Business administrators manage an organization’s financial, human, and scheduling resources. Popular careers in business administration include small business owner, office manager, operations manager, and marketing associate. According to PayScale survey data, professionals with a business administration associate degree earn an average of $53,000 annually. Start your search for the perfect two-year program with our ranked list of the best online associate degrees in business administration. Whether you want to transfer to a four-year program or immediately enter the workforce, one of these programs might be right for you.
Top 5 online schools for associate in business administration degrees
The best online associate in business administration degrees
Prospective online students can rely on our ranked lists for accurate and comprehensive college information. ZDNet’s ranking methodology uses federally-reported data and a high level of editorial scrutiny. Schools cannot pay to be featured in ZDNet lists. Poteau, OK Application fee: Free Jacksonville, FL Application fee: $25 Scottsbluff, NE Application fee: Free Lima, OH Application fee: $20 Sedalia, MO Application fee: Free Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.
What to expect in an online associate in business administration degree program
A business administration associate degree consists of 60-70 credits of coursework.
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 29%Avg. annual net price: $5,415Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online; some on-campus attendance required for general education science labs
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 35%Avg. annual net price: $3,916Time to completion: Two years; also available in an accelerated formatSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online, hybrid
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 30%Avg. annual net price: $5,339Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 42%Avg. annual net price: $19,055Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: FourCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 26%Avg. annual net price: $4,349Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 22%Avg. annual net price: $6,638Time to completion: Two years; also available in a part-time formatSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 21%Avg. annual net price: $7,760Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 29%Avg. annual net price: $5,080Time to completion: Two years; also available in a part-time formatSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 77%Graduation rate: 39%Avg. annual net price: $17,691Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: 1005-1270Minimum GPA: 2.6Enrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 34%Avg. annual net price: $6,062Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 33%Avg. annual net price: $3,226Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 41%Avg. annual net price: $8,326Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 23%Avg. annual net price: $2,223Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online, asynchronous
Acceptance rate: 63%Graduation rate: 56%Avg. annual net price: $19,844Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: 859-1268Minimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 18%Avg. annual net price: $6,810Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 96%Graduation rate: 68%Avg. annual net price: $7,167Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: 990-1200Minimum GPA: 2.0 for advanced path studentsEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 75%Graduation rate: 62%Avg. annual net price: $22,869Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: 965-1150Minimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: Not requiredGraduation rate: 18%Avg. annual net price: $7,092Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 100%Graduation rate: 28%Avg. annual net price: $8,098Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: Not requiredGraduation rate: 19%Avg. annual net price: $8,408Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 88%Graduation rate: 47%Avg. annual net price: $41,095Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: 2.0Enrollment periods per year: Rolling admissionsCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 62%Graduation rate: 35%Avg. annual net price: $20,333Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: Not publicly availableMinimum GPA: 2.5Enrollment periods per year: 10Course delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: Not requiredGraduation rate: 30%Avg. annual net price: $18,120Time to completion: Just over two years, on an accelerated, part-time scheduleSAT range: Not requiredMinimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: SevenCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 60%Graduation rate: 53%Avg. annual net price: $22,433Time to completion: Two yearsSAT range: 920-1150Minimum GPA: Not requiredEnrollment periods per year: ThreeCourse delivery methods: Online
Acceptance rate: 88%Graduation rate: 63%Avg. annual net price: $22,879Time to completion: TwoSAT range: 1000-1170Minimum GPA: 2.3Enrollment periods per year: EightCourse delivery methods: Online
Many online associate programs provide pre-recorded lectures and other course materials through a web-based course management system. Professors ask students to complete assignments independently, participate in group projects, take online or proctored exams, and contribute to discussions via course message boards and email.
Associate degree in business administration courses
The associate degree curriculum consists of general education, major core, and elective courses. General education courses require studying the humanities, sciences, and communication. Core courses explore key topics in business, like accounting, management, economics, and marketing. Full-time students typically graduate in two years or four semesters. Four courses you’ll likely take during your business administration associate degree include: Business law and ethics This course provides an overview of the legal, ethical, and societal environments influencing business. Highlights include corporate social responsibility, state and federal laws, employment law, product liability, and environmental regulation. Principles of management This course explores how managers influence organizational structure and function, employee performance, and employee satisfaction. Discussion topics include strategic planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and team management. Financial accounting This course introduces financial statement preparation. Students master the four basic types of statements, including their content, purpose, and methods of interpretation. Elementary statistics This introductory course teaches students the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics. Skills include probability distributions, simple linear regression, and methods for analyzing data sets.
Business administration degree levels
While a business administration associate degree provides a strong foundation, the four-year bachelor’s remains the most popular business administration degree level. For those interested in advanced education, learn what to expect in business school at the graduate level or explore online MBA programs. Finally, professionals who earn a doctor of business administration can pursue careers in advanced research and academic contexts.
In conclusion
Whether you want to develop the skills necessary for starting your own business or progress toward a four-year university program, a business administration associate degree serves as a strong foundation. Inspired by one of these options? Visit your prospective school’s website for more details on admission deadlines and requirements.
