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Perhaps you’re someone who begins with the end in mind. You’ve got your vision—a corner office, or your own business, or a stable career in a field like marketing or human resources. You just aren’t sure how to get there.
If you’re looking to take the first step in your business career, an associate degree in business management might be the right fit. These programs are broad in nature, often including courses in various business subfields to prepare you for either entry-level careers or further specialization in a bachelor’s or an M.B.A. program.
We’ve researched and ranked the 10 best online associate programs in business management. Keep reading to learn more.
Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.
We ranked 515 accredited, nonprofit colleges offering online associate degrees in business management in the U.S. using 13 data points in the categories of credibility, affordability, student outcomes and student experience. We pulled data for these categories from reliable resources such as the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; private, third-party data sources; and individual school and program websites. Data is accurate as of February 2024.
We chose the 10 best schools to display based on those receiving a curved final score of 94% or higher.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial credit and much more by clicking ‘Visit Site’
Located in the town of Moorefield, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College reaches students around the nation thanks to its online programs, which include an Associate of Applied Science in business management. The program’s 60-credit curriculum includes foundational coursework in macroeconomics, marketing, accounting and management.
The program requires two years of full-time study. During their final semester, students complete either a capstone course or an internship in the field. Distance learners can also enroll part time.
Headquartered in Sanford, Florida, Seminole State College offers an online Associate of Science in entrepreneurship and business that requires 60 credits. The curriculum includes core courses in business finance, entrepreneurship, computer applications, and opportunity analysis and franchising. Distance learners can complete the degree without ever visiting campus in Sanford.
Seminole State delivers the majority of its online coursework asynchronously for maximum flexibility. The majority of the college’s Associate of Science programs maintain job placement rates above 90%.
Located next to the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, State Fair Community College (SFCC) partnered with local businesses to design the curriculum for its online Associate of Applied Science in business management. The 61-credit curriculum includes core courses in financial accounting, personal finance, management, customer service and human relations. Students have the option to complete a two-month internship during the program.
SFCC delivers the majority of its online coursework asynchronously through Canvas.
Based in Roseburg, Oregon, Umpqua Community College (UCC) features an online Associate of Applied Science in business management that full-time students can complete in two years. The curriculum includes coursework in small business management, social media marketing, business leadership and management fundamentals.
UCC delivers online coursework asynchronously to maximize flexibility. The college offers several scholarship and grant opportunities to ease the financial burden on incoming students.
Based in Calais, Maine, Washington County Community College offers an online Associate of Applied Science in business management that requires 61 credits. The program’s curriculum covers international business, accounting, management and macroeconomics, among other fields. During their final semester, all students complete a business cooperative internship.
The program is designed to help graduates thrive in Maine’s economy, which largely centers around small businesses.
Headquartered in Fulton, Mississippi—with additional campuses in Tupelo and Belden—Itawamba Community College (ICC) delivers an online associate degree in business and marketing management that full-time students can complete within two years, or four semesters.
The program’s 61-credit curriculum does not include any in-person requirements. The degree delves into advertising, entrepreneurship, human resources management and retail management.
ICC delivers most online coursework asynchronously through the Canvas platform. After graduating, students can transfer their credits to an online bachelor’s degree in business. Recommended schools include Mississippi State University and Blue Mountain Christian University.
Headquartered in Las Cruces, Doña Ana Community College (DACC) is a branch of New Mexico State University. DACC features an online Associate of Applied Science in business management with a few options for concentrations. Full-time students can generally complete the degree in two years, or four semesters. The curriculum includes foundational coursework in the legal environment of business, business ethics, finance and economics.
During their final semester, all learners complete an internship and an applied capstone course that incorporates case studies, simulations and projects.
Based in Oroville, California, Butte College offers an online Associate of Science in business management that requires between 60 and 71 credits. Students can complete the program in four terms, or around two years, and the curriculum includes coursework in management, human resources, marketing, business law and entrepreneurship. The degree does not include any in-person requirements.
Butte College is free for certain in-state learners who qualify for the Promise Scholarship.
Located in Largo, Maryland, Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides a 60-credit Associate of Applied Science in business management. The curriculum covers strategic management, managing workplace diversity, accounting, small business management and business law. Students have the option to complete an internship or take two QuickBooks courses.
Graduates can transfer into four-year business programs at state schools throughout Maryland. All students gain access to a career coach during their time at PGCC.
Based in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, with additional outreach centers throughout the area, Nicolet College features an online Associate of Applied Science in business management that provides eight start dates throughout the year. The program’s 60-credit curriculum includes courses in entrepreneurship fundamentals and professional career management. All students also complete an internship.
Nicolet College delivers online coursework asynchronously to offer maximum flexibility for working students.
While there are many benefits to distance learning, online college may not suit all types of students. To see if online college is right for you, ask yourself a few important questions:
There are two important types of college accreditation: institutional and programmatic.
Institutional accreditation applies to an entire school and speaks to the quality of its finances, faculty, and student outcomes and services. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) oversee the accrediting agencies that vet schools.
You should enroll only at institutionally accredited colleges. Otherwise, you will be ineligible for federal financial aid, and employers and other higher learning institutions may not recognize your degree as valid. You can check a school’s accreditation status on its website or through the directory on CHEA’s website.
Programmatic accreditation provides a similar vetting service, but in specific disciplines. Its importance varies by field, but programmatic accreditation is fairly important in business. For an associate degree in business management, keep an eye out for accreditation from one of three organizations:
While AACSB is not recognized by the ED or CHEA, it remains one of the most prominent professional organizations.
An online associate degree in business management can lead directly to entry-level roles in business fields like marketing, human resources and finance. If you aspire to more advanced roles, you should take a few factors into consideration when choosing your associate program.
If you want to continue on to a four-year business program—and maybe even an M.B.A. degree—you should investigate community colleges with transfer pathways to four-year universities. In general, credits from Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees are more transferable than college credits from Associate of Applied Science programs, but this is not always the case.
Moreover, if you eventually want to work in a specific business field, you should investigate programs that include internship opportunities. By completing an internship in your desired subfield, you’ll gain work experience and build connections with potential employers.
Per-credit tuition rates for the 10 programs in our guide range from $77 to $176. Extrapolated over a typical 60-credit associate degree, these rates translate to approximately $4,600 to $10,560 in total tuition costs. Keep in mind that these are typically in-district or in-state tuition rates, and you will likely have to pay higher rates if you live out of state.
As a point of comparison, the National Center for Education Statistics found that during the 2022–23 academic year, public, two-year universities charged an average annual tuition rate of $3,598, which translates to around $7,200 for a two-year associate degree.
Submit the FAFSA to ensure your eligibility for federal student aid opportunities like loans, grants and scholarships. Your college might offer financial aid as well, and you can also pursue scholarships and grants through third-party organizations like nonprofits.
It depends on your goals and circumstances, but in most cases, an associate degree in business management is worthwhile because it can provide diverse career options. Degree holders can pursue four-year bachelor’s programs in business or entry-level roles in the field.
An associate degree in business management is usually called exactly that. You might earn this degree as an Associate of Science or an Associate of Applied Science. On occasion, you may encounter Associate of Business Administration programs, which involve similar coursework and requirements.
An associate degree in business administration or management is often a solid option. This degree is broad enough to familiarize you with multiple business subfields, allowing you to further specialize in a bachelor’s or M.B.A. program.
Yes, you can! Full-time students generally complete associate degrees in two years.
Mikeie Reiland is a writer who has written features for Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other publications. He received a James Beard nomination for a feature he wrote in 2023.
