Guide to Online Associate's Degrees in Finance

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: as a kid, you were always the one who started the lemonade stands, sold cookies to raise money for the baseball team, and whenever your friends needed money you were happy to lend it to them. At a 20% interest rate that compounded every 30 days, that is.

If this sounds anything like how you used to be (or still are, for that matter), then a finance associate degree might just be the perfect choice for you.

People in finance love money. They love talking about it, managing it, and making it grow. It’s definitely a great field to be in because we all make money, we all spend it, and we all need advice on how to handle it. With a finance associate degree you’ll be stepping into the fascinating but complicated world of dollars and cents.

With an associate degree in finance you’ll get to learn a lot of really interesting things about money and the world of commerce. You’ll be learning about accounting and mathematics, of course, but you’ll also learn about things like trust funds, banking technology, business legalities, investing, money markets, business communication, banking techniques, and much, much more.

Now, it’s important to know that you can find a job and make a living with an associate degree in finance. But, this is one of those fields where it really, really pays off to continue on with your education.

Look at these numbers: with a finance associate degree, you’ll be able to get an entry-level job at a financial organization. You can expect to make between $27,000-$33,000 per year.

If you continue onward to get your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, however, your prospects skyrocket. If you get into the field of financial management, you can expect to make $85,000 a year or more. And that’s the average. Many financial managers make much more than that.

So, as you can see, a finance associate degree is good, but a finance bachelor’s degree is better. If you are able to choose an online school that offers both an associate degree option as well as a bachelor’s degree option, then you won’t have to worry about losing any credits when you’re ready to take the next step forward.

Your options are also pretty wide open when it comes to what you can do with this degree. You could work for an investment firm, a bank, in the insurance industry, or even be a commodities trader. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the rate of growth in this industry to rise 16% over the next few years, so if you love the idea of working on Wall Street and making great money then getting your associate degree in Finance will be a great first step.

Guide to Online Associates Degree Programs

Associate degree holders generally have better job prospects than those with only a high school diploma. Earning an associate degree usually takes two years, and doing so in at an online school can be much more convenient than at a traditional campus. Below are the top accredited online schools offering associate degrees in the US.

	With one of the largest offerings of accredited online associate degrees, Post University is consistently highly rated by its students because of its flexibility and affordability. All associate degrees offered are fully accredited. Post was founded in 1890 and has been providing highly-rated degree programs to students ever since with an emphasis on practicality and application. Read full school profile » Request Information
	The University of Phoenix was one of the first accredited colleges to offer online degrees. Today, it has grown to become one of the nation's largest universities through its online division and campuses coast to coast. They remain one of the top choices for students looking for an associates degree online because of the broad array of choice and affordability they offer students. Read full school profile » Request Information
	With perhaps the largest number of online associates degrees offered, Kaplan University's degrees are fully accredited, affordable, and offer a flexibility that many other online schools cannot match. This unrivaled selection spans several industries, hundreds of specializations, and all degree levels of education, empowering students to choose their own path to a career. Read full school profile » Request Information
	One of the nation's leading Christian universities, Liberty offers a broad range of accredited associate degrees online. Their incorporation of moral and ethical considerations into study make them a popular choice for students seeking a well-rounded education built on academic integrity. Established in 1985, Liberty University has one of the longest-standing online education programs in the country. Read full school profile » Request Information
	The online associates degrees at Everest University can be completed in under 2 years, making this a great way for students to quickly works towards their life goals. An associates degree can give you a jump-start on your career and open opportunities around every corner. Many of the programs help students pursue positions in ever-growing fields. Read full school profile » Request Information
	Virginia College offers a wide range of accredited associates programs. VC takes several steps in helping students pays for college by offering financial aid to those who qualify, including textbooks in the tuition cost, and providing online programs that can be completed under two (2) years, giving students a quick way to jump start their careers. Read full school profile » Request Information
	DeVry University is a highly-regarded leader in education with campuses across the nation and several online degrees available. DeVry focuses on providing degrees centered in the technology industry or fields that require a broad understanding and need for technical skills. DeVry has several highly popular degrees like Accounting, Web Graphic Design, Health IT, and Network Systems Administration. Read full school profile » Request Information
	Strayer University has over the last decade become one of the most respected schools offering accredited online associate degrees. Their strong reputation among employers, broad course offerings, and over one hundred years in education make them consistently a top choice for students. Strayer has over 85 campuses and 60,000 students currently attending online or at one of its campuses. Read full school profile » Request Information