Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees in Minnesota 2025

Associate degrees can be a great option for many students. Some choose associate degrees to quickly jump into entry-level roles in their desired career path. Others start by earning an associate degree, and then transfer their credits into a bachelor's degree program.

The reason so many students choose the latter route, rather than just starting at a four-year college, is that associate degrees often cost less than bachelor's degrees, especially at community colleges. There are many affordable associate degrees online that allow students to pursue their higher education in a way that's flexible and doesn't break the bank. Keep reading to learn more about affordable associate degrees online in Minnesota.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in Minnesota?

The cost of an online associate degree depends on several factors. Most significantly, it depends on the type of school you choose.

The cheapest online colleges are typically public community and technical colleges. In Minnesota, all community colleges charge less than $250 for most online associate degrees.

The field you're studying can affect the cost of your tuition as well. Some schools charge a ''differential tuition rate'' for certain programs. This means that the programs have an additional tuition cost above the base tuition rate.

Other factors that can affect your tuition costs include whether you have any college credits already and the financial aid you receive.

In Minnesota, the North Star Promise provides free tuition to in-state students with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) under $80,000 earning their undergraduate degree at a public Minnesota college or university. To find out if you're eligible, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

A number of schools in Minnesota offer online associate degrees at a low cost. Below, we've listed the cheapest online associate degree in Minnesota.

1. Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a public community college in Minneapolis, in the heart of the Twin Cities. It offers seven online associate degrees in fields such as early childhood education, graphic design, library information technology, and web design.

Online tuition at Minneapolis College is $179.95 per credit hour before additional fees. The school offers multiple institutional scholarships to help students pay for their online programs.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $179.95 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts aid through FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private financial aid.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Lake Superior College

At Lake Superior College, students can choose from nearly a dozen hybrid and online programs at the associate level. Areas of study include liberal arts, cybersecurity, paralegal studies, and fire science.

LSC is a public community college located in Duluth, MN. It charges $183.33 per credit hour for online courses and also offers over 100 courses with no-cost textbooks.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $183.33 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA, offers institutional scholarships, and it accepts private aid.

Accreditation: HLC

3. Inver Hills Community College

Inver Hills Community College offers nearly 20 associate degree programs for online learners. The public community college is located in Inver Grove Heights, MN.

Online degrees are available in fields like criminal justice, English, information technology, and psychology. Online courses are $184.76 before additional fees and material costs.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $184.76 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: It accepts FAFSA and private aid, while also offering its own institutional scholarships.

Accreditation: HLC

4. St. Cloud Technical and Community College

Six online associate degrees are available at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. Areas of study include business, computer programming, health information technology, and psychology.

SCTCC, located in St. Cloud, MN, is a public community college. Online tuition here is $189.71 per credit hour, and several scholarship opportunities are available to students.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $189.71 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.

Accreditation: HLC

5. Century College

Century College is a public community college in White Bear Lake, MN. It offers five online associate degree programs in areas like health sciences, marketing, and medical office technology, as well as a general Associate of Arts (AA) degree.

The tuition rate at Century College is 189.94 per credit hour. Like LCS, Century College also offers several zero-textbook-cost courses.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $189.94 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA and private aid and also offers institutional aid programs.

Accreditation: HLC

6. North Hennepin Community College

Students at North Hennepin Community College can choose from 10 online associate degrees. Areas of study include accounting, computer science, liberal arts, and paralegal studies.

NHCC is a public community college in Brooklyn Park, MN. It charges a tuition rate of $200.46 per credit hour for online education programs.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $200.46 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The university accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and accepts private aid.

Accreditation: HLC

7. Ridgewater College

Ridgewater College offers various online associate degrees and certificates. The public community college is located in Wilmar, MN.

Online programs are available in fields like criminal justice, healthcare administration, meat cutting, and web design. Ridgewater College charges $201.27 per credit before any additional fees and costs.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $201.27 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA and private aid for its programs. It also offers its own institutional aid.

Accreditation: HLC

8. Anoka-Ramsey Community College

Several online associate degrees are available through Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Areas of study include business administration, creative writing, human resources, and integrative health and healing.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College, with campuses in Cambridge and Coon Rapids, MN, is a public community college. It has a tuition rate of $202.52 per credit for online courses.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $202.52 per credit

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: It accepts FAFSA and private aid, as well as offering institutional aid.

Accreditation: HLC

9. Anoka Technical College

Anoka Technical College is a two-year public college in Anoka, MN. It offers Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees online in fields like business data analytics, health information technology, human services, and turf and golf course management.

Tuition for most online programs is $204.76 per credit hour. The exception is the AAS in judicial reporting, which costs $302.90 per credit hour.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $204.76 per credit

Program length: Four to five semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA, offers institutional aid, and it also accepts private aid.

Accreditation: HLC

10. Minnesota North College

Through Minnesota North College, students can choose from six online associate degrees. Areas of study include addiction studies, early childhood education, geographic information systems, and medical coding.

Minnesota North College is a public community college with six campuses spread across northeast Minnesota. It charges $205.01 per credit hour for all online programs.

Average in-state and out-of-state tuition: $205.01

Program length: Four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: The school accepts FAFSA and private aid and also offers its own aid programs.

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

To create our list of the cheapest online associate degrees in Minnesota, we focused on:

• Location: All schools listed above are located in Minnesota.
• Accreditation: Every school is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
• School type: We looked only at public and private, nonprofit schools to ensure high-quality online learning options.
• Online format: All colleges offer at least five online associate degree programs.
• Affordability: Once we narrowed down the schools with the criteria above, we looked at which have the lowest tuition rates.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in Minnesota

Saving money while going to school can be tricky. Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions about finding affordable associate degrees online in Minnesota.

Can I Get an Associate Degree Online in Minnesota?

Several colleges and universities offer online associate degrees in Minnesota. You'll have the best luck finding these through community and technical colleges.

Of the public four-year schools in Minnesota, only St. Cloud State University offers online associate degrees. None of the other Minnesota State schools offer online associate programs, nor does the University of Minnesota system. However, many of these four-year public schools will accept transfer credits from community colleges.

As for private institutions, a handful offer associate degrees online: Concordia University, Herzing University, and a couple of others. These schools all charge at least $400 per credit for online associate degrees.

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

The cheapest and fastest way to get an associate degree in Minnesota is to start taking college courses while you're still in high school. You can do this through Advanced Placement (AP) classes or Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO).

PSEO originated in Minnesota, and it allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses for free, either online or on campus at their local public institution. This not only reduces the amount of credits you have left for your degree program but it also reduces the cost.

If you're already out of high school, there are other ways to reduce the time and cost of your associate degree. Look for online colleges that accept financial aid to save money, and consider taking courses in the summer to finish your degree faster.

Are There Any 6-Month Associate Degrees in Minnesota?

There aren't many 6-month online associate degrees in the U.S. Minnesota doesn't offer online associate degrees that only take six months.

However, if you already have college credits, it may be possible to finish your degree in about six months, depending on how many credits you have. Taking courses over the summer term can help you finish more quickly as well.

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

In general, most associate degrees take two years of full-time study to complete. You typically need 60 credits for an associate degree � with a load of 15 credits per semester, you'll finish in four semesters, assuming you're just studying in the fall and spring.

In some cases, it may be fastest to complete a general Associate of Arts or Associate of Science. These degrees typically have very few specific course requirements, and instead let students choose from a list of courses that meet the requirements for specific areas of knowledge.

By having more flexibility in choosing your courses, you don't have to wait until a specific semester for certain courses to be available and you can consider summer terms.

Earn Your Associate Degree Online

Start your journey toward reaching your career goals by exploring the accredited college degrees featured on Learn.org. Contact individual schools to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.