Best Online Associate in Software Development

Badge for BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

By Dr. Winston Ewert and Dr. James Barham

Published: Jul 7, 2021
Updated: Feb 14, 2024

An online associate in software development degree program is a great choice for students who are looking for entry-level positions as computer support specialists, programmers, or database specialists.

Top 10 Online Software Development Associate Degrees

Saddleback College
Lake Michigan College
Isothermal Community College
Mott Community College
Henderson Community College
College of Southern Nevada
Austin Community College District
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Virginia Western Community College
Gaston College

College of Southern Nevada
Saddleback College
Mott Community College
Austin Community College District
Gaston College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Guilford Technical Community College
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Southwestern Community College
Pitt Community College

Rio Salado College 28 to 1
Saddleback College 24 to 1
Virginia Western Community College 23 to 1
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College 23 to 1
Bluegrass Community and Technical College 18 to 1
Austin Community College District 18 to 1
Mott Community College 17 to 1
Guilford Technical Community College 17 to 1
Henderson Community College 17 to 1
College of Southern Nevada 17 to 1

St. Clair County Community College $9,300
Lake Michigan College $7,148
Virginia Western Community College $4,680
Mott Community College $4,446
Henderson Community College $4,368
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College $4,368
Bluegrass Community and Technical College $4,368
Chippewa Valley Technical College $4,304
College of Southern Nevada $3,383
Western Wyoming Community College $2,520

Western Wyoming Community College
Rio Salado College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Southwestern Community College
Pitt Community College
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
St. Clair County Community College
Guilford Technical Community College
Gaston College
Virginia Western Community College

St. Clair County Community College
Isothermal Community College
Virginia Western Community College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Western Wyoming Community College
Lake Michigan College
Rio Salado College
Henderson Community College
Pitt Community College
Southwestern Community College

Southwestern Community College 10 to 1
Isothermal Community College 11 to 1
Western Wyoming Community College 12 to 1
Lake Michigan College 13 to 1
Gaston College 13 to 1
Chippewa Valley Technical College 14 to 1
Pitt Community College 15 to 1
St. Clair County Community College 15 to 1
Mott Community College 17 to 1
Guilford Technical Community College 17 to 1

Saddleback College $1,288
Pitt Community College $1,824
Isothermal Community College $1,824
Southwestern Community College $1,976
Austin Community College District $2,010
Rio Salado College $2,040
Guilford Technical Community College $2,128
Gaston College $2,432
Western Wyoming Community College $2,520
College of Southern Nevada $3,383

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Development Degrees

An associate degree in software development can provide relevant workplace skills and the qualifications to earn an array of entry-level jobs in the tech field.

This two-year degree offers courses on foundational software development topics like coding language, algorithms, software architecture, and programming techniques. Students in this associate’s degree program will also be challenged to think critically, communicate effectively, learn various programming languages, and employ creative problem-solving strategies. Students have the option to complete the roughly 60 required credits either online or in person.

Graduates typically go on to secure entry-level positions as programmers, database specialists, and computer support specialists. This is, however, a highly competitive field. For this reason, many students will improve their professional qualifications by transferring into a relevant bachelor’s degree program.

Learn more about how to major in computer science.

How do we determine the best online software development associate's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Associate’s in Software Development Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Software Development Degree

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Computer Science

Degree Level: Associate's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Starting Salary*: $44,167
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $61,150
* denotes ‘annually’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	15.41%	$134,192
Computer and Information Research Scientists	22.74%	$126,122
Database Architects	10.00%	$120,910
Software Developers	25.74%	$106,816
Information Security Analysts	31.56%	$102,130
Data Scientists	35.11%	$91,799
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	20.32%	$88,489
Computer Programmers	-11.26%	$88,133
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	5.48%	$85,390
Computer Occupations, All Other	9.72%	$79,886

Average Career Salaries

Bottom 10%	Median	Top 10%
$58,606	$96,828	$146,134

Promising Job Markets

State	Cost of Living	Avg. Salary
#2 Washington	7% higher than average	$130,691
#3 Virginia	5% higher than average	$114,361
#4 North Carolina	11% higher than average	$102,822
#5 Texas	10% higher than average	$104,055
#6 Georgia	13% higher than average	$98,844
#7 Ohio	14% higher than average	$96,113
#8 New York	5% higher than average	$116,061
#9 Illinois	7% higher than average	$101,237
#10 Delaware	2% higher than average	$110,937
#11 Michigan	15% higher than average	$91,326
#12 Minnesota	4% higher than average	$102,317
#13 Alabama	13% higher than average	$91,166
#14 California	26% higher than average	$131,719
#15 Colorado	3% higher than average	$107,901
#16 Wisconsin	7% higher than average	$96,478
#17 Florida	6% higher than average	$96,327
#18 Tennessee	14% higher than average	$87,783
#19 Missouri	16% higher than average	$85,687
#20 South Carolina	8% higher than average	$93,337
#21 Pennsylvania	5% higher than average	$95,760
#22 Utah	4% higher than average	$96,262
#23 Iowa	9% higher than average	$90,634
#24 New Jersey	13% higher than average	$112,436
#25 Maryland	18% higher than average	$116,998
#26 New Mexico	7% higher than average	$92,235
#27 Arizona	5% higher than average	$94,208
#28 Idaho	7% higher than average	$90,249
#29 Oklahoma	13% higher than average	$83,217
#30 Kentucky	14% higher than average	$82,215
#31 Mississippi	18% higher than average	$78,095
#32 West Virginia	11% higher than average	$84,373
#33 Oregon	11% higher than average	$104,543
#34 Massachusetts	24% higher than average	$115,589
#35 Indiana	11% higher than average	$82,998
#36 Kansas	9% higher than average	$84,936
#37 Nebraska	6% higher than average	$85,952
#38 Nevada	5% higher than average	$94,365
#39 Wyoming	2% higher than average	$87,693
#40 Connecticut	18% higher than average	$105,170
#41 Rhode Island	20% higher than average	$106,437
#42 New Hampshire	13% higher than average	$99,690
#43 South Dakota	7% higher than average	$81,749
#44 Arkansas	16% higher than average	$72,824
#45 Louisiana	9% higher than average	$76,358
#46 Alaska	23% higher than average	$99,389
#47 North Dakota	average	$80,516
#48 Maine	9% higher than average	$86,599
#49 Montana	3% higher than average	$75,835
#50 District of Columbia	49% higher than average	$116,762
#51 Vermont	13% higher than average	$87,908
#52 Hawaii	40% higher than average	$100,658

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Computer and Information Systems Managers	$134,192
Computer and Information Research Scientists	$126,122
Database Architects	$120,910
Software Developers	$106,816
Information Security Analysts	$102,130
Data Scientists	$91,799
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers	$88,489
Computer Programmers	$88,133
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary	$85,390
Computer Occupations, All Other	$79,886

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

There are many amazing options for getting your online associate’s degree! You could also get your associate’s in early childhood education, finance, or liberal arts! Look into a variety of options and then decide which one works best 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.

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.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Associate in Software Development

Top 10 Online Software Development Associate Degrees

Featured Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Development Degrees

Why get an associate in software development?

What courses are offered and what skills will be aquired?

What can you do with an associate in software development?

Best Online Associate’s in Software Development Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Saddleback College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Lake Michigan College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Isothermal Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Mott Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Henderson Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at College of Southern Nevada

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Austin Community College District

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Virginia Western Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Gaston College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Guilford Technical Community College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at St. Clair County Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Pitt Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Southwestern Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Chippewa Valley Technical College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Rio Salado College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for Software Development degree at Western Wyoming Community College

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for Students with Software Development Degree

Computer Science

Degree Level: Associate's

Career Salaries

Average Career Salaries

Promising Job Markets

Top Industries

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier than campus-based college?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

Will I be able to transfer my online college degree?+

Will employers respect my online degree?+

What are the disadvantages of online classes?+

What are the advantages of online classes?+

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

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