Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2024

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Find the best online associate degrees in New Jersey 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 New Jersey

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  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University
  2. Thomas Edison State University
  3. Camden County College
  4. Brookdale Community College
  5. Union College
  6. Hudson County Community College
  7. Mercer County Community College
  8. Rowan College at Burlington County
  9. Raritan Valley Community College
  10. Salem Community College
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University
  2. Camden County College
  3. Raritan Valley Community College
  4. Thomas Edison State University
  5. Brookdale Community College
  6. Mercer County Community College
  7. Salem Community College
  8. Hudson County Community College
  9. Rowan College at Burlington County
  10. Ocean County College
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University 84%
  1. Camden County College 23 to 1
  2. Union College 22 to 1
  3. Hudson County Community College 22 to 1
  4. Raritan Valley Community College 19 to 1
  5. Ocean County College 18 to 1
  6. Rowan College at Burlington County 18 to 1
  7. Brookdale Community College 18 to 1
  8. Sussex County Community College 17 to 1
  9. Mercer County Community College 16 to 1
  10. Thomas Edison State University 15 to 1
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University $34,404
  2. Union College $10,562
  3. Brookdale Community College $7,755
  4. Thomas Edison State University $7,372
  5. Hudson County Community College $7,152
  6. Salem Community College $6,930
  7. Raritan Valley Community College $6,096
  8. Ocean County College $5,320
  9. Sussex County Community College $5,040
  10. Mercer County Community College $4,848
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University $21,278
  2. Thomas Edison State University $12,150
  1. Sussex County Community College
  2. Ocean County College
  3. Salem Community College
  4. Raritan Valley Community College
  5. Rowan College at Burlington County
  6. Mercer County Community College
  7. Hudson County Community College
  8. Union College
  9. Brookdale Community College
  10. Camden County College
  1. Union College
  2. Sussex County Community College
  3. Ocean County College
  4. Rowan College at Burlington County
  5. Hudson County Community College
  6. Salem Community College
  7. Mercer County Community College
  8. Brookdale Community College
  9. Thomas Edison State University
  10. Raritan Valley Community College
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University 84%
  1. Fairleigh Dickinson University 13 to 1
  2. Thomas Edison State University 15 to 1
  3. Salem Community College 15 to 1
  4. Mercer County Community College 16 to 1
  5. Sussex County Community College 17 to 1
  6. Ocean County College 18 to 1
  7. Rowan College at Burlington County 18 to 1
  8. Brookdale Community College 18 to 1
  9. Raritan Valley Community College 19 to 1
  10. Union College 22 to 1
  1. Camden County College $2,856
  2. Rowan College at Burlington County $3,816
  3. Mercer County Community College $4,848
  4. Sussex County Community College $5,040
  5. Ocean County College $5,320
  6. Raritan Valley Community College $6,096
  7. Salem Community College $6,930
  8. Hudson County Community College $7,152
  9. Thomas Edison State University $7,372
  10. Brookdale Community College $7,755
  1. Thomas Edison State University $12,150
  2. Fairleigh Dickinson University $21,278

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in New Jersey

Nearly half of the colleges and universities in this state are private, and tuition rates range from $6,000 to $52,000. With a graduation rate of 97% and a student population of just over 7,000, Princeton University is the state’s most esteemed institution. Narrowing in on the sciences and arts, this Ivy League school offers unique areas of study, including robotics, intelligent systems, and public life. The remaining 31 public colleges and universities range in tuition from $4,000 to $17,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The state’s largest and top-ranked public research institution is Rutgers University. With campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden as well as smaller locations across the state, Rutgers awards degrees in physics, economics, criminal justice, and psychology. New Jersey also has 11 religiously affiliated colleges and universities, including the oldest diocesan university in the United States, Seton Hall University. This Roman Catholic university has a tuition rate of $42,000 and a student population of over 8,000.

New Jersey, known for its sandy shores and busy expressways, also has more diners than any other state in the U.S., as well as the world’s longest boardwalk, located in Atlantic City. Many influential people, including Buzz Aldrin, Frank Sinatra, and Thomas Edison, have called The Garden State home. Visitors can even peek at some of Edison’s early light bulbs at the Menlo Park Museum. And with 50 higher learning institutions to choose from, students can find a school that suits their career path and budget.

Learn more about earning your degree from one of New Jersey’s highly regarded colleges and universities.


What are New Jersey’s Colleges & Universities?

New Jersey’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 Degree Programs in New Jersey
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Best Online Associate Degrees in New Jersey 2023

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $34K

    Acceptance

    84%

    Graduation

    51%

    Student body

    9K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1044/21

    Career Outlook for degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University

    Cost of Degree: $37,686
    Expenses: $22,692
    Starting Salary: $54,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Student body

    13K

    Career Outlook for degree at Thomas Edison State University

    Cost of Degree: $6,638
    Starting Salary: $57,300

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Applied Computer Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Computer and Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    ASNSM in Computer Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Electronics Engineering Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Technical Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Human Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Applied Electronic Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Electrical Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    ASNSM in Mathematics
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Nuclear Engineering Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  3. #3

    Camden County College

    Blackwood , NJ

    Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    22%

    Student body

    16K

    Career Outlook for degree at Camden County College

    Cost of Degree: $4,056
    Starting Salary: $37,000

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 67
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  4. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    29%

    Student body

    14K

    Career Outlook for degree at Brookdale Community College

    Cost of Degree: $9,056
    Starting Salary: $39,700

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • 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 Liberal Education
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Social Sciences
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  5. #5

    Union College

    Cranford , NJ

    Tuition + fees

    $11K

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    11K

    Career Outlook for degree at Union College

    Cost of Degree: $9,500
    Starting Salary: $37,100

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Business
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Business Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Business Marketing
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Supply Chain Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Computer Information Systems and Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Public Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Social Services
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Health Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  6. Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    10K

    Career Outlook for degree at Hudson County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $8,740
    Starting Salary: $34,500

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in History
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Sciences
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  7. Tuition + fees

    $6K

    Graduation

    17%

    Student body

    9K

    Career Outlook for degree at Mercer County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $6,433
    Starting Salary: $38,500

    Online Associate Degrees

    AAS in Business Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice

    Concentrations

    • Corrections
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  8. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    29%

    Student body

    11K

    Career Outlook for degree at Rowan College at Burlington County

    Cost of Degree: $5,376
    Starting Salary: $39,700

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Business Management Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Education
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Communication Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in History
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Philosophy
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in English
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Political Science
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Liberal Arts and Sciences
    • Required Credits: None Reported
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Information Management
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Cancer Registry Management
    • Required Credits: 65
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Psychology
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Math
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  9. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    32%

    Student body

    9K

    Career Outlook for degree at Raritan Valley Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,440
    Starting Salary: $45,000

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Marketing
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in General Business
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Health Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  10. #10

    Salem Community College

    Carneys Point , NJ

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    40%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Salem Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,140
    Starting Salary: $34,500

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  11. #11

    Ocean County College

    Toms River , NJ

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    40%

    Student body

    13K

    Career Outlook for degree at Ocean County College

    Cost of Degree: $5,122
    Starting Salary: $39,600

    Online Associate Degrees

    AAS in Business
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Business - Paralegal Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 57-63
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Computer Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Computer Science - Information Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in General Studies

    Concentrations

    • Science
    • Math
    • Business
    • Computer Science
    • Social Science
    • Humanities
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Global Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Public Service
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Environmental Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  12. Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Sussex County Community College

    Cost of Degree: $7,272
    Starting Salary: $37,700

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AAS in Computer Information Systems
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Computer Science
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Information Systems
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online

New Jersey 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 South Dakota, Oklahoma, Indiana, and more!

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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.

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