Best Online Associate in English 2025
Find top-ranked online associate in english degree programs to help students get on the right pathway toward a career in writing, teaching, film, communications, or journalism.
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in English 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 English.
- Earning an online associate degree in English can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in English or a related area.
Top 10 Online English Associate Degrees in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online English associate degrees saw a considerable amount of change. Blinn College gained the most ranking positions as the college has enhanced its online Associate of Arts in English program to better serve students. The program now offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in British, American, and World Literature, providing a well-rounded foundation in English studies.
Additionally, Blinn has expanded its online course offerings, allowing students to complete the degree entirely online, providing greater flexibility for those balancing work and personal commitments. The college also offers academic support services, including online tutoring and writing center assistance, to help students succeed in their courses.
Featured Programs
Best Online Associate in English Degree Programs
- #3 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
27%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for English degree at Anne Arundel Community College
Cost of Degree: $8,186Starting Salary: $24,172Salary after 4 years: $31,605Online Degrees
AA in English Arts And Sciences
Concentrations
- Transfer
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #6 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #5 Best Community Colleges in California 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
26%
Student body
29K
Career Outlook for English degree at Sacramento City College
Cost of Degree: $1,288Starting Salary: $23,313Salary after 4 years: $30,482Online Degrees
AS in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Small Colleges in Missouri 2025 #6 Best Christian Colleges in Missouri 2024 #8 Best Private Colleges in Missouri 2025 #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Missouri 2025
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
52%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/20
Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #25 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Religious Studies Degrees 2025 #4 Best Online Bachelor's in Religious Studies Degree Programs for 2024 #5 Best Online Associate in Biblical Studies #6 Best Online Bachelor’s of Counseling Degree Programs for 2025
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
42%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1018/19
Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 61
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #19 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Virginia 2025 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2024 #5 Best Online Associate in Communications
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
35%
Student body
69K
Career Outlook for English degree at Northern Virginia Community College
Cost of Degree: $5,703Starting Salary: $27,036Salary after 4 years: $35,350Online Degrees
AA in Liberal Arts
Concentrations
- English
- Required Credits: 60-62
- Completion time: 2 years
- 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
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
10%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for English degree at Blinn College
Cost of Degree: $6,350Expenses: $18,274Starting Salary: $25,489Salary after 4 years: $33,328Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nevada 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Nevada 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
17%
Student body
40K
Career Outlook for English degree at College of Southern Nevada
Cost of Degree: $4,110Starting Salary: $21,423Salary after 4 years: $28,010Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Colorado 2025 #10 Best Public Colleges in Colorado 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #1 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
18%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for English degree at Community College of Denver
Cost of Degree: $4,902Starting Salary: $20,850Salary after 4 years: $27,261Online Degrees
AA in English Literature Emphasis
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- 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
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
46%
Student body
29K
Career Outlook for English degree at Saddleback College
Cost of Degree: $1,432Starting Salary: $26,349Salary after 4 years: $34,451Online Degrees
AA in English
Concentrations
- Transfer
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2024 #8 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
29%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for English degree at Brookdale Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,056Starting Salary: $22,740Salary after 4 years: $29,733Online Degrees
AA in English Humanities
- 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
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
18%
Student body
32K
Career Outlook for English degree at Pima Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,370Starting Salary: $20,048Salary after 4 years: $26,213Online Degrees
Associate in Arts
Concentrations
- Early Childhood Studies
- English
- History
- Elementary Education
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
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
- #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Pennsylvania 2024 #10 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025 #12 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
54%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1104/25
Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 62-64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
16%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for English degree at Del Mar College
Cost of Degree: $4,940Starting Salary: $21,766Salary after 4 years: $28,460Online Degrees
AA in English with Emphasis in Literature
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Online Associate in Economics #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024 #11 Best Online Associate's in History Degrees 2025 #18 Best Online Associate in Education
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
21%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for English degree at Tyler Junior College
Cost of Degree: $4,056Expenses: $16,224Starting Salary: $21,251Salary after 4 years: $27,786Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- 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
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
23K
Career Outlook for English degree at Community College of Baltimore County
Cost of Degree: $6,918Starting Salary: $22,167Salary after 4 years: $28,984Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Community Colleges in Colorado 2025 #2 Best Online Associate in French Degree Programs #3 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
27%
Student body
27K
Career Outlook for English degree at Front Range Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,740Starting Salary: $23,256Salary after 4 years: $30,407Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 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
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
31%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for English degree at College of Southern Idaho
Cost of Degree: $4,560Expenses: $11,188Starting Salary: $19,303Salary after 4 years: $25,239Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2025 #10 Best Online Associate in Sociology #15 Best Online Associate's in General Science 2025 #17 Best Online Associate in Mathematics 2025
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
29%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for English degree at Allan Hancock College
Cost of Degree: $1,146Starting Salary: $20,334Salary after 4 years: $26,587Online Degrees
AA in English
Concentrations
- Transfer
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Communications #8 Best Online Associate Degrees in Pennsylvania 2024 #11 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
25%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for English degree at Bucks County Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,184Starting Salary: $24,229Salary after 4 years: $31,680Online Degrees
AA in English
Concentrations
- Writing Emphasis
- Secondary Education Emphasis
- Women’s Studies Emphasis
- Required Credits: 61
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Colorado 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Anthropology #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Economics
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
25%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for English degree at Community College of Aurora
Cost of Degree: $4,030Starting Salary: $21,995Salary after 4 years: $28,759Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #15 Best Online MBA Programs in Tennessee #15 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee 2024 #16 Best Online Associate Degrees in Tennessee 2024 #23 Best Online Master's Programs in Tennessee 2024
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
34%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/19
Online Degrees
AA in General Studies
Concentrations
- Communication
- English
- K-12 Education
- History
- Religious Studie
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Online Associate in Philosophy #10 Best Online Associate in Biology #13 Best Online Associate's in Physics 2025 #13 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
36%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for English degree at Kishwaukee College
Cost of Degree: $9,390Starting Salary: $22,053Salary after 4 years: $28,834Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in English
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
31%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for English degree at West Virginia Northern Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,544Starting Salary: $17,298Salary after 4 years: $22,618Online Degrees
AA in English/Humanities
- Required Credits: 60-61
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
33%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for English degree at Sussex County Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,272Starting Salary: $21,594Salary after 4 years: $28,235Online Degrees
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with English Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolEnglish Language And Literature
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $21,666
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $28,329
- * denotes ‘annually’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 1.14% | $78,130 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | -0.64% | $65,220 |
Proofreaders and Copy Markers | -2.99% | $48,790 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,130 |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $65,220 |
Proofreaders and Copy Markers | $48,790 |
Frequently Asked Questions About English Degrees
Students who earn an associate in English degree program will develop a wide range of valuable workplace skills including critical thinking, comparative analysis, and mastery of English language in both written and spoken word. The associate degree program can prepare students for a wide range of jobs in education, marketing, journalism, digital media development, and more.
Back to TopThe English degree program at the community college level typically requires the completion of 60 credit degrees. Most students can earn this associate of arts in about two years. Prospective students may be able to choose from both on-campus and online English degree programs.
Back to TopStudents earning the online English degree will take both general education courses and core courses in subjects like world literature, technical writing, and literary analysis. For those who hope to move on to a bachelor’s degree program after graduation, many schools also offer an associate transfer English degree, which makes for an easier transition into an accredited liberal arts degree program.
Back to TopWhile most tend to connect an English degree path with becoming a writer or teacher, it should also be noted that pursuing an associate degree in English can be the first step toward a career in film, communications, or journalism.
Back to TopLearn more about how to major in english.
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 English.
Did you know that an associate degree in English can be a good stepping stone into a career in linguistics. Find out what you can do with a linguistics degree.
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.