NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR AUGUST 2025 START! Priority deadline: 4/1/2025
Get on the fast track
Affordable Tuition
Online or seated
Your College. Your Way.
Earn your associate in art degree in one year! Choose to take classes in person, online, or hybrid; it’s up to you! Enroll each year in the spring or fall.
The Associate in Arts in a Year (AAY) program is an affordable, customized, and efficient opportunity to earn your AA degree in one year. The price of the program is capped at $1,500 for NC residents ($500 per semester). Students must be in good Financial Aid standing to qualify. Financial support may be available through the Financial Aid office; participants are required to complete a FAFSA in order to determine aid eligibility.
All materials, including textbooks are online. Classes are pre-selected and offer a flexible schedule that meets the needs of people from all different backgrounds, from students fresh out of high school to full-time professionals.
Classes in AAY program are paired to highlight common themes and ideas between subjects. Collaboration between the faculty offer creative and extraordinary learning experiences that enforce engagement and reveal surprising lessons. For example, you can learn about America鈥檚 Hispanic heritage while taking American Literature alongside Elementary Spanish I.
AA in a Year is also a learning community. Students in the program take a year of classes together, which allows them to support each other and form meaningful bonds. Group members lift each other up, and thereby lift themselves up. The community model in AAY embodies the famous quote from Booker T. Washington: 鈥淚f you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.鈥�
The Associate in Arts in a Year program offers an accessible, unique, and enriching college experience that gets you on the fast-track to achieving your future goals and dreams.
View the program advisor on the Charlotte Today Show:
I chose the AAY program because I knew it was an incredible new program that would help me achieve my future goals. Even though at the time, I wasn鈥檛 sure what those goals were. I was in a place where I wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to do, and my educational career and current career plan were put on hold.
I knew I didn鈥檛 want to give up on my goals, but I also knew I didn鈥檛 want to be stagnant. When I heard about the opportunity to earn an Associate in Arts degree in just a year, I was very intrigued. I figured I would give it a shot. Perhaps I could earn this degree and transfer it to get a 4-year degree in a totally different field than I had anticipated. If nothing else, it would add to my educational repertoire.
I didn鈥檛 know if I would be able to manage this program, but I am so glad I made the decision to continue my educational path! I鈥檓 not sure where this program will take me, but I am glad that I am taking advantage of it. Not only is this an incredible opportunity time wise, but financially this program is unlike any other. This program has really helped me develop my time management skills, and I feel so accomplished every time I finish an accelerated course. I am very excited knowing I am getting closer and closer to earning my Associates degree. I know this program is opening many doors for my future!
-Miranda
听
AAY Handbook
Find details about the AA in a Year accelerated degree program here.
about the Courses
- Blended delivery, online and seated
- Class meeting times are T, Th 6-8:45pm and Saturday 9-11:45am
- Most courses are 5 weeks long
- Students take no more than two courses at a time
- Only experienced professors invited to teach courses
- Learn more about transfer opportunities
Eligibility
The program is open to recent high school graduates, as well as adult learners, who meet certain academic requirements:
- Earned a minimum 2.4 unweighted high school grade point average (GPA). Students who have a high school equivalency should inquire for eligibility requirements
- Have not earned an associate degree or higher. Students may apply a maximum of 45 college credits towards the degree
- Students applying for the program will be required to complete a virtual interview with the Dean of Arts and Sciences
How to Apply
- .听Select 鈥淎A鈥� as the program of study.
- Submit official high school and previous college transcripts. See our听admission page听for submission information.
- Apply for financial aid听by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Complete the interest form听below on this site.
- Submit a 250-word essay explaining how an accelerated degree would help you achieve your educational and career goals. Submit completed essay to Ansley Adams, Chair, Department of Arts and Humanities (aadams@spcc.edu).听