Associate degrees are degrees that can typically be earned in two years from community colleges, junior colleges, universities, technical schools, vocational schools, and online college programs. About half a million associate degrees are awarded every year in the United States. One quarter of all post-secondary degrees awarded in the US every year are associate degrees. An associate degree requires the least time requirement of any post-secondary degree, and it can make a significant impact upon your career options and potential income.
Different Types of Associate Degrees
There are a number of different types of associate degrees. Many people who earn their associate degrees at community colleges earn what is referred to as a transfer degree. With this type of associate degree, students typically focus on general education courses that will help them earn a bachelor’s degree at a university after two more years of study. Common transfer degrees include Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA), and Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT). Even if students do not decide to continue their education, these types of general associate degrees are effective at increasing job opportunities and increasing a student’s earning potential.
The other main type of associate degree is a professional degree. These are usually earned from a vocational school or professional college. These kinds of degrees typically involve coursework that revolves around one specific job or area of work rather than a field of study. Such degrees can be quite valuable because they focus on preparing you for the specific career path of your choice. Some common professional associate degrees include the Associate of Applied Science (AAS), Associate of Business Administration (ABA), and Associate of Nursing (AN).
Popular Associate Degrees
Some of the most popular associate degrees in America include:
Associate of…
- Criminal Justice
- Teaching
- Nursing
- Business
- Office Administration
- Pharmacy
- Nutrition
- Public Relations
- Marketing and Advertising
- Court Reporting
- Baking/Cooking
- Operations Management
You can earn an associate degree in an extremely wide variety of fields, and in many professions it is all the education you will need to achieve success in that field. That said, you’ll reach your highest earning potential if you continue your education. And that’s one of the great things about an associate degree-in many cases, it gets you half way to a bachelor’s.
Highest Paying Associate Degrees
A large number of jobs that require an associate degree pay well over $20 per hour. Below are ten of the highest paying professions in the US that require an associate degree. The top five positions all currently pay over $30 per hour.
- Computer Specialist
- Radiation Therapist
- Dental Hygienist
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Registered Nurse
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Funeral Director
- Engineering Technician
- Geological/Petroleum Technician
- Electronic Engineering Technician
You may not even have heard of some of these positions. And that’s one of the best things about higher education-when you begin your studies in an associate degree program, you’ll have doors opened to you that you never even knew existed. Your horizons will be broadened and your opportunities will be multiplied when you begin earning an associate degree.
What it Takes to Earn an Associate Degree
An associate degree can usually be earned in two years of full time study. If you are unable to take a full course load every semester, your associate degree may take a little longer. In most cases, the credits you earn towards your associate degree will never expire, so even if your degree takes you ten years to finish, you will be able to finish and get your associate degree. Some professional programs can be shorter or longer than two years depending on the area of study. In most cases, to earn an associate degree you’ll need to complete 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits.
Below is a list of colleges and universities now offering associate degrees online.
According to the US Department of Labor, people who earn an associate degree enjoy an unemployment rate that is 30% lower than people who only have a high school diploma. Associate degree holders also earn an average of $6,600 more per year than people without post-secondary degrees. And the average salary for a full-time worker with an Associate Degree is $46,000.
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