Best Online Associate in Psychology

BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN PSYCHOLOGY
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Find top-ranked online associate in psychology degree programs for students as a stepping stone into a bachelor’s degree program in psychology or those wanting entry-level positions, like social and human services assistants, psychiatric technicians, and counselor aides.

Key Takeaways

  • Psychology associate’s degrees can lead to career opportunities in psychiatry, corrections, and social work.
  • In basic psychology general education courses , psychology students learn psychology’s history, terms, theories, and current practices, such as general psychology, statistics, and child psychology.
  • The online associate degree in psychology might be a good fit for you if you enjoy problem-solving and have excellent communication skills, patience, and listening abilities.

Top 10 Online Associate in Psychology Degrees

Sort by:
  1. Liberty University
  2. Regent University
  3. Park University
  4. Upper Iowa University
  5. New England College
  6. Albany State University
  7. Community College of Denver
  8. Drury University
  9. Camden County College
  10. Brookdale Community College
  1. New England College 100%
  2. Liberty University 99%
  3. University of the Cumberlands 85%
  4. Johnson University 81%
  5. Albany State University 73%
  6. Fisher College 72%
  7. North Greenville University 70%
  8. Upper Iowa University 65%
  9. Drury University 65%
  10. Point University 47%
  1. Coastline Community College 31 to 1
  2. Rowan College at Burlington County 24 to 1
  3. Brookdale Community College 22 to 1
  4. University of the Cumberlands 20 to 1
  5. Camden County College 20 to 1
  6. Community College of Denver 19 to 1
  7. Regent University 19 to 1
  8. Albany State University 19 to 1
  9. Bristol Community College 18 to 1
  10. Niagara County Community College 18 to 1
  1. New England College $40,642
  2. Upper Iowa University $33,609
  3. Fisher College $33,500
  4. Drury University $32,430
  5. Liberty University $22,713
  6. North Greenville University $22,470
  7. Point University $21,850
  8. Johnson University $19,274
  9. Regent University $18,820
  10. Colorado Christian University $17,476
  1. Fisher College $26,712
  2. Upper Iowa University $19,685
  3. Point University $16,200
  4. Regent University $15,590
  5. New England College $14,568
  6. Colorado Christian University $13,474
  7. North Greenville University $11,880
  8. Johnson University $9,285
  9. Liberty University $7,847
  10. Drury University $7,587
  1. Laramie County Community College
  2. Bristol Community College
  3. Point University
  4. Rowan College at Burlington County
  5. Johnson University
  6. Community College of Baltimore County
  7. Niagara County Community College
  8. SUNY Adirondack
  9. Coastline Community College
  10. Anne Arundel Community College
  1. Regent University 41%
  2. Point University 47%
  3. Drury University 65%
  4. Upper Iowa University 65%
  5. North Greenville University 70%
  6. Fisher College 72%
  7. Albany State University 73%
  8. Johnson University 81%
  9. University of the Cumberlands 85%
  10. Liberty University 99%
  1. Johnson University 8 to 1
  2. Fisher College 11 to 1
  3. Upper Iowa University 11 to 1
  4. New England College 13 to 1
  5. Point University 13 to 1
  6. Drury University 13 to 1
  7. Laramie County Community College 14 to 1
  8. North Greenville University 14 to 1
  9. Park University 15 to 1
  10. SUNY Adirondack 15 to 1
  1. Bristol Community College $576
  2. Coastline Community College $1,104
  3. Camden County College $2,856
  4. Laramie County Community College $3,150
  5. Community College of Denver $3,680
  6. Front Range Community College $3,680
  7. Rowan College at Burlington County $3,806
  8. Albany State University $4,064
  9. Niagara County Community College $4,752
  10. SUNY Adirondack $4,944
  1. Albany State University $3,438
  2. University of the Cumberlands $4,282
  3. Park University $6,435
  4. Drury University $7,587
  5. Liberty University $7,847
  6. Johnson University $9,285
  7. North Greenville University $11,880
  8. Colorado Christian University $13,474
  9. New England College $14,568
  10. Regent University $15,590

Featured Programs

Job Outlook for Psychologists with an Online Associate Degree in Psychology

Psychology offers a wide range of career opportunities, whether you’re a college student or a seasoned professional looking for a change. A wide range of jobs is available to you based on your chosen career path.

A psychologist may help someone through a difficult time in their life. Others may also conduct the study of human behavior. You’ll be able to use your online associate degree in various ways, no matter what drew you to this field. Whether you’re an extrovert who loves to talk to as many people as possible or an introvert who prefers to speak to fewer people, you’ll find the perfect fit for this career path.

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Careers Worth Pursuing with an Online Associate Degree in Psychology

It is possible to pursue a number of career paths with an online associate’s degree in psychology program. The psychology field offers a wide array of career options, including positions with hospitals, police, correctional facilities, schools, universities, and local, state, and federal governments.

Online associate degree programs qualify students for jobs in psychology working with the public or conducting research at universities, depending your career trajectory. Consider the following career opportunities that await you as you graduate with an online associate in psychology:

Psychiatric Technician

In hospitals, mental health facilities, and substance abuse centers, psychiatric technicians help care for people with disabilities and mental illnesses. Medication administration, therapeutic activities, bathing and feeding patients, and monitoring their vital signs are among their duties. A psychiatrist’s technician serves as the patient’s advocate and as a liaison with the doctor.

Social Service Assistant

Social services assistants develop treatment plans with clients and other professionals or help clients with daily activities like eating and bathing, among other duties. Supporting patients and clients in applying for benefits like food stamps and medical aid are also some of the functions of social service assistants. They ensure that clients are receiving and using qualified services by performing check-ins with them.

Home Care Aide

In the United States, the market for home health care is booming. Many people are undergoing significant health and rehabilitation at home due to an aging population and skyrocketing healthcare costs. Assisting them with everything from grocery shopping to dressings is the job of a home care aide. As a home care aide, you can assist someone with disabilities, independence loss, and other problems that arise when they are homebound or disabled.

Family Advocate

Family advocates foster and strengthen well-being by providing and coordinating services and activities. Among families, staff, and community members, they serve as a liaison. In mediating disputes, they have knowledge of parental rights and work in the interests of minors or dependent children. In order to make recommendations regarding guardianship and care for families, these professionals evaluate their circumstances.

Youth Counselor

The role of counselors is to provide emotional, mental, and behavioral support to adolescents. Teenagers experiencing substance abuse or disabilities may also need the help of youth counselors. Typically, a childcare worker’s duties include interacting with and supervising children and teenagers to help them solve problems and meet their needs.

The Future of a Career in Psychology

Psychology’s future is hard to predict, but since mental issues are on the rise, it’s without question that societies will need these professionals more so in the future. As a result of the internet, technology, and the increasing popularity of mental health, psychology is undergoing rapid change. In addition to improving mental well-being, psychology provides skills and knowledge that are useful in a wide range of situations, and it contributes to public discourse on issues such as human behavior and intelligence.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that psychology careers are plentiful. People can receive help with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, among other conditions. Research and teaching are also available at colleges and universities. Online Psychology associate programs are a good springboard for entry into the field

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Degrees

Why get an associate in psychology?

An associate in psychology could be your first step toward a fascinating career spent studying human behavior and the human mind. Programs will provide general education and introductory psychology courses, such as Behavioral Psychology, Relational Psychology, Human Growth and Development, and Abnormal Psychology. Prospective students can choose from either online or on-campus degree programs.

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How long does it take to get an associate in psychology?

Most associate in psychology degrees require a minimum of 60 credits, which typically takes two years to complete.

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What can you do with an associate in psychology?

Many careers in psychology require at least a four-year degree, which means many students view this as a stepping stone into a bachelor’s degree program in psychology. However, associates can qualify for entry-level positions, like social and human services assistants, psychiatric technicians, and counselor aides.

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Learn more about how to major in psychology.

Best Online Associate's in Psychology

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary
82770School Psychologists
96260Sociologists
98010Psychologists, All Other
99640Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
113320Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
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Best Online Associate in Psychology Degree Programs

  1. #1

    Park University

    Parkville , MO
    #20 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2023 #1 Best Online Associate in Building and Construction Degree Programs #3 Top 10 Best Online MBA in Economics Degree Programs Ranked in 2023 #4 Best Online Associate Degrees in Missouri 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $12K

    Graduation

    24%

    Student body

    7K

    Online Degrees

    AS in Social Psychology
    • Required Credits: 27
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  3. #3

    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 Psychology
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  4. #4

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg , VA
    #4 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #8 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #13 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #2 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $23K

    Acceptance

    99%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    79K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1145/25

    Online Degrees

    AA in Psychology-Christian Counseling
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 1.5 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 1.5 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  5. #5

    Regent University

    Virginia Beach , VA
    #13 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2023 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2023 #5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 2023 #9 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $19K

    Acceptance

    41%

    Graduation

    62%

    Student body

    7K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1080/25

    Online Degrees

    AS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  11. #10

    Niagara County Community College

    Sanborn , NY
    #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in New York 2023 #10 Best Online Associate in Human Services

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    3K

    Online Degrees

    AS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 63
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  21. #18

    SUNY Adirondack

    Queensbury , NY
    #3 Best Online Associate in Entrepreneurship #4 Best Online Associate in Business Management #4 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management #10 Best Online Associate in Marketing
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    30%

    Student body

    2K

    Online Degrees

    AA in Humanities and Social Sciences

    Concentrations

    • Psychology
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  22. #19

    Laramie County Community College

    Cheyenne , WY
    #5 Best Community Colleges in Wyoming 2023 #5 Best Online Associate Degrees in Wyoming 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    2K

    Online Degrees

    AS in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Compare school
  26. #22

    Bristol Community College

    Fall River , MA
    #5 Best Community Colleges in Massachusetts 2023 #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2023 #13 Best Online Associate in Communications #20 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    21%

    Student body

    4K

    Online Degrees

    AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences

    Concentrations

    • Psychology Transfer
    • Required Credits: 60-63
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
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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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