An associate’s degree in finance prepares students for entry-level work in bookkeeping, credit reporting, loan processing, and related areas. Courses typically cover basic accounting, business law, and financial statement preparation and analysis.
In order to optimize their earning potential and employment opportunities, associate’s degree holders are advised to pursue bachelor’s degrees upon graduation. With careful planning, all 60 credits earned for an associate’s degree can be transferred to a four-year college. Note that some associate’s degrees are strictly vocational while others are designed for transferring. Before enrolling in a program, make sure that it will serve your goals for after graduation.
The online associate’s degree programs listed below are among those offered by regionally accredited colleges and universities.
- DeVry University’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in accounting can be earned in two years when courses are taken year-round. Students may take classes online and/or on one of many DeVry campuses.
- Kaplan University offers the AAS in Accounting degree. It may be applied toward at least half of the bachelor’s program at Kaplan.
- National American University awards an online Associate of Applied Science in Accounting degree.
- Penn Foster Career College lets students earn an associate degree in accounting at an individualized pace. The school also offers a one-year certificate program in accounting. This can be taken as preparation for the CPA and other exams, and the credits are transferable to Penn Foster’s associate degree program.
- The University of Phoenix offers an online Associate of Arts degree in Financial Services. Students take one pair of nine-week courses at a time.
Many more finance degree programs can be found online. To avoid falling victim to education scams, only enroll in a school that’s recognized through the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Higher Educational Accreditation.