Inside Online Health Science Associate Degrees
If you’re thinking about entering the healthcare field, earning a health science associate degree is a good place to start. Whether you want to pursue a clinical or nonclinical career path, these programs will give you a base of knowledge for you to build on. Here we’ll explore health science degrees, including top school, career paths, and answers to students’ most common questions.

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Exploring Online Health Science Associate Programs
Online health science associate degree programs provide an introductory view of the healthcare industry that can prepare students to work in both clinical and nonclinical roles, from nursing practice to medical billing and coding. These degrees provide an interdisciplinary and holistic approach that combines biology, management, communication, and nutrition, among other topics.
Generally, you can find online options that allow you to complete all of your coursework virtually. Some programs may offer internships, so you can get hands-on experience working in a healthcare setting. However, unless the program is delivered on a hybrid basis, you probably won’t be required to participate in any in-person activities.
When researching a program, pay close attention to the curriculum and whether you can choose a concentration. Focusing your studies on a specific area will develop your knowledge and skills within your areas of interest. Associate programs can also prepare you to pursue a bachelor’s degree if you want to continue your education.
Parker University
Parker University’s health sciences associate degree program gives students the foundation they need to pursue a variety of positions, such as health screener, community healthcare worker, and health coach jobs. In addition, students can leverage what they learned to pursue a bachelor’s degree and continue on to graduate school if they choose. To provide this preparation, the school emphasizes the abilities students need—such as communication and ethical skills—to navigate the common challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Parker University offers graduate support services, so you’ll get career guidance to help you for years to come.
Duration: Five terms
Mode: Online
Cost: $43,680
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma, equivalent, or 24 semester hours of undergraduate study
- Meningitis law compliance
- Transcripts
- Background check
Core Curriculum:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Communications
- Creative arts/humanities
- Medical terminology
- Math
- Social/behavioral sciences
- Management
- Public health, health policy
- Community health, disease prevention
- Nutrition
- Lifespan development
- Biology
- Ethics
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
SUNY Broome Community College
The health sciences associate degree program offered by SUNY Broome Community College allows students to customize their studies so they take the coursework that is most relevant to their individual goals. This is possible because of the interdisciplinary nature of the classes students can choose from. By the end of the program, you’ll have the theoretical framework and practical abilities needed to effectively communicate in any healthcare setting. Also, you’ll be able to understand quantitative reasoning, promote health and wellness, and use ethical principles to make workplace decisions. Students can use the education they receive as a jumping off point for a bachelor’s degree, and then move on to graduate-level work.
Duration: 24 months
Mode: Online
Cost: $11,328 state residents, $22,656 out-of-state residents
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
Core Curriculum:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Health sciences
- Psychology, sociology
- Chemistry/biochemistry
- Health promotion
- Math, stats, history, writing
- Human development
- Medical law and ethics
- Microbiology
- Crisis Intervention
- Communication
- Personal and community health
Northwest Technical College
Northwest Technical College’s health sciences associate degree program provides an understanding of the social, ethical, and psychological concepts successful healthcare professionals should know. Additionally, the 60-credit program focuses on strengthening communication skills, so students can promote good health both verbally and in writing to diverse populations.
To help students succeed, Northwest Technical College provides advisers who help students make decisions about their next steps. Whether they want to pursue entry-level positions after graduation or continue with their education, this invaluable guidance can help you make the right choices to reach your goals. For example, many students who earn a health sciences associate degree go on to bachelor’s degree programs at other schools in the Minnesota State system.
Duration: 24 months
Mode: Online or on campus
Cost: $12,693
Admissions Requirements:
- High school diploma or its equivalent
- Transcripts
- Submission of college-level transcripts if applicable
Core Curriculum:
- Writing, public speaking, communications
- Biology, microbiology, chemistry
- Algebra, stats
- Psychology, sociology
- Ethics
- Nutrition
- Anatomy and physiology
- Healthcare system, health communication
- Community roles
- Child development, diverse family relations
- Macroeconomics
- Gerontology and aging
- Dementia, Alzheimer’s, death, dying
- Sign language
- Medical terminology
- Nursing assistant
- CPR / first aid
FAQs from Future Online Health Science Associate Degree Students
Since an associate in health science degree can lead to a wide range of careers, as well as bachelor’s degrees, it’s important to understand what goes into these programs. Here you’ll find answers to some of students most commonly asked questions.
Does an online health science associate degree offer career flexibility?
Yes. Health science associate degrees can position you to move in several different directions. If you want to train for an entry-level healthcare job, this degree will give you the skills employers look for in a relatively short amount of time. This degree is also an affordable way to jumpstart your career or prepare for more education. Also, these programs can prepare you to qualify for a certification, such as phlebotomy, EKG technician, and medical administrative assistant designations.
Are there concentrations in a health science associate program?
Depending on the program, students may be able to pursue a specialization while completing their health science associate degree. For example, the healthcare administration specialization helps learners understand the ins-and-outs of medical facilities and the role they play in the community. Meanwhile, the curriculum of the medical lab technician concentration focuses on teaching students the specific skills needed to conduct medical tests, work directly with patients, obtain and store specimens, and perform basic daily procedures in a lab setting. In the medical records and information concentration, students learn how to organize and manage health information data, particularly digitizing medical records and properly storing and securing patient information.
Is there financial aid available for health science associate degree students?
Online students benefit from exploring all financial aid types before entering a program. It pays to research your options to maximize the amount of money you can receive to fund your education.
First and foremost, scholarships for health science degrees are a great source of education funding, which you can receive from your college, as well as external sources. These awards are provided based on merit and financial circumstances, and they don’t need to be paid back. For example, Parker University offers needs- and academic-based scholarships to current and incoming students.
Similarly, grants are a source of financing that don’t have to be paid back. They’re typically based on a student’s financial need and come from the federal or state government, private or nonprofit organizations, or your college or university.
Another good source of financial aid is through work-study programs, which allow you to offset your expenses with pay in exchange for working a job on campus. And of course, when you have exhausted all of your other options, you can bridge the financial gap by taking out student loans.
How can I further my education in health science?
After getting a taste of the healthcare industry with your associate degree in health science, you may wish to increase your employment options with more education. A bachelor’s degree in health science allows learners to take more coursework related to the field and focus more specifically on a subdivision of health science. Popular concentrations for bachelor’s level programs include pharmacology, exercise science, psychology, healthcare management, and diet and nutrition.
On the master’s level, health science degrees are further specialized so you can really gain advanced expertise in your area of interest. Often, people secure a master’s to pursue non-medical healthcare professions such as health informatics, public health, and health and human performance.
Alternatively, perhaps you already hold a degree or work experience in another field, and you may want to transition into healthcare from a different career. Often, these individuals opt for an accelerated health science degree program to put them on the fast track to completion. Whatever the case, a host of options are available to further your education in the health science field.
What types of degrees are similar to health science?
Since healthcare is such a broad field, you may want to examine similar disciplines and degrees as part of your research. For example, healthcare administration—usually on the master’s level—is for those who want to learn the nuts and bolts of leadership in the field. They can go on to work in roles that focus on organization issues, such as staffing in environments like hospitals and clinics. Similarly, healthcare management degree programs focus on handling the day-to-day operations of the workplace. The curriculum emphasizes healthcare policies, financial accounting, and leadership strategies.
Career Profile: What Can You Do with an Associate in Health Science?
By earning an online associate degree in health science, you open doors to many employment opportunities in the healthcare field and beyond. Many associate degree holders pursue exciting careers at doctors’ offices, hospitals, and care facilities.
Also, an associate degree in health science can prepare you for additional education at the bachelor’s degree level and beyond. Advanced degrees allow students to develop expertise in a specialized area and increase their earning potential.
Bottom line: Associate degree holders in health science have valuable options upon completing their programs. The following are some common career paths, all of which begin with a strong associate degree education.
Occupational Therapy Assistants
These professionals work in occupational therapists’ offices, hospitals, and nursing homes. Occupational therapy assistants are responsible for helping clients with activities that improve their motor functions, including teaching people how to use devices that make everyday activities easier. As they work with patients, they track the progress of different therapies. Also, occupational therapy assistants do administrative tasks for their employers.
Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants help patients with their treatments in several ways. Their duties include observing sessions and documenting patients’ progress, as well as assisting people with the exercises that are part of their treatments. Also, these professionals educate clients about the details of their therapies and the exercises they can do at home to improve their mobility.
Medical Assistants
Medical assistants are responsible for both clinical and administrative job duties in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and doctor’s offices. Their jobs entail conducting patient intake interviews to record their medical histories, taking vital signs, and providing injections and medications under the supervision of a doctor. Which clinical tasks medical assistants are allowed to perform can vary from one state to the next.
Medical Records Specialists
Medical records specialists ensure that patient information is accurate, complete, and secure, which helps healthcare organizations get paid by insurance companies for their services. In order to do this, they learn medical classification systems and apply them to different diagnoses and treatments. These workers must also be familiar with the privacy regulations and best practices for safeguarding patient data.
Medical Transcriptionists
Medical transcriptionists often work in hospitals and physicians’ offices. They may also be employed by third-party companies that provide transcription services to healthcare organizations. These professionals are responsible for creating documents—such as patient histories and discharge summaries—after listening to recordings from doctors and other healthcare professionals. They also enter these reports into electronic health records systems.
Top Online Programs for Associate in Health Science Degrees
Our comprehensive ranking system identifies the best-value programs that balance affordability with educational quality, helping you find options that fit your budget while meeting licensure requirements. For detailed information about our evaluation process, click the methodology pop-up above the rankings.
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi
Why We Selected Holmes Community College:
- Holmes Community College offers specialized career tracks in health sciences, including pre-medical and pre-dental pathways.
- The program provides foundational courses for various health professional programs, enhancing transfer opportunities.
- Holmes Community College does not explicitly offer tuition discounts or scholarships specific to the Health Sciences program.
Program Details
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Average In-State Tuition$2,700
- Average Institutional Aid$2,174
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course63%
- % of Students Receiving an Award34%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
Roane State Community College
Harriman, Tennessee
Why We Selected Roane State Community College:
- The program offers low clinical group ratios for personalized instruction.
- Roane State has articulation agreements for seamless BSN transitions.
- The program boasts a high NCLEX-RN pass rate, exceeding 90% in most years.
Program Details
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Average In-State Tuition$4,326
- Average Institutional Aid$2,114
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course52%
- % of Students Receiving an Award32%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
Cerritos College
Norwalk, California
Why We Selected Cerritos College:
- Cerritos College offers two years of free tuition through the Cerritos Complete program.
- The college provides guaranteed priority admission to CSU through Associate Degrees for Transfer programs.
- Cerritos College partners with National University to offer bachelor's degrees in select fields like Criminal Justice and Nursing.
Program Details
- AccreditationACCJC
- Average In-State Tuition$1,288
- Average Institutional Aid$174
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course78%
- % of Students Receiving an Award44%
- Student/Faculty Ratio26/1
College of Southern Maryland
La Plata, Maryland
Why We Selected College of Southern Maryland:
- The program offers specialized career tracks in health sciences, including nursing and nuclear medicine technology.
- The College of Southern Maryland provides opportunities for immediate employment in certain health fields with associate degrees.
- The program allows students to transfer to prestigious universities like Johns Hopkins for further education.
Program Details
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Average In-State Tuition$5,640
- Average Institutional Aid$1,501
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course92%
- % of Students Receiving an Award35%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
Northwest Technical College
Bemidji, Minnesota
Why We Selected Northwest Technical College:
- The program offers flexible online or on-campus study options for convenience.
- Northwest Technical College's health sciences program is ranked second nationally for online associate degrees.
- Graduates often achieve high job placement rates or advance to baccalaureate programs seamlessly.
Program Details
- AccreditationHLC
- Average In-State Tuition$6,057
- Average Institutional Aid$900
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course74%
- % of Students Receiving an Award43%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
CUNY Kingsborough Community College
Brooklyn, New York
Why We Selected CUNY Kingsborough Community College:
- The program offers microcredentials in Health Coaching, Basic Life Support, and First Aid.
- The degree provides opportunities for transfer to baccalaureate programs in health sciences.
- It caters to both new students and incumbent professionals seeking career advancement in health services.
Program Details
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Average In-State Tuition$4,800
- Average Institutional Aid$1,023
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course97%
- % of Students Receiving an Award35%
- Student/Faculty Ratio20/1
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, California
Why We Selected Saddleback College:
- Saddleback College offers shared courses across programs, allowing students to complete multiple certifications efficiently.
- The Health Sciences program at Saddleback College provides flexible online courses, enhancing accessibility for students statewide.
- Saddleback College's Health Sciences programs prepare students for various careers in hospitals, health departments, and non-profit agencies.
Program Details
- AccreditationACCJC
- Average In-State Tuition$1,288
- Average Institutional Aid$758
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course82%
- % of Students Receiving an Award53%
- Student/Faculty Ratio25/1
Lamar Institute of Technology
Beaumont, Texas
Why We Selected Lamar Institute of Technology:
- The program offers specialized career tracks in high-demand healthcare fields like Dental Hygiene and Health Information Technology.
- Lamar Institute of Technology provides competitive salaries and rewarding working conditions in various care settings.
- The program prepares students for in-demand jobs with a strong focus on practical skills and industry relevance.
Program Details
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Average In-State Tuition$1,920
- Average Institutional Aid$2,094
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course55%
- % of Students Receiving an Award28%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California
Why We Selected Pasadena City College:
- The program offers a comprehensive curriculum with a focus on patient care and ethical standards.
- Pasadena City College provides access to 16 diverse health science programs for students to explore.
- Students can benefit from financial aid opportunities to help cover program costs and fees.
Program Details
- AccreditationACCJC
- Average In-State Tuition$1,104
- Average Institutional Aid$1,127
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course88%
- % of Students Receiving an Award26%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
SUNY Broome Community College
Binghamton, New York
Why We Selected SUNY Broome Community College:
- The Health Sciences program at SUNY Broome offers flexible course options, allowing students to complete degrees entirely online.
- The program provides access to modern facilities like the Decker Health Science Center for hands-on learning experiences.
- Students benefit from specialized career tracks and expert faculty with real-world experience in healthcare settings.
Program Details
- AccreditationMSCHE
- Average In-State Tuition$5,088
- Average Institutional Aid$1,406
- % of Students in ≥1 Online Course63%
- % of Students Receiving an Award37%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
Base Methodology for EduMed’s “Best Online College Rankings” for the ‘24-’25 school year.
One: Create a list of eligible schools & programs
To be eligible for ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on data pulled from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which was self-reported by the schools themselves.
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
- At least one online component in a program within the ranking-subject area.
- The existence of academic counseling on campus and/or online.
- The existence of career placement services on campus and/or online.
Two: Assign weightings to eligible schools & programs
After creating the list of eligible schools, EduMed data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of metrics, which were all self-reported by the school themselves to the U.S. Department of Education and IPEDS.
The metrics are listed below in order of most- to least-heavily weighted.
- Online Programs – Number of online programs, either partially- or fully-online, in the relevant subject area. Because exact numbers change often and can be difficult to verify, we use a range-based scoring system to represent this category with laptop icons.
- % in Online Ed. – Percent of total students taking at least one distance education class.
- Tuition – Average in-state tuition for undergraduate students studying full-time, as self-reported by the school.
- % Receiving Award – Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an award in 6 years.
- Avg. Inst. Aid – Average amount of institutional grant aid awarded to full-time, first-time undergraduates.
- Student/Faculty Ratio – The number of students per faculty member.
About Our Data
EduMed’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: July 2024