Associate Degrees: Edge in the Job Market, Path to a Bachelor’s
In 2006, a worker with an associate degree earned about 33% more than one with just a high school diploma, and about 48% of jobs on demand were the “middle-skill” jobs that associate degrees cater to. If you want to further your education beyond a high school degree but you can’t or don’t want to pursue a traditional four-year degree right now, this may be the perfect time to think about getting an associate degree.
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An associate degree is a two-year degree, offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and junior colleges. While it’s possible to get an associate degree in something broad like science, associate degrees are most often associated with a vocational specialty, such as accounting, paralegal, nursing, computer programming, etc.
Because they take less time to complete, obtaining an associate degree is more affordable than getting a bachelor’s, and it still has a major employment advantage over a high school diploma or GED. Some people also choose the associate track to jump right into their field without having to take as many general education classes.
Associate degrees are also a valuable stepping stone. If you’re still aiming to go to a four-year school, an associate degree can prepare you for a higher-paying job until you can afford a bachelor’s degree. Or, an associate degree can give you the foundational coursework to transfer to a four-year school at a lower price. Many programs are made specifically for this purpose, even in complex fields like engineering and biotechnology. If you’re not interested in a bachelor’s but do want to advance in your field, the associate degree puts you at an advantage in employers’ eyes because it allows you to study the subject in-depth first instead of learning as you go.
Associate degrees may get a bad rap, but they can take you to interesting careers from graphic design to film and video technology to criminal justice. “Middle-skill” jobs make up almost half of the national employment share; there’s actually a higher need for workers doing associate degree level work than bachelor’s degree level work. “Even in the midst of massive layoffs, employers cannot find enough skilled workers,” said Ellen Alberding, president of the Joyce Foundation, in an article on Inside HigherEd.
Associate degrees may not get talked about much, but they can fill a huge gap in the job market and can take you to higher opportunities. In this economy, an associate degree may be just the thing you need to balance college affordability and an employment edge.
And of course….if you’d like to find an associate degree that’s right for you, check out myUsearch.com to find your college match.
March 16th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Great stuff, Pauline. A crucial mistake that most people make I’ve found is over-educating themselves early for the career path they want. So often, people attending 4-year colleges turn their noses up the Associates degree when in reality a lot of them are just as useful as a 4-year. I’ve got a few friends with them who work in the same industry I work in – and suffice to say they live more comfortably then me, making the same salary with less loans to pay back! If I could do it all over again, well – I’d still have gotten my BS. But I just might have gone into the job market with my associates for a couple of years before doing it. Take care out there everyone.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
I agree. The more education the better. While it isn’t a bachelor’s degree, it shows you’ve put time and effort in to better yourself and prepare for a career. If you decide to eventually complete your studies and get a four-year degree, many state colleges will accept full credit from community colleges, ensuring that you not only saved money but also saved time.
Each level of education you obtain makes you less likely to find yourself unemployed. If you don’t have a degree, an associate’s degree is a fantastic goal and a possible wonderful start.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Well, right now with the job market getting worse and worse, it may be better just to go ahead and get a bachelors. I currently have 2 associate degrees and I’ve applied for at least 30 jobs pertaining to my field in the last month. Out of those 30 jobs that I applied for -ONLY 5 – yes 5, I have had job interviews. My skills for interviewing are great and EVEN the employers have told me that I’ve done flawless in the interviews, but they hire the person with the higher degree. SO do you see my problem yet? I have even been turned down from positions that don’t even pertain to my field, bc the person with the higher degree goes first.
Take my advice-right now during the recession, employers are gonna step over you if a person has a higher degree than you…GO BACK TO SCHOOL and get a bachelors. It will save you a lot of time from filling out applications for jobs that you probably won’t get. And please anyone who tells you that you need more experience to get a certain job they can shove it bc you probably wont be getting a lot of experience from jobs in your field until the recession starts approving.
GO BACK TO SCHOOL-GET A HIGHER DEGREE!!!!! thats what im planning on doing next fall…
July 18th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Nice post and blog! Greets.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for taking the time to share this with us, just loved it.