Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees in Illinois 2025

Online associate degrees can be a great stepping stone into a bachelor's degree program or the job market. Asynchronous online programs are often more convenient than on-campus options and can also be less expensive.

The cheapest online associate degrees come from community colleges, although some nonprofit private institutions in Illinois offer online associate degrees as well. Keep reading to discover affordable associate degrees online in Illinois.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in Illinois?

The cost of an associate degree in Illinois depends primarily on what school you attend but can also depend on whether you're an in-state or out-of-state student. Other things that can influence your costs include whether you have transfer credits and qualify for financial aid.

There are several affordable online colleges in Illinois, and the cheapest online associate degrees in Illinois come from community colleges. All public community colleges in Illinois charge in-state students less than $200 per credit for online degrees.

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

Several colleges in Illinois offer affordable online associate degrees. We've highlighted these schools below.

1. Joliet Junior College

Joliet Junior College is a public community college in Joliet, IL. It offers online associate degrees in fields like business administration, computer science, general studies, and management.

While JJC normally charges separate rates for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state students, all online learners pay the in-district rate of $116 per credit hour. The college offers scholarships and work-study opportunities to help students pay for their higher education.

Average in-state tuition: $116 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $116 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: JJC accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Lake Land College

At Lake Land College, students can earn over a dozen associate degrees in an online or hybrid format. Areas of study include business management, criminal justice, education, and healthcare informatics.

This public community college is located in Mattoon, IL. In-district residents pay $119 per credit, while all other Illinois residents pay $256.26 per credit. Out-of-state students have a tuition rate of $464.54 per credit hour.

Average in-state tuition: $256.26 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $464.54 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: Lake Land College offers institutional scholarships and aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: HLC

3. McHenry County College

McHenry County College offers Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees for transfer, as well as some general and career associate degrees online. The public community college is based in Crystal Lake, IL.

Areas of study for online students at MCC include accounting, business management, network security, and office administration. All online students pay $121.50 per credit hour, regardless of residency, and scholarships are available to help students pay for in-person or online learning.

Average in-state tuition: $121.50 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $121.50 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: MCC offers institutional aid and also accepts FAFSA and private financial aid.

Accreditation: HLC

4. Rock Valley College

An online Associate of Arts degree is available at Rock Valley College. This program is designed to satisfy general education requirements for students who want to continue on to a bachelor's program in a field of the liberal arts.

RVC, located in Rockford, IL, is a public community college. It charges a tuition rate of $125 per credit hour for all online students and offers scholarships and work-study opportunities.

Average in-state tuition: $125 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $125 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: RVC accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations. It also offers institutional financial aid opportunities.

Accreditation: HLC

5. Illinois Valley Community College

Illinois Valley Community College is a public community college in Oglesby, IL. It offers fully online associate degrees in general studies and hybrid degrees in fields like business administration, cybersecurity, early childhood education, and marketing.

Online courses have a tuition rate of $132.60 per credit, regardless of a student's residency status. The college offers hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of scholarships every year.

Average in-state tuition: $132.60 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $132.60 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: IVCC accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.

Accreditation: HLC

6. Southwestern Illinois College

Students at Southwestern Illinois College can choose from several online associate degrees. Areas of study for online programs include business, communication, criminal justice, and healthcare information technology.

This public community college has campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, IL. Regardless of where they live, it charges all students $135 per credit hour.

Average in-state tuition: $135 pper credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $ 135 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: SWIC offers institutional financial aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: HLC

7. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges offers AA, AS, and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees online. IECC is a community college system made up of four schools: Frontier Community College, Lincoln Trail Community College, Olney Central Community College, and Wabash Valley Community College. All offer the same online programs and charge the same tuition rates.

AAS degrees at IECC are available in accounting, medical assisting, and health information technology. Students in the district pay $135 per credit hour, while Illinois residents outside the district pay $325 per credit hour.

Average in-state tuition: $325 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $375 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: IECC schools accept FAFSA and private aid. Each school also offers individual scholarship programs.

Accreditation: HLC

8. Oakton College

Several degrees and certificate programs are available online through Oakton College. Areas of study include accounting, computer science, marketing, and software development.

Oakton College, based in Des Plaines, IL, is a public community college. Online classes here cost $136.25 per credit, no matter where the student resides.

Average in-state tuition: $136.25 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $136.25 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: Oakton College accepts aid through FAFSA and private organizations and also offers institutional aid options.

Accreditation: HLC

9. Elgin Community College

Elgin Community College is a public school in Elgin, IL. It offers over a dozen online degrees in fields like business, computer science, criminal justice, and social sciences.

Students who live in the district pay $138 per credit hour. Other Illinois residents who learn through distance education pay a rate of $260, and out-of-state online education students pay $310.

Average in-state tuition: $260 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $310 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: ECC accepts aid through FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.

Accreditation: HLC

10. Waubonsee Community College

Through Waubonsee Community College, students can choose from five fully online associate degrees. These degrees are available in general studies, business administration, and human resources management.

Waubonsee Community College, a public college, is based in Sugar Grove, IL. It charges all students $138 for online classes, no matter where they live.

Average in-state tuition: $138 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $138 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: Waubonsee Community College offers institutional financial aid. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

To choose the affordable online associate degrees listed above, our methodology focused on:

• Location: All schools listed are located in Illinois.
• Accreditation: We only chose regionally accredited colleges to ensure high-quality degree programs.
• Affordability: Once we narrowed down which accredited schools in Illinois offered online associate degrees, we found the ten that charge the lowest tuition rates.
• Online format: Every school offers at least one fully online college degree.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in Illinois

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about affordable associate degrees online in Illinois.

Can I Get an Associate Degree Online in Illinois?

Several colleges in Illinois offer online associate degrees. The majority of these are community colleges, but a few private schools also offer online associate degrees. However, these programs are more expensive than the community colleges listed above.

What Is the Cheapest and Fastest Way To Get an Associate Degree in Illinois?

There are a few things you can do to reduce the cost and the time required for your associate degree. One great way is to take college-level courses while you're still in high school, such as Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

If you've already graduated from high school, you can still speed up your degree by looking for accelerated program options, taking on a heavier course load, and taking courses in the summer. To save money, look for programs offered by colleges in your district and apply for financial aid. Specifically, pursue programs from online colleges that accept financial aid.

Are There Any 6-Month Associate Degrees in Illinois?

Most online associate degrees take about two years of full-time study to complete. So, 6-month online associate degrees aren't as common, unless you already have a lot of transfer credits.

Other ways you can accelerate your learning include taking on a higher credit load each semester and taking courses during the summer term. Additionally, some schools may offer accelerated options.

What Are Some of the Fastest Associate Degrees You Can Get Online?

Most associate degrees take two years. However, if your goal is to finish quickly, especially if you want to transfer into a bachelor's degree program, consider earning a general studies degree. These allow you to complete all your general education coursework requirements.

General studies degrees usually have a few mandatory classes, like college composition. For other credits, you can choose courses from specific categories. For example, you could fulfill a natural sciences requirement with biology or geology.

Because there are very few specific requirements, you don't have to wait for a particular class to be offered or worry about that class filling up. You have the option to switch to another course that fulfills that category and can avoid delaying your studies.

Earn Your Associate Degree Online

Find the perfect cheap online associate degree in Illinois by exploring the online schools featured on Learn.org. Reach out to specific schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.