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Golden Gate University

Business Administration, Associate of Arts

Equip yourself with the tools to run a business, gaining in-demand skills like marketing, accounting, and communication. Plus, earn a resume-building professional certificate.

Degree features

Approximate length

2 years

Designed to be affordable - 1/3 the national college tuition average. No surprise costs.

Course credit cost

$199

Format

Online

Plus

Professional Certificate

Your dream job just got a lot more real.

Give yourself the tools to get ahead in today’s fast-changing business world, or even start your own, when you earn an Associate of Arts in Business Administration. This 100% online, career-focused program is built to prepare you for a wide variety of in-demand roles in the field in as little as 19 months. Or use the 60 college credits as a shortcut to a bachelor’s—saving over $20,000 vs. the national average 4-year tuition. (Source: IES/NCES Digest 2021 Table 330.10)

From big-picture thinking to the core skills you’ll use every day, get ready to build a strong business foundation in accounting, marketing, management, statistics, psychology, and more. Plus, with your choice of job-ready professional certificate from companies like Google and Salesforce built in, you’ll earn a resume-boosting credential in your first year.

You'll get everything you’ll need to succeed—and none of the nonsense of traditional college. No hidden fees. No boring Zoom lectures. No rigid schedules. Just the life-changing education you deserve.

Within 2 years, you’ll:

  • Earn an accredited associate degree from GGU

  • Earn your choice of professional certificate from top companies like Google, Salesforce, and Intuit

  • Earn 60 transferable credits from GGU

Golden Gate University

ACCREDITED DEGREES FROM A TOP UNIVERSITY

For over 120 years, GGU has been offering career-advancing degree programs, and is ranked as America's #1 School for Adult Learners (Source: Washington Monthly). As a nonprofit university, their goal is to make high-quality education available to everyone who wants it. Degrees+ graduates with a 2.5+ GPA are guaranteed acceptance into GGU bachelor's programs.

Degrees accredited by

WASC - Accrediting Commission for Schools

Built-in Professional Certificates

Develop career-building skills that you can put to work.

  • Career
    certificate by

    Data Analytics

    Learn job-ready skills that are in demand, like how to analyze and process data to gain key business insights.

    $74,000+ Median salary in data analytics

    Source: Burning Glass

  • Career
    certificate by

    Sales Representative

    Learn how to generate and nurture leads, then analyze the effectiveness of your sales tactics and customer service with data reporting.

    $66,000+ Average salary for sales representatives

    Source: Glassdoor

  • Career
    certificate by

    Project Management

    Discover how to manage projects efficiently and effectively, using traditional and agile methods.

    $73,000+ Median salary in project management

    Source: Burning Glass

  • Career
    certificate by

    Sales Operations

    Learn the fundamentals of Customer Relationship Management and how to effectively leverage data through reports and dashboards.

    $72,000+ Average salary in sales operations

    Source: Glassdoor

  • Career
    certificate by

    Digital Marketing & E-Commerce

    Learn to manage digital marketing campaigns, attract and engage customers, and sell products online.

    $51,000+ Median salary in digital marketing and
    e-commerce
    Source: Burning Glass

Don’t overpay for college. Get your degree fully funded.

Institution Annual cost Annual Cost with Average Pell Grant* Professional certificate
Golden Gate University Degrees+ Powered by Outlier $6,370 $0 From top companies like Google
Arizona State University (ASU) Online $16,830 $9,435
Penn State World Campus $15,054 $7,659
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) $9,900 $2,505
Flatiron School $16,900 total Certificate of completion
General Assembly $15,950 total Certificate of completion

Low tuition. And ways to save.

  • Low Tuition

    No surprises

    Maximize your aid and benefits with all-inclusive tuition that’s over 50% less than the national college average. No hidden fees. No expensive textbooks. No nonsense.

    $199/credit

    Professional Cert: $399/credit

  • Transfer credits

    Save time and money

    Transfer credits from up to 5 institutions for previous courses, military, or work experience. Level up in as little as 8 months when you transfer the maximum 45 credits.

    Up to 45 credits

  • Financial aid

    Grants & loans

    More than half of Americans qualify for Pell Grants large enough to fully fund their Degrees+ tuition. With no textbooks or commute to campus, your financial aid goes further.

    $0 cost to you

    if eligible for full Pell Grant funding

Learn more

A student experience unlike any other

  • Futuristic learning, today

    Experience cinematic on-demand lectures and interactive evidence-based learning tools (no textbooks) to help keep you moving forward.

    Learn on your own schedule, with lectures and course materials available 24/7, plus weeklong exam windows.

    We’ve hand-picked brilliant and approachable lecturers from top schools like MIT, NASA, and Harvard, so you know you’re getting the best education possible.

  • We’ve got your back

    Need support?

    Your personal Advisor will help you stay on track. 1:1 tutoring is included with all math, accounting, and writing courses, and instructors will make themselves available for regular office hours to discuss anything on your mind. Plus, each course includes discussion channels for classmates to ask and answer questions, discuss the material, and network.

  • Everyone learns differently

    So we built evidence-based tools to support all kinds of learners:

    • Adjustable playback speed: Speed up or slow down lectures like your favorite podcast app.

    • Searchable transcripts: Search for a word or topic and jump right to that chapter.

    • Mastery grading: Take quizzes up to 5 times and pick your best score.

    • Guided notes: We’ve pre-taken lecture notes so you can focus on the lecturer, not your notepad, but we’ve left a few key details blank. (It’s proven to help you retain what you learn.)

Key Courses

  • Intro to Business

    1st term

    Intro to Business

    The art of creating value.
  • College Writing I

    1st term

    College Writing I

    Unlock the power of words.
  • Intro to Statistics

    2nd term

    Intro to Statistics

    How data describes our world.

  • Intro to Financial Accounting

    4th term

    Intro to Financial Accounting

     Find the story in numbers.
  • Intro to Microeconomics

    4th term

    Intro to Microeconomics

    Why small choices have big impact.
  • Intro to Macroeconomics

    5th term

    Intro to Macroeconomics

    How money moves our world.
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Learn from the best

  • “Business education is often
    siloed. What's so cool about
    this… is that the silos are torn down. You can actually study all the elements of business, to make you a well-rounded business person.”

    Jim Mourey, Ph.D.

    Also teaches at DePaul University

    Intro to Business

  • “I became a teacher because at some point I was a student and I had teachers who changed my life. They taught me that ideas matter and that I could find my voice and could make a mark.”

    John Kaag, Ph.D.

    Also teaches at UMass Lowell

    College Writing I

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, we’re serious about seriously affordable education. That’s why Degrees+ is purposefully priced at just $6,370/year, which is well below the full Pell Grant of $7,395. With tuition this low, it opens up 3 paths to fully funded college:

    1. Federal financial aid (including Pell Grants available to those who qualify—1 in 2 Americans do)

    2. Employer education benefits (including Guild and Amazon Career Choice)

    3. Military education benefits (including the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program)

    If you’re eligible for any of these benefits, you could earn your degree through Degrees+ and pay $0 out of pocket.

    Plus, Degrees+ tuition includes everything you need. No textbooks. No hidden fees. No nonsense. Because we believe the true cost of college should be transparent and planning for college should be simple.

    So far, we’ve saved our students millions of dollars in tuition fees. Let’s see how much we can save you!

  • Yes, you'll be able to complete courses anywhere in the universe with Wi-Fi and a laptop or desktop computer. (You can stream lectures in our iPhone app, but you'll need a computer to complete the rest of your courses.) Learn on your own schedule with streaming pre-recorded lectures and interactive course materials available 24/7, plus weeklong exam windows so you can choose the time that’s right for you.

  • All US students age 13 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent (GED, CHSPE) are eligible to apply, except for residents of: Alabama, Arkansas, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, US Commonwealths (Puerto Rico, Upper Mariana Islands), and US Territories (Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands). We also welcome international students (with TOEFL or equivalent).

    If you’re looking to equip yourself with the tools to run a business, gain in-demand skills like marketing and accounting, or save time and money on your path to a bachelor’s degree, this program is for you.

    Applying is simple: no SAT/ACT needed, and no interviews. Complete your application in just 15 minutes, and get a response in less than 2 weeks!

  • We’re all about flexibility. If you’ve got a need for speed, you can go from orientation to graduation in as little as 20 months full-time (with no breaks). If part-time study is more your speed, the program could take 2-4 years to complete. Our enrollment counselors can help you map out a schedule that meets your goals and fits your life. No matter what you choose, your advisor will help you stay on track to graduate by your goal date.

  • We have 3 terms a year (each 15 weeks long), starting in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Be sure to apply by the deadline for each term.

  • We make it easy for you to transfer credits, so you can pick up where you left off. Golden Gate University will accept up to 45 transfer credits to count toward the associate degree, including 12 credits for previous military service or work experience. Our enrollment counselors will help you track down your transcripts from up to 5 institutions and ensure you get the most transfer credits possible.

  • Yes, degrees from Golden Gate University are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and nationally recognized by the US Department of Education.

    Accreditation matters! It shows that schools are providing high-quality learning and demonstrating continual self-improvement. And it means the credits you earn will have a higher level of acceptance at other schools across the US, so you have more options for the next step on your academic journey.

  • Absolutely. Every school approaches the transfer process a little differently, but rest assured, Outlier-earned college credits have successfully transferred to hundreds of institutions, including Harvard, NYU, and many more. No matter where you decide to go next, we’re here to advise you, advocate for you, and guide you through the entire process.

    If you'd like to continue at Golden Gate University, we make it even easier. With a Degrees+ GPA of 2.5 or higher, you're guaranteed acceptance into any GGU bachelor's degree program—and you’ll get a 30% tuition discount! Your close family will be eligible for a 20% discount on undergraduate and graduate degree programs too.