Best Affordable Online Associate Degrees in Washington 2025

Schools with online associate degree programs in Washington help learners start careers and transfer to four-year institutions without disrupting their personal or work schedules. These flexible degrees make it easy for busy students to learn anywhere, anytime.

But what if your goal is to earn a cheap online associate degree in Washington? Fortunately, institutions across the state offer budget-friendly programs. Read on to find out where to pursue an affordable associate degree online.

How Much Does an Associate Degree Cost in Washington?

Associate degrees in Washington vary in cost based on residency (in-state vs. out-of-state). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Washington residents attending two-year public institutions paid $4,623 in tuition and fees in the 2022-23 academic year. On the other hand, out-of-state learners paid $8,295 during the same school year.

Additional factors impacting costs include institution type (e.g., private vs. public schools), enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), and program type. If you want to earn an affordable associate degree online, we're highlighting some of the state's cheapest online colleges below.

Cheapest Online Associate Degree Programs

Low-cost online learning enables students to further their education from home or on the go while accruing little or no debt. Explore the following list to find the best online colleges providing cheap associate degrees in Washington.

1. Everett Community College

At Everett Community College, online degree seekers can choose from three associate programs. The Associate of Arts & Sciences is a direct transfer program helping learners qualify for select four-year programs in Washington and Oregon. Learners can also pursue the school's online Associate in Business direct transfer program or the online Associate in General Studies.

Average in-state tuition: $126.36 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $326.90 per credit (tuition waivers available)

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Federal aid (grants, work-study, and loans), state aid, scholarships, and other funding reduce costs for eligible learners.

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

2. Shoreline Community College

Shoreline Community College is home to over half a dozen online associate degrees, including Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences (AAAS) programs in accounting, business intelligence and data analytics, criminal justice, and health information technology. Associate of Arts (AA) programs include business and pre-major options for computer science, which prepare students to transfer to universities in Washington state.

Average in-state tuition: $126.47 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $144.67 per credit

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Scholarships, veterans' and military funding, tuition waivers, and federal financial aid help learners save.

Accreditation: NWCCU

3. Edmonds College

Students interested in pursuing careers in accounting, business information technology, environmental studies, and beyond can prepare with online associate programs at Edmonds College. This institution offers Associate of Technical Arts, Associate in Applied Science (AAS), AA degrees, and several certificate programs. It aims to help learners enhance their academic and employment opportunities.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $328.13 per credit (waiver available for non-residents taking state-supported eLearning classes)

Program length: Six quarters

Financial aid: Federal student aid (grants, work-study jobs, loans), state aid (Washington College Grant (WCG), etc.), and private aid reduce costs for enrollees.

Accreditation: NWCCU

4. Whatcom Community College

Whatcom Community College has online bachelor's and certificate programs and a virtual accelerated adult high school completion/GED option. Students can also pursue online associate degrees, including an Associate in Liberal Studies (ALS) and AAS programs in computer information systems and software development. Online degree programs for transfer are available in business and cybersecurity.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $328.13 per credit

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Students can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) to access federal or state funding.

Accreditation: NWCCU

5. Wenatchee Valley College

Individuals looking for an affordable associate degree online can enroll in Wenatchee Valley College's AAS Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) program. This degree is designed for students planning to transfer to one of 16 colleges and universities in Washington state.

Coursework explores English, mathematics, world languages, communications, general biology, philosophy, and social sciences.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $145.79 per credit (non-Washington resident) and $328.13 per credit (non-U.S resident)

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Students can lower the cost of attending WVC with scholarships, grants, work study, veteran benefits, and student loans.

Accreditation: NWCCU

6. Pierce College District

Pierce College District offers two online associate programs for degree transfer and one for career advancement. Transfer programs include the Associate in Business DTA/MRP and the AA-DTA. The 100% online military technology program has limited transferability and is designed to prepare enrollees to advance their military careers.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $145.79 per credit (non-resident - U.S. citizen/immigrant) and $328.13 per credit (non-resident - other)

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Learners save with help from federal and state financial aid (grants, work-study, and loans), student employment, scholarships, and tuition waivers.

Accreditation: NWCCU

7. Spokane Community College

Spokane Community College has online AA-DTA programs in history and sociology for students who want to transfer to traditional or online bachelor's degree programs. Individuals ready to start or switch careers can choose from online AAS degrees in accounting, administrative office management, health information management, pharmacy, cloud computing, and software development.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: Starting at $183.89 per credit

Program length: Six quarters

Financial aid: Federal and state grants, scholarships, student loans, work-study jobs, and veterans' benefits are available to help enrollees save.

Accreditation: NWCCU

8. Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane Falls Community College supports students ready to begin or change careers with online AAS business management, addiction studies, paraeducator, cybersecurity, and early childhood education degree programs.

The school has associate degrees in business administration, economics, history, English, philosophy, and beyond for learners who want to earn an associate degree that easily transfers to a bachelor's program.

Average in-state tuition: $127.59 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: Starting at $183.89 per credit

Program length: Six quarters

Financial aid: Attendees can use federal and state grants, student employment, waivers, veterans' benefits, scholarships, and student loans to reduce costs.

Accreditation: NWCC

9. Lower Columbia College

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who want to secure registered nursing licensure and transfer to a bachelor's degree in nursing program can meet their goals with help from Lower Columbia College's online Associate in Nursing DTA (LPN2RN eLearning Bridge) program. Additional transfer degrees available at this institution include an Associate in Business with finance, operations management, and human resources specializations and an AA-DTA program.

Average in-state tuition: $139.99 per credit (Washington and Oregon border residents)

Average out-of-state tuition: Starting at $185.54 per credit

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: The institution lowers costs for enrollees with grants, scholarships, work-study, loans, and more.

Accreditation: NWCCU

10. City University of Seattle

The City University of Seattle offers opportunities to secure an online education through online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. Students interested in associate degrees can find an Associate of Science (AS) in business designed for career advancement. In the university's AS in general studies program, learners gain the skills to pursue several careers and educational paths.

Average in-state tuition: Starting at $425 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: Starting at $425 per credit

Program length: Two years

Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, student loans, and other federal and state financial aid help enrollees lower tuition and fees.

Accreditation: NWCCU

How We Rank Schools

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

• Accreditation: Each school is accredited by the NWCCU, a nationally recognized organization.
• Affordability: The colleges and universities use lower tuition rates, scholarships, and financial aid to reduce school costs.
• Program reputation and quality: We confirmed that these institutions provide reputable college degree programs for on-campus and online students.
• Online format: These schools offer easy-to-access online courses and student support services to help students excel academically.

FAQs About the Cheapest Associate Degrees in Washington

Are you ready to pursue a cheap online associate degree in Washington? Before getting started, review the frequently asked questions about online programs below.

Can I Get an Associate Degree Online in Washington?

Yes, many schools throughout Washington state offer online associate degree programs. Whether learners want to transfer to a bachelor's degree program or start a new career in a field like nonprofit management, human resources, social services, or business management, programs are available at online schools statewide.

Degrees include Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Arts and Sciences, and Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences.

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

One of the cheapest ways to earn an associate degree in Washington is to apply to online colleges that accept financial aid. These schools offer federal aid, including grants and work-study jobs, and often provide state aid to reduce costs. If you're looking for the fastest way to earn an associate degree in the state, consider institutions with programs that can be completed in less than two years.

Are There Any 6-Month Associate Degrees in Washington?

Schools offering 6-month online associate degrees are uncommon in Washington. Most programs are designed to help students complete the first four semesters of a bachelor's degree program or about two years of career training. However, some institutions offer associate degrees with flexible learning options that can expedite degree completion.

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

While the speed at which students earn an associate degree depends on factors like degree type (e.g., AAS vs. AS) and programs of study (e.g., healthcare vs. social work), the fastest online programs generally come from schools offering accelerated formats. At these institutions, students can choose from multiple enrollment periods and take courses with shorter terms. Colleges might also accept transfer credits and other prior learning credits to help enrollees graduate sooner.

Earn Your Associate Degree Online

Start a fulfilling journey in higher education by exploring the accredited degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools of interest directly to discover how they can help you reach your academic and career goals.