Most Affordable Online Associate Degrees in Rhode Island 2025

Career advancement often starts with earning an associate degree that provides necessary job training or a quality foundation for a bachelor's degree program. However, not all students have time to attend scheduled in-person classes in traditional programs.

Fortunately, Rhode Island is home to online schools with flexible degrees that learners can access anytime�and some are cost-friendly. If you want to earn an affordable associate degree online, keep reading. Below, we'll share where to find cheap online associate degree programs across the state.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in Rhode Island?

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data revealed that in the recent school year that tuition and fees at two-year public schools in Rhode Island were $5,090 for in-state learners and $13,552 for out-of-state students. However, the amount students actually pay for an associate degree might change if they attend a private school or take online courses. Program type could also impact costs.

If you want to pay less for your degree, consider affordable online colleges with low tuition rates and financial aid. Finding a cheap online associate degree in Rhode Island is easier than you might think.

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

Online education helps students earn associate degrees without disrupting their personal or work lives. Explore the list of accredited schools below to discover some of the cheapest online degree programs in Rhode Island.

1. Community College of Rhode Island

The Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick is home to an online associate degree in business administration with full-time and part-time enrollment options. The program's general business concentration gives students a basic understanding of the field while providing a foundation for transfer to a bachelor's program. Electives in accounting, management, and marketing prepare enrollees for immediate employment.

Average in-state tuition: $245 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $366 per credit (regional) and $728 per credit (out-of-state)

Program length: two years

Financial aid: CCRI reduces tuition and fees by providing scholarships, grants, student employment, and loans.

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

2. Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University helps working professionals and recent high school graduates further their education and advance their careers with online, in-person, and hybrid associate degree options. Students seeking online programs can pursue Associate of Science (AS) degrees in criminal justice and professional legal studies. A liberal arts degree that can be earned as an Associate of Arts (AA) or AS is also available.

Average in-state tuition: $433 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $433 per credit

Program length: unspecified

Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, and student loans help students cover the cost of tuition and fees.

Accreditation: NECHE

3. Johnson & Wales University

Three online associate programs at Johnson & Wales University in Providence help students begin new careers or gain the academic background to transfer to bachelor's programs. AS degrees in business administration, criminal justice, and hospitality management each consist of seven- or 15-week courses and support online learners with tutoring help, dedicated academic advising, and career guidance.

Average in-state tuition: $495 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $495 per credit

Program length: two years

Financial aid: Learners can use federal student aid (grants and student loans), scholarships, and military benefits to save.

Accreditation: NECHE

Other Affordable Online Associate Degrees in the U.S.

Do you want to continue your search beyond the institutions in Rhode Island? Explore schools in other states that can help you earn a reputable and affordable associate degree online.

Clovis Community College

Students looking for flexible online degree and certificate programs can find several options at Clovis Community College in New Mexico. Certificates and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) programs are available in business administration, information technology, criminal justice, and legal assistant studies. Degrees also include an Associate of General Studies, AA in liberal arts, and AS programs in behavioral science and mathematics.

Average in-state tuition: $48 per credit (in-district) and $59 per credit (out-of-district)

Average out-of-state tuition: $121 per credit

Program length: two years

Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, student employment, veterans' benefits, and loans reduce costs for enrollees.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Albany Technical College

At Albany Technical College in Georgia, associate programs with 100% online classes offer students the flexibility to further their education while maintaining their personal and work schedules. Enrollees choose from over a dozen online AAS programs in areas of study such as computer programming, cybersecurity, e-commerce, health information technology, and cybercrime investigation.

Average in-state tuition: $107 per credit or less

Average out-of-state tuition: $214 per credit or less (out-of-state) and $428 per credit or less (international)

Program length: 18 to 24 months

Financial aid: Learners can lower tuition and fees with scholarships, grants, work-study jobs, and other campus-based aid.

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Charter Oak State College

Connecticut is home to Charter Oak State College, a four-year public institution offering completion degrees with online courses. The school's AS in general studies is a 60-credit program exploring behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, communication, information literacy, and more. In addition to taking online courses, enrollees can complete their degrees with help from transfer credits and other prior learning credits.

Average in-state tuition: $329 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $329 per credit

Program length: unspecified

Financial aid: The institution reduces costs for learners with help from grants, scholarships, and student loans.

Accreditation: NECHE

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University offers transfer-friendly distance education programs with flexible online classes and 24/7 online academic, technical, and library support. Learners can pursue online associate degrees to start or further their computer science, cybersecurity, marketing, or criminal justice careers. Virtual associate programs are also available in accounting, photography, business, data analytics, and information technology.

Average in-state tuition: $330 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $330 per credit

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Online learners make their degrees more affordable with grants, scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and military discounts.

Accreditation: NECHE

University of Massachusetts Lowell

Learners ready to start or advance business or technical careers can choose from online associate degrees at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The part-time AS in business administration, accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), teaches financial accounting, marketing, and business operations. The school's AS in information technology program explores programming, computer networking, and more.

Average in-state tuition: $385 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $385 per credit

Program length: as little as 12 months

Financial aid: Student employment, grants, scholarships, and student loans are available to increase degree affordability.

Accreditation: NECHE

University of Maine at Augusta

More than half a dozen online associate degree programs available at the University of Maine at Augusta help students take on new careers or qualify for bachelor's degree programs. Learners interested in business administration can choose from management, small business, financial services, and accounting concentrations. The university also offers programs in public administration, justice studies, music, and computer information systems.

Average in-state tuition: $260 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $390 per credit (out-of-state Web), $442 per credit (NEBHE undergraduate), and $703 per credit (out-of-state/international)

Program length: unspecified

Financial aid: UMA helps students save with grants, scholarships, work-study, tuition waivers, and loans.

Accreditation: NECHE

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers easy-to-transfer and career-relevant online associate degrees in four areas of study. Programs include an AA in criminal justice, AS in cybersecurity, and two AA programs with concentrations in business fundamentals and information technology. Enrollees enjoy flexible courses and the ability to take one class at a time year-round in a manner that matches their schedules.

Average in-state tuition: $398 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $398 per credit

Program length: two years

Financial aid: Learners can lower school costs with scholarships and federal grants and loans.

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

Our team rigorously vetted the institutions in this rank list to confirm that they met the following criteria for delivering high-quality educational opportunities:

• Accreditation: Each school has received accreditation from a nationally recognized organization, such as the NECHE or HLC.
• Affordability: These colleges and universities reduce the cost of earning a degree by offering low tuition rates, scholarships, grants, and other financial aid.
• Program reputation and quality: We verified that the institutions above provide quality college degree programs for on-campus and online students.
• Online format: Schools in this list provide flexible online learning opportunities and support services to help students excel.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in Rhode Island

Are you excited about pursuing a cheap online associate degree in Rhode Island? Review the frequently asked questions below to learn more about these programs.

What Is the Easiest Associate Degree To Get Online in Rhode Island?

Online associate degrees require time, effort, and dedication; however, you can find some that are a bit easier to earn than others. For most students, the easiest and fastest associate degrees online have flexible asynchronous courses that let students complete programs at their own pace. Learners can log into learning platforms when their schedules permit and navigate coursework at their chosen speed, helping some graduate in less time than the traditional two-year timeframe.

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get an Associate Degree?

If you want to pay as little as possible to earn an associate degree, consider earning yours online. Schools sometimes provide special distance education rates that are lower than tuition costs for traditional on-campus programs. When conducting your search, look for online colleges that accept financial aid and offer scholarships, tuition discounts, veterans' benefits, and other ways to save.

How Much Does a 2-Year Degree Cost?

The national average for tuition and fees at public two-year institutions was $3,598 for in-state learners and $8,565 for out-of-state students in the recent school year, according to NCES data. The amount students actually pay, however, depends on their school of choice, enrollment status, program of study (ex. nonprofit management vs. healthcare administration), degree level (undergrad vs. grad student), and more.

What Is the Cheapest Community College in Rhode Island?

The Community College of Rhode Island is the most affordable two-year institution in the state, costing just $245 per credit for in-state learners. In addition to an online associate degree in general studies, the school offers dozens of traditional associate and certificate programs, adult education classes, and workforce programs to create a clear pathway to employment.

The school's Joint Admission Program enables associate degree students to start the first two years of a bachelor's degree at CCRI and then transfer to the University of Rhode Island. Perks of this program include up to 30% off tuition, a waived application fee, and personalized advising at CCI and URI.

Find Online Degree Programs

Begin your journey toward a rewarding experience in higher education by exploring the accredited degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools of interest today to discover ways they can help you achieve your academic goals.