Most Affordable Online Associate Degrees in New York 2025

New York is known for having a high cost of living, especially within New York City. Despite that, the state has some very reasonable tuition rates at its public colleges and universities.

Many students begin their higher education with an associate degree. Some associate degrees allow you to enter the job market right away, while others are designed for transfer into bachelor's programs. There are many affordable associate degrees online, which allow students more flexibility than in-person programs do. Keep reading to discover affordable associate degrees online in New York State.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in New York?

The cost of an online associate degree in New York depends primarily on what type of school you attend and whether you're an in-state or out-of-state resident. Public community colleges have the cheapest online associate degrees and are the most affordable online colleges in New York.

Community colleges in the public City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) systems charge less than $300 per credit to residents, with many charging under $250. Four-year CUNY and SUNY schools charge less than $350 per credit to residents.

Additionally, New York State offers the Excelsior Scholarship to students with a household income of $125,000 or less. This program covers all tuition costs for undergraduate programs at CUNY and SUNY schools. To find out if you qualify, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

Multiple colleges and universities in New York offer affordable online associate degree programs. We've highlighted the most affordable options below.

1. Herkimer College

Herkimer College is a public SUNY community college in Herkimer, NY. It offers over 20 online programs, including associate degrees in fields like business administration, criminal justice, health services, and general studies.

Tuition for all students at Herkimer College, whether they study online or on campus, is $189 per credit. Unlike many public schools in New York, Herkimer does not charge a higher tuition rate to out-of-state students.

Average in-state tuition: $189 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $189 per credit

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: Herkimer College accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources and also offers its own aid programs.

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

2. Tompkins Cortland Community College

At Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), students can choose from several online associate degrees. Areas of study include business, computer science, hotel and restaurant management, and paralegal studies.

TC3, a SUNY community college, is located in Dryden, NY. It charges in-state residents $208 per credit hour with a tuition cap of $2,785 per semester for 12 or more credits.

Average in-state tuition: $208

Average out-of-state tuition: $425

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: TC3 offers institutional financial aid while also accepting aid from FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

3. Borough of Manhattan Community College

Borough of Manhattan Community College offers nearly two dozen online associate degree programs in fields like business management, information technology, liberal arts, and public health. BMCC is a public CUNY college in New York City.

NYC residents pay a tuition rate of $210 per credit, while non-NYC residents pay $320 per credit. New York State residents who reside outside of NYC may qualify for the in-city tuition rate.

Average in-state tuition: $210 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $210 per credit

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: BMCC accepts FAFSA and private aid. It also offers institutional scholarships.

Accreditation: MSCHE

4. Kingsborough Community College

Multiple associate degrees are available to online learners at Kingsborough Community College. Areas of study include mental health and human services, business administration, criminal justice, and health sciences.

KBCC, located in Brooklyn, NY, is a CUNY community college. It charges in-state residents $210 per credit hour with a semester cap of $2,400 for full-time students.

Average in-state tuition: $210 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $320 per credit

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: KBCC offers institutional grants and scholarships. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

5. Monroe Community College

Monroe Community College is a SUNY school based in Brighton, NY. It offers nearly 20 fully online associate degrees and another 20 hybrid options in fields like cybersecurity, early childhood education, hospitality management, and geospatial information science.

The tuition rate for in-state students is $210 per credit hour with a semester cap of $2,525. Non-residents pay $420 per credit with a semester maximum of $5,050.

Average in-state tuition: $210 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $420 per credit

Program length: four months of full-time study

Financial aid: MCC accepts aid through FAFSA, offers its own financial aid, and accepts aid from private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

6. Bronx Community College

Students at Bronx Community College can choose from several different online degree programs. Areas of study include criminal justice, cybersecurity, education, and public health.

BCC, a CUNY community college, is located in the Bronx in NYC. It charges in-state residents $210 per credit with a full-time rate of $2,400 per semester.

Average in-state tuition: $210

Average out-of-state tuition: $320

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: BCC offers institutional financial aid and also accepts aid from FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

7. Hudson Valley Community College

Hudson Valley Community College offers several associate degrees online in a variety of fields. HVCC is a SUNY community college in Troy, NY.

Online students can choose from degrees in subjects like computer science, healthcare, humanities, and education. Tuition for New York residents is $211 per credit with a cap of $2,528 per semester.

Average in-state tuition: $211

Average out-of-state tuition: $422

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: HVCC accepts FAFSA and private aid. It also offers institutional scholarships.

Accreditation: MSCHE

8. Erie Community College

Multiple online associate degrees are available through Erie Community College (SUNY Erie). Areas of study include business administration, criminal justice, humanities, and social sciences.

SUNY Erie has three campuses throughout western New York, in Williamsville, Buffalo, and Orchard Park. It charges $217 per credit hour for in-state students and $434 per credit for out-of-state students.

Average in-state tuition: $217 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $434 per credit

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: SUNY Erie offers institutional grants and scholarships. It also accepts aid through FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

9. SUNY Niagara

SUNY Niagara is a public community college in Sanborn, NY. It offers several online associate degrees in fields like English, humanities, human services, and sports management.

In-state students pay a tuition rate of $214 per credit, with a cap of $2,568 per semester. Out-of-state students pay twice that, at $428 per credit.

Average in-state tuition: $214

Average out-of-state tuition: $428

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: SUNY Niagara accepts aid through FAFSA, offers its own financial aid, and accepts aid from private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

10. Genesee Community College

Through Genesee Community College, online students can choose from a number of associate degree options. Areas of study include business, computer science, criminal justice, and liberal arts.

GCC, a SUNY community college, is based in Batavia, NY. New York residents pay a tuition rate of $218 per credit or $2,625 per full-time semester.

Average in-state tuition: $218

Average out-of-state tuition: $243

Program length: four semesters of full-time study

Financial aid: GCC offers institutional financial aid while also accepting aid from FAFSA and private sources.

Accreditation: MSCHE

How We Rank Schools

To choose the cheapest online associate degrees in New York, we focused on:

• Location: All schools on this list are based in New York State.
• Accreditation: We chose only public and nonprofit schools that are regionally accredited in order to ensure students get a high-quality education.
• Online options: Each school offers multiple online associate degree programs.
• Affordability: Once we found accredited schools in New York offering online associate degrees, we sorted them by price, choosing the least expensive.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in New York

Below, we've answered some frequently asked questions to help you choose the perfect affordable associate degree online in New York.

Can I Get an Associate Degree Online in New York?

Many schools in New York allow students to earn their associate degrees through online classes. In addition to the CUNY and SUNY online options listed above, several other CUNY and SUNY schools offer online associate degrees. Some private schools, like Excelsior University and Touro University, offer online associate degrees as well.

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

One of the best ways to get an associate degree fast and cheap is to start taking college coursework while in high school. Many high schools allow students to participate in Advanced Placement (AP) classes or Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) programs, which allow students to earn college credit for free during their junior and senior years of high school.

You can also make college more affordable by filling out the FAFSA and taking advantage of federal programs like the Pell Grant and state programs like the Excelsior Scholarship. Many schools offer their own financial aid programs as well. If a school is accredited, it's likely an online college that accepts financial aid.

To finish more quickly, transfer in any previous college coursework you may have. Consider taking courses during the summer terms to help speed up your progress.

Are There Any 6-Month Associate Degrees in New York?

True 6-month online associate degrees are very rare. However, if you have transfer credits, you may be able to finish your program within six months. Additionally, taking courses during the summer term can shorten your program by a semester.

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

Typically, associate degrees require 60 credit hours, which generally takes four semesters of full-time study to complete. As a result, there aren't many associate degrees that are faster than others.

However, you may find that a general studies or liberal arts degree can help you finish more quickly. These degrees are often meant to help students finish their general education courses so they can transfer into a bachelor's degree program.

Because these degrees don't have a specific field of study, you can often take whatever courses you choose so long as they fulfill certain requirements. Because you don't need to take prerequisites or wait for specific classes to become available, you may be able to finish faster.

Earn Your Associate Degree Online

Find the perfect affordable college degree by exploring the online learning options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools today to learn more about admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.