Best Online Associate in Finance
Find top-ranked online associate in finance degree programs to prepare students to pursue entry-level positions as financial or accounting clerks, billing specialists, bookkeepers, and credit counselors.
Top 10 Online Associate in Finance Degrees
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Davenport University
- Wilmington University
- Middle Georgia State University
- Harper College
- Volunteer State Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- St. Petersburg College
- Anne Arundel Community College
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Anne Arundel Community College
- St. Petersburg College
- Wilmington University
- Hinds Community College
- Middle Georgia State University
- Rockland Community College
- Davenport University
- Harper College
- Volunteer State Community College 24 to 1
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
- St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
- Nash Community College 20 to 1
- Cleveland State Community College 20 to 1
- Rockland Community College 19 to 1
- Middle Georgia State University 18 to 1
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
- University of Cincinnati 18 to 1
- Wake Technical Community College 18 to 1
- Davenport University $22,244
- Wilmington University $12,030
- University of Cincinnati $10,656
- Harper College $9,372
- Prairie State College $8,610
- Anne Arundel Community College $7,920
- University of Alaska Fairbanks $7,659
- Rockland Community College $5,212
- Roane State Community College $4,414
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
- Davenport University $17,262
- University of Cincinnati $13,224
- University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,535
- Wilmington University $9,216
- Middle Georgia State University $3,582
- Wilson Community College
- Johnston Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Hinds Community College
- Nash Community College
- Rockland Community College
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Cleveland State Community College
- Nash Community College
- Wilson Community College
- Johnston Community College
- Fayetteville Technical Community College
- Central Carolina Community College
- Cleveland State Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Prairie State College
- Wilson Community College 8 to 1
- Prairie State College 10 to 1
- University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
- Wayne Community College 12 to 1
- Wilmington University 12 to 1
- Central Carolina Community College 12 to 1
- Hinds Community College 13 to 1
- Pitt Community College 15 to 1
- Johnston Community College 15 to 1
- Anne Arundel Community College 16 to 1
- Pitt Community College $1,824
- St. Petersburg College $1,943
- Wayne Community College $2,432
- Fayetteville Technical Community College $2,432
- Wake Technical Community College $2,432
- Central Carolina Community College $2,432
- Johnston Community College $2,432
- Nash Community College $2,600
- Wilson Community College $2,736
- Middle Georgia State University $3,144
- Middle Georgia State University $3,582
- Wilmington University $9,216
- University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,535
- University of Cincinnati $13,224
- Davenport University $17,262
Key Takeaways
- The associate degree in finance 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 finance.
- Earning an online associate degree in finance can prepare you for a variety of entry level jobs in your field. Many students also continue into a bachelor’s degree program in finance or a related area.
Featured Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Finance Degrees
Why get an associate in finance?
The online associate degree in finance is an excellent starting point both for prospective students with an interest in the financial sector and for working professionals hoping to advance their foundational business education. Many community colleges offer both in-person and online associate degree programs in finance.
The online finance associate degree is a particularly good option for those who are already working in the financial sector but who wish to balance the pursuit of an associate program with existing workplace responsibilities.
At the associate degree level, finance students often have the option to earn either an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science in Finance either online or in person.
What will I learn while getting an associate in finance?
Students completing the online finance associate degree will typically take both general education courses and core courses in finance such as financial markets, financial accounting, managerial accounting, financial planning, and financial analysis. The typical online associates program in finance will provide students with core skills like how to navigate financial markets, how to read and produce financial statements, and how to remain in compliance with financial regulations.
Most students can complete the 60-credit associate degree in finance program in about two years.
What can I do with an associate in finance?
This balance of topics makes the online finance associate degree a great fit for students seeking entry level opportunities as administrative assistants in corporate finance and financial planning as well as in clerical support roles for financial analysts. In order to become a certified financial planner or financial analyst, you would likely need to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related area. Online finance degree programs at the associate level can provide an affordable starting point for your college education on the way to a four-year degree.
Prospective students who plan to transition into a bachelor’s degree program in finance, business administration or a related area should pay close attention to the accreditation status of their their online associate degree. Getting a finance associate degree online is a great option as long as it has received accreditation from the colleges and schools commission in your region. Any online associate finance programs you’re considering should have this stamp of approval if you hope to transfer into an accredited four-year college.
Students interested in working in international finance should also look for finance degree programs with recognition from an international accreditation council.
The associate degree could also be a great starting point on your way to a four-year program and a bachelor’s degree in finance or a related subject area.
Learn more about how to major in finance.
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 finance.
25 Best Online Associate in Finance Degree Programs
- #10 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers 2025 #2 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2025 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2025 #3 Best Grad Schools in Ohio 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
72%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1260/26
Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Cincinnati
Cost of Degree: $12,906Expenses: $19,772Starting Salary: $51,686Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAB in Financial Management Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Grad School in Alaska 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Alaska 2024 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Alaska 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
39%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks
Cost of Degree: $10,016Expenses: $16,700Starting Salary: $46,902Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAB in Applied Business
Concentrations
- Administrative Management
- Computer Applications
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Health Care Management
- Human Resources
- Management
- Marketing
- Public Management
- Recreation and Guiding Management
- Tourism
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: undefined
- #2 Best Online Associate in Human Resources #3 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Michigan #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2024 #14 Best Online Colleges in Michigan 2024
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
50%
Student body
7K
Online Degrees
ABA in Finance
- Required Credits: 65
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Private Colleges in Delaware 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Delaware 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Delaware 2025 #3 Best Research Universities in Delaware 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Graduation
20%
Student body
19K
Online Degrees
AS in Finance
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2024 #5 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025 #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Georgia #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2025
Tuition + fees
$4K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
24%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1025/19
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Middle Georgia State University
Cost of Degree: $4,432Expenses: $17,243Starting Salary: $36,398Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AS in Technology
Concentrations
- Financial Technology (Fintech)
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Community Colleges in Illinois 2024 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Illinois 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #7 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
44%
Student body
21K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Harper College
Cost of Degree: $9,990Starting Salary: $44,302Online Degrees
AAS in Financial Management
- Required Credits: 61
- Completion time: 2 Years
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Community Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Tennessee 2024 #6 Best Online Associate in Sociology #7 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
23%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Volunteer State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,524Starting Salary: $36,191Online Degrees
AS in Finance
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Online Associate in Human Resources #14 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025 #20 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
33%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Central Carolina Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,554Starting Salary: $28,911Online Degrees
AS in Accounting & Finance,
- Required Credits: 68
- Completion time: 2 Years
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #2 Best Online Associate in Web Design #3 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Florida 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
38%
Student body
33K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at St. Petersburg College
Cost of Degree: $2,682Starting Salary: $38,166Online Degrees
AS in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Financial Services
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 50 Best Community Colleges for Future Success in 2025 #1 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in English 2025 #1 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
27%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Anne Arundel Community College
Cost of Degree: $8,186Starting Salary: $43,886Online Degrees
AAS in Business Management
Concentrations
- Financial Accounting
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Accredited Online Trade Schools for Vocational Skills #3 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #3 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs #4 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
31%
Student body
30K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Wake Technical Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,336Starting Salary: $36,398Online Degrees
AAS in Accounting and Finance
- Required Credits: 68
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #4 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #5 Best Online Associate in Game Development #5 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
42%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,656Starting Salary: $32,655Online Degrees
AAS in Administrative Office Technology
Concentrations
- Administrative Management
- Financial Assistant
- Legal Administrative
- Required Credits: 60-61
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
16%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Prairie State College
Cost of Degree: $9,342Starting Salary: $34,631Online Degrees
AAS in Associate Of Applied Science
Concentrations
- Introduction To Business
- Business Mathematics
- Professionalism In The Workplace
- Human Relations
- Business Communications
- Financial Accounting
- Individual Income Tax
- Business Ethics
- Business Law And It’s Legal Environment
- Principles Of Management
- Human Resources Management
- Required Credits: 62-63
- Completion time: 1-2 Years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
33%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Roane State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,762Starting Salary: $33,903Online Degrees
AAS in Financial Services
- Required Credits: 63
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Community Colleges in Tennessee 2025 #6 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in Tennessee 2024 #16 Best Online Associate in Political Science 2025
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
29%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Cleveland State Community College
Cost of Degree: $4,530Starting Salary: $33,383Online Degrees
AS in Business
Concentrations
- Finance
- Required Credits: 60-62
- Completion time: 24 months
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Community Colleges in Kentucky 2025 #3 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #5 Best Online Associate in Graphic Design 2025 #5 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism
Tuition + fees
$5K
Graduation
35%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Cost of Degree: $4,706Starting Salary: $30,991Online Degrees
AAS in Administrative Office Technology
Concentrations
- Administrative Management
- Desktop Publishing
- Financial Assistant
- Legal Administrative
- Required Credits: 60-61
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #11 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025 #14 Best Online Associate in Software Development #15 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship
Tuition + fees
$2K
Graduation
28%
Student body
11K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Pitt Community College
Cost of Degree: $1,970Starting Salary: $31,823Online Degrees
AAS in Office Administration
Concentrations
- Office Finance
- Required Credits: 70
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #8 Best Accredited Online Trade Schools for Vocational Skills #5 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #6 Best Online Associate in Hospitality and Tourism #13 Most Affordable Online Associate Degree Programs Ranked for 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
16%
Student body
13K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Fayetteville Technical Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,628Starting Salary: $31,927Online Degrees
ACC in Accounting & Finance
- Required Credits: 66
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AA in Office Administration
Concentrations
- Finance
- Required Credits: 66
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs #14 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025 #16 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #21 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
30%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Rockland Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,401Starting Salary: $44,614Online Degrees
AAS in Finance
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
AS in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Finance
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion time: 2-3 years
- Format: Online
- #4 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #6 Best Online Associate in Web Design #19 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs #22 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
40%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Nash Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,883Starting Salary: $29,951Online Degrees
AA in Accounting and Finance
- Required Credits: 70
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Community Colleges in Mississippi 2025 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Mississippi 2025 #9 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity #10 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies
Tuition + fees
$4K
Graduation
32%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Hinds Community College
Cost of Degree: $3,825Expenses: $9,224Starting Salary: $32,135Cost Recoup Time: 5 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
AAS in Banking & Finance
- Required Credits: 66
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #7 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
49%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Wayne Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,524Starting Salary: $31,407Online Degrees
AAS in Accounting And Finance
- Required Credits: 67
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #18 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2025 #19 Best Online Associate in Information Technology #23 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina 2024
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
47%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Johnston Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,657Starting Salary: $33,279Online Degrees
AA in Accounting And Finance
- Required Credits: 63-64
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
23%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Finance degree at Wilson Community College
Cost of Degree: $2,572Starting Salary: $27,871Online Degrees
AA in Accounting & Finance
- Required Credits: 68-69
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Finance Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolFinance
Degree Level: Associate's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $5,849
- Avg. Expenses*: $14,281
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $40,070
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 6 years
- Job Growth: 7.69%
- Number of Jobs: 6,304,000
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Chief Executives | 5.48% | $206,680 |
Financial Managers | 16.51% | $156,100 |
Financial Risk Specialists | 8.35% | $106,090 |
General and Operations Managers | 5.80% | $101,280 |
Personal Financial Advisors | 17.10% | $99,580 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Chief Executives | $206,680 |
Financial Managers | $156,100 |
Financial Risk Specialists | $106,090 |
Online Finance and Accounting Programs Looking for You
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.