Liberal Studies, Associate of Arts

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 develop valuable, transferable skills that you can apply to any future career, 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.