2027 Best Online Two-Year Degrees With No SAT or ACT Requirement
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Skipping the SAT or ACT can make college applications simpler, but it does not settle the harder question: which online two-year degree fits your goal? This guide compares six associate degree fields by admissions accessibility, online requirements, transfer potential, and career fit. The cost deserves attention, too: the College Board reported average published tuition and fees of $4,050 for in-district students at public two-year colleges in 2024-25, before books and other expenses. You'll learn what to verify before applying - especially where a college's test-free admission policy does not extend to a selective major.
Key Things You Should Know
- Start with the major's admissions page, not just the college's: general admission without SAT or ACT scores does not establish eligibility for a selective nursing or allied-health program.
- Business, IT, criminal justice, and psychology commonly offer coursework that can be completed online; nursing and some healthcare degrees require in-person clinical or laboratory work.
- Compare total cost and career fit, not test policy alone: the College Board's 2024-25 average of $4,050 in published public two-year in-district tuition and fees excludes expenses that vary substantially by program.
Top 10 Best Online Two-Year Degrees With No SAT or ACT Requirement
Business Programs
An online AA or AS in business is a strong starting point if you plan to transfer into a bachelor's program; an AAS may emphasize immediate workplace skills. Accounting, spreadsheets, communication, and management fundamentals can support applications for administrative or bookkeeping roles, though employers set their own qualifications.
Business is often easier to complete entirely online than clinical fields. Before applying, confirm that the specific business major does not require SAT or ACT scores and that its courses satisfy your intended bachelor's program - not merely that the college accepts transfer students.
Healthcare Programs
Healthcare administration or health information associate degrees may offer more online coursework than patient-care programs. An AAS can emphasize workforce skills, while an AS may be better suited to further study; check the actual curriculum.
Medical terminology, records systems, and privacy practices are useful foundations, but a degree alone does not confer a professional certification.
Some allied-health majors have separate applications, prerequisites, background checks, or on-site requirements. Ask admissions to confirm both the major's SAT/ACT policy and whether any laboratory or practicum can be completed near you.
Information Technology Programs
An online IT or cybersecurity associate degree can suit students who want hands-on technical coursework without clinical placements. Compare an AAS focused on support, networking, or systems administration with an AS designed for transfer.
Virtual labs may be available from home, but scheduled sessions, proctored assessments, or specific equipment can limit flexibility.
Employers may also value demonstrable skills and industry certifications; neither a degree nor a certification guarantees a job. Verify the major's testing policy, required software costs, and whether its credits apply to a prospective bachelor's degree.
Nursing / Pre-Nursing Programs
Pre-nursing coursework may be available online, but it is not the same as admission to an associate degree in nursing (ADN) program. An ADN includes supervised clinical training, and programs commonly have competitive prerequisites and separate selection criteria even when the college itself does not require SAT or ACT scores.
A program may use another admissions assessment; "no SAT or ACT" does not mean "no testing." Check clinical-site availability, state nursing-board approval, applicable nursing accreditation, and eligibility to seek RN licensure in your state before paying an enrollment deposit.
Criminal Justice Programs
An online AA or AS in criminal justice may work well for students planning a bachelor's degree; an AAS may place more weight on job-oriented coursework. Expect criminal law, courts, corrections, and writing rather than preparation that automatically qualifies you as a police officer.
Law-enforcement agencies may impose academy, fitness, background, and other requirements independently of college admission. Confirm the major's test policy and transfer agreements. If policing is your goal, check local agency hiring standards before assuming an online associate degree is the most direct route.
Psychology / Counseling Programs
An online AA or AS in psychology usually makes the most sense as a transfer pathway. Introductory psychology, statistics, and research methods can prepare you for upper-level study, but an associate degree does not qualify someone to practice as a licensed counselor or psychologist.
Some support roles have different employer or state requirements. Verify that the program does not require SAT or ACT scores, then compare its courses against the bachelor's degree you intend to pursue. Choose this path for its educational foundation, not an immediate counseling license.
What Are Online Two-Year Degrees With No SAT or ACT Requirement?
An online two-year degree is generally an associate degree whose academic coursework is delivered substantially online. "Two-year" describes a common full-time plan, not a guaranteed completion date.
"No SAT or ACT requirement" should mean that the college - and, where applicable, the specific major - does not require either score for the applicant's route into the program. It does not rule out placement measures or other admissions tests.
The distinctions below help narrow the field before you compare individual colleges. Delivery and selection rules vary by institution, so treat each row as a screening guide rather than a verified claim about every program.
| Field | Common degree direction | Online and admissions checkpoint |
| Business | AA/AS for transfer; AAS for workplace preparation | Check major-specific test policy and transfer applicability. |
| Healthcare | AS or AAS, depending on occupation | Confirm any lab, practicum, or selective admission. |
| Information technology | AS for transfer; AAS for technical preparation | Check virtual labs, equipment, and scheduled activities. |
| Nursing / pre-nursing | ADN for nursing; preparatory AA/AS coursework | Separate program admission and in-person clinicals are key. |
| Criminal justice | AA/AS for transfer; AAS for applied study | Compare courses with transfer or agency goals. |
| Psychology / counseling | Usually AA/AS for transfer | Check bachelor's transfer requirements and career expectations. |
Which Online Two-Year Degrees Lead to the Best Careers?
The best choice depends on the job you want and the education that job actually requires. For a relatively direct route into technical support, an IT-focused AAS with practical labs may fit better than a transfer-focused psychology AA.
For a future bachelor's in business, criminal justice, or psychology, an articulated AA or AS may prevent courses from counting only as electives. Nursing offers a defined route toward a regulated occupation, but its clinical and selective admissions requirements make it a poor fit for someone who needs entirely online study.
If speed to employment is your priority, compare associate pathways with certificates as well as fast online degrees that pay well. A shorter credential may cost less, but it may also leave out general education or prerequisite courses you would need later. Ask prospective employers which credentials they accept before choosing solely by completion time.
What Admission Requirements Replace SAT or ACT Scores?
Colleges may admit applicants without SAT or ACT scores using a high school diploma or equivalent, transcripts, an application, and identity or residency documentation. They may use high school coursework, previous college credit, or a placement assessment to determine which classes you can enter.
Placement affects course selection; it should not automatically be confused with a competitive admissions exam.
A selective major can add prerequisite grades, a minimum GPA, an interview, a background check, health documentation, or a field-specific assessment. These requirements can differ for first-time, transfer, and international applicants.
Before applying, request the current requirements for your exact major and applicant category, and ask whether any score is required for admission, placement, or both. A page that simply omits SAT/ACT language is not proof that scores are unnecessary.
How Do You Verify Online Program Accreditation?
Institutional accreditation matters for financial-aid eligibility, employer recognition, and potential transfer, although accreditation alone never guarantees that a receiving college will accept a particular course. For nursing and other regulated fields, program approval or specialized accreditation may also affect eligibility for licensure or certification.
Use this sequence before enrolling; it separates a college's status from the requirements of your intended occupation.
- Find the college and its accreditor in the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation database, then confirm that the status is current.
- Check the program's page for any specialized accreditation or state-board approval relevant to your career; verify the claim with the accreditor or board.
- If you plan to transfer or seek a license, ask the receiving school or licensing board whether this specific program meets its requirements in your state.
What Coursework Do Online Two-Year Degree Programs Include?
Most associate programs combine general education - such as writing, math, and social science - with major courses. Business students may study accounting; IT students may complete networking labs; psychology students may take statistics; and nursing students must complete clinical training. An online course can still have live meetings, timed exams, or a required internship.
Review a term-by-term degree map rather than relying on a course catalog alone. If you might eventually pursue graduate study, keep that longer pathway in mind when choosing undergraduate courses; it is too early to judge an associate program by a future master's price. First confirm that its credits will apply to the bachelor's degree you need.
How Long Do Online Two-Year Degrees Take and What Do They Cost?
Many associate degrees require roughly 60 semester credits, but prerequisites, clinical sequencing, developmental coursework, course availability, and part-time enrollment can extend the timeline beyond two years. Accepted transfer credit may shorten it; a short course term by itself does not.
The College Board's 2024-25 figure of $4,050 for average published in-district tuition and fees at public two-year colleges is a starting benchmark, not an online program quote or the amount a particular student will pay.
Compare the cost of all remaining required credits, mandatory online and laboratory fees, books, equipment, travel to clinical sites, and any residency-rate difference. Then ask the financial-aid office about eligibility for federal aid, grants, scholarships, employer assistance, or payment plans.
A lower-cost associate pathway can be valuable, but do not select it merely to reserve money for affordable online master's programs unless that longer educational route matches your career goal.
Are Online Two-Year Degrees Better Than Campus-Based Programs?
Online study is often a better fit when commuting is difficult and courses offer predictable, asynchronous access. Campus study may be preferable if you want face-to-face instruction or ready access to equipment and labs.
Neither format is inherently easier: online students still need time for deadlines, group work, and assessments. For nursing and some healthcare majors, local clinical placements or campus labs can make a nominally online program functionally hybrid.
Ask for a typical weekly schedule and a list of every required in-person activity before enrolling. This is particularly important if you move frequently or share caregiving responsibilities; resources on military spouse friendly online colleges can offer additional comparison points, but state-specific clinical and licensure rules still need a separate check.
What Jobs and Salaries Can These Degrees Lead To?
Possible entry points include administrative and bookkeeping work for business students, computer support for IT students, and selected records or office roles for healthcare students. Actual job eligibility depends on the employer, skills, experience, and sometimes certification.
Criminal justice and psychology associate degrees may be more useful as steps toward further education than as credentials for a single named profession.
Registered nursing illustrates both the opportunity and the limits of salary comparisons. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses.
That is an occupational median across working RNs - not the expected starting pay for ADN graduates. To practice, a graduate must also meet state requirements and pass the licensing examination. Similarly, lists of most lucrative masters degrees describe later educational options, not earnings an associate degree can promise.
Which Licenses or Certifications Do Graduates Need?
A degree and a professional credential serve different purposes. ADN graduates seeking RN practice must meet their state board's eligibility rules and pass the NCLEX-RN. Some healthcare information or IT roles may value a separate industry certification, but requirements vary by employer and position.
Law-enforcement candidates may need academy training and agency approval. Licensed counseling and psychology roles require substantially more education and state-specific supervised experience and examinations.
Before choosing a program, name the occupation you want and check its state board or employer requirements. The costly mistake is assuming that a test-free college admission policy - or completion of an online degree - also removes the examinations, supervised work, or licensure required for a job.
Other Things You Should Know About
Yes, if both the college's policy for your applicant category and the specific major's policy permit it. Confirm those rules directly; another placement or program admissions assessment may still apply.
No ADN should be assumed to be entirely remote. Nursing requires supervised clinical education, and a program may also require on-site labs or other in-person activities.
An AA or AS with a documented pathway into your intended bachelor's major is often the clearest choice. An AAS may transfer too, but confirm which credits satisfy degree requirements rather than count only as electives.
No. A college may waive those scores while requiring transcripts or placement measures, and a selective major may set its own prerequisites, GPA threshold, or admissions assessment.
References
- - STRENGTHENING ACCREDITATION TO BETTER PROTECT STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS | govinfo.gov https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-115hhrg25136/html/CHRG-115hhrg25136.htm
- DAPIP | Homepage - Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/
- Student Outcomes - Ohio University https://www.ohio.edu/iea/student-data/outcomes
- Credit for Prior Learning - The City University of New York https://www.cuny.edu/academics/academic-policy/credit-prior-learning/
- Student Support Services | ccp.edu https://www.ccp.edu/college-catalog/student-support-services
- Does Affordable Higher Education Mean Lower Quality? | ACE Blog https://ace.edu/blog/does-affordable-higher-education-mean-lower-quality/
- 11 Types of Healthcare Degrees You Can Earn in 2 Years or Less | Herzing University https://www.herzing.edu/types/healthcare-degrees
- Home - Transfer Explorer https://explorer.cuny.edu/home
- Tuition and Fees | University of Baltimore https://www.ubalt.edu/admission-and-aid/tuition-and-fees/index.cfm
- An Update to UA's Holistic Admissions Process https://admissions.ua.edu/testing-requirements/
