Why pursue an Associate Degree?


Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Do you want to know what an associate’s degree is, what you can do with it and whether they are worth it or not? Here you'll find everything you need to know. 



Nowadays, if professionals want to succeed and have a chance to compete in the extremely competitive job market, earning a degree from an accredited institution is one of their biggest assets. 

Depending on what they expect from the degree, there are different kinds of degrees prospective students can pursue. First of all, there are undergraduate and graduate degrees. Within the former, there are associate and bachelor’s degrees. Among the latter, we can mention master’s and doctoral degrees. 

When high school is coming to its end, many students decide to start their higher educational journey straight with a Bachelor’s degree, without even considering associate’s degrees. This is so because they don’t think an associate’s degree is worth the time and effort it takes because Bachelor’s degrees can provide them with the same skills. Even though it is true, bachelor’s degrees typically last longer than associate degrees. Plus, there are some benefits that come with associate degrees that are worth taking into consideration. 

Associate Degree: What is it?


As previously mentioned, Associate degrees are undergraduate degree programs. But, what is the difference between an Associate degree and a Bachelor’s degree?

On the one hand, Associate degrees are 2-year degrees that prepare students for entry-level jobs in several fields or to transfer to another university to pursue a Bachelor’s degree and complete their education. 

On the other hand, a Bachelor’s degree is also an undergraduate degree, but the difference is that it offers a deeper understanding of the field than an associate degree does, but it takes up to 4 years.

You might be thinking: If I can get a better-rounded education with a Bachelor’s degree, why would I pursue an Associate’s degree?

Let’s see...

Why study an Associate’s Degree?


It is true that Bachelor’s degrees provide students with a deeper insight into the chosen field, but there are some aspects that make an Associate degree a very good first option to start the higher education journey.

  1. Cost: Higher education degrees tend to be expensive, but associate degrees are the cheapest programs available. 
  2. Enter the workforce faster: Even though they won’t provide you with a complete knowledge of the field, associate degrees give students enough understanding of the field so as to get entry-level jobs in the field they are interested in. 
  3. Prepare to pursue a Bachelor’s degree: Once they enter the workforce, they can always go on to pursue a bachelor’s degree and get a well-rounded education in their field. They should choose a university that enables them to transfer the credits they earned during their associate’s degree so that their bachelor’s degree will be shorter. This way, they will already have a job with which they can pay for their further studies and acquire experience, while studying and increasing their knowledge.

Types of Associate Degrees


There are 3 types of associate degrees students can choose from:
  • Associate of Arts (AA): These degrees are generally earned in liberal arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences, and they lead to job opportunities in several fields, such as the arts, education, sales, management, among others. 
  • Associate of Science (AS): Typically, these degrees are mainly about applied science, math, technology, and science. They lead to careers in several fields, including nursing, business, medicine, criminal justice, among others. 
  • Associate of Applied Science (AAS): Associates of Applied Science is generally specific to a particular field of study or career. This means that students earn the practical skills and knowledge needed to a certain career path. 




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