Compare 50 accredited 2-year cloud computing programs at community colleges and technical schools. Find affordable programs with strong transfer pathways and entry-level career placement.
Quick Answer: Is an Associate's Degree in Cloud Computing Worth It?
Source: An associate's degree in cloud computing is worth it for students seeking affordable entry into tech careers. At ~$3,500/year (vs $40,000+ for bachelor's), you can enter the workforce in 2 years or transfer to a 4-year university with completed prerequisites. Entry-level technician roles start at $45,500.
An associate's degree in cloud computing and cloud certification offers a cost-effective pathway into technology careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Network and Computer Systems Administrators earn a median salary of $96,800 annually, with entry-level positions starting around $65,000.
Key Benefits of the 2-Year Path
Salary potential: Entry-level cloud computing positions start at $65,000, with experienced professionals earning up to $150,320 (BLS OEWS, 2024).
Who succeeds with an associate's: Students seeking quick entry to tech careers, working adults balancing jobs and education, career changers looking for an affordable credential, and those planning to transfer to bachelor's programs.
$134,050 median salary · 73% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 40% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 70% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 32% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 69% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 61% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 30% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 56% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 29% graduation rate
$134,050 median salary · 29% graduation rate
Hakia ranks Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College's online associate's cloud computing program #1. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Goodland, KS | Type: Public | Graduation Rate: 73% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 88.9
Hakia ranks Ivy Tech Community College's associate's cloud computing program #2. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Indianapolis, IN | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,154/year | Graduation Rate: 40% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 86.9
Hakia ranks Central Louisiana Technical Community College's associate's cloud computing program #3. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Alexandria, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,335/year | Graduation Rate: 70% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 86.5
Hakia ranks Dallas College's associate's cloud computing program #4. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Dallas, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,662/year | Graduation Rate: 32% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 84.8
Hakia ranks Laurel Business Institute's associate's cloud computing program #5. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Uniontown, PA | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $12,668/year | Graduation Rate: 69% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 83.8
Hakia ranks Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale's associate's cloud computing program #6. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $23,856/year | Graduation Rate: 61% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 80.4
Hakia ranks Laredo College's associate's cloud computing program #7. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Laredo, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,400/year | Graduation Rate: 30% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 75.1
Hakia ranks Asher College's associate's cloud computing program #8. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Sacramento, CA | Type: Private for-profit | Graduation Rate: 56% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 73.1
Hakia ranks Madison Area Technical College's associate's cloud computing program #9. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Madison, WI | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,485/year | Graduation Rate: 29% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 72.7
Hakia ranks Victoria College's associate's cloud computing program #10. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Victoria, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,904/year | Graduation Rate: 29% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 71.8
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical CollegeGoodland, KS · Public | Online | — | 73% | $134,050 | 88.9 |
| #2 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · Public | On-campus | $5,154 | 40% | $134,050 | 86.9 |
| #3 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeAlexandria, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,335 | 70% | $134,050 | 86.5 |
| #4 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · Public | On-campus | $4,662 | 32% | $134,050 | 84.8 |
| #5 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Laurel Business InstituteUniontown, PA · Private for-profit | On-campus | $12,668 | 69% | $134,050 | 83.8 |
| #6 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Keiser University-Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $23,856 | 61% | $134,050 | 80.4 |
| #7 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Laredo CollegeLaredo, TX · Public | On-campus | $2,400 | 30% | $134,050 | 75.1 |
| #8 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Asher CollegeSacramento, CA · Private for-profit | On-campus | — | 56% | $134,050 | 73.1 |
| #9 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · Public | On-campus | $4,485 | 29% | $134,050 | 72.7 |
| #10 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Victoria CollegeVictoria, TX · Public | On-campus | $2,904 | 29% | $134,050 | 71.8 |
| #11 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,214 | 30% | $134,050 | 71.0 |
| #12 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $25,214 | 66% | $134,050 | 70.1 |
| #13 | Associate's in Cloud Computing River Parishes Community CollegeGonzales, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,335 | 30% | $134,050 | 69.3 |
| #14 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Collin County Community College DistrictMcKinney, TX · Public | On-campus | $3,750 | 20% | $134,050 | 67.7 |
| #15 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · Public | Online | $3,214 | 24% | $134,050 | 66.3 |
| #16 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Finger Lakes Community CollegeCanandaigua, NY · Public | On-campus | $5,376 | 30% | $134,050 | 66.3 |
| #17 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, CT · Public | On-campus | $4,608 | 24% | $134,050 | 64.8 |
| #18 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Macomb Community CollegeWarren, MI · Public | Online | $6,360 | 18% | $134,050 | 62.0 |
| #19 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Blinn College DistrictBrenham, TX · Public | Online | $3,690 | 11% | $134,050 | 61.8 |
Showing all 19 ranked programs.
Transfer pathways are critical for associate's degree students. According to NCES, about 34% of first-time community college students transfer to another institution within 150% of normal completion time.
Preparation is Key: Success in transfer requires strong foundations and careful planning. Students should complete prerequisite courses at their community college and verify course equivalencies through official articulation agreements before transferring.
State Transfer Systems
Key to Success: Research from PPIC shows successful transfer students share common traits: they start planning early, attend colleges with strong transfer partnerships, and choose universities with strong support services for transfer students.
Community colleges are experiencing a significant resurgence. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, community college enrollment increased 5.4% between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 (+288,000 students), the largest growth among all institutional sectors.
As Dr. Walter Bumphus, president of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), noted: "Community colleges have always been gateways to opportunity, but in 2025, they're increasingly engines of innovation in workforce development."
Why Community Colleges Excel for Technology Programs
Cloud Computing associate's programs require 60-65 credit hours completed over 2 years full-time. The curriculum balances technical skills with general education requirements, preparing students for both employment and transfer to bachelor's programs.
Core Cloud Computing Courses
Typical Course Sequence
Transfer Requirements: Most courses will transfer to 4-year universities through articulation agreements. A grade of C or better is required for technical courses. Check your state's transfer agreements (e.g., ASSIST.org for California, Direct Transfer Agreement for Washington).
Online learning has become mainstream in higher education. According to NCES, 53% of U.S. students were enrolled in at least one online course in 2022-23. BestColleges research found that 60% of institutions reported online classes filling first in 2024, indicating strong student preference for flexible formats.
Enrollment Trends: The National Student Clearinghouse reports associate degree enrollment grew 6.3% in Spring 2025. Notably, older first-year students are driving growth, enrollment among those aged 25+ increased 19.7% compared to the prior year.
Flexible Format Options
Tip: Look for programs with asynchronous course delivery if your work schedule is unpredictable. Synchronous (live) classes require logging in at specific times.
Choosing between an associate's degree, bootcamp, or certificate depends on your career goals, timeline, and budget. Each path has trade-offs.
Coding Bootcamp Outcomes: According to the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR), 71% of coding bootcamp graduates find a job within 6 months of completion. Course Report's 2025 survey found 79% of alumni land programming jobs within six months, with a 51% average salary increase over pre-bootcamp income.
Comparison
Key difference: Only associate's degrees are regionally accredited and qualify for federal student aid. Bootcamps require full upfront payment or income share agreements. As The Century Foundation notes, always read the fine print on any education program's outcomes claims.
Our recommendation: Choose an associate's degree if you want maximum flexibility, transfer options, employer recognition, and financial aid eligibility. Choose a bootcamp if you're confident about a specific developer role and can afford the upfront cost.
Community college programs qualify for federal financial aid, state grants, and employer tuition assistance. With average tuition under $4,000/year, many students graduate debt-free.
Federal Pell Grants: The maximum Federal Pell Grant for 2024-25 is $7,395 (minimum $740). Since this exceeds typical community college tuition, eligible students may have funds left for books and fees. Lifetime eligibility is limited to 12 semesters.
Free Community College Programs: Over 300 promise programs now operate at state and local levels, including:
Employer Tuition Assistance: In 2023, 80% of large U.S. employers offered tuition reimbursement, spending $28 billion annually (Learn & Work Ecosystem Library). Key programs:
Tax benefits: The American Opportunity Tax Credit provides up to $2,500/year in tax credits for the first four years of higher education.
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College's Associate's in Cloud Computing tops our list of 19 associate cloud computing programs. We fold federal graduation, admissions, salary, and tuition figures into a single 0 to 100 score applied identically to every school. In-state tuition across the list spans $2,400 to $25,214.
Number of graduates per year in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more resources, course offerings, and career services. Measured from IPEDS Completions data.
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time (6 years for bachelor's, 3 years for associate's). Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Admission rate (lower = more selective). More selective institutions have stronger academic environments and more competitive graduates. For open-admission institutions, we use graduation rates as a proxy for quality.
National salary data for cloud computing graduates, factored into institutional scores based on job market strength.
Overall quality using all four factors weighted as shown above. Ideal for students seeking the strongest academic experience.
Same methodology, filtered to schools with fully online or hybrid options (IPEDS Distance Education data). Some schools may have lower graduation rates due to different student demographics.
Ranked primarily by net cost (tuition minus average institutional aid), with quality factors as tiebreakers. Best for cost-conscious students.
Federal database of U.S. postsecondary institutions
May 2024 salary data by occupation and location
Department of Education outcomes data
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.