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Associate's Degree

An associate’s degree (or associate degree) is an academic degree that usually takes two years of fulltime study after high school to complete. About 44% of all students enrolled in postsecondary degree programs are going for their associate’s degrees.
Associate’s degrees have many advantages. First of all, annual tuition for two-year schools runs about half of that for public four-year colleges. Plus, more evening classes and convenient locations make associate degree programs a popular alternative for students who work during the day or have family responsibilities.

Types of Associate’s Degrees

There are two broad categories of associate’s degrees, as follows:

• Transfer degrees prepare students to transfer to a four-year college or university. Courses cover the general education requirements of a bachelor’s degree. The Associate of Arts (AA) is given in social studies or the humanities. The Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) generally recognize study in mathematics, technology, or natural science.
• Career or professional degrees prepare students to enter the workforce after completing the two-year degree. Students in such programs gain skills for employment but may opt to go for a bachelor’s degree in their field of study. Examples of the many courses of study include human services, allied health, veterinary technology, broadcasting, and computer technology.

Schooling

Associate’s degrees typically take two years of fulltime study to complete but certain fields, such as allied health, may require three years.

Community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and four-year colleges offer associate’s degrees. Institutions that offer two-year degrees are most often public.

Students who cannot attend their college of choice right after high school—whether for financial, academic, or personal reasons—may be able to transfer there after earning an associate’s degree. Some four-year schools give priority to students who have associate’s degrees. Students who plan to go for a bachelor’s degree should check to see if credits from their associate’s degree are transferable to the four-year college.

Distance learning, usually through online courses, offers another route to an associate’s degree. Many two-year schools offer distance learning options in addition to classroom education, while others offer only distance learning. Prospective students should check the accreditation of online programs before enrolling and make sure credits are transferable.

Jobs and Wages

An associate’s degree will almost guarantee much higher lifetime earnings than a high school diploma only. And, according to some reports, a person with an associate’s degree has higher immediate earning potential than a person with two or more years of higher education but no degree. 

Based on the 2000 census, the average annual salary for a person with an associate’s degree was $38,200, compared to $36,800 with some college but no degree, $30,400 with a high school diploma, and $23,400 with some high school. (Average annual salary with a bachelor’s degree was $52,200.) Lifetime earnings for a person with an associate’s degree was one and one-half times that of person with only a high school diploma.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paying jobs held by people with associate’s degrees (as listed below) pay more than many jobs that require bachelor’s degrees.

Highest-paying Jobs with Associate’s Degree and Average Salary

Whether they lead to a job or a four-year degree, associates degrees expand options for postsecondary education.