What Is An Associate’s Degree?

Key Takeaways:

• Students who graduate from a community college often earn an associate’s, a 2-year undergraduate degree.
• Some careers, such as dental hygienist and veterinary technician, require an associate’s degree.
• Students typically use their associate’s to enter the workforce or to transfer to a 4-year institution for their bachelor’s.

Associate’s degrees are 2-year degrees, often completed at a community college. They’re just one option you have for higher education after high school. In this article, we dive into how you can get an associate’s degree, what you’ll learn, how much it costs, and more.

What Is an Associate’s Degree?

An associate’s degree is a 2-year undergraduate degree that provides technical and academic knowledge. You might also see them called associate or associate’s degrees.

The material covered depends on the program. Many careers only require an associate’s degree, which means you can enter the workforce faster and often pay much less than you would for a 4-year degree.

You can also choose to transfer to a 4-year college after you receive your associate. Your credits will transfer, which means you’ll only have to complete two additional years to earn your bachelor’s.

How Do You Get an Associate’s Degree?

If you attend full time and take 15 credits on average per semester, you should graduate with an associate’s degree in 2 years. These programs typically require 60 credits – or around 20 total classes. If you choose to study part time, it will take longer to earn your degree.

Undergraduate programs can be offered in person, online, or both.

Where Can You Earn One?

Students can usually earn an associate’s degree by attending a community college. The acceptance rate for these schools is usually very high – almost all students applying will be accepted, with some exceptions.

Community colleges are scattered all over the country, and you can usually find at least one in your own county or city.

What Will You Learn in the Two-Year Program?

The type of associate you pursue impacts what classes you take, but courses fall into two categories: general education and career related.

General education courses cover everything from math to English. They help you develop a solid foundation of knowledge. You’ll need these classes if you pursue your bachelor’s.

Career-related classes focus on the student’s desired field. For example, if you want to become a dental hygienist, you’d take courses on dental anatomy, patient care, and oral health education. But you also need to attend general education classes, such as English 101 and Human Biology.

Associate Degree Jobs

Many careers require at least an associate’s degree. For instance, some firefighter programs request a 2-year degree, while others ask for a bachelor’s.

Here are some other jobs you can generally pursue with an associate’s, including their median salary and projected job growth between 2022 and 2032:

• Paralegal or Legal Assistant
  • Median Salary: $61,000
  • Projected job growth: 4.2%
• HVAC Technician
  • Median Salary: $59,000
  • Projected job growth: 5.5%
• Dental Hygienist
  • Median Salary: $94,000
  • Projected job growth: 7.4%
• Veterinary Technologist or Technician
  • Median Salary: $45,000
  • Projected job growth: 20.5%
• Physical therapy assistant
  • Median Salary: $65,000
  • Projected job growth: 26%

Types of Associate’s Degrees

The associate degree type can impact your career and education options after graduation. The three most common types are:

• Associate of Arts (AA) programs are broad, focusing on social sciences, business, literature, arts, and other general education subjects. They’re ideal if you’re planning on pursuing a bachelor’s later.
• Associate of Science (AS) degrees focus on science and math fields, such as Criminal Justice or Information Technology.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) programs cover technical and vocational skills required for a specific career field. They’re not usually put towards bachelor’s, but there are some exceptions.

Associate’s Vs. Other Degrees and Certificates

To help you create a gameplan for your higher education, here are some ways associates differ from other types of educational programs:

• Bachelor’s degree: These degrees are earned after a 4-year program at an undergraduate college. Classes focus on general education, major-related courses, and electives. Many associate’s can be used as credits towards your bachelor’s.
• Master’s degree: You can pursue a master’s after you’ve earned a bachelor’s. The 2-year programs cover more advanced classes in a specific concentration. Students usually have to submit a thesis or other capstone project.
• Doctorate: Doctorates come after a bachelor’s or master’s degree, depending on the program, and take about 3 to 8 years to finish. The degrees can refer to Ph.D.s or professional doctorates in law, veterinary medicine, and other fields.
• Professional certificates: Professional certificates are awarded in everything from IT to marketing. You typically have to take an exam or attend specific courses. These programs can take anywhere from a few months to several years.
• Trade, vocational, and schools: Trade schools offer hands-on or very specific training in a select field, such as auto repair, cosmetology, and HVAC installation. Depending on the program, they can take 1 month to 2 years to finish.

How To Earn Your Bachelor’s After Community College

You can pursue your bachelor’s after you’ve earned an associate’s, too. Many 4-year schools accept community college credits, but should understand how your classes will transfer before you enroll. The 4-year school may not transfer all of your credits 1:1, which means you’d have to retake some courses. Talk to the admissions department to learn more.

How Much is an Associate’s Degree?

During the 2023-24 academic year, tuition and fees at a public 2-year institution cost between $4,072 and $8,901, on average. This table breaks down the costs:

The total average cost at a 2-year public school, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, food, housing, and related expenses, ranged from $9,785 to $27,001.

The exact price depends on several factors, including the type of school, your residency, and whether you’re living on campus, with family, or off-campus but not with your family. For example, students typically spent $1,478 on books and supplies.

This table highlights average food, housing, and additional costs at a public 2-year institution for the 2023-24 academic year:

Tips for Paying For Your Degree

Even though associate’s degrees are much less expensive than bachelor’s programs, they can still be out of reach financially for many. Here are some tips to help you cover the cost:

• Complete the FAFSA. You need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to be considered for federal student loans, Pell Grant, and institutional aid.
• Apply for state grants. Many states have college grants for 2-year students. In fact, a majority even have discounted or free community college programs for their residents. You may have to complete a separate state financial aid application to qualify.
• Apply for scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships that help students pay for their higher education. Many are available to both associate’s and bachelor’s students.
• Take out private loans. Private student loans can help you bridge the gap between your financial aid offers and the total cost of attendance (COA). However, private loans tend to have much higher interest rates and fewer repayment options than federal loans. You should always take out federal student loans first.

Associate’s Degree Benefits

There are plenty of benefits to earning your associate’s degree! If you’re on the fence about attending community college, here are some pros to note:

• It’s usually more affordable than a 4-year college. Since community colleges are less expensive than 4-year schools on average, you stand to save tens of thousands of dollars by going to a community college first and transferring later.
• You open the doors to some career opportunities. Many jobs require you to have at least an associate’s degree, such as a dental hygienist or a veterinary technician. Community colleges often have great career service departments, too.
• You can earn more money. In 2024, those with associate’s degrees earned $1,099 weekly on average. By comparison, employees with some college but no degree earned $1,020/week. Those with a high school diploma came home with $930 each week.
• You can explore more subjects. If you’re not quite sure what to study, attending community college is a solid option. You can save money while you figure out your career goals and explore different subjects that call to you.
• It only takes two years. An associate’s degree takes half the time of a bachelor’s if you’re attending full time. You can invest in your education now and choose whether to continue your education later.

Before deciding on your education goals, consider your career goals. Your desired field may only require an associate’s, not a bachelor’s, which can save you years and thousands of dollars in tuition and related costs. We recommend exploring majors and careers to help you find the subjects that call to you.

Want to learn more about community colleges that match your goals and their available programs? Use our FREE College Match tool.