Most Affordable Online Associate Degrees in Alabama 2025

An associate degree is a good academic option for students who want to quickly start a new career or create a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree. Are you interested in earning this degree in Alabama but have a busy schedule or a tight budget? You can pursue an affordable associate degree online with low tuition and flexible courses. Keep reading to find out where in Alabama you can enroll in a cheap online associate degree program.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in Alabama?

The cost of earning an associate degree in Alabama could vary based on enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), program of study (e.g., nonprofit management vs. special education), and whether a school is private or public. Fortunately, affordable online colleges offer low-cost degrees throughout the state. Below, we'll discuss where to find the cheapest online associate degree in Alabama.

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

Online associate degrees help students start, advance, or switch careers while enjoying flexible coursework and around-the-clock accessibility. If you're looking for affordable associate programs, explore the following list of schools offering budget-friendly options.

1. Southern Union State Community College

At Southern Union State Community College, learners can prepare for the next stage of their careers with 60- to 64-credit Associate in Science (AS), Associate in Applied Science (AAS), and general education short certificate programs (GES). Areas of study include criminal justice, pre-engineering, child development, information systems, and business management.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Four to five semesters

Financial aid: Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) qualifies eligible students for federal grants, loans, and other financial aid.

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

2. Coastal Alabama Community College

Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette has two 100% online associate programs for students interested in transferring to a four-year institution. The liberal arts online pathway, which leads to an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, explores arts, social sciences, and natural sciences. The online pathway for general studies explores the same coursework but results in an AS degree.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Four semesters

Financial aid: Enrollees can lower degree costs with scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. Snead State Community College

Students interested in earning an affordable associate degree online can find reputable programs at Snead State Community College. This institution offers online AAS programs in office administration, child development, and applied business (10 concentrations are available). The school's 100% online AS degree programs prepare learners for careers in business, elementary education, and pre-nursing.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Learners can save on tuition and fees with federal student aid, scholarships, veterans' benefits, and opportunities like the Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP).

Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Calhoun Community College

Calhoun Community College offers several online associate programs, including an AS in general studies with concentrations in general education, criminal justice, computer science, elementary education, and social work. Learners can also pursue AAS degrees in programming, accounting, technology, child development, and beyond. Several types of online courses are available, including hybrid, asynchronous, synchronous, and hy-flex.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Institutional scholarships, veterans' benefits, and federal work-study and grants are a few programs helping enrollees save.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. Shelton State Community College

Tuscaloosa is home to Shelton State Community College, a two-year institution offering eLearning programs for students interested in 100% online study. In addition to an Associate in Arts program, Shelton State has AAS degree options in business office management technology (e.g., information processing, bookkeeping, medical records, etc.), health information technology, and management and supervision.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Students can use grants, federal work-study, scholarships, and other funds to reduce costs.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Wallace State Community College

Wallace State Community College has several associate degree programs with distance education opportunities. An AS transfer program is available for general studies/liberal arts students, and an AAS is offered in graphic art and design. Learners interested in business administration, computer science, cybersecurity, and other subjects can find AAS and AS transfer degrees.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Four to five semesters

Financial aid: Federal student aid programs (grants and work-study) and institutional, external, and transfer scholarships make learning more affordable.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Central Alabama Community College

At Central Alabama Community College, students can choose from traditional, hybrid, and online degree programs. Enrollees who want to pursue careers or transfer to standard or online bachelor's degree programs or seek employment can pursue the school's online AA and AS programs. CACC's AAS programs in automotive manufacturing, computer information science, general business, and office administration also prepare students for employment.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Enrollees can lower school costs with federal financial aid (grants, loans, and work-study), ASAP, the Workforce Investment Act, and other programs.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

8. Bevill State Community College

Bevill State Community College has several online AAS programs for students ready to start new careers. The management and entrepreneurship degree prepares students for business roles and offers four stackable certificates. Learners interested in growing their technical skills can enroll in the business office management and technology program. BSCC also offers an online child development program that leads to licensure.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per credit hour

Program length: Unspecified (however, BSCC is a two-year institution)

Financial aid: Scholarships, federal grants, and work-study programs help enrollees save on tuition and fees.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

9. Lawson State Community College

Learners ready to begin or advance their business careers can find online associate programs at Lawson State Community College in Birmingham to help. The institution offers AS and AA programs to help students with a high school diploma acquire the skills and transfer credits to enroll in a four-year degree program in business administration or business education.

Average in-state tuition: $129 per semester hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $258 per semester hour

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Federal grants and work-study and scholarships awarded based on need, academic merit, talent, or area of study are available to lower costs.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

10. Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University offers online master's programs, bachelor's degrees, and doctoral programs in various disciplines. However, students interested in associate degrees can find online programs in criminal justice, general studies, and fire science.

Learners can also prepare for careers associated with healthcare by enrolling in emergency medical services, health information technology, and occupational safety and health programs.

Average in-state tuition: $270 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $270 per credit hour

Program length: Unspecified

Financial aid: Eligible students can use federal student aid, military and veterans' benefits, and scholarships to save.

Accreditation: SACSCOC

How We Rank Schools

Our team rigorously vetted the institutions in this rank list to ensure they met the following criteria for delivering a high-quality education:

• Accreditation: All schools in this list have received accreditation from the SACSCOC, a nationally recognized organization.
• Affordability: These colleges and universities reduce costs by offering scholarships, financial aid, and lower tuition rates.
• Program reputation and quality: We verified that these institutions provide quality college degree programs for on-campus and online students.
• Online format: These schools offer a flexible online learning format and student support services to help learners excel in their studies.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in Alabama

Are you ready to pursue a cheap online associate degree in Alabama? Don't take the next step before learning more about these programs. Review the frequently asked questions below for additional details.

What Is the Easiest Associate Degree To Get Online in Alabama?

Some of the easiest associate degrees to get online in Alabama are ones with flexible schedules. These programs enable students to access materials on their own time and sometimes navigate coursework at their own pace, which is great for individuals with busy work and personal schedules. Many students find that learning on their terms makes earning their associate degrees easier.

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get an Associate Degree in Alabama?

Possibly, one of the cheapest ways to earn an associate degree is to attend one of Alabama's online colleges that accept financial aid. After finding an institution with low tuition rates (e.g., a school charging less than $300 per credit), you can use grants, scholarships, federal work-study, and other financial assistance to reduce the cost of your degree.

Are There Any 6-Month Associate Degrees in Alabama?

Six-month programs are rare at all academic levels (associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees). In Alabama, associate degree programs at most institutions require about two years for completion.

If you're looking for 6-month online associate degrees, consider enrolling at institutions with flexible learning options. You might find a school with shorter course terms, flexible program start dates, and self-paced learning options that enable students to accelerate degree completion.

How Much Does a 2-Year Degree Cost?

The type of degree a student earns is one of several factors impacting cost. For example, a two-year master's degree in secondary education will likely cost more than a two-year associate degree in organizational leadership.

In Alabama, in-state learners attending a public two-year institution (e.g., community college) in Alabama paid $5,039 in tuition and required fees during the 2022-23 academic year, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Individuals who lived out of state paid $9,432 over the same period.

Explore Online Programs

Begin a fulfilling experience in higher education by exploring the degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools of interest to discover how they can help you reach your academic goals.