An online associate degree in medical assistant skills will set you apart in a fast-growing healthcare field. These job-ready degrees provide training in the fundamentals of business, computers, and terminology in healthcare. The best online colleges for prospective medical assistants offer affordable programs with accredited status. As you look through medical office administration and technology programs, keep your budget, licensing goals, and professional expectations in mind.
The following list comprises the 46 best online medical office administration and technology programs from 43 regionally accredited schools. This “Best Buy” ranking reveals the highest caliber online associate degree in medical assistant programs at the most economical price. This information makes it easier than ever to enroll in the perfect online program for your healthcare career.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~$10,100
Least Expensive: Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute – $5,109.00
Most Expensive: University of Northwestern Ohio – $29,700.00
Our data-driven research of public and non-profit colleges creates a genuinely reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no misleading formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and they factually showcase the cheapest online associate degree in medical assistant programs. The medical assisting associate’s degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2022 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
Most Affordable Online Associate Degree in Medical Assistant
East Mississippi Community College 
Columbia Southern University 
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | (NC) | $5,109.00 $17,397.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
2 | Bladen Community College | (NC) | $5,116.00 $17,404.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
3 | Vance-Granville Community College | (NC) | $5,128.00 $17,416.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
4 | Fayetteville Technical Community College | (NC) | $5,164.00 $17,644.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
5 | Guilford Technical Community College | (NC) | $5,165.00 $17,837.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
6 | Fayetteville Technical Community College | (NC) | $5,240.00 $17,912.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Lenoir Community College | (NC) | $5,370.60 $18,426.60 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Forsyth Technical Community College | (NC) | $5,424.00 $18,288.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Wayne Community College | (NC) | $5,428.00 $18,676.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Surry Community College | (NC) | $5,576.00 $18,440.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | Pitt Community College | (NC) | $5,614.00 $18,862.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
12 | Southwestern Community College - NC | (NC) | $5,676.00 $18,348.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | Wake Technical Community College | (NC) | $5,694.00 $18,366.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
14 | Haywood Community College | (NC) | $5,743.50 $19,375.50 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | (NC) | $5,957.00 $19,781.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
16 | Edgecombe Community College | (NC) | $5,984.00 $19,040.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
17 | Pitt Community College | (NC) | $6,146.00 $20,738.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
18 | Central Texas College | (TX) | $7,140.00 $14,880.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Northwest Mississippi Community College | (MS) | $7,680.00 $12,480.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
20 | Southeastern Technical College | (GA) | $8,250.00 $15,250.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
21 | Ogeechee Technical College | (GA) | $8,590.00 $15,290.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | Community Colleges of Spokane | (WA) | $9,286.80 $11,310.36 | In-State Out-of-State |
23 | Northwood Technical College | (WI) | $9,459.00 $13,762.80 | In-State Out-of-State |
24 | Barton Community College | (KS) | $9,600.00 | All Students |
25 | Madison Area Technical College | (WI) | $9,942.55 $14,384.05 | In-State Out-of-State |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tyler Junior College | (TX) | $10,124.00 $11,564.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Terra State Community College | (OH) | $11,206.00 $20,278.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Columbus State Community College | (OH) | $11,209.59 $22,268.61 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Dakota College at Bottineau | (ND) | $11,703.12 | All Students | |
Iowa Central Community College | (IA) | $12,000.00 $17,300.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College | (MN) | $12,573.00 $13,323.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Herkimer County Community College | (NY) | $12,576.00 $18,944.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | (MN) | $12,738.00 | All Students | |
Ridgewater College | (MN) | $12,756.00 | All Students | |
Alexandria Technical & Community College | (MN) | $12,954.00 | All Students | |
Northwest Technical College | (MN) | $12,954.60 | All Students | |
Minnesota State College Southeast | (MN) | $13,066.80 | All Students | |
Northland Community and Technical College | (MN) | $13,362.00 | All Students | |
Kentucky Community and Technical College System | (KY) | $13,455.00 | All Students | |
Rochester Community and Technical College | (MN) | $14,047.20 | All Students | |
Harrisburg Area Community College | (PA) | $16,590.00 $19,635.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Mitchell Technical College | (SD) | $16,813.00 | All Students | |
Clinton Community College | (NY) | $17,135.00 $27,335.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Liberty University | (VA) | $26,056.00 $16,100.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
University of Northwestern Ohio | (OH) | $29,700.00 | All Students |
Accreditation & Program Notes
To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
IACBE International Accreditation Council for Business Education
Rankings Note
These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2022 review of regionally accredited online associate degree in medical assistant options. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online associate degree programs in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules.
The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note
Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any non-profit regionally accredited or candidate college that offers an associate’s degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest online schools for medical assisting may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online associate degree in medical assistant for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Career Guide: Online Associate Degree in Medical Assistant
The medical industry is rapidly changing. This ever-important industry needs doctors and nurses to administer care, but it also needs high-quality support staff, including people who understand medical organizations, administrative practices, and the technology used to deliver the highest possible care.
With an online associate degree in medical assistant program, you’ll be prepared to support the medical industry in all its important work. While you won’t be a caregiver, you’ll be positioned for some of the top leadership jobs in healthcare.
Medical Office Administration & Technology: An Overview
These degrees are focused on medical organizations and the technology used in this industry. They are not medical degrees, so you won’t learn how to diagnose patients, administer shots, and perform caregiving. Rather, you will learn the ins and outs of the industry; how it functions, what financial and technology systems are used, and what laws and regulations impact organizations.
The subjects and courses in these programs will change depending on the institution. Some will focus heavily on technology, such as software used for data storage, while others will focus on management, leadership, and organization within the medical industry. You’ll learn about effective communication in the industry, health care law and ethics, billing practices, and coding procedures. Although brief, you may also learn about biology, pathology, anatomy, and other basic healthcare topics.
Courses may include electronic health records, health insurance billing, the finances of a medical office, and basic medical terminology. You may also learn the basic principles of management, as well as medical law and ethics for healthcare professionals.
Online associate degree in medical assistant schooling offers a fast track to a rewarding career. They are also affordable. In our research, the average price for an online associate degree in medical assistant prep was only $10,100. While the most expensive was almost $30,000 (still relatively affordable), the lowest-cost degree was just over $5,000. Prices will change, but this shows just how affordable these programs can be!
While other associate degrees are intended for transfer into bachelor’s programs, these degrees are meant for immediate job placement. You can transfer if you wish, but these programs allow you to graduate in two years (assuming a typical study load) and find immediate placement in a rewarding medical position.
Best Careers for Online Associate Degree in Medical Assistant Grads
Administrative Assistant
- Salary: $39,680 (All secretaries and administrative assistants)
- Education: HS Diploma, some training and education required
- Experience: None
After graduating with an online associate degree in medical assistant, you will be ready for supporting roles in the industry, including an administrative assistant at a clinic or healthcare facility. These professionals act like the face of an organization, often serving as the first contact for patients. From scheduling appointments to preparing memos to maintaining databases, these professionals ensure a smooth, seamless healthcare facility.
The pay for this career is strong considering the low entry requirements. The median pay is $39,680 (as of May 2021), but assistants with an associate’s degree, as opposed to a high school diploma, can reasonably expect even higher salaries.
Health Services Manager
- Salary: $101,340
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Experience: 5 years or more
These degrees give you a strong understanding of the medical industry as a whole. This makes you a strong candidate for a career in management and leadership. Serving as a health services manager, you’ll provide high-level guidance to organizations in the medical field.
While the pay is outstanding, the expected growth is one of the most impressive aspects of the career. Health services managers are expected to grow by 32% between 2020 and 2030, driven largely by an increased need for medical services. (Which will drive job growth in all areas of the medical industry.) You will, however, need experience. Most professionals will need at least five years of industry experience before they can become managers.
Additional Requirements for Medical Administration Careers
Because an online associate degree in medical assistant is not medical degrees (like nursing, radiology, or physical therapy), you won’t be working in direct contact with patients. Therefore, you likely won’t need state certification. If you work as an administrative assistant in the medical field, you won’t need licensing or certification of any kind. The same goes for health services managers, although some states require managers at nursing homes to hold licenses.
Voluntary certification, however, can significantly boost your career. If you want to take your career into medical management, certifications through the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, the American Health Information Management Association, or the American College of Health Care Administrator (to name a few) can help enhance your skills and career potential.