Find top-ranked online associate degree in education programs to help prepare students on how to manage a classroom and develop lesson plans while also exploring benchmarks of childhood psychology.
The online associate degree in education is an affordable way to get started on a degree in education. Students who earn online associate degrees in education will qualify for a variety of entry level education roles as teaching assistants and care providers in early childhood education settings. The online associate in education program is also a great starting point for students interested in becoming classroom teachers. Earning an online associate in education can help you save money before advancing into a bachelor’s degree program.
Back to TopAn average associate degree program takes 60 credit hours and two years to complete, but this timeline can be accelerated through summer classes or online courses.
Back to TopStudents pursuing the online associate degree program in education will balance general education courses with core courses in teaching and education like curriculum development, pedagogy, educational psychology and more. .
Back to TopEducation associate degree graduates will qualify for a variety of entry level opportunities as teaching assistants, daycare assistants, substitute teachers, and preschool teachers. Students who earn the online associate degree in education will have improved employment prospects relative to those with a high school diploma.
However, many roles in education do require the completion of at least a bachelor’s degree program. Students who pursue bachelor’s degrees in this area will often combine the education major with courses in early childhood education or a related area. And in some states, becoming a tenured public school teacher would require you to earn a master’s degree in education.
Students who plan to become public school teachers will typically advance into bachelor’s programs in specific areas like elementary education, early childhood education, or educational administration. The online associate degree program is an affordable and accessible way to get started on your path to a bachelor’s program in education as well as a great stepping stone for those planning to earn their teaching certification.
Back to TopThe online associate degree in education is respected as long as this associate’s degree has been granted by a fully accredited online program. Prospective students considering an online associate degree program should also understand the difference between online programs with national or regional accreditation. Typically, online associate degree programs with regional accreditation are considered a higher quality. Make sure your online program is accredited by the colleges and schools commission in your region, especially if you plan to continue into a a bachelor’s degree program.
Back to TopLearn more about how to major in education.
An associate degree is a great way for many to start their educational journey, but you may want to also consider an online bachelor’s in education.
The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the U.S.
Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
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$8K
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24%
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7K
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$33K
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89%
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47%
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2K
Median SAT/ACT
1045/20
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$22K
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47%
Graduation
29%
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1K
Median SAT/ACT
995/19
Tuition + fees
$6K
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11%
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13K
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$25K
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78%
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36%
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8K
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$4K
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16%
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19K
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$5K
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18%
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4K
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$10K
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85%
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48%
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16K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/21
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$6K
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22%
Student body
8K
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$4K
Graduation
26%
Student body
11K
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
63%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/22
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
22%
Student body
8K
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
62%
Graduation
53%
Student body
1K
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$2K
Graduation
17%
Student body
11K
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
57%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/21
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
6K
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
22%
Student body
8K
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
54%
Graduation
64%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1220/25
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
26%
Student body
6K
Tuition + fees
$4K
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31%
Student body
4K
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$1K
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25%
Student body
4K
Tuition + fees
$9K
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26%
Student body
7K
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$4K
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23%
Student body
6K
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$5K
Graduation
27%
Student body
4K
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.
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.