A useful place to beginWhat a Bachelor of Applied Science Means for AAS Graduates
A traditional bachelor’s program may count applied courses only as electives, because they often sit outside the general education a bachelor’s expects. The programs here name a credit block for your AAS instead. Each card shows that number in the school’s own words, along with the coursework that still lies ahead.
A BAS or BAAS usually keeps your technical coursework together and adds general education, upper-level study, and a management or analytical focus. Some programs on this list use other titles, such as a BS or BA with an AAS pathway, but each publishes how many AAS credits it applies. Check whether that number covers your whole associate degree or only its technical courses.
This shortlist includes 8 online degree offerings at 8 colleges. Compare transfer credit policies with the requirements of your chosen major. Check each program’s schedule and any laboratory, fieldwork, or campus commitments before enrolling.
How this list is rankedEvery program here is an online bachelor’s route for Associate of Applied Science holders that states how many credits from the AAS, or from its technical block, count toward the degree. We order the list from the most credits to the fewest, and equal amounts appear alphabetically. Where a school states the credits left after transfer instead, we subtract them from its total degree credits.
Read our program selection method ↗ Compare Online Bachelor of Applied Science Programs
The programs, with context
Online BAS and AAS-to-Bachelor’s Programs Ranked by AAS Credits Applied
#1An Early Childhood BAS That Starts From Your AASArizona State University Digital Immersion
Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #1 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list share that credit amount, so they appear in alphabetical order.
ASU designed its online Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Studies for students who already hold an AAS, and up to 60 credit hours from that degree can transfer. Graduates of an Arizona community college AAS may be eligible to transfer up to 75. The degree suits child care workers who want a bachelor’s without a teaching license, and it includes 15 hours a month of experiential learning in an early childhood setting.
Before you apply: This BAS does not lead to teacher certification. If licensure is your goal, compare an education degree before you apply.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- If you have completed an AAS, you may transfer up to 60 credit hours toward this BAS; an AAS from a regionally accredited Arizona community college may allow up to 75.
#2A 2+2 Route for Fire and EMS Associate GraduatesLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
BS in Fire and Emergency Services Administration
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #2 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list share that credit amount, so they appear in alphabetical order.
LSU’s online fire and emergency services administration degree admits students with an AAS or AS in a related field and supplies the final 60 credits of the 120-credit bachelor’s when the associate credits transfer in full. That structure fits firefighters, paramedics, and public safety staff who earned an applied associate degree earlier. Coursework adds leadership and organizational decision-making for emergency services.
Before you apply: If some associate credits do not transfer, you will need courses beyond the final 60. Request a transcript review before you plan a finish date.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- The bachelor totals 120 credits, with the FESA program supplying the final 60 when all associate credits transfer.
#360 AAS Credits Toward a Legal Studies BAASTexas Tech University
BAAS in Legal Studies
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #3 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list share that credit amount, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Texas Tech’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Legal Studies was built for people holding an Associate of Applied Science, and it accepts up to 60 credit hours from that degree. Paralegal, criminal justice, or office technology graduates can keep their associate work intact while adding legal theory and practical professional skills. Courses are fully online and asynchronous in eight-week sessions.
Before you apply: Ask which of your AAS courses fall inside the 60-hour allowance and which upper-level legal courses remain before graduation.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- Students with an Associate of Applied Science degree may transfer up to 60 credit hours into the BAAS route.
#4An AAS-to-BA Option in Public and Nonprofit WorkUniversity of Illinois Springfield
Bachelor of Arts in Public and Nonprofit Administration
OnlineTransfer entry route
Ranks #4 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list share that credit amount, so they appear in alphabetical order.
Illinois Springfield offers an AAS-to-BA option in public and nonprofit administration, and its catalog notes that most holders of a 60-hour AAS would complete 60 hours at UIS after transfer. Graduates working in human services, public safety, or office administration can turn applied training into a management degree covering policy, statistics, microeconomics, and nonprofit organizations.
Before you apply: Comparable major courses need departmental review. Expect some general education alongside the 36-credit major.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- After transfer, most AAS degree holders would complete 60 hours at the University of Illinois Springfield. The degree requires 120 credit hours.
#5Up to 60 Applied Associate Credits in a Flexible DegreeUniversity of North Carolina at Pembroke
Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #5 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 60 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list share that credit amount, so they appear in alphabetical order.
At UNC Pembroke, the interdisciplinary studies bachelor’s lets applied associate-degree coursework count for up to 60 credits from two-year colleges, including 30 credits for completing the degree. Tracks in general studies, professional studies, and public and nonprofit administration give technical graduates a broad bachelor’s around their trade. Classes are asynchronous with no scheduled meetings, which helps if you work rotating shifts.
Before you apply: Two-thirds of your track credits must be completed through UNC Pembroke, so the major still takes several terms.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- Qualifying applied associate-degree coursework can provide up to 60 credits from a two-year college, subject to the BIS requirements. Transfer students with applied associate degrees can bring up to 60 credits from two-year colleges, including 30 credits for completing the degree.
#6A Data Analytics BAAS With a 42-Hour AAS BlockLamar University
Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences, Data Analytics Emphasis
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #6 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 42 credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 5 programs on this list apply more AAS credits.
Lamar’s Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences with a data analytics emphasis sets aside up to 42 hours for AAS transfer credit within its 120-hour degree. That block keeps community college technical coursework in play while you add database programming, business intelligence, data storytelling, and project management. It fits AAS graduates in IT or business technology who want analytical skills.
Before you apply: General education still has to be met outside the AAS block, so ask how your associate degree’s core courses apply.
- Published AAS Credit Rule
- 120 hours with up to 42 hours of AAS transfer credit in the degree structure.
#7A 38-Credit Technical Block in Applied EngineeringBemidji State University
BAS in Applied Engineering
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #7 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 38 technical credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 6 programs on this list apply more AAS credits.
Bemidji State’s online Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Engineering requires a block of 38 technical credits transferred from an AS or AAS degree or a technical diploma, such as manufacturing or automation technology. The rest of the degree adds at least 40 upper-division credits, including safety and risk management, total quality management, and simulation of industrial processes. Working technicians can complete it entirely online.
Before you apply: A diploma or associate degree with fewer than 38 technical credits may need added coursework. Ask the department to count your technical block first.
#824 Technical Credits and a Reduced Upper-Level RuleWestern Kentucky University
BS in Engineering Technology Management
OnlineDegree completion route
Ranks #8 of 8 because its published Associate of Applied Science (AAS) route applies 24 technical credits toward the bachelor’s degree. 7 programs on this list apply more AAS credits.
Western Kentucky’s online engineering technology management degree is a 2+2 program for holders of an AAS or a technical certificate with at least 24 technical hours, and those 24 approved hours become part of the major. AAS transfer students also receive a 12-hour waiver from the usual 42-hour upper-division requirement. The coursework adds management and leadership for supervisory roles in industry.
Before you apply: At least 30 credits must be completed at WKU. Ask how the rest of your associate coursework applies to general education and electives.
Build a Plan Around Your Transfer Credits.
Organize your previous college credits in the degree planner, then take your course list and questions to a school’s transfer advisor. The school’s evaluation determines which credits count toward your degree.
Build your degree plan ↗What Is a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree?
A Bachelor of Applied Science is a bachelor’s degree designed to build on applied, career-focused study. Schools also use the names Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS) and Bachelor of Applied Studies. The common thread is that your AAS becomes a foundation for the degree instead of a pile of electives.
Ask what the degree prepares you for. ASU’s early childhood BAS states that it does not lead to teacher certification, so a licensure goal would call for a different program.
Read the official guidance: Does the Program Apply Your Whole AAS or Only Its Technical Block?
Some programs apply the associate degree as a whole. LSU’s fire and emergency services degree supplies the final 60 of 120 credits when all associate credits transfer, and Texas Tech’s legal studies BAAS accepts up to 60 credit hours from an AAS. Others name a technical block: Bemidji State requires 38 technical credits, and Western Kentucky places 24 technical hours in the major.
When a program names only a technical block, the general education courses in your associate degree may still count elsewhere in the plan. Ask the school to show both on one written evaluation.
Read the official guidance: Before your next conversationQuestions About Online Bachelor of Applied Science Programs
Which Program on This List Applies the Most AAS Credits?+
Arizona State University Digital Immersion, Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Texas Tech University, University of Illinois Springfield, and University of North Carolina at Pembroke share the #1 position on this list, because each applies 60 credits from an AAS toward the bachelor’s degree. The next program, Lamar University, applies 42 credits through its AAS route. Your own evaluation decides what applies to you.
Is a Bachelor of Applied Science a Real Bachelor’s Degree?+
Yes. A BAS is a bachelor’s degree that builds on applied study and adds general education and upper-level coursework. Lamar’s BAAS, LSU’s fire and emergency services degree, and Bemidji State’s BAS each require 120 credits. Check any graduate school or licensing plans with the receiving program before you choose.
Read the official guidance: Can I Use an AAS Degree Toward a Regular Bachelor’s Degree?+
Often only in part, since applied courses may count as electives in a traditional bachelor’s. A BAS or an AAS pathway states how your associate degree fits. UNC Pembroke, for example, counts up to 60 applied associate credits, including 30 for completing the degree.
Read the official guidance: How Long Does a BAS Take After an AAS?+
With a full 60-credit transfer, about 60 credits remain in a 120-credit degree, roughly two years of full-time study. Texas Tech describes its legal studies BAAS as completable in as little as two years. Your actual pace depends on the evaluation and how many courses you take each term.
Read the official guidance: Are These Rankings Based on Payments From Colleges?+
No. The order comes from the published number described in the ranking method, sorted the same way for every school. Separate sponsored listings are labeled advertisements, and DegreeCompletion.com may receive compensation from them or their referrals. Sponsored placements do not change the order of this list.
