Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2024
Find the best online associate degrees in Maryland ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.
Top Online Associate Degree Programs in Maryland
- Anne Arundel Community College
- Montgomery College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- College of Southern Maryland
- Baltimore City Community College
- Frederick Community College
- Hagerstown Community College
- Harford Community College
- Chesapeake College
- Anne Arundel Community College
- Montgomery College
- Baltimore City Community College
- Community College of Baltimore County
- College of Southern Maryland
- Hagerstown Community College
- Frederick Community College
- Harford Community College
- Chesapeake College
- Anne Arundel Community College 16 to 1
- College of Southern Maryland 16 to 1
- Frederick Community College 16 to 1
- Hagerstown Community College 16 to 1
- Montgomery College 16 to 1
- Chesapeake College 15 to 1
- Harford Community College 15 to 1
- Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
- Baltimore City Community College 12 to 1
- Montgomery College $8,070
- Anne Arundel Community College $7,920
- Frederick Community College $6,768
- Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
- College of Southern Maryland $5,760
- Hagerstown Community College $5,760
- Harford Community College $5,520
- Chesapeake College $5,376
- Baltimore City Community College $2,640
- Chesapeake College
- Harford Community College
- Hagerstown Community College
- Frederick Community College
- Baltimore City Community College
- College of Southern Maryland
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Montgomery College
- Anne Arundel Community College
- Chesapeake College
- Harford Community College
- Frederick Community College
- Hagerstown Community College
- College of Southern Maryland
- Community College of Baltimore County
- Baltimore City Community College
- Montgomery College
- Anne Arundel Community College
- Baltimore City Community College 12 to 1
- Community College of Baltimore County 14 to 1
- Chesapeake College 15 to 1
- Harford Community College 15 to 1
- Anne Arundel Community College 16 to 1
- College of Southern Maryland 16 to 1
- Frederick Community College 16 to 1
- Hagerstown Community College 16 to 1
- Montgomery College 16 to 1
- Baltimore City Community College $2,640
- Chesapeake College $5,376
- Harford Community College $5,520
- College of Southern Maryland $5,760
- Hagerstown Community College $5,760
- Community College of Baltimore County $5,784
- Frederick Community College $6,768
- Anne Arundel Community College $7,920
- Montgomery College $8,070
Featured Programs
Colleges and Universities in Maryland
The Old Line State has 46 colleges and universities, 30 of which are public and 16 of which are private. The United States Naval Academy offers programs in physical sciences, aeronautical engineering, and naval architecture. The largest private institution, Johns Hopkins University, has just over 24,000 students and a tuition rate of $54,000. Located in Baltimore, this research university is known for its science and medical discoveries.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
The University of Maryland in College Park boasts over 35,000 students with a price tag of $11,000. The school has 15 campuses, and students can choose from areas of study like criminal justice, communications, physics, and sociology. The most affordable school in the state, Baltimore City Community College comes in at $3,000 and has 37 associate degree programs to choose from. Maryland also provides loan forgiveness programs for its residents, including those for dentists and public servants. Students can also check out the Maryland SmartBuy Home Buyer Assistance and Forgiveness Program, where eligible applicants can receive up to 15% of the home purchase price toward outstanding student loan, to be paid off as part of closing.
Maryland is a state bursting with history, from its numerous museums to its historic battlegrounds. Students who attend school in Maryland can explore the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Park and walk the same streets as many influential Marylanders, including Francis Scott Key, Babe Ruth, Billie Holiday, and Thurgood Marshall.
Whether you’re looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Maryland offers its students history, legacy, and numerous degree paths.
What are Maryland’s Colleges & Universities?
- 6 Research Universities
- 18 Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities
- 13 Graduate Schools
- 13 Public Colleges & Universities
- 11 Private Colleges & Universities
- 4 Christian Colleges & Universities
- 15 Small Colleges & Universities (fewer than 5,000 students)
- 13 Affordable Colleges (below $20,000/year)
- 16 Community Colleges
- 7 Online Colleges
Maryland’s Best Overall
What is an Associate Degree?
An associate degree is a two-year degree that can be earned at state community colleges, vocational schools, and most accredited colleges and universities.
What will I study with an associate degree?
The associate degree provides an introductory level college education. You will usually take an array of liberal arts or humanities courses along with introductory level courses in a specific subject area. Most associate degree programs are available to both on campus students and online students.
Why get an associate degree?
There are several good reasons to get an associate degree. An associate degree is an affordable and accessible way to get a college education while improving your earning potential. The associate degree is popular both among students looking for entry-level work in their field, and for those who are already working.
The online degree is particularly popular at the associate level because so many students must balance work responsibilities and studies. Online courses and complete online programs make it possible for students to earn associate credits and degrees without disrupting daily work responsibilities.
The associate is also a far more affordable and accessible alternative to earning a bachelor’s degree. The associate degree takes about half as long to earn as a bachelor’s degree. Associate students need 60 credits to graduate, versus the 120 credits needed for a bachelor’s degree. And many state community colleges offer low tuition rates.
Can I get a job with an associate degree?
You can get an entry-level job in your field with an associate degree. Many students will use the associate degree as a way to get relevant job training before entering the job market. In fact, many associates will pursue entry level work in their field while earning a bachelor’s degree through online education.
Should I get an associate degree before pursuing a bachelor’s degree?
You may want to get an associate degree first to save money, or improve your admission chances, before getting a bachelor’s degree. The associate degree is a popular stepping stone for students who will seek a bachelor’s degree. When you earn an associate degree from an accredited state community college, you can usually transfer your credits toward your bachelor’s degree program.
Can I get an online degree at the associate level?
You can definitely get an online degree at the associate level. A growing number of online colleges offer high-quality associate-level online courses and complete online programs. Online students will typically take the same courses and curricula as on campus students.
Are associate degrees from online colleges respected?
Online degrees at the associate level are respected as long as these online degrees come from accredited community colleges or two-year schools. Regional accreditation is important when it comes to online colleges. If you plan to go into a bachelor’s degree program at a regionally accredited school, you must earn your online degree from a regionally accredited associate degree program.
If you need more answers to frequently asked questions about online degrees, we can help.
Best Online Associate Degrees in Maryland 2023
- #7 50 Best Community Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024 #1 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2024 #3 Best Online Associate in Gender Studies #3 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #7 Best Online Associate in General Studies
- #7 Best Online Associate in English
- #9 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #10 Best Online Associate in Small Business Management
- #10 Best Online Associate in Finance
- #10 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #11 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #11 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #18 Best Online Associate in Marketing
Tuition + fees
$9K
Graduation
27%
Student body
15K
Career Outlook for degree at Anne Arundel Community College
Cost of Degree: $9,230Starting Salary: $42,200Online Associate Degrees
AS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Business Administration
Concentrations
- Advertising and Marketing
- Business Communications
- Health Care Professionals
- Human Resources
- Leadership
- Small Business Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
Concentrations
- Digital Forensics
- Networking
- Security
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Information Systems, Computer Science
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA-T in English - Arts and Sciences
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA-T in Psychology - Arts and Sciences
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #18 50 Best Community Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024 #2 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2024 #2 Best Online Associate in Communications #4 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
28%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for degree at Montgomery College
Cost of Degree: $10,254Starting Salary: $46,000Online Associate Degrees
AA in Business
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AA in Computer Science and Technologies
Concentrations
- Computer Science
- Information Systems
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AA in General Studies
Concentrations
- Humanities, Arts, Communication and Languages
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
- Social Sciences, Administration and Health
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AAS/AA-T in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AAS in Early Childhood Education Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2024 #5 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2024 #1 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics #5 Best Online Associate in Human Services
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Online Associate in Cybersecurity
- #8 Best Online Associate in Anthropology
- #13 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #13 Best Online Associate in Computer Science Degree Programs
- #15 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #16 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #16 Best Online Associate in Economics
- #17 Best Online Associate in History Degrees
- #17 Best Online Associate in English
- #19 Best Online Associate in Accounting
- #21 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #21 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #22 Best Online Associate in Sociology
- #9 Fastest Accelerated Online Associate's of Counseling Degree Programs
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
16%
Student body
23K
Career Outlook for degree at Community College of Baltimore County
Cost of Degree: $6,918Starting Salary: $38,700Online Associate Degrees
AA/AAS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Business Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Economics
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Computer Science
Concentrations
- Information Systems Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Information Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Network Technology
Concentrations
- General
- Cisco
- IT Support
- Microsoft
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Criminal Justice Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Communication and Media Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Creative Writing
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Interpreter Preparation
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in General Studies
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in History
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Human Services Counseling
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Sociology
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Health Education
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Health Informatics and Information Technology
- Required Credits: 62
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Nursing
- Required Credits: 70
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Psychology
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Aircraft Dispatcher
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
32%
Student body
8K
Career Outlook for degree at College of Southern Maryland
Cost of Degree: $7,200Starting Salary: $40,600Online Associate Degrees
AS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60-61
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Cloud and Information Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Business Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Community Colleges in Maryland 2024 #18 Best Online Associate in Human Services #24 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
Tuition + fees
$3K
Graduation
10%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Baltimore City Community College
Cost of Degree: $3,314Starting Salary: $32,500Online Associate Degrees
AS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS-T in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Law Enforcement and Correctional Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Legal Assistant
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Early Childhood Education
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS-T in General Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Allied Human Services
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Health Information Technology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS-T in Psychology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$7K
Graduation
33%
Student body
7K
Career Outlook for degree at Frederick Community College
Cost of Degree: $7,444Starting Salary: $42,100Online Associate Degrees
AA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Business Management
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AAS in Emergency Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
35%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Hagerstown Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,390Starting Salary: $37,000Online Associate Degrees
AS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Commercial Transportation Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AAS in Management
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Education
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Arts and Sciences
Concentrations
- Human Services
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Arts and Sciences
Concentrations
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
29%
Student body
6K
Career Outlook for degree at Harford Community College
Cost of Degree: $6,168Starting Salary: $36,500Online Associate Degrees
AAS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 10 months
- Format: Online
AA in English
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in History
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: 2 years
- Format: Online
AA in Psychology
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$6K
Graduation
28%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Chesapeake College
Cost of Degree: $6,344Starting Salary: $31,200Online Associate Degrees
AA in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Maryland is just one of many states offering excellent online associate’s degrees. To check out our rankings, look into the best online associate’s degrees in Washington, Tennessee, Alaska, and more!
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.
