.bmcc.edu/academics/academics/online-learning
https://bmcc.edu/business-administration-program
https://www.atlm.edu/downloads/Student-Guide.pdf
https://www.atlm.edu/downloads/program-maps/AS-Business-Administration-GuidePath-030121.pdf
https://www.atlm.edu/downloads/Academic_Programs/FT%20Program%20Map_with%20CoReq_Business%20Administration.pdf
https://www.atlm.edu/downloads/Academic_Programs/PT%20Program%20Map_No%20CoReq_Business%20Administration.pdf
https://www.atlm.edu/downloads/Academic_Programs/PT%20Program%20Map_with%20CoReq_Business%20Administration.pdf
https://www.wncc.edu/admissions-aid/how-to-apply/online-learning
https://www.wncc.edu/academics/programs-of-study/business-administration
https://www.waubonsee.edu/programs-courses/programs-subject/business/business-administration
https://www.waubonsee.edu/sites/default/files/docs/2019-11/BusinessAATransferPathway%2011-11-19.pdf
https://www.waubonsee.edu/programs-courses/programs-subject/business/business-administration/business-administration
https://www.waubonsee.edu/programs-courses/explore-all-programs?query=&sub=31&type=For%20Credit&loc=&all=false&ncpanel=false
https://www.cochise.edu/academic-programs#1600274005111-a8b85147-783c
http://cochise.smartcatalogiq.com/2020-2021/2020-2021-Catalog/Areas-of-Study/Business/Business-Administration-Associate-of-Business-Major-Code-BUSG
