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25 Best Associate's Degrees in Social Work Online Top Ranked Online ASW Degree Programs

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An Associate’s level degree in Social Work (ASW) is an academic program that is offered by community and traditional colleges as well as universities. Degree programs for this two-year degree generally require sixty academic credit units but are delivered in several formats – on campus, online, or a hybrid combination of both. A social worker is a professional who acts as a liaison between local/state/federal social service agencies and those families or people who need assistance or help in solving personal and interrelationship problems.

An associate social work degree is an excellent choice for someone brand new to the field of social work as it offers a comprehensive general education curriculum plus introductory social work coursework. A social work degree at the associate’s level provides the entrance to an educational journey that can take you in many career directions.

An online associate’s degree in social work opens the door to entry-level jobs as you consider pursuing other more advanced degrees in social work or a related field.

Social work positions are available in various settings such as clinics, nursing homes, government agencies, and schools. Depending on where you end up, your work may bear some similarities to that of a human services professional. Potential employers include hospitals, mental health centers, rehabilitation centers, government agencies, schools, and correctional institutions.

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

How We Ranked the Best Online Associate’s in Social Work Programs

The College Consensus Best Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Programs ranking is focused specifically on accredited, legitimate institutions. Programs are ranked by 3 evenly weighted factors:

  • US News Ranking
  • Niche Score
  • Grad Report Score

Our ranking of the Best Online Associate’s in Social Work Programs is intended to show prospective students the programs that will pay off and make a real impact in their lives.

Western New Mexico University’s School of Social Work offers an Associate of Arts in Human Services (AA) degree that offers flexibility and convenience. Western New Mexico University’s online associate’s degree in social work requires students to complete 60 semester hours, including 34 units that include general education requirements. Classes for WNMU’s associate’s degree in social work online program. Include ethics in human services, the principles of diversity, and information literacy in human service, to name a few. This online social work associate’s degree from Western New Mexico University is a great springboard to an entry-level job or a baccalaureate degree program.

Western New Mexico University was established in the 1890s as a teacher’s training institute, then known as a normal school. Its rural campus in Silver City and online platform serve approximately 3,500 students each year. Western New Mexico University’s child development program is among the most recognized in the nation and offers a five-star learning lab.

Score:
95.70

Minot State University (MSU Social Work) offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Human Services with an academic specialty in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities that is among the state’s leading online associate’s degree in social work. Minot State University’s associate’s degree in social work online program prepares graduates for entry-level positions as direct support professionals or to further their education in social work or a related field. This online social work associate’s degree requires degree candidates to complete 68 academic credits. Featured coursework includes human development, aging, IDD, and promoting inclusive opportunities, plus an integrative field experience, to name a few.

Minot State University was established as a state teacher’s school in 1913. Minot State University (operates as a member of the state’s university system and a space-grant higher learning institution. The school’s rural campus in North Dakota is home to approximately 3,000 students. Minot State University offers more than 60 study topics across ten study fields.

Score:
95.00

3

Northcentral Technical College

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) offers an Associate in Human Services degree program that can be completed entirely online. Northcentral Technical College’s online social work associates degree requires 64 academic semester units to graduate. Students enrolled in Northcentral Technical College’s associate’s degree in social work online program can be completed as full-time students in four terms or part-time in eight or nine terms. Featured classes for NTC’s online associate’s degree in social work include developmental psychology, group counseling methods, and methods of social casework, among others.

Northcentral Technical College operates as a public community higher learning institution in Wausau. Northcentral Technical College, founded in 1912, is a member of the state’s technical college system. The urban campus is home to more than 4,000 students each year. Certificates and degrees from Northcentral Technical College are available in business, health, agriculture, business, public safety, technical/trades, etc.

Score:
77.11

Cornerstone University (CU) offers an Associate of Science (AS) in Human Services degree program that prepares students for entry-level programs in the field of social work. Cornerstone University’s online social work associate degree requires no on-campus visits and 62-semester credits. Potential career paths for those who complete this associate’s degree in social work online program include counseling, youth worker services, no profits, and other social service organizations. Classes for this online associate’s degree in social work begin in the fall, summer, and spring.

Cornerstone University is a private institution of higher education that operates as a non-denominational Christian school. It was founded in 1941 and includes two seminaries – one in Grand Rapids and another in Thailand. The school’s student enrollment is approximately 2,000. Several social work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Score:
76.75

5

Waukesha County Technical College

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Human Services that can be finished in only two years. WCTC’s online associate’s degree in social work requires students to complete sixty-semester units. This associate’s degree in social work online program is offered with three start dates each year – August, January, and June. Students enrolled in Waukesha County Technical College’s online social work associates degree program are required to complete dual practicums to graduate.

Waukesha County Technical College is a multiple-campus higher learning institution that was established in 1923. Waukesha County Technical College (County Tech) is a member of the state’s technical college system that serves more than 16,500 each year. Waukesha County Technical College offers more than 150 study areas across many disciplines.

Score:
74.30

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

6

Casper College

Casper College (CC) School of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers an Associate of Arts (AA) degree program in Social Work, with a majority of classes available online. This online associates degree in social work offers graduates a seamless transition to a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming. Featured courses from this associates degree in social work online program include sociological principles, intro to social work, and cultural environment requirements, plus a social work lab, to name a few. The total credits required for this College’s online social work associates degree program is sixty units.

Casper College is a community college that was founded in 1945. This public institution of higher education was the state’s first operating junior college. More than 4,000 students attend classes to earn an academic degree for a technical diploma/certificate. The school is home to the Tate Geological Museum.

Score:
72.54

7

Montgomery County Community College

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Human Services, which is a leading program in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. Montgomery County Community College’s online associate’s degree in social work offers graduates the opportunity to enter the job market or transfer to a baccalaureate program. Montgomery County Community College’s associate’s degree in social work online program provides concentrations in children, youth & family services, addictions, or gerontology. This CSHSE accredited online social work associate’s degree can be completed as a part-time or a full-time student.

Montgomery County Community College (Montco) was founded in the mid-1960s as a public community college. This multiple-campus institution of higher education serves nearly 13,000 undergraduate students every year. Montgomery County Community College is also home to a Culinary Arts Institute and a licensed Municipal Police Academy.

Score:
70.79

8

Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global offers an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) in Human Services that is recognized among the leading online associate’s degree in social work. Purdue University’s associate’s degree in social work online program requires sixty-semester units (or 90 quarter credits) to graduate over two years if studying full-time. Purdue’s online social work associate degree is a member of the CSHSE. The program offers a transfer option to PG’s baccalaureate program but requires a comprehensive capstone to meet program requirements.

Purdue University Global was founded in 2018 upon the acquisition of the existing school – Kaplan University. Nearly 44,000 students attend classes offered by Purdue University Global – both undergraduate and graduate students. Purdue University Global, with administrative offices in West Lafayette, is an online platform and a member of the Purdue University system.

Score:
70.44

Brescia University Online offers an Associate of Arts degree (AA) in Human Services that focuses on crisis counseling and relevant interventions. Brescia University’s online associates degree in social work is available with five start dates each year. This associates degree in social work online program from Brescia University is SACS-COC accredited and allows for the transfer of credits towards a bachelor’s degree program. Brescia University’s 63-credit unit program includes classes in social diversity, developmental psychology, the principles of sociology, and introduction to psychology and development, to name a few. This online social work associates degree can be completed in two years if studying full-time.

Brescia University was founded in the 1920s as a junior college for women. The school now operates coeducationally and is affiliated with the Catholic Church.  Brescia’s online platform and Owensboro campus serve approximately 1,300 students.

Score:
70.09

10

Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College (RACC Human Services Division) offers an Associate of Arts degree (AA) program in Social Work that is a leading entry-level program in Pennsylvania. Reading Area Community College’s online associate’s degree in social work requires sixty credit units to meet Reading Area Community College program requirements. Featured classes for this associate’s degree in social work online program can be completed in four semesters if attending classes full-time.  Reading Area Community College’s online social work associate degree is also a transfer pathway to a baccalaureate degree program in social work.

Reading Area Community College was established in the early 1970s as a publicly operated community college. Its urban Reading campus and online platform serve more than 4,550 students each year. Reading Area Community College is also recognized as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) serving the greater Reading area.

Score:
69.04

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

11

Seminole State College of Florida

Seminole State College offers an Associate of Arts degree in Social Work Pathway that is ranked among the Sunshine State’s leading online associate’s degree in social work programs. Students enrolled in Seminole State College’s associate’s degree in social work online program are required to complete sixty-semester units to meet requirements. Featured classes for Seminole State College’s online social work associate’s degree include general psychology and introduction to social work and social problems, to name a few.

Seminole State College of Florida is a member school of the Florida College System that was founded as a junior college in 1965. The college’s central suburban Florida location serves more than 32,550 students and offers small intimate class sizes. Seminole State College was ranked among the top schools for Social Mobility in 2022 by US News and World Report.

Score:
68.68

Columbia College of Missouri offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree program in Human Services that is recognized among Missouri’s leading online associates degree in social work programs. Potential careers for those graduating from Columbia College’s associates degree in social work online program include contact tracer, care coordinator, case management assistant, or social services assistant, among others. Columbia College’s online social work associates degree requires sixty-semester units, of which 45 credits may be transferred if they meet eligibility requirements.

Columbia College (CC) was founded in the 1850s as Christian College. This private college now operates non-sectarian and serves more than 9,000 students each year. Approximately one-third of Columbia College’s students are affiliated with the United States military. Columbia College maintains more than thirty extended education facilities in 13 states and another in Cuba.

Score:
68.33

13

Alexandria Technical & Community College

Alexandria Technical & Community College (ATCC) offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Behavioral Health and Human Services, which is one of Minnesota’s more innovative online associate’s degree in social work programs. This 64-credit associate’s degree in social work online program prepares graduates for work in clinics, schools, residential centers, and community support agencies. Featured classes for this online social work associate’s degree include direct service professionalism, supportive interventions, ethics, general psychology, facilitating positive behavior, and medical terminology, plus an internship, to name a few.

Alexandria Technical & Community College was founded in the early 1960s as Alexandria College. Alexandria Technical & Community College operates as a public community school and member of the state’s colleges and universities system. About half of the school’s 3,500 students study at Alexandria Technical and Community College full-time.

Score:
68.33

Monroe College School of Criminal & Social Justice offers an online social work associate’s degree (AS) that can be completed online, in-person or a hybrid of the two. Monroe College’s online associate’s degree in social work program can be completed in only four semesters and offers. Both practicum and internship opportunities. This associate’s degree in social work online program requires 62-semester units. Featured classes include sociology, the fundamentals of communication, counseling theory, and the psychology of abnormal behavior, to name a few.

Monroe College (MC) was founded in the 1930s as a business school. This for-profit higher learning institution is a private school with two campuses in New York (The Bronx and New Rochelle), one in Saint Lucia, and an academic learning center in Manhattan. Monroe College’s student enrollment exceeds 6,500 undergraduate students.

Score:
68.33

15

Motlow State Community College

Motlow State Community College offers two of the state’s leading online social work associate degree programs that include an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science (AS) in Social Work. Students enrolled in Motlow State Community College’s online associate’s degree in social work program can participate in the state’s transfer pathway to a baccalaureate program. The AA and AS programs are similar, although the curriculum for both requires sixty-semester units to graduate.

Motlow State Community College (MSCC) is a community college in south-central Tennessee that was founded in the late 1960s. The college’s student enrollment exceeds 5,000 and includes an eleven-county area. The school’s name honors the state senator and his important contributions. The women’s soccer team at Motlow State Community College has had some impressive success despite the fact that the program only began in 2017.

Score:
66.93

Elizabethtown College (EC Online) offers an Associate of Science (AS) in Human Services that, is a leading Pennsylvania online associate’s degree in social work program. This online social work associate’s degree prepares students for entry-level direct services work across various work settings. Elizabethtown College’s associate’s degree in social work online program includes these featured classes – social welfare programs & policy, ethical issues in human services, and counseling techniques and skills, to name a few. Enrolled students have the option of selecting three electives across various related studies.

Elizabethtown College (E-Town) is a private higher learning institution founded by the Church of the Brethren in 1899. Elizabethtown college’s campus covers more than two hundred acres and includes Lake Placida. The school’s honor program is supported by a gift from the Hershey Company. About 10% of Elizabethtown College’s 1,600 students are Hershey employees.

Score:
61.67

17

Ozarks Technical Community College

Ozarks Technical Community College (OTCC) offers an Associate of Arts degree in Social Work that has been developed for graduates who wish to transfer to an accredited bachelor’s degree program. Students enrolled in this online associate’s degree in social work program must complete 62-semester units. This online social work associate degree program can be completed, on average, in 2 1/3 years. Featured classes of Ozarks Technical Community College’s associate’s degree in social work online program include cultural diversity and introduction to social work, to name a few.

Ozarks Technical Community College (Ozark Technical) was founded in 1990 and maintains six locations in the southern part of Missouri. The college’s Springfield campus and online platform serve more than 10,550 students each year. Ozarks Technical Community College has recently been approved to offer its first baccalaureate degree program – in respiratory therapy.

Score:
60.96

Rasmussen University offers an Associates in Human Services online degree in Human and Social Services that can be completed in only 1.5 years. Rasmussen’s online associate’s degree in social work program requires no campus visits. This online social work associate degree program prepares students for entry-level, non-licensed work in various social work settings. Featured classes in this associate’s degree in social work online program include evolving populations, perspectives on human behavior, and working with clients, to name a few.

Rasmussen University is a multiple-campus for-profit higher learning institution that was founded in 1900. Rasmussen is a private school with campuses in Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Florida that serve more than 15,150 students. Rasmussen University began as a school for business in Minnesota for men but enrolled women soon after the 19th amendment was passed.

Score:
60.61

19

Bryant & Stratton College

Bryant & Stratton College (BSC) offers an accredited Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Human and Social Services that is among the leading available online associate’s degree in social work programs. Featured classes for Bryant & Stratton College’s online social work associates degree program include theory, assessment, and interventions, crisis intervention, abnormal psychology, cultural competence in the human services, and public health issues, plus a capstone or internship, to name a few. This associate’s degree in social work online program prepares students for entry-level positions across the healthcare and human services sectors.

Bryant & Stratton College was founded in the 1850s as a business school. The main campus is in western New York, but Bryant & Stratton College operates campuses across the states of Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia. More than 10,000 students attend Bryant & Stratton College classes each year.

Score:
58.86

20

Tyler Junior College

Tyler Junior College offers an Associate of Arts in Social Work degree program that leads most of the Lone Star State’s online associate’s degree in social work programs. Tyler Junior College’s online social work associates degree program requires enrolled students to complete sixty credit units, sixteen of which are social-work related. Featured classes for Tyler Junior College’s associate’s degree in social work online program include an introduction to social work, elementary statistics, general psychology, and social welfare as a social institution, to name a few.

Tyler Junior College was founded in the mid-1920s as a public institution of higher education. The college’s urban campus covers more than 100 acres and serves more than 12,000 students, with another 20,000 students taking advantage of the school’s comprehensive continuing education program selection. Highlight – Tyler Junior College is an athletic haven for students who love sports. The school has won more than 65 national junior championships across sports.

Score:
57.11

21

South Texas College

South Texas College offers an Associate of Arts degree in Social Work that is available entirely online. STC’s online associate’s degree in social work program offers a perfect springboard to transfer to a four-year social work (or related field) academic program. Enrolled students in this online social work associate degree program must complete a total of sixty-semester credits to meet South Texas College’s graduation requirements. Featured coursework in South Texas College’s associate’s degree in social work online program includes marriage and the family, social welfare, social problems, and statistical methods in psychology, among others.

South Texas College (STC) was founded in the mid-1990s in southern Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. STC is a public community college that serves more than 30,000 students each year. South Texas College maintains a half-dozen campuses that serve the Starr and Hidalgo County areas.

Score:
55.35

Georgia Military College (GMC Online) offers two of Georgia’s leading online associate’s degree in social work programs with its Associate of Arts (AA) or its Associate of Science (AS) degree in Social Work. These online social work associate degree program options can be completed in about two years. Georgia Military College’s associate’s degree in social work online programs prepare students for rewarding careers in counseling, addiction interventions, health education, community health, or school counseling, to name a few.

Founded in the 1870s, Georgia Military College was intended to be a public military junior school. The college’s urban campus is home to more than 8,150 students. Georgia Military College’s main building was once the Georgia State Capital (1807-1868). Georgia Military College is one of the nation’s four junior colleges that are affiliated with the United States Army’s early commission program.

Score:
55.00

23

Penn State World Campus

Penn State World Campus offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Human Development and Family Studies Online that ranks among the top online associate’s degree in social work programs available. This Penn State World Campus online social work associates degree program has multiple start dates and requires sixty-semester credits to graduate. Penn State’s associate’s degree in social work online program is flexible for those studying while working full-time. This Penn State World Campus degree offers two pathways – adult development and aging services or children, youth, and family services.

As the online platform/campus of Pennsylvania State University, Penn State World Campus administration is headquartered in University Park, PA, but its nearly 15,000 students study online. Many of Penn State World Campus’s online programs rank among the best in the country – including engineering, business, education, information technology, and veteran’s programs.

Score:
55.00

24

Piedmont Community College

Piedmont Community College Online offers an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Human Services Technology that ranks among North Carolina’s leading online associate’s degree in social work programs. Graduates of PCC’s online social work associate degree program are prepared for entry-level work across various human services areas. Students are eligible, upon graduation from Piedmont Community College’s associate’s degree in social work online program, to take the HSBCP (Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner Exam) to become HS-BCP certified. Coursework includes developmental and general psychology, interviewing techniques, and gerontology, to name a few.

Piedmont Community College was founded in the early 1970s. Piedmont Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, with several campuses in Roxboro and Yanceyville.  Piedmont Community College is home to more than 10,000 students attending classes each year. Many of Piedmont Community College’s degrees offer transfer pathways to bachelor’s degree programs in four-year universities.

Score:
55.00

The University of Maine at Augusta Online offers an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Mental Health and Human Services (MHHS) that is among New England’s leading online associate’s degree in social work programs. The University of Maine’s online social work associates degree program requires the completion of 61-semester units, of which 36 credits are classes for the program’s major. Featured classes for the University of Maine’s associate’s degree in social work online program include community mental health, interviewing skills for human services, intro to substance use disorder, and cultural competence in the helping professionals, to name a few.

The University of Maine at Augusta, developed in the mid-1960s, is a public institution of higher education by an act of the state legislature. The school has two divisions – the College of Professional Studies and the College of Arts and Sciences. More than 6,000 students attend classes on the university’s urban campus or online. Highlight – The Augusta campus is one of nine campuses of the state’s university system.

Score:
54.30

Recommended Online Degree Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Why Should I Get My Social Work Associate’s Degree Online?

The field of social work is perfect for those who love people and want to make a difference in the world. Social workers are in demand at all times, but especially amidst this public health crisis at hand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that licensed social workers are in demand and the field is steadily growing.

There are many things you can do with a social work degree, and what better place to start than an associate’s degree in social work online. A perfect way to get your feet wet is to explore the intricacies of the social work discipline with the foundation that an associates degree offers. Generally, this course of study will include a series of introductory courses in the subjects that make up the discipline including sociology, psychology, and other related subjects like communication and statistics.

An online social work associate’s degree is an excellent way to get started if you want to eventually go on to a bachelor’s degree program in the same field. Many courses in community colleges are transfer-friendly, making it easy to move seamlessly from an associate to a bachelors. This is not only an economical choice, but also one that allows students to really decide if this is the right field for them, prior to investing four years into an academic program.

Given the times we are in, an associate degree in social work online might be the best way to go. A social work associate’s degree online offers the flexibility to accomplish everything you were already doing while studying for your human service education from the convenience of your home or workplace. Social work is a career that will always be in demand, as long as there is a need in the world. Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine that changing any time soon.

Many of these associate degrees in social work online programs are geared towards students who are interested in transferring to a four-year bachelor’s program upon completion. In most cases, this is a more economical choice than going straight into a four-year institution of higher learning. Some people, however, choose to hit the ground running on an entry-level career in the field instead of furthering their education at this particular juncture. There are many styles of programming, and some are intended to get students out in the field as much as possible. 

How Do I Choose an Online Social Work Associate’s Degree?

As aforementioned, there is a myriad of program styles for online schools for a social worker associate degree. A human services program may emphasize extensive hands-on learning opportunities. In fact, many programs connect students with organizations in their area where they can participate in internship opportunities. There are other fieldwork opportunities that programs offer, some of which are the entire length of the program, and others are short sections. Some opportunities are considered practicum classes and will be important contributions to a final portfolio. Portfolios can be excellent additions to job applications for human service agencies. This is all to say, you might look for a program that offers the field experience that is in line with the career path you are interested in. 

How Much Can I Make with an Associate’s in Social Work?

According to PayScale, with an associate in social work, the average salary is $42,000. One could easily gain entry-level employment in the field. An associate degree in social work salary has quite a range; a staffing manager can easily make something to the tune of $53,000 with an associate’s degree. Not so bad if you ask me. Many of these positions offer additional perks like health insurance and profit-sharing benefits, as well as health savings accounts, and bonuses. Also, in the social work industry, there is plenty of room for growth. This is to say that a social work associate degree salary will grow with time as the career path makes it easy for professionals to work their way up the ladder in an organization. Many people start in entry-level positions and end up in managerial positions in a few years. Social work is a field where experience can get you farther than education in some cases. 

Related:

What Can I Do with an Associate’s in Social Work?

25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Social Work

What Can I Do with a Bachelor’s in Social Work?

What Can I Do with a Master’s in Social Work?

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.

Ready to start your journey?

Get a personalized list of degree programs that fit your needs.