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Associate Degree in Business Administration Accredited Online AS in Business Program

Jean Besson, a 2014 business graduate, prenting on a whiteboard in a business office.

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

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Program Overview Why get a business degree?

The associate degree in business administration online is ideal if you want to start or advance your career but need a college education to achieve your goal. It's also a great starting point if you're not quite ready to commit to a bachelor's degree program.

In the Associate of Science (AS) in Business Administration program at Southern New Hampshire University, you'll develop general business knowledge and skills in accounting, business management, human resource management and marketing. Plus, your associate degree can stack directly into SNHU's Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration, allowing you to seamlessly continue your education.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Strategies for building shared organizational values
  • Application of change management theories
  • Recognizing the impact of social and emotional intelligence
  • Ethics and values in business decision-making
Jean Besson, who earned a BS in business degree online, holding his 2014 SNHU diploma in a city setting.

Courses & Curriculum Online business classes that prepare you for your career

Gain the skills you need to succeed in the modern workforce. Courses in the online AS in Business Administration program will introduce you to business trends and give you exposure to data analytics for business decision-making. You'll also develop soft skills like problem solving, communication and ethics in business.

Your course materials, resources and tools will emphasize real-world applications. Using authentic business scenarios throughout your courses, you'll learn firsthand how to solve key organizational problems.

Degree Courses

Online business degree courses

Courses were developed with industry experts and designed to help you build a solid foundation in business. You'll explore key practices and principles in accounting, business law, economics, marketing, management and human resources.

Courses may include:

Course ID: ACC 202
Students will explore the financial impact of short-term and long-term business decisions. By learning how accounting and other productivity information can be used to assess and improve performance of an organization, managers will be provided the essential information they need to execute growth strategies and select opportunities that create business value.
Course ID: BUS 206
Students will examine the background, foundation, and ethical aspects of the United States' legal system as it applies to business organizations. Students will also learn the impact of torts, product liability, criminal law, contracts, sales, business organizations, and agency and cyber law in a business setting.
Course ID: BUS 210
Students will explore leadership and management theories and how to incorporate them in one's own personal style for effective contribution and collaboration in diverse team environments, and learn about the skills necessary to lead in various organizational structures and areas of business. Students will also examine how the functional areas of business are interrelated and work together in organizations.
Course ID: FIN 320
Students will examine the corporate finance discipline, including the financial management of organizations and the skills needed to make decisions about financing, investments, and dividends. Students will learn how the analysis of financing and investment options can inform decisions that add value to an organization and its investors.
Course ID: INT 113
This course is the foundation for business in a global context with an emphasis on applications. It offers a survey of fundamentals and principles of management in the context of globally oriented firms and primarily presents an assessment of the differences between business in domestic and international context. The course explores fundamental issues in business in an increasingly interdependent world; including management principles and techniques in a global context. Themes constituting fundamentals of international business such as economic, political, cultural and social environment of business; organizations that facilitate international business and organizational structures; trade theory; government influence on trade; international business modalities and entry strategies into foreign markets, global financial system as well as the emerging issues related to international business; are also explored.
Course ID: MKT 205
Students will learn how the marketing mix is used to position a product or service for a specific target market by analyzing pricing, distribution, product development, and promotional strategies. By applying marketing and consumer research, students will generate informed recommendations. Students will also examine the impact of communications and distribution channels on marketing efforts.
Course ID: OL 125
The human relations skills that managers need to develop interaction skills that contribute directly to effective human resource management and the development of higher productivity are studied. Skill areas include leadership, motivation, communications, group dynamics, organizational development, management by objectives, and stress and time management. Students learn techniques for becoming more effective managers, subordinates, peers and persons. Students are introduced to the international aspects of human relations.
Visit the course catalog to view the full AS Business Administration curriculum.

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Upcoming term starts: October 28, 2024 | January 06, 2025

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
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You’ll fill out one form to verify your high school completion or GED. Then, if you’ve attended college before, you’ll submit a form for each school so we can request your transcripts for you. (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online associate programs

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 60-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$19,800
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$13,860

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$3,960 $7,920 $11,880 $14,850
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 12 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your associate degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $15,840

If 24 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your associate degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $11,880

If 36 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your associate degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $7,920

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your associate degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $4,950

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a master's degree. Most associate degrees require 60 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 45 credits, requiring a minimum of 15 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online associate degree in business?

Throughout the AS in Business Administration program, you'll build business skills employers are looking for. When you graduate, you'll be positioned for jobs as a team lead or business specialist in retail, human resources or various other business environments. You'll be prepared to handle crucial administrative tasks like record keeping, ordering supplies and talking to customers.

Occupations

Earning a 2-year degree is a great way to start or advance a business career. With an online associate degree in business, jobs in marketing, sales or administration could be available, including:

Help support the efforts of a marketing department, including social media, advertising and content marketing.

Solicit, manage and retain client list in an entry-level sales role.

Compile and maintain personnel records, prepare reports for employment records and assist with other human resources activities.

Assist customers with selecting and purchasing goods, lead a team of retail sales associates and oversee daily operations within a retail store.

Sell advertising space to businesses and individuals, contact potential clients, make sales presentations and maintain client accounts.

Provide high-level administrative support for an office or top executives, including reviewing documents, conducting research and preparing reports.

Work with customers to resolve complaints, process orders and learn more about a business’s products and services.

18%

Higher median weekly salary for associate degree holders compared to high school graduates, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Rachel McCulloch '19 '21
Rachel McCulloch '19 '21

Being able to go to college and earn my degree while still being present in my kids’ lives and in my own career was something that I am so thankful for.

Rachel McCulloch '19 '21

Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers about the online AS in Business Administration

A business administration associate degree can help you build a solid foundation of business principles, including human resources, marketing, sales and business law. It can also help prepare you for entry-level positions across many industries and even help boost your earning potential.

In 2023, associate degree holders earned a median weekly salary of $1,058 – nearly 18% more than workers with only a high school diploma, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.1

An associate degree in business administration also presents the opportunity for you to continue on to a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration or other bachelor's degree program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). You can apply the 60 credits from your associate degree directly toward your bachelor's at SNHU.

For those who continued their education, the earning potential is even higher. In 2023, those with a bachelor's degree earned $1,493 median weekly earnings – that's 41% more than associate degree holders and 66% more than those with only a high school diploma.1

Higher earnings are a big motivator. But there was more to the story for Rachel McCulloch '19 '21, who earned her associate degree before getting her BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership.

"I have always loved the idea of becoming a director in a large organization," McCulloch said. "Making strategic and crucial decisions has always been something I've been interested in."

At SNHU, the Associate of Science (AS) in Business Administration not only offered the coursework she was looking for – it also stood out for its flexibility and affordability.

It depends on your career goals, and the time you’re able to commit to earning a degree.

In an online associate degree program, you'll earn your degree faster - and at a lower cost - than an online bachelor’s degree program. Earning an associate degree can give you the credentials you need to begin working in your field more quickly and get real-world experience that can grow your career.

But a 4-year bachelor’s degree can give you more comprehensive knowledge of business administration and can give you a leg up when applying to jobs.

If you decide to continue on to a bachelor’s degree, your associate degree credits are typically applicable toward the more advanced degree and can serve as a strong foundation for deeper learning into a specific area of study like finance or marketing.

That's exactly what Pamela Judd '23 did. Judd is a 61-year-old grandmother of 15, a first-generation college graduate and a military veteran who earned her Associate of Science in Business Administration online from SNHU.

The associate degree in business can also help you grow general business skills that can be applied in various industries and work settings. So even if you haven't figured out exactly where you want to go, you can keep your options open moving forward.

It depends. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation for online associate degree programs, at just $330 per credit hour or $19,800 for a 60-credit online associate degree.

While an associate degree is considered a 2-year degree program, SNHU has a generous transfer policy, allowing up to 45 credits to be applied to your associate degree program. With maximum transfer credits, you could finish your degree in just a few terms – and for only $4,950 in tuition.

Apart from previous experience, the actual cost of your degree will vary based on the specific courses you take and the materials required. SNHU’s online associate degree programs aim to make use of free learning resources whenever possible, but some courses will require textbooks or other paid resources.

Of course. An online business administration associate degree can give you the flexibility you need to fit your coursework into your everyday life, whether you’re balancing a full-time job, family obligations or both.

At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), we've proudly earned a spot as 1 of the leaders of online education. Not only do we offer unrivaled support and over 200 online college degrees in high-demand fields – we also offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.  

It's not surprising that so many people are opting to learn online. For one, online courses are available 24/7, so you can complete your learning whenever your schedule permits.

In fact, online access to courses is a big reason students like Michelle Curry '21 apply in the first place.

"[With online access to coursework,] I can study any time of day," Curry said. "I have been in and out of school for over 10 years, so graduating with my associate degree while having two toddlers and working full time was a huge accomplishment for me."

SNHU offers a number of  tools and resources for online students, including an extensive offering of virtual student services, such as writing, tutoring and career advising services, an online library, accessibility center and even online wellness programs.

A business administration associate degree is an associate of science (AS) degree, a 2-year degree typically focused on business, business theory and practical application.

Our AS in Business covers a number of critical workforce skills, such as accounting, business law, marketing and systems analysis, and design. You'll also learn global business principles that can help prepare you to navigate international markets.

The program can help position you for entry-level jobs across a variety of industries, including marketing, sales, customer service and more.

A 2-year business degree is called an associate degree. The majority of associate degree programs fall into 2 categories – Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

Generally, an AA will lean more toward liberal arts topics, such as social sciences, arts, natural sciences and humanities. An AS, on the other hand, tends to be more technical or business focused.

Either way, an associate degree can give you a strong foundation of knowledge in your area of study and improve your long-term employment and earning potential. If a bachelor’s degree is your ultimate goal, an associate degree offers you the chance to earn a key credential while on the path to a 4-year degree.

Learn more about types of associate degrees.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm (viewed April 24, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.