Top 25 Online Associate in Management Programs for 2019

If you've been thinking about earning your business management degree online, now is an opportune time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in management is projected to grow by 6% from 2014 to 2024. As a result, employees with degrees in management are in high demand. This guide will help you decide if an online business management degree is right for you.

What are the Best Online Associate in Management Programs?

Top 25 Online Associate in Management Programs for 2019

1. Clarion University of Pennsylvania — Clarion, PA

Admissions Rate

96%

Graduation Rate

49%

Online Enrollment

25%

Retention Rate

73%

Default Rate

8%

Clarion University's associate in business administration with a concentration in general management is a 60-credit program. Students take courses in general education, business, and management. At least 30 credits must be completed at Clarion, which includes 12 credits each in business and management. Online courses are delivered through the Desire2Learn platform. Students who complete the associate degree have the option to continue with the bachelor's degree on Clarion's campus in Pennsylvania.

Online students who are Pennsylvania residents pay the same tuition as students on campus. Non-residents pay slightly lower tuition online than they would at a campus location. Online students do not have to pay student center, activity, and recreation center fees. Student services include the online writing center, career services, and online tutoring.

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2. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide — Daytona Beach, FL

3. Community Care College — Tulsa, OK

4. Fox Valley Technical College — Appleton, WI

5. Northland Community and Technical College — Thief River Falls, MN

6. Northwest Technical College — Bemidji, MN

7. Excelsior College — Albany, NY

8. Northeast Iowa Community College — Calmar, IA

9. North Central Missouri College — Trenton, MO

10. North Hennepin Community College — Brooklyn Park, MN

11. Maysville Community and Technical College — Maysville, KY

12. Montgomery County Community College — Blue Bell, PA

13. Cosumnes River College — Sacramento, CA

14. American River College — Sacramento, CA

15. Hagerstown Community College — Hagerstown, MD

16. Westmoreland County Community College — Youngwood, PA

17. State Fair Community College — Sedalia, MO

18. Yavapai College — Prescott, AR

19. Tidewater Community College — Norfolk, VA

20. Florence-Darlington Technical College — Florence, SC

21. Portland Community College — Portland, OR

22. Tulsa Community College — Tulsa, OK

23. Mesa Community College — Mesa, AZ

24. Washtenaw Community College — Ann Arbor, MI

25. Spartanburg Community College — Spartanburg, SC

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How to Choose an Online Associate in Management Program

There are many factors to consider when deciding which business management online degree is best for you. You should pay attention to the length of the programs at various schools. Not all online business management degrees have the same curriculum; you may want to compare the courses in each program to decide which will best prepare you for entry into your career field. Some programs require that you complete some portion of your online business management degree on campus. Others have no residency requirement and are 100% online.

Another important consideration is whether or not a particular program is accredited. Graduates from accredited online business management degree programs have more options available for employment and further education. Regionally accredited schools are favored more than nationally accredited schools. For most students, cost is a very important factor. You should compare the relative costs of each school's program as you're deciding where to pursue your business management degree online.

Educational Paths for Graduates of Associate in Management Programs

Once you've earned your online business management degree, you may decide to move directly into your career field. However, pursuing a bachelor's degree can mean a higher salary. Careers for graduates with an associate degree in management range in median salary from $50,820 to $66,360, while a compensation and benefit manager (a career that requires a bachelor's in management) earns a median salary of $116,240.

If you're considering transferring your credits from an associate degree to a bachelor's program, you may want to look into earning one of the following degrees.

• Bachelor's in Business Management These programs give students the tools they need to succeed in leadership positions. Common specializations include marketing management, financial management, operational management, and human resource development management.

• Bachelor's in Project Management Bachelor's programs in project management focus on planning and organizational skills, scheduling, contracts, and risk management. Students explore theories in asset procurement, leadership, and communication. Other courses touch on risk monitoring and project control.

• Bachelor's in Healthcare Management Healthcare management bachelor's programs teach students about healthcare policy, methods of decision making, and quality assurance techniques. Students also learn about risk management and epidemiological research.

• Bachelor's in Hospitality Management Students earning their bachelor's degree in hospitality management examine the day-to-day operations of hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related facilities. They learn how to budget, problem solve, and ensure customer satisfaction.

• Bachelor's in Public Administration These programs cover the ins and outs of government structure, policy enforcement, and implementing social change. Students explore topics such as the ethics of government operations and the intricacies of fiscal management.

Career Paths for Management Graduates

Graduates with online business management degrees are prepared for success in a multitude of industries, many of which are exciting and lucrative. From food service to property management, all businesses need people to oversee day-to-day operations and ensure success in the long term. Though they may work in different environments, graduates of these programs can apply the same principles of leadership and business acumen to their field of choice.

Job Outlook and Salary for Management Associate Degree Graduates

The BLS projects 6% job growth in the field of management in the period from 2014 to 2024. Students who are interested in earning their business management degree online should be aware that several factors can affect the salary they will earn in this field after graduation. As a business management degree can prepare graduates for entry into a wide range of careers, the particular positions and industries in which they work will have an impact on their salaries. Geographical region is also relevant, since the cost of living can vary dramatically from place to place.

Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Management Associate Degrees

Graduates with online business management degrees generally find that the more experience they have in their field, the more money they will make. Their years of work provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to perform well in high-level positions and make necessary decisions as problems arise. The following table provides the median salaries for office managers, property managers, and agricultural managers at increasing levels of experience.

To determine the best online associate in management programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online associate in management programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.