Each year over 400,000 associate’s degrees are awarded to U.S. students. As opposed to a bachelor’s degree, which requires an average of 120 college credits, an associate’s degree typically involves 60 credits or about 20 classes. Most programs can be completed in two years. Upon completion of an associate’s degree, students are prepared to either directly enter their career of choice or transfer to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree.
According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, a Bureau of Labor Statistics publication, the fastest growing occupations between 2001 to 2010 will be those most often requiring an associate’s degree. In fact, many employers actually prefer to hire workers who have an associate’s degree. This translates into significant advantages for students who opt to begin their higher education pursuits with an associate’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that in 2001, a worker with an associate’s degree earned an extra $128 per week compared to a worker with only a high school education. It also discovered that the unemployment rate for associate degree holders was 30% lower in 2001 than for high school graduates.
The educational advantages of associate’s degrees are numerous as well. The most obvious and often cited advantage is the cost of the degree. Average tuition at a four-year public university was $3506 in the 2000 – 2001 academic year, whereas the cost of a community college or two-year university was only $1359. Another advantage of the associate’s degree is the opportunity for a student with low highschool grades to catch up academically. Most associate degree programs are open to anyone with a high school diploma or GED. Lastly, students who choose to go on to apply to a four-year university after the completion of an associate’s degree are often given preference by college admissions over an applicant who has simply taken a few semesters of college courses. This is probably in large part due to the fact that the U.S. Department of Education found associate degree holders are more likely to finish a Bachelor’s Degree program.
Of those students in pursuit of an associate’s degree, more than 9% chose to enroll in distance education programs in 1998. The convenience of online degree programs allows students to maintain current responsibilities while completing course work. Students interested in completing an associate’s degree program are encouraged to browse our list of degrees and schools offering associate’s degree both online and at campus locations.
Did you enjoy this article? Read more like it by
subscribing to our RSS feed today!
Click on a program or degree below to request information from the school of your choice.
There are no obligations and it's completely free!
|
Our flexible academic programs in today’s most sought-after career fields make it possible for you to earn a competitive MBA or your master's, bachelor's, or associate's degree on your schedule, without interrupting your personal or professional life.
|
|
|
|
Westwood College isn’t your typical institution of higher learning. With our career-focused education, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in just three years and some associate degrees in as little as 20 months.
|
|
|
|
|
At South University, we'll help you make the most of your potential - starting with a quality education that's backed by more than 100 years of dedication to excellence and personalized attention.
|
|
|
|
|
At ITT Tech we are committed to helping men and women develop the skills and knowledge to pursue many opportunities in fields involving technology, criminal justice, and business.
|
|
|
|
|
Serious about becoming a professional in the creative arts? We're here to help you get the education you need. You can earn a degree or diploma while attending class anytime - day or night - to fit your busy schedule. Choose from our broad range of academic programs to find one that inspires you.
|
|
|
|
Tags: associate degree, capella university, degree programs, Degrees, Westwood College
This entry was posted
on Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm and is filed under Associates Degrees.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
Subscribe to our RSS feed to read more articles on distance learning, online degrees, and career information.
Available in PDF
