Best Online Associate in General Science

BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN GENERAL SCIENCES
By Dr. Jed Macosko and James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Find top-ranked online associate in general science degree programs to prepare students to further their education in related undergraduate programs or enter the workforce as community health workers and science technicians.

Top 10 Online Associate in General Science Degrees

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  1. Rochester Institute of Technology
  2. University of Alaska Fairbanks
  3. City College of San Francisco
  4. Santa Barbara City College
  5. Albany State University
  6. University of Alaska Southeast
  7. Northern Virginia Community College
  8. Montgomery College
  9. Empire State University
  10. Pima Community College
  1. Alliance University 100%
  2. Lewis–Clark State College 100%
  3. University of the Cumberlands 85%
  4. Albany State University 73%
  5. Rochester Institute of Technology 71%
  6. University of Alaska Fairbanks 65%
  7. University of Alaska Southeast 56%
  1. Northern Virginia Community College 28 to 1
  2. Saddleback College 27 to 1
  3. Santa Barbara City College 25 to 1
  4. Allan Hancock College 22 to 1
  5. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 22 to 1
  6. City College of San Francisco 22 to 1
  7. College of Southern Idaho 21 to 1
  8. Monterey Peninsula College 21 to 1
  9. University of the Cumberlands 20 to 1
  10. Albany State University 19 to 1
  1. Rochester Institute of Technology $52,756
  2. Alliance University $26,500
  3. University of the Cumberlands $9,875
  4. Montgomery College $8,070
  5. Northwestern Michigan College $7,488
  6. University of Alaska Fairbanks $7,296
  7. University of Alaska Southeast $7,121
  8. Empire State University $7,070
  9. Lewis–Clark State College $6,982
  10. Jackson College $5,700
  1. Rochester Institute of Technology $52,092
  2. Alliance University $14,000
  3. Empire State University $11,310
  4. University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,265
  5. University of Alaska Southeast $10,876
  6. Lewis–Clark State College $4,500
  7. University of the Cumberlands $4,282
  8. Albany State University $3,438
  1. Virginia Peninsula Community College
  2. Paradise Valley Community College
  3. Cape Fear Community College
  4. Alliance University
  5. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
  6. Lewis–Clark State College
  7. College of Southern Idaho
  8. Bluegrass Community and Technical College
  9. Monterey Peninsula College
  10. Trinity Valley Community College
  1. University of Alaska Southeast 56%
  2. University of Alaska Fairbanks 65%
  3. Rochester Institute of Technology 71%
  4. Albany State University 73%
  5. University of the Cumberlands 85%
  6. Alliance University 100%
  7. Lewis–Clark State College 100%
  1. University of Alaska Southeast 10 to 1
  2. University of Alaska Fairbanks 11 to 1
  3. Rochester Institute of Technology 13 to 1
  4. Paradise Valley Community College 13 to 1
  5. Northwestern Michigan College 14 to 1
  6. Cape Fear Community College 14 to 1
  7. Trinity Valley Community College 15 to 1
  8. Lewis–Clark State College 15 to 1
  9. Jackson College 15 to 1
  10. Alliance University 16 to 1
  1. Allan Hancock College $1,104
  2. Santa Barbara City College $1,104
  3. Monterey Peninsula College $1,104
  4. Trinity Valley Community College $1,170
  5. Saddleback College $1,288
  6. Paradise Valley Community College $2,040
  7. Pima Community College $2,088
  8. Cape Fear Community College $2,432
  9. Albany State University $4,064
  10. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,296
  1. Albany State University $3,438
  2. University of the Cumberlands $4,282
  3. Lewis–Clark State College $4,500
  4. University of Alaska Southeast $10,876
  5. University of Alaska Fairbanks $11,265
  6. Empire State University $11,310
  7. Alliance University $14,000
  8. Rochester Institute of Technology $52,092

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About General Science Degrees

Why get an associate degree?

An associate degree is a great alternative to a four-year bachelor’s degree. An associate degree can be earned in half the time and can help to advance your career and boost your earning potential.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), earning an associate degree can increase your salary by more than $8000 over someone who has a high school diploma alone.

And the cost of an associate degree is around $3500 per year, while the average tuition for a bachelor’s degree at a public college or university sits at around $9000 per year.

However, if you want to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree can also be a great stepping stone towards earning that next degree.

In fact, many community colleges have transfer agreements with nearby public and state colleges that make the prospect of continuing on towards a four-year degree as painless as possible.

Why get an associate degree in general science?

Pursuing an associate degree in general science can be an affordable way to earn the perquisite courses needed for a higher level bachelor’s degree and can lead to careers in the science, healthcare, and education fields.

Associate degree programs in general science are typically offered at a community college and are available both online and in person, making it easier for students to earn the roughly 60 credits needed for graduation.

If you are interested in an online degree that focuses on the health sciences, check out the Best Online Associate in Health Sciencedegree programs.

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What kinds of topics will the courses cover while getting an associate degree in general science?

Courses typically cover topics like biology, math, chemistry, environmental science, and physics. Many associate degree programs in general science will also include lab work. Students will also investigate scientific methods, research practices, and theories.

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What can I do with an associate degree in general science?

Students who graduate with an associate degree in general science will be prepared to further their education in related bachelor’s degree programs or enter the workforce as community health workers and science technicians.

Are you looking for an associate degree in general studies? Check out our look at the Best Online Associate Degrees for General Studies.

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Best Online Associate in General Science Degree Programs

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Occupational Health and Safety Technicians in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary
43420Forest and Conservation Technicians
55420Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
57560Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
66850Forensic Science Technicians
78740Occupational Health and Safety Specialists

Best Online Associate in General Science Degree Programs

  2. #2

    University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Fairbanks , AK
    #1 Best Grad School in Alaska 2023 #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #1 Best Colleges in Alaska 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Alaska 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    65%

    Graduation

    38%

    Student body

    4K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1160/22

    Online Degrees

    AS in Associate of Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  13. #11

    Allan Hancock College

    Santa Maria , CA
    #3 Best Online Associate in Mathematics #10 Best Online Associate in Sociology #11 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2023 #15 Best Online Associate in English
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $1K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    6K

    Online Degrees

    AA in Liberal Arts

    Concentrations

    • Mathematics & Science
    • Social & Behavioral Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  15. #13

    Jackson College

    Jackson , MI
    #9 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #12 Best Online Associate in Business Management #12 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    15%

    Student body

    2K

    Online Degrees

    AAS in Allied Health

    Concentrations

    • Health Management
    • Science
    • Psychology / Human Behavior
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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  16. #14

    Northwestern Michigan College

    Traverse City , MI
    #9 Best Online Associate Degrees in Michigan 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    23%

    Student body

    2K

    Online Degrees

    ASA in Science and Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  19. #16

    Cape Fear Community College

    Wilmington , NC
    #9 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina 2023 #6 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in North Carolina 2023 #12 Best Online Associate in Emergency Management

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    27%

    Student body

    6K

    Online Degrees

    AS-Transfer in Associate in Science
    • Required Credits: 34
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  25. #21

    Monterey Peninsula College

    Monterey , CA
    #13 Best Online Associate Degrees in California 2023 #14 Best Online Associate in Economics #19 Best Online Associate in Communications

    Tuition + fees

    $1K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    4K

    Online Degrees

    AA in General Studies

    Concentrations

    • Natural Science
    • Social Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  28. #24

    Virginia Peninsula Community College

    Hampton , VA
    #4 Best Community Colleges in Virginia 2023 #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2023 #13 Best Online Associate in Fire Science Degree Programs #17 Best Online Associate in Health Science Degree Programs

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    4K

    Online Degrees

    AS in Science
    • Required Credits: 60-63
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Sciences
    • Required Credits: 66
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  29. #25

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg , KY
    #6 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2023 #6 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2023 #6 Best Research Universities in Kentucky 2023 #7 Best Private Colleges in Kentucky 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    85%

    Graduation

    48%

    Student body

    16K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1035/21

    Online Degrees

    Associate in Applied Science
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in General Studies

    Concentrations

    • Business
    • Health and Fitness
    • Behavioral Sciences
    • Information Science and Technology
    • Education
    • Media Studies
    • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Christian Studies
    • STEM
    • Healthcare
    • Required Credits: 24
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
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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.

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