Best Online Associate Degrees in West Virginia 2024

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Find the best online associate degrees in West Virginia 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 West Virginia

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  1. University of Charleston
  2. Bluefield State University
  3. Potomac State College of West Virginia University
  4. Catholic Distance University
  5. West Virginia Northern Community College
  6. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  7. Glenville State University
  1. University of Charleston
  2. Potomac State College of West Virginia University
  3. Catholic Distance University
  4. Bluefield State University
  5. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  6. West Virginia Northern Community College
  7. Glenville State University
  1. Bluefield State University 97%
  2. University of Charleston 68%
  1. Potomac State College of West Virginia University 16 to 1
  2. University of Charleston 16 to 1
  3. Glenville State University 16 to 1
  4. Bluefield State University 14 to 1
  5. West Virginia Northern Community College 11 to 1
  6. Catholic Distance University 3 to 1
  1. University of Charleston $31,900
  2. Catholic Distance University $8,880
  3. Bluefield State University $8,840
  4. Glenville State University $8,044
  5. Potomac State College of West Virginia University $4,752
  6. West Virginia Northern Community College $3,600
  1. University of Charleston $16,400
  2. Bluefield State University $8,840
  3. Catholic Distance University $8,550
  4. Glenville State University $8,280
  1. Glenville State University
  2. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  3. West Virginia Northern Community College
  4. Catholic Distance University
  5. Potomac State College of West Virginia University
  6. Bluefield State University
  7. University of Charleston
  1. Glenville State University
  2. West Virginia Northern Community College
  3. BridgeValley Community and Technical College
  4. Bluefield State University
  5. Catholic Distance University
  6. Potomac State College of West Virginia University
  7. University of Charleston
  1. University of Charleston 68%
  2. Bluefield State University 97%
  1. Catholic Distance University 3 to 1
  2. West Virginia Northern Community College 11 to 1
  3. Bluefield State University 14 to 1
  4. Potomac State College of West Virginia University 16 to 1
  5. University of Charleston 16 to 1
  6. Glenville State University 16 to 1
  1. West Virginia Northern Community College $3,600
  2. Potomac State College of West Virginia University $4,752
  3. Glenville State University $8,044
  4. Bluefield State University $8,840
  5. Catholic Distance University $8,880
  6. University of Charleston $31,900
  1. Glenville State University $8,280
  2. Catholic Distance University $8,550
  3. Bluefield State University $8,840
  4. University of Charleston $16,400

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

West Virginia has 20 public higher education institutions, all at a sticker price of $9,000 or less, making it one of the more affordable states to earn a degree. With over 25,000 students in attendance, West Virginia University is the largest and charges $9,000 in tuition. Aside from the community and state colleges, six other public universities have populations ranging from about 2,100 to just over 10,000, and all schools have a tuition rate of about $8,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The state is also home to 12 private schools, eight of which are religiously affiliated. The University of Charleston is the largest private university, but its student population is still small. About 2,000 students take classes in fields such as chemistry, political science, and history, and the tuition totals $21,000. At $32,000 in tuition and fees, West Virginia Wesleyan College is the most expensive, but its student population is only slightly above 1,300.

As the only state contained entirely within the Appalachian range, West Virginia is rightfully nicknamed The Mountain State. Those who love the outdoors will feel at home hiking through the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve or skiing at Canaan Valley Ski Resort. History buffs can visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where they can take a walk through life in the 1800s. In addition, the state offers over 30 private and public colleges and universities to those looking to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

Check out the state’s top programs and see why West Virginia could be a good fit for your educational goals and budget.


What are West Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

West Virginia’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 West Virginia
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Best Online Associate Degrees in West Virginia 2023

  1. #1

    University of Charleston

    Charleston , WV
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    68%

    Graduation

    42%

    Student body

    4K

    Career Outlook for degree at University of Charleston

    Cost of Degree: $21,500
    Expenses: $14,600
    Starting Salary: $46,800
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Frontline Leadership
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $10K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    35%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    975/19

    Career Outlook for degree at Bluefield State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,840
    Expenses: $16,100
    Starting Salary: $31,900
    Cost Recoup Time: 9 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Radiologic Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    ASN in Nursing

    Concentrations

    • General
    • Accelerated (LPN-to-RN)
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Civil Engineering Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Electrical Engineering Technology

    Concentrations

    • General
    • Industrial Track
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Mechanical Engineering Technology
    • Required Credits: 64
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  3. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $5K

    Graduation

    26%

    Student body

    1K

    Career Outlook for degree at Potomac State College of West Virginia University

    Cost of Degree: $4,752
    Expenses: $13,236
    Starting Salary: $52,700
    Cost Recoup Time: 5 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  4. #4

    Catholic Distance University

    Charles Town , WV

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Student body

    <1K

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Liberal Arts

    Concentrations

    • Catholic Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. Tuition + fees

    $4K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at West Virginia Northern Community College

    Cost of Degree: $4,394
    Starting Salary: $30,200

    Online Associate Degrees

    AAS in Business Studies

    Concentrations

    • Accounting
    • Executive Administrative Assistant
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in English/Humanities
    • Required Credits: 60-61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in History/Social Science
    • Required Credits: 60-63
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in General Education
    • Required Credits: 60-61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  6. Online Associate Degrees

    Associate of General Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Associate of Healthcare Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    Associate of Highway Engineering Technology
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  7. Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    33%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Glenville State University

    Cost of Degree: $9,064
    Expenses: $15,158
    Starting Salary: $38,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in General Education
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online

West Virginia 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!

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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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