An online social work associate’s degree can either serve as a stepping stone on the way to the completion of a bachelor’s degree in social work or as a qualification for certain jobs in the field of social work. In most states, a graduate of a social work associate’s degree program is eligible to be a social work assistant, case management aide, or community outreach worker. All of these positions fall within social workers’ job description of protecting and supporting vulnerable people within the community.
An online program typically allows students to complete the degree on a more flexible schedule without having to physically go to their school’s campus.
To obtain our list of the top online social work associate’s degree programs, we started with a list of all available programs (based on data reported to collegenavigator.gov). These programs were filtered first by the tuition and then by the quality of the program (based on the graduation rate and student-to-teacher ratio).
The top 10 affordable online social work associate’s degrees are:
- Copiah-Lincoln Community College
- Holmes Community College
- New Mexico State University
- Barton Community College
- Bucks County Community College
- South Texas College
- Georgia Military College
- Iowa Central Community College
- Northampton Community College
- Reading Area Community College
10. Reading Area Community College
Reading, Pennsylvania
Associate of Arts in Social Work Online
Reading Area Community College offers a social-work associate’s degree that can be completed entirely online. The 60-credit program is designed to prepare the student to enter the baccalaureate program in social work on the junior level. Online classes are offered three ways: remote, hybrid, and online. Online coaching and tutoring is also available to all social-work students.
Tuition: $8,735
9. Northampton Community College
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Associate of Arts in Social Work Online
The social-work program at Northampton Community College is a great option for students looking to earn an affordable degree online. The 60-credit program can be completed in four semesters. The curriculum provides a strong liberal-arts foundation, allowing students to develop critical thinking. The many courses offered in the program allow students to see the world through various perspectives, and the knowledge and values that are taught empower students to make a difference in people’s lives.
Tuition: $8,692
8. Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Human Services Associate of Applied Science Online
Iowa Central Community College offers an exciting associate’s degree program in social work. Students can choose from six start dates per year, and each semester is split up into two eight-week blocks. Full-time students can take two or three eight-week courses at once. Students will be prepared to immediately enter the workplace or to transfer to a four-year program. Students will complete additional classes in psychology and sociology that allow them to focus on and pursue their own special interests.
Tuition: $9,931
7. Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, Georgia
Associate of Arts in Social Work Online
Associate of Science in Social Work Online 
At Georgia Military College, students can choose between two social-work associate’s degree programs that can be completed entirely online. The AA degree and AS degree require 70 credits and 65 credits, respectively. Both programs are designed to give students the necessary skills to obtain entry-level employment in public and private social-service agencies. Graduates can gain employment as mental health technicians and eligibility determination specialists.
Tuition: $7,759
6. South Texas College
Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Social Work Associate of Arts Online
South Texas College offers an extremely affordable online program in social work. This program is designed to parallel the core curriculum of the first two years of a bachelor’s program to facilitate easy transfer. Upon completion, students will be prepared for employment in a variety of social-work settings. The required 60 credits consist of 42 core-curriculum credits and 18 social-work concentration credits.
Tuition: $1,630
5. Bucks County Community College
Newtown, Pennsylvania
Social Work Associate of Arts Online
At Bucks County Community College, students can earn an affordable associate’s degree in social work entirely online. The 63-credit program is designed for students who intend to transfer to a four-year college. The major emphasizes social-work theory and practice with a strong general education foundation. All online courses are interactive and are facilitated by an instructor.
Tuition: $7,312
4. Barton Community College
Great Bend, Kansas
Associate of Arts in Social Work Online
Barton Community College offers an associate’s degree in social work that can be completed entirely online. This affordable program is offered as part of BCC’s pre-professional degree program, and it is designed for transfer to a four-year college. Online classes are scheduled on a weekly basis, and students have the flexibility to determine the time of day and days of the week to attend classes. Students also have the option to choose between six-, eight-, and 16-week classes.
Tuition: $8,008
3. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Associate of Social Services Online
The social-services associate’s degree program at New Mexico State University is a great option for those looking to earn an affordable social-work degree online. The 60-credit, fully online program will prepare students for entry-level positions in various social-work settings. Students have the option to choose a Spanish or paraprofessional degree emphasis. Additionally, students will graduate prepared to transfer to a four-year degree program or enter the workplace.
Tuition: $6,662
2. Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi
Associate of Arts in Social Work Online
At Holmes Community College, students can earn an associate’s degree in social work while studying almost entirely online. The online catalog at HCC is extensive, and students have the flexibility to choose from 15-week, full-term courses or four- to eight-week accelerated courses. The 62-credit social-work program can be completed in four semesters, and it includes exciting choices for social/behavioral science electives. The program uses the Mississippi Virtual Community College, which enables students to choose a virtual option for almost every course.
Tuition: $6,045
1. Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
Associate’s Degree in Social Work Online
Copiah-Lincoln offers the best option for earning an affordable online associate’s degree in social work. This 63-credit program can be completed in four semesters. The school offers over 30 degree programs fully online, including the online social-work program. Graduates will be prepared for career opportunities like teaching, social work, care management, coordination of geriatric services, and many others. The school has an articulation agreement with many MS colleges and universities, allowing for easy transfer.
Tuition: $4,875
Related Resources:
- Top Associate’s Degrees in General Studies Online
- Top Associate’s Degrees in Psychology Online
- Affordable Associate’s in Hospitality Management Online
- Associate’s in Public Safety
