Fastest Accelerated Associate Degrees
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If you want to spend less time in college getting a degree or want to skip the long breaks between semesters, then consider an accelerated associate degree.
Accelerated degrees cover the same curriculum at a faster pace and with fewer breaks throughout your program. They have the potential to save you money, especially if you attend a community college instead of a four-year university.
You can earn accelerated associate degrees in many subjects like healthcare, accounting, psychology, marketing, and other in-demand fields.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is an Accelerated Associate Degree Program?
Accelerated associate degree programs take the traditional two-year programs and condense them into a shorter time of about 1-1.5 years. Online accelerated programs work similarly, but they can offer schedule flexibility or asynchronous work to accommodate working professionals.
With an accelerated associate degree, you can enter the career field or pursue higher degrees like a bachelor's and master's degree. You can also hone your skills through online bootcamps and certifications.
4 Things to Know About Accelerated Associate Degrees
Before you jump into an accelerated degree program, here's how they're paced, what to expect, the format, and why it's crucial for your accelerated associate degree program to be accredited.
1. Pacing
Typically, accelerated associate degree programs have similar start dates to traditional programs, but the end dates vary depending on how accelerated the program is.
Depending on the program, faster doesn't mean easier. Since accelerated programs condense two years of material into a year, you may take classes year-round instead of having traditional summer or spring breaks. You also may have to dedicate more hours per week to complete the higher course load.
2. Curriculum
Associate degree programs are typically 60 credit hours, half of a bachelor's degree. They mostly lay the groundwork for a bachelor's degree in the same field of study while knocking out general education courses that bachelor's degrees typically require.
Here are three types of accelerated associate degrees you can pursue:
- Associate of arts, which focuses on liberal arts and humanities
- Associate of science, which focuses on business and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
- Associate of applied science, which offers technical or vocational study. It may require additional credits and time if you want to transfer to a traditional bachelor's program.
3. Format
Your accelerated associate degree format will look different depending on whether you choose a campus, online, or hybrid option.
Completing your degree on campus may include attending longer classes, taking courses multiple times per week, or both to make sure you get your degree faster. You'll have to consider housing, campus fees, travel, and other expenses for an on-campus experience.
An online format can take out the extra expenses from college and allow you to take classes from your home. The format of these classes could be:
- Asynchronous, which allows you to watch lectures and complete assignments on your own schedule within a certain timeframe
- Synchronous, typically requiring you to attend scheduled online lectures with a professor and other classmates
Hybrid programs mix the on-campus and online experiences. Some days may have you on campus for a lecture or lab. On other days, you will complete work and attend lectures online.
4. Accreditation
Your program must be accredited to have value in the workforce and be counted for credit when transferring to a bachelor's degree program.
Accreditation is given to colleges and universities by independent accrediting organizations that are recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
When doing your research, be aware of accelerated degree programs that promise a degree in just a few weeks or a few months. Some are from for-profit institutions or scam colleges that could take your money and not deliver a valuable education. Additionally, they may be more expensive than traditional and reputable/accredited programs.
Always make sure a recognized organization accredits the program you're applying for. You can find all verified accrediting organizations on CHEA's website or ED's database.
10 Popular Online Accelerated Associate Degrees
Here are 10 of the most popular online accelerated associate degree programs you can pursue from the comfort of your home.
1. Accounting
With an accounting associate degree, you can pursue work as a bookkeeper or as a financial or accounting clerk. Or you can pursue a bachelor's degree and study to become an accountant or auditor.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks made a median annual salary of $47,440, as of May 2023.
2. Business Administration
You'll learn the basics of business administration in this associate degree program from classes on business law and the principles of marketing, accounting, and management.
An associate in business administration can set you up to transfer to a business bachelor's degree and then a master of business administration (MBA) degree. With an MBA, you can pursue careers in consulting, tech, and financial services.
3. Criminal Justice
Some things you'll learn within a criminal justice associate program are fundamentals in crime origins. You'll also learn about law enforcement, legal systems, correctional facilities, and public policy.
You can pursue a career as a police officer, paralegal, legal assistant, or corrections officer with an associate degree.
4. General Studies
General studies associate degrees get the general education courses that college bachelor's degrees require out of the way. These courses include history, English, math, and other general education courses.
The general studies associate degree is a great way to prepare for any bachelor's degree, so you don't have to take those classes later.
5. Healthcare Administration
A healthcare administration associate degree focuses on the administrative work that happens at hospitals and medical care offices. You'll learn to manage new hires, policies, procedures, and client records.
You may start out as a medical assistant — with a median salary of $42,000 per year as of May 2023, according to the BLS — before moving on to a medical and health service manager role, which may require a bachelor's degree.
6. Information Technology
An associate in information technology program will teach you the fundamentals of computer science, like web development, database management, and basic coding languages.
With an associate degree, you can pursue jobs such as computer support specialist, network administrator, web developer, or programmer. The median annual wage for computer network support professionals is $71,530, as of May 2023, according to the BLS.
7. Paralegal Studies
Paralegal studies programs focus on the U.S. legal system, legal research, ethics, and contract writing and reading. Paralegals make a median annual salary of $60,970, as of May 2023, according to the BLS.
Paralegals who work in finance and insurance made the highest median annual salary — $77,630 — while those in state government made the lowest at $51,420. The BLS also projects the paralegal and legal assistant job growth rate will be 4% from 2022-2032.
8. Marketing
Accelerated marketing programs cover foundational marketing and business concepts like the principles of marketing, financial accounting, social media, and marketing communications.
If you continue pursuing marketing with a bachelor's degree, you may qualify for roles like advertising and promotions managers. These professionals make a median annual salary of $131,870, as of May 2023, according to the BLS.
9. Nursing
An associate degree in nursing teaches you fundamental nursing skills like how to take vital signs, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, control infection, and give medication and treatment.
The Health Resources and Services Administration reported in 2018 that around 49% of practicing registered nurses started with an associate degree.
10. Psychology
You can expect to learn the basics of psychology in classes like general psychology, child psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and abnormal psychology.
Some common careers for graduates with an associate degree in psychology are in the social or human services fields. With this degree, you can pursue occupations such as a teacher's aide, family advocate, correctional officer, home care aide, or social services assistant.
However, most graduates with an associate degree go on to earn their bachelor's in psychology to open up more career opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Associate Degrees
Is an accelerated associate degree worth it?
An accelerated associate degree may be for you if you have the time and discipline to take on two years of material in a condensed period. An accelerated program could save you money and time when earning your degree.
Can you get an associate degree in one year?
Yes, there are ways to complete an associate degree in one year. The most common accelerated associate degree programs range from 1-1.5 years. If you're coming in with college credits from high school or elsewhere, you can finish in closer to a year.
What is the best associate degree to get?
The best associate degree will vary for each student depending on their educational and career goals. If you don't know what you want to do now but plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in the future, you can always earn an associate degree in general studies to get your general education requirements out of the way.
Can you transfer an accelerated associate degree to a bachelor's program?
Yes, if you receive an accelerated associate degree from an accredited institution, most other accredited institutions will accept your associate degree to transfer into a bachelor's degree program. Since you've already completed half of the program, you should be able to complete your bachelor's degree in about two years.
However, additional credits and more time may be needed to transfer your associate of applied science degree to a traditional bachelor's program. Also, if you change your major, more time and requirements may be needed to complete your bachelor's program.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed April 30, 2024.
