Community colleges are easy to get into and offer affordable pathways to earning an associate degree, making them a great place to begin your higher education journey.
With an associate degree, you can transfer to a four-year college or pursue a career in your desired field.
Another great thing about community colleges is that many offer plenty of opportunities to learn online, giving you time to manage your other priorities. Explore our ranking of the best online community colleges of the year.
Start Your Associate Degree Journey Today
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Community Colleges of 2025
How to Choose the Best Online Community College for You
Some of the most important factors to consider before you apply to an online community college are tuition rates, program length, and accreditation status. Learn about these factors below.
How Much Does an Online Associate Degree Cost?
Associate Degree Tuition Cost, 2019-2020
Online
$3,323 Avg. Tuition & Fees
$1,869 Avg. Net Price
On-Campus
$3,422 Avg. Tuition & Fees
$1,965 Avg. Net Price
The average cost of tuition for an associate degree is $3,323 for online programs and $3,422 for on-campus programs, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data from 2019-2020.
With financial aid, the average tuition rates for associate degree programs drop to $1,869 for online programs and $1,965 for on-campus programs.
Find Financial Aid for Your Online Community College Degree
How Long Does It Take to Get an Associate Degree?
Typical # of Credits
60 Credits
Typical Program Length
2 Years
Community colleges typically expect students to earn 60 credits over two years to get their associate degrees, whether online or on campus.
For example, online associate degrees at Ivy Tech Community College require 60 credits over two years. Some community colleges, like Lorain County Community College, offer accelerated programs that let you complete your associate program in 15 months.
Accreditation for Online Community Colleges
College accreditation ensures that your community college is legitimate and will provide a quality education. It also allows you to access financial aid and transfer credits to four-year institutions.
Enroll in a community college accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
You can verify your desired schools' accreditation statuses by visiting the above organizations' databases on their websites or the United States Department of Education's database of accredited institutions. Alternatively, you can also contact these schools or search their websites to learn about their accreditation.
Is an Associate Degree Worth It?
An associate degree, particularly one from an online community college, can benefit students who are balancing work or family responsibilities. Compared to traditional degrees, online community colleges typically offer affordable, flexible programs for busy adults.
You can find the return on investment (ROI) of your associate degree by comparing the cost of your degree against how much you expect to earn once you graduate.
Associate degrees typically cost around $3,300 for online programs, according to the NCES. Meanwhile, the average starting annual salary for those with associate degrees in the class of 2023 was $51,108, according to the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE).
Online Community Colleges by State
One of the potential benefits of enrolling in community college online is that you can explore different schools across the nation. This may lead to opportunities you hadn't considered, enabling you to embark on a new adventure.
However, if you do want to attend school closer to home, each state has many community colleges with online offerings.
Browse online community college and trade school programs across the United States:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Community College
Community colleges offer a broad range of two-year academic programs, including associate degrees, which students can use to transfer to four-year universities.
By contrast, technical schools provide career-focused training so you can find immediate employment in a trade or technical field. Your training will relate directly to your future field.
