Associate Degrees

Associate degrees are college degrees awarded to students after they earn enough credit. Associate degrees usually take around 2 years to complete, depending on the college or university attended.

Associate degrees prepare graduates to go on to a career after graduation or to earn a bachelor’s degree. Associate degrees can be earned at the university level or at a junior college level. Many students choose to earn their associate degree at a junior college and then transfer their credits to a university or college to pursue their bachelor’s degrees.

What are the Advantages to Earning Associate Degrees?

• Associate degrees can be completed in around two years.
• Many professional and higher-paying jobs require that candidates have a minimum of an associate degree in a specialized field to be considered for employment.
• Associate degrees are less expensive than bachelor’s degrees.
• Associate degrees allow you to move on to earn a bachelor’s degree later.

General Categories of Associate Degrees

1. An Associate of Arts degree is awarded to students with a major in the social sciences or humanities, or to those students who have not yet declared an area of concentration. These students usually intend on pursuing a bachelor’s degree after graduation.

2. An Associate of Science degree is awarded to students who have declared an area of concentration in mathematics, natural sciences, or technology.

3. An Associate of Applied Science degree is usually awarded to students who intend to enter the workforce upon graduation. This degree program is a more general area of study.

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