Best Online Associate in Anthropology
Find top-ranked online associate in anthropology degree programs to prepare students to begin work as museum employees, assistant social workers, and market researchers.
The Top Online Associate in Anthropology Degrees
- Community College of Denver
- Sacramento City College
- Front Range Community College
- Community College of Aurora
- Saddleback College
- College of Southern Idaho
- Pima Community College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Paradise Valley Community College
- Blinn College
- Sacramento City College
- Blinn College
- Community College of Denver
- Saddleback College
- Pima Community College
- Front Range Community College
- College of Southern Idaho
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Community College of Aurora
- Truckee Meadows Community College
- Blinn College 35 to 1
- Sacramento City College 25 to 1
- Saddleback College 24 to 1
- Cerro Coso Community College 23 to 1
- College of Southern Idaho 22 to 1
- Front Range Community College 21 to 1
- Community College of Denver 20 to 1
- Pima Community College 19 to 1
- Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1
- Kishwaukee College 17 to 1
- Kishwaukee College $8,820
- Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
- College of Southern Idaho $4,560
- Community College of Denver $3,754
- Community College of Aurora $3,754
- Front Range Community College $3,754
- Blinn College $3,600
- Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862
- Pima Community College $2,136
- Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
- Lake Tahoe Community College
- Kishwaukee College
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Truckee Meadows Community College
- Blinn College
- Paradise Valley Community College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Pima Community College
- College of Southern Idaho
- Saddleback College
- Cerro Coso Community College
- Lake Tahoe Community College
- Kishwaukee College
- Paradise Valley Community College
- Truckee Meadows Community College
- Community College of Aurora
- Community College of Baltimore County
- College of Southern Idaho
- Front Range Community College
- Pima Community College
- Paradise Valley Community College 11 to 1
- Community College of Aurora 13 to 1
- Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
- Kishwaukee College 17 to 1
- Lake Tahoe Community College 17 to 1
- Truckee Meadows Community College 18 to 1
- Pima Community College 19 to 1
- Community College of Denver 20 to 1
- Front Range Community College 21 to 1
- College of Southern Idaho 22 to 1
- Lake Tahoe Community College $1,116
- Saddleback College $1,288
- Cerro Coso Community College $1,380
- Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
- Pima Community College $2,136
- Truckee Meadows Community College $2,862
- Blinn College $3,600
- Community College of Denver $3,754
- Community College of Aurora $3,754
- Front Range Community College $3,754
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in anthropology is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.
- Many community colleges and two-year schools offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in anthropology.
- Earning an online associate degree in anthropology can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in anthropology or a related area.
Featured Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Anthropology Degrees
If you are fascinated by human history, enjoy scientific inquiry, and wish to learn more about the civilizations that came before us, an associate degree in anthropology could set you on the path to a fulfilling career. Completing an online anthropology degree program can also be an affordable way to earn your associate degree before advancing into a bachelor’s in anthropology degree program.
Back to TopStudents pursuing the associate anthropology degree typically have the option of earning an Associate of Science in Anthropology or an Associate of Arts in Anthropology. Students typically have the option of earning their anthropology degree in person or by completing an online anthropology degree program.
Back to TopEarning an associate anthropology degree typically requires the completion of 60 credits, which takes about two years.
Back to TopEarning an anthropology degree at the associate level will usually require you to complete both General Education courses and social sciences courses on topics like linguistics, archaeology, human culture, human evolution and more. You may also be able to pursue a degree with a focus in an area like physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, or biological anthropology.
Back to TopUpon graduation, students will be ready to begin work as museum employees, as market researchers, and in a variety of human services roles. Associates in anthropology will also have the foundational knowledge and credentials needed to pursue a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. This is important because many roles in the anthropology field require a bachelor’s in anthropology. Some roles in research and education may even require you to earn a master’s degree in anthropology. Fortunately, it is possible to complete an accredited online bachelor’s degree program and even earn a graduate degre online.
Back to TopLearn more about How to Major in Anthropology.
Best Online Associate in Anthropology Degree Programs
- #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2025 #10 Best Public Colleges in Colorado 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs #2 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Online Associate in Philosophy
- #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025
- #2 Best Online Associate in Biology
- #4 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #6 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #8 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #8 Best Online Associate in Education
- #9 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
- #16 Best Online Associate in Psychology
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
18%
Student body
10K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology Designation
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #5 Best Community Colleges in California 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in English 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
26%
Student body
29K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Community Colleges in Colorado 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Philosophy
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #6 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
- #7 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #11 Best Online Associate in Education
- #13 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #20 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #25 Best Online Associate in Psychology
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
27%
Student body
27K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Colorado 2025 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Economics #6 Best Online Associate in Biology
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
25%
Student body
11K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Associate in Software Development #2 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #2 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
Other Rankings
- #4 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
- #5 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
- #7 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #12 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #14 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
- #18 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #18 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #20 Best Online Associate in Sociology
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
46%
Student body
29K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
Concentrations
- Transfer option
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Idaho 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Idaho 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Biology
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025
- #7 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
- #8 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
- #9 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #11 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #11 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #13 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs
- #14 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #14 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #18 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #22 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
- #23 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #25 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #25 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
31%
Student body
14K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Community Colleges in Arizona 2025 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Arizona 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in Biology #4 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
- #8 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #9 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #9 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #12 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #13 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Education
- #17 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #17 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #18 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
18%
Student body
32K
Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- General
- Administration of Justice
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Communication
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- English
- Ethnic
- Gender and Transborder Studies
- Fashion Design
- History
- Political Science
- Social Services
- Sociology
- Translation and Interpretation Studies
- Required Credits: 60-64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2024 #3 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2025
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Online Associate in Human Services
- #7 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #12 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #13 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #15 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #16 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #16 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #16 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #18 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #21 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #21 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #22 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #9 Fastest Accelerated Online Associate's of Counseling Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
23K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Arizona 2025 #9 Best Online Associate in Philosophy #9 Best Online Associate in Game Development #9 Best Online Associate in Biology
Other Rankings
- #10 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
- #12 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025
- #12 Best Online Associate in Web Design
- #13 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #17 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
- #17 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #21 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
- #24 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
13%
Student body
9K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60-64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #22 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #3 Best Community Colleges in Texas 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in American Sign Language (ASL) Degree Programs #1 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design 2025
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #2 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #3 Best Online Associate in Criminal Justice
- #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024
- #4 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
- #5 Best Online Associate in Education
- #5 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #6 Best Online Associate in English 2025
- #6 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #7 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #8 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs 2025
- #8 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
- #10 Best Online Associate in Philosophy
- #13 Best Online Associate in Accounting 2025
- #15 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #22 Best Online Associate in Business Administration
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
10%
Student body
33K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Nevada #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Nevada 2025 #4 Best Online Colleges in Nevada 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
26%
Student body
13K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #16 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025 #19 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025 #23 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity #25 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
29%
Student body
8K
Online Degrees
AA-T in Anthropology
Concentrations
- Transfer
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Online Associate in Philosophy #10 Best Online Associate in Biology #13 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #15 Best Online Associate Degrees in Illinois 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
36%
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
AA or AS in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #15 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025 #18 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025 #24 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
34%
Student body
6K
Online Degrees
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Anthropology Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolAnthropology
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $1,691
- Avg. Expenses*: $15,268
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $29,534
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 7 years
- Job Growth: 5.74%
- Number of Jobs: 1,297,500
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Managers, All Other | 5.75% | $133,560 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 11.46% | $100,890 |
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 3.17% | $93,650 |
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 4.08% | $86,030 |
Forensic Science Technicians | 13.98% | $64,940 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $100,890 |
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | $93,650 |
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.