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Want to jump-start your career without spending four years in college? An associate’s degree program could be the solution you’ve been looking for!

rubygirl jewelry / Shannon Conrad

Because they only take two years to complete, associate’s degrees are an especially good option for adult learners. In fact, many associate’s degree programs are designed to accommodate a working adult’s schedule, so you could go back to school without sacrificing your current income!

So what’s the difference between bachelor’s degrees and associate’s degrees?

Generally speaking, associate’s degree programs are more focused on immediate job opportunities than four-year programs. In other words, when you graduate with an associate’s degree, you will have the skills and experience you need to succeed in a specific job.

Examples of jobs you can get with an associate’s degree include:

Graphic Designer
Nurse
Dental Hygienist
Computer Specialist
Paralegal

Bachelor’s degrees, on the other hand, give you the more advanced skills needed to succeed in many professions. In fact, a bachelor’s degree is often required to advance into higher levels of management, no matter what the industry.

The good news? The credits you earn while completing a two-year degree program are usually transferrable to most four-year colleges and universities. So you can get the education you need to start on a new career now, and if you decide to return for a bachelor’s degree later, you’ll already be halfway there!

And if you don’t? You’ll still have all the skills you need to have a rewarding career!

Say you’re sold on an associate’s degree program. Now what?

Deciding on the type of degree you want is just the first step. Once you decide how much schooling you’re ready to commit to, you have to decide what to get your degree in!

There’s a two-year program for almost every interest and industry. In general, associate’s degrees are broken into two types:

Associate’s of Arts—Like a bachelor of arts, this type of degree focuses on the liberal arts and humanities. If you’re interested in a creative profession like graphic design, or a service-oriented career, like criminal justice, you’ll want to get this kind of degree.

Associate’s of Science—These degrees focus on technically and scientifically oriented professions. So if you’re thinking about a job in health sciences, like nursing, or a career in IT, like network administration, this is the degree for you.

Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Within these two broad categories are dozens of more specific programs. Suffice it to say that if you know what field you want to go into, finding an associate’s degree program to get you there should be relatively simple!

Last step? Deciding where to get your associate’s degree.

All kinds of schools offer accredited associate’s degree programs. You can pursue your degree at traditional four-year colleges, community colleges and even technical institutes. And, of course, both online and on campus options are available.

There are plenty of choices. You just have to decide what kind of program best fits your needs and lifestyle. But don’t forget, My College Guide is here to help you every step of the way!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on an associate’s degree program that will get you on the road to the right career for you!

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