Quick Highlights:
- An associate’s degree typically requires two years to complete.
- According to College Board, an associate degree has an average cost of $6,730 per year at a state school and $28,627 at a private school.
- Associate degrees offer pathways into various careers or can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree.
- Online and traditional community colleges, technical colleges, and some universities offer associate degrees.
The Fastest Ways to Get an Associate’s Degree
While an associate degree is typically considered a two-year degree, the amount of time to complete an associate degree can vary depending on several important factors. Online students may take fewer classes at once, balancing their education with work and family commitments. In this case an online associate’s degree completed at a leisurely pace may take longer than two years.
To get your associate’s degree as fast as possible you have two options – accelerated associate’s programs and credit transfers.
Accelerated associate’s degree programs condense curriculum into a fast-paced learning track which allows students to earn a associate’s in less than two years. An accelerated track is demanding however, and requires students to progress through course material quickly.
Alternatively, students may have credits earned from previous college enrollment that could shorten the amount of time they need to complete their associate’s degree. High school graduates who pursue associate degrees may have earned dual credit for some of their high school courses, reducing the amount of credits they need to earn their degree. In this case, an associate’s degree may be aquired in less than the typical two years.
It’s always a good idea to check with the school to determine how many credits you’ll actually needed to earn your degree. Other online associates degree students may have received credit from military experience or certification exams that need to be factored in when determining just how long they’ll need to complete their degree.
So what’s the bottom line? The amount of time that an associate’s degree program takes to complete depends on the following factors:
- The format of the program: Online or traditional
- The pacing of the program: Accelerated or traditional
- Credit requirements: The number of credits required to graduate with your associate’s degree
- Work and education history: Some programs may count your work or education experience towards your associate’s degree credit requirements
A Complete Guide to Earning an AA or AS Degree
There are many reasons why you might pursue an associate’s degree. For one, it can be a great stepping stone to getting your four-year bachelor’s degree and going on to further, more intensive studies in higher education. Others might be motivated by the prospect of finding a great job after just two years of college courses. Many associate’s degree programs offer flexible schedule options that make earning a degree within reach for more non-traditional students.
An associate’s degree is also much more affordable than a four-year college degree in bachelor’s programs. Financial aid opportunities are available to students whether they pursue a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree. Plus, for high school students who know they want a bachelor’s degree but don’t know what they want to major in, an associate degree can provide time to explore potential career paths once they’ve earned their high school diploma. Some colleges may allow you to apply your two-year associate’s degree courses to major universities for course credits towards a bachelor’s degree requirement.
Whether you want to get your bachelor’s degree someday but aren’t yet ready, or your career goals only require an associate’s degree, here’s an overview of the associate degree and how it can help you.
Related Resource: What is a Bachelor’s Degree?
What Is an Associate Degree?
You may be wondering how long does it take to get an associate degree. A typical associate’s degree only takes about two years to obtain if you are a full-time student. For some people already in the workforce, trying to get an associate’s degree might take a little longer as a part-time student. Regardless, you’ll need a high school diploma to apply (or the equivalent).
You might also be wondering how many credits you’ll need to complete an associate’s degree. An associate’s degree usually takes a minimum of 60 college credit hours of coursework to complete. You take all of your core courses in areas like English and math. Then you move on to a more specific list of classes directly related to your associates degree.
If you are the type of student who is easily bored by the core classes that everyone has to take, you’ll get to the more interesting classes related to your career by your second year in your associate degree program.
See Also: Best Associate’s in Dental Assisting
Associate Degree vs. Bachelor’s Degree
Associate’s degrees are a smart choice for someone who is sure they want to complete their bachelor’s degree (eventually) but doesn’t want to commit to a four-year college just yet. Associate’s degrees also make sense for students whose career goals don’t require a four-year degree. Students interested in some technical, medical or trade industries may only need an associate degree to get their dream job.
Two years is pretty quick, and you’ll have a valuable associate degree in your field in no time. You just have to decide what’s right for you.
You can also take into consideration that the average overall cost of an associate degree is much less than for bachelor’s degrees. Tuition rates for associate degrees are often much lower than those for a bachelor’s degree, especially when they’re online. You can still get financial aid for your associate degree. You simply fill out the FAFSA form by the deadline.
The typical cost of getting a bachelor’s degree per year is $10,000 for a state school and $38,000 for a private school. According to College Board, associate degrees cost a fraction of that to complete, with an average cost of $3,570 per year at a state school and $14,587 at a private school. So not only is it more cost-effective, but it will take less time if you are a full-time student.
Bachelor’s degrees are expensive. Factor in living costs, books each semester, and other incidental expenses while you attend school, and it just keeps adding up. Associate degrees are a money saving option for many students who want to keep costs low during their first two years of study.
See Also: Top Associate’s in Medical Office Administration
Where To Get An Associate’s Degree
Associate degree programs are usually offered by community colleges, online schools, and technical colleges. Four-year universities will sometimes offer an undergraduate degree at both the associate degree and bachelor’s degree level, but not all of them do.
Most students complete their associate degree at a community college. A community college typically offers a variety of associate degrees that prepare students to begin their career or transfer to a four-year institution to continue their education. There are many benefits to choosing a community college.
Community colleges charge affordable tuition rates for their associate degrees. For students planning to continue their education at a four-year university, getting the first two years of undergraduate study completed at a community college can save them thousands of dollars.
Community colleges may feel less intimidating, since they are usually smaller than four-year universities. They can provide students with a comfortable learning environment as they transition from high school to the workforce or college. Students can get to know their professors while earning their associate degree since class sizes are usually smaller. The smaller, more personalized learning environment can also be beneficial to adult learners coming back to school to complete their associate degree.
See Also: Best Associate’s in Medical Coding
The Different Types of Associate Degrees
Associate degree programs are typically offered for these types of careers:
- Agriculture
- Business management
- Computer sciences
- Culinary arts
- Paralegal studies
- Trade skills
- Healthcare and health sciences
- Information technology (IT)
- Communications
There are many more to choose from, so it’s important to explore all coursework and associate degrees available to you. What fields do you find interesting? Asking this question will help you find a career that’s rewarding to work in.
There are three primary types of associate’s