The 20 Best Online Associate of Business Administration Degree Programs

An Associate in Business Administration degree provides graduates with a foundation for a variety of entry-level business jobs, including entry-level business management jobs. The degree provides important skills for many business careers in an array of industries. A Business Administration Associate’s degree also provides a path to a Bachelor in Business Administration degree program.

What is an Associate in Business Administration Degree?

An Associate in Business Administration degree provides students with a broad business training. The degree covers business administrative fundamentals, interpersonal skills, and subjects such as marketing, management, accounting, business computer skills, project planning, business communications, business law, human resources, finance, and more. Business Administration Associate’s degree programs also typically include general education courses in the humanities and other subjects.

Some schools provide concentrations in specific areas of business administration such as human resources, healthcare administration, and information systems.

Important Business Degree and Career Information

Online Associate in Business Administration Degree Ranking Guidelines

We selected the schools based on the quality of the programs, the types of courses offered, and the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing quality online degree programs.

RANKING METHODOLOGY

Methodology for College Rankings

The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:

The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.

To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet—TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):

1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]

• Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
• Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
• Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
• Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
• Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
• Considers range of electives within that discipline
• Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline

2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]

• Considers education background of the faculty
• Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
• Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
• Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
• Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources

3. Reputation [weight = 20%]

• Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
  • Faculty
  • Curriculum
  • “Freshness” of academic knowledge
  • Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
  • Suitability of graduates for the workplace

4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]

• Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
• Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants

5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]

• Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
• Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business

6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]

• Considers the following of the online classes:
  • Types of online technology used to deliver content
  • Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
  • Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
  • Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
• Considers the following of instructors:
  • Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
  • Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
  • Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
  • Ratio to number of students in a class
• Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.

To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:

• Accreditation
• Public or private status
• Acceptance rate
• Retention rate
• Graduation rate
• ACT/SAT requirements
• Cost in-state / out of state
• Undergrad, grad, or both offered
• Region
• State
• City

Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!

If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.

Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS.” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the rankings of other well-known educational ranking companies. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “Making Sense of College Rankings.” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!

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Best Accredited Online Associate of Business Administration Degree Programs

1Penn State World Campus

(State College, Pennsylvania)

Penn State World Campus, the online campus of Pennsylvania State University launched in 1998, provides over 125 undergraduate and graduate degrees online, as well as certificates in a variety of program areas.

The fully online Associate of Science in Business Administration, a 60-credit program, is one of the many programs Penn State World Campus offers. While the degree can stand alone, graduates may often apply all credits earned toward the degree toward a bachelor’s degree at Penn State and other institutions.

Students in the Associate in Business Administration degree program learn how to use effective communication strategies, evaluate and react to economic issues businesses face, use the latest technical business tools, and gather and evaluate business data to make inferences and solve business problems.

The school tailored the program for entry-level business professionals, as well as individuals working in the business field who seek degrees for career advancement.

Students have the option of tailoring their program through electing a General Business option, which consists of 18 credits. This track includes courses such as:

• Basic Management Concepts
• Principles of Marketing
• Industrial Relations
• Race, Gender, and Employment
• Business and Professional Communication

Penn State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

2Florida Institute of Technology

(Melbourne, Florida)

Florida Institute of Technology, also known as Florida Tech, is a private school with an enrollment of over 6,000 students. Originally founded in 1958 to support the burgeoning space program, the school has since branched out and now offers a wide variety of degree programs. The institute offers a number of 100-percent online programs in many different fields.

Florida Tech offers the 61-credit-hour Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree, which takes roughly 18 months to complete online. Classes take eight weeks to complete.

The Associate in Business Administration online degree gives students the opportunity to learn about the current global and highly competitive business environment; students gain exposure to these themes in each of their classes, including the following:

• Principles of Management
• Principles of Accounting
• Business Computer Skills
• Global Business Perspectives
• Law
• Introduction to Microeconomics
• Management of Human Resources

The online Associate in Business Administration degree program combines a strong liberal arts education with business-focused classes to prepare graduates to work in the world of business. In addition to learning the core subfields of business, such as accounting and business law, the program allows students to hone their communication and professional skills.

Florida Institute of Technology is regionally accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

3Liberty University Online

(Lynchburg, Virginia)

Liberty University, an evangelical Christian university, has trained Champions for Christ since 1971, and has pioneered distance education since 1985. Jerry Falwell established the university. Liberty University Online enrolls over 94,000 students from around the world.

Liberty University’s Associate of Arts in Business degree program consists of 60 credit hours. The program integrates faith with learning to maintain a Christian worldview in its courses.

The flexible Associate in Business program caters to busy, working adults. Students can take all the classes online. Students can transfer many credits from other schools, although students must take at least 15 credits through Liberty University.

The degree program covers subjects students should learn in order to work in the business world, including accounting, communication, law, and ethics. All students must take the following core business courses:

• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Business Communications
• Business Law
• International Business
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Microeconomics

Through these courses and other courses, Liberty’s online Associate’s in Business degree prepares students to thrive in the modern business world.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

4Campbellsville University

(Campbellsville, Kentucky)

The Russell Creek Baptist Association founded Campbellsville University in 1906. Even though the university is a Baptist institution, Campbellsville University welcomes students of all religious backgrounds. A relatively small school, Campbellsville University serves approximately 5,000 students. The school strives to prepare the students for life-long learning through a solid liberal arts education. The university offers numerous distance-learning degrees

Students enrolled in the online Associate of Science in Business Administration program complete 32 hours of general education coursework, along with 30 hours of business classes, for a total of 62 credit hours for the degree. The program takes students about two years to finish.

While the classes are available entirely online, each eight-week semester has defined start dates.

The online Business Administration Associate degree program includes the following required core business classes:

• Principles of Accounting (I and II)
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Introduction to Business
• Marketing
• Introduction to Finance
• Microcomputer Applications
• Principles of Management or Human Resource Management

In addition, students must complete a three-credit internship. The internship allows students to gain real-world experience in a business setting.

Campbellsville University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

5Bethel University

(McKenzie, Tennessee)

A leading Christian higher education institution, Bethel University strives to develop students to reach their utmost potential as human beings. The school has operated as an institution of higher learning since 1842. The university consists of six satellite campuses in Tennessee, plus its main campus in the small town of McKenzie. In total, Bethel University serves around 6,000 students. Bethel University offers a variety of online degree programs

The online Associate of Applied Science in Business 60-credit-hour program typically takes two years to complete and exposes students to both liberal arts and business fundamentals.

Required core business courses include the following:

• Introduction to Business
• Introduction to Group Organizational Dynamics
• Communication in the Workplace
• Introduction to Finance
• Introduction to Management
• Introduction to Marketing
• Introduction to Accounting
• Introduction to Economics

These courses, in addition to the general education requirements and 15 credit hours of business electives, prepare students of the Associate in Business online degree program for careers in private firms or government agencies. The school tailored the program for students already working in the field of business and for students who seek to enter the business field immediately after they complete the program.

Bethel University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

6Saint Leo University

(Saint Leo, Florida)

Founded as a Catholic school in 1889, Saint Leo University is a private, coeducational college. The school has 40 education centers and offices across the country, in addition to its virtual classroom. The institution has garnered praise for its warm reception to military students.

Students need 60 credits to complete the Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree program. Classes explore the basic essentials for success in business, including appropriate computer skills for the modern workplace.

The online A.A. in Business Administration degree includes required courses such as:

• Principles of Accounting (I and II)
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Business Law
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Marketing

The liberal arts–focused, 100-percent online Associate’s degree in Business Administration aims to provide students with the opportunity to improve their critical and independent thinking skills, which can help them in their careers.

Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

7Southern New Hampshire University

(Hooksett, New Hampshire)

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), founded in 1932, has satellite campuses throughout the state and New England. The school serves over 75,000 online students.

SNHU offers a fully online, 60-credit-hour Associate of Science in Business Administration degree. Students gain skills and knowledge in accounting, business law, human resource management, and marketing. The program provides a solid foundation in business principles and practices.

The A.S. in Business Administration degree features classes such as:

• Financial Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Business Law
• Information Technology
• Introduction to Marketing
• Human Relations in Administration
• Management
• Human Resource Management

Graduates of the online Associate’s in Business Administration program can seamlessly continue their education at SNHU and earn their Bachelor or MBA degree.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

8Limestone College

(Gaffney, South Carolina)

Limestone College, a small, private institution, has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,500. Limestone College offers evening and web-based programs for busy adults.

The Associate of Arts in Business Administration online degree program includes the following required classes:

• Financial Accounting
• Principles of Management
• Principles of Marketing
• Microeconomics or Macroeconomics

Limestone College partners with a number of firms which provide financial aid to students in this program. Students who work for those companies may be able to receive one of the corporate grants each semester in which they’re enrolled.

The online Business Administration Associate’s degree program prepares students for entry-level jobs in the business field, or they can obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Limestone College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

9Notre Dame College

(South Euclid, Ohio)

Notre Dame College (NDC), a small, private, coeducational college founded as a Catholic institution in 1922, has a diverse student body. Through its online campus, NDC offers degrees in the fields of business, nursing, criminal justice, education, and psychology.

NDC offers the Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration, delivered entirely via the web through the online campus. Students need 64 credits to complete the program. The A.A. in Business Administration degree covers business principles in areas such as marketing, accounting, management, entrepreneurship, and economics.

The online Associate’s degree in Business Administration includes classes such as:

• Accounting Principles
• Corporate Finance
• Marketing Principles
• Management Principles
• Business Law

Notre Dame College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS).

10Columbia College

(Columbia, Missouri)

Columbia College has undergone extensive growth since it first opened its doors in 1851. The school boasts 37 brick-and-mortar campuses around the country, in addition to their online campus. Columbia College has a total enrollment of more than 29,000 students. The total enrollment has nearly 6,000 students in online degree programs.

The Associate in Science in Business Administration online degree, a general business degree, provides students with a well-rounded foundation through its core courses, which include the courses listed below.

• Introduction to Business
• Accounting I (Financial)
• Accounting II (Managerial)
• Business Finance
• Principles of Marketing
• Principles of Management

In addition to these requirements, students enrolled in the online Business Administration Associate’s degree program have a wide selection of electives to choose from.

Columbia College has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1918.

11Bismarck State College

(Bismarck, North Dakota)

Bismarck State College (BSC), a public institution established in 1939, is the third-largest college in the North Dakota University system. The college has more than 3,700 students. The school offers a wide variety of career and technical programs, in additional to two- and four-year degrees.

The online Associate in Arts in Business Administration degree has a foundation based on economics, law and ethics, statistics, accounting, and marketing.

Below is a list of some of the courses students can expect to take:

• Computer Applications in Business
• Business in the Legal Environment
• Management Information Systems
• Business Law
• Elements of Accounting (I and II)

BSC has agreements with Dickinson State University and Minot State University that allow students to complete the associate degree at one school and continue on to earn a bachelor degree at another.

Bismarck State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

12Broward College

(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Broward College, founded in 1959, is a part of the Florida College System. The school has grown considerably since it opened and now has campuses and academic centers located throughout the Fort Lauderdale metro area. Broward College serves almost 65,000 students.

The 60-credit-hour, online Associate of Science in Business Administration program provides basic skills in a wide range of business functions, including computer usage, accounting, marketing, and management.

Students taking the online Associate in Business Administration degree program are required to take the following courses:

• Managerial Accounting
• Computer and Internet Literacy
• Principles of Microeconomics
• Statistics
• Business Law
• Communication in the Workforce
• Principles of Marketing

Students take electives based on their choice of one of three specializations: Banking, Customer Service/Retail/Sales, or Management.

Students can complete the online, accelerated Associate in Business Administration degree program in 15 months. The program prepares students for supervisory or management positions in a wide variety of fields.

Broward College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

13Miami Dade College

(Miami, Florida)

With eight campuses in Miami and Dade County, Miami Dade College (MDC) serves over 165,000 students. Miami Dade College is the largest college in the Florida College System and the second-largest institution of higher education in the United States. Through its Virtual College, MDC provides students with several degree programs they can complete entirely online.

The online Associate in Science in Business Administration degree program includes the following classes:

• Financial Accounting
• Business Law
• Business Writing
• Public Relations
• Principles of Marketing
• Principles of Management

In addition, students can earn College Credit Certificates in the following program areas: Business Management-Small Business Specialization; Business Operations-Small Business; Business Specialist-Marketing; Business Specialist-Small Business; and Entrepreneurship. Students can apply credits earned from these certificate programs toward the associate’s degree program.

MDC’s online Associate’s degree in Business Administration prepares students for the workforce or to move on to a Bachelor degree program.

Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

14City College at Montana State University Billings

(Billings, Montana)

City College, nested within Montana State University Billings (MSUB), offers two-year degrees and certifications. The school provides responsive and flexible degree programs to its students.

The college designed the online Associate of Science degree in Business Administration to prepare students to transfer into a four-year bachelor’s program. The 60-credit-hour program includes core classes such as:

• Principles of Financial Accounting
• Introduction to Business
• Business Law
• Management
• Marketing
• Introduction to Computers
• Basic MS Office
• Principles of Macroeconomics

The entirely Web-based Associate of Business Administration program strives to provide students with the specialized training they need to work in a multitude of fields within the business world.

Graduates who desire to continue their studies at City College at MSUB and receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree have the opportunity to select from the following areas of emphasis: management, marketing, finance, or information systems.

Montana State University Billings is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This accreditation includes City College.

15Bay State College

(Boston, Massachusetts)

Bay State College (BSC) began offering classes solely to airline industry employees back in 1946. The private, coeducational college now offers associate and bachelor degrees to students regardless of employment status.

Students can complete the Associate of Science degree in Business Administration entirely online. The program provides a solid foundation in all aspects of business and practice. The general business curriculum requires courses in management and economics and incorporates additional valuable classes, such as:

• Writing for Business
• Public Speaking
• Organizational Behavior
• Financial Accounting
• Computer and Information Literacy

All of the program’s professors are members of the business community.

Bay State College is accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

16Eastern Florida State College

(Cocoa, Florida)

Eastern Florida State College (EFSC), a member of the Florida College System, first opened its doors in 1960. The college has five campuses in addition to a virtual campus. In all, EFSC serves approximately 25,000 students.

The online, 60-credit Associate of Science in Business Administration degree provides a balanced curriculum of general education and business-related subjects.

The A.S. in Business Administration degree program provides a wide array of electives, such as:

• Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• Business Plans
• Opportunity Analysis and Franchising
• Funding Acquisition and Legal Issues
• Principles of Selling
• Ethics at Work

After completing the online Business Administration Associate’s degree program, graduates can transfer seamlessly to any public college or university in Florida and earn their bachelor’s degree, or else enter the workforce.

Students can also earn the following College Credit Certificates: Accounting Technology Management; Accounting Technology Operations; Accounting Technology Specialist; Business Entrepreneurship; Business Management; Entrepreneurship Operations; and Human Resources Administration.

Eastern Florida State College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

17Florida State College at Jacksonville

(Jacksonville, Florida)

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), a member of the Florida College System, serves over 50,000 students annually across four campuses and five learning centers. In addition, the school offers a number of degrees through FSCJ Online that students can complete entirely over the Web.

Through FSCJ Online, the school offers an Associate in Science in Business Administration degree. This program helps students build a strong foundation in business through covering subjects such as sales, finance, and business management. Students can earn online all 60 credits required for graduation.

Some of the courses students can expect to take are as follows:

• Calculus for Business and Social Sciences
• Principles of Marketing
• Fundamentals of Public Speaking
• Introduction to Project Management
• Managerial Accounting

During the final semester, students must enroll in a Business Administration Capstone course. This course allows students to look back at everything they have learned during the program, while completing a business simulation project.

While working their way through the program, students have the opportunity to bolster their education and résumés through earning Technical Certificates in Entrepreneurship, Business Specialist, Business Operations, or Business Management.

Florida State College at Jacksonville is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

18Seminole State College of Florida

(Sanford, Florida)

Seminole State College of Florida, a member of the Florida College System, serves over 30,000 students. Seminole State College of Florida offers numerous online degree and certificate programs.

The college offers an Associate’s in Science degree program in Business Administration, which students can complete entirely online. The program aims to prepare students for today’s global market through providing a broad overview of business concepts. The Associate’s degree in Business Administration includes courses such as:

• Office Accounting
• Legal Issues for Small Businesses
• Business Law
• Principles of Financial Accounting
• Business Communication
• Business Mathematics

Students can choose from the following specializations: General Business; Management; Human Resources Management; Marketing and Sales’ Insurance (Risk Management); and A.S. degree to B.S. degree. The latter option prepares students to enroll in a bachelor’s program.

Student enrolled in the online Associate in Business Administration program can also earn certificates in 11 different fields, including Entrepreneurship, International Business, and Small Business Management.

Seminole State College of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

19Hodges University

(Fort Myers, Florida)

Hodges University a private, nonprofit university, serves over 2,000 students. Although students of all ages are welcome, Hodges University offers accessible education to adults who work full-time and have busy family lives. The school offers a number of self-paced degree programs, many of which students can complete online or through evening classes.

Hodges University’s Associate in Science in Business Administration online degree has a main objective of preparing students for entry-level supervisory positions in business and public service organizations. The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in the applied and theoretical aspects of business-related principles, as well as the liberal arts.

All students enrolled in the 60-credit-hour Associate in Business Administration online degree program must take the following classes:

• Introduction to Business
• Principles of Management
• Macroeconomics
• Principles of Accounting
• Principles of Marketing
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship

The program delves beyond the traditional business subjects and teaches students communication and computer skills useful in the business world.

Graduates of the online Associate’s degree program have the option of continuing their studies and earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

20Medaille College

(Buffalo, New York)

Medaille College, a small, private, liberal arts school founded in 1937, has approximately 2,600 students. Medaille College stresses the importance of hands-on learning and encourages students to work with entities in the local community. Students can enhance what they learn in the classroom while developing a sense of civic responsibility.

Medaille College provides an online Associate in Science in Business Administration degree program that students can complete in two and a half years. The degree program has no scheduled class times, so students are free to learn on their own schedules.

The curriculum helps students to develop a background in business fundamentals, including management, computers, human resources, ethics, and negotiating.

Required business courses include the following:

• Accounting Concepts
• Fundamentals of Management
• Human Resource Fundamentals
• Negotiation and Consensus

The online Associate in Business Administration degree program helps students hone their writing and critical thinking skills, in addition to teaching them business fundamentals.

Medaille College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).