What Is an Associate Degree?
An associate degree is a 2-year undergraduate degree, often offered through community colleges and vocational schools. An Associate of Arts or Associate of Applied Science enables graduates to pursue careers or further their education by transferring their credits to a bachelor's degree program.
Associate Degree Defined
Associate degree programs often combine general education courses with core courses in a chosen field. Graduates of these 2-year programs can either transfer their credits to a baccalaureate degree program or enter the workforce. Some associate degree programs are specifically geared towards preparing students to work in a particular vocation, such as architectural drafting, electronics repair or medical assisting. An associate degree program should also teach students to understand themselves and the global community, no matter what the subject of the program. Receiving such a degree can also increase your annual income; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that associate's degree holders earned a median weekly income of $963 in 2021.
Important Facts About Associates Degrees
| Common Courses | English Composition; mathematics; sciences; arts and humanities; social sciences |
| Online Availability | Associates programs are available fully online |
| Degree Fields | Business management, civil engineering technology, exercise science, early childhood education, among many others |
| Possible Careers | Funeral service managers; computer network support specialists; architectural and civil drafters; pre-school teachers |
| Median Salary (2021) | $74,000 (for funeral service managers) $62,760 (for computer network support specialists) $60,340 (for architectural and civil drafters) |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031) | 7% growth (for funeral service managers) 7% growth (for computer network support specialists) 1% decline (for architectural and civil drafters) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Types of Associate Degree Programs
Students must complete 60 to 65 credit hours, usually in about two years, to earn an associate degree, according to the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Students can earn several different associate degrees, such as an Associate of Applied Science, an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Applied Arts.
Students who earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree can pursue careers in business, construction, technology or health sciences. An Associate of Arts Degree often mirrors the first two years of a liberal arts bachelor's degree program and enables graduates to work in fields like art or music, according to Stark State College of Technology. Students who earn an Associate of Applied Arts Degree often go on to careers in advertising and communication.
Partnerships
Many colleges offering associate degree programs have partnerships with four-year institutions to allow students with an associate degree to transfer and apply credits toward a bachelor's degree program. These partnerships allow students to apply credits from their associate degree program toward the general education requirements at a four-year institution even if traditional students usually can't do the same.