Introduction
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree that typically takes two years and helps students prepare for a bachelor’s degree or employment. Associate programs are generally more time and cost-efficient than a bachelor’s degree and often prepare you for a job in half the time. Let us know Are Associates Degrees Worthless and the pros and cons of an associate’s degree in this article.
Whether or not an associate’s degree is worthless is a personal decision. It offers an affordable option for people who cannot afford to spend so much money and double the time on a bachelor’s and gives an edge to make them more eligible for jobs. If you are on a tight budget or you need to start working soon, an associate degree works well. It does not make you an expert, but you might get better jobs than a high school graduate.By reding the following you will know if the Associates Degrees Worthless.
The pros and cons of an associate’s degree
Here we will consider the pros and cons of an associate’s degree in the following steps:
- It is better than studying nothing after high school.
- How it is better than a bachelor’s for some people.
- Why it is better to do a bachelor’s if you can.
Doing an Associate Degree is better than studying nothing after High School
Naturally, not everyone can afford to pay for four extra years of education, and many people might go for a job immediately. An associate degree is a good option for such people because it is easy to get into and takes up less time. There are also many options to choose from, so you can go for something that interests you and get a good, application-based idea of what your chosen field feels like. If you work extra hard, you can even finish the degree in less than two years and get into the job market with more to offer. On the other hand, it can also be done as a part-time degree so that you can work and study together. You will also be more eligible for jobs because you will be more qualified than someone just out of high school. According to Indeed.com, on average an associate degree could help you earn around $7300 more per year! Hence, the Associates degrees is not Worthless.
How it is better than a Bachelor’s for some people?
To summarize,
- It takes around half the time, so you can start working sooner.
- You need to complete half the credits to get an undergraduate degree.
- You can later do two more years and get a complete bachelor’s when you can afford to give the time and money.
- Usually, costs are lesser so you do not accumulate huge student loans.
- Often easier to get into, so you do not have to work so hard to get accepted.
- It is application-based, so it has more focused, job-related studying and relatively less academia.
- It is easier to commit to two (sometimes lesser) years at a go than four years.
- It is very flexible and even has online options.
- You can add extra effort and complete the degree in less than two years to start working sooner.
- You can also drag it out to more than two years, so you can work part-time as you study.
- You can do your associate degree from a cheap community college and then transfer credits to a better university after a few years when you are more financially stable.
Why it is better to do a Bachelor’s if and when you can?
As mentioned earlier, an associate degree is better than nothing, but a bachelor’s is better for the following reasons
- It is recognized globally whereas associate degrees are often not.
- Given the competition, associate-degree holders may not get a job if bachelor’s degree-holders are available, so you should become one, too.
- A Bachelor’s can get you a higher salary.
- With a Bachelor you become eligible for expert-level jobs, so you have more options.
- Many jobs ask for a minimum of four years of education.
Conclusion
To conclude, how useful an associate degree depends on your circumstances. If you need a short-term, affordable option that will add some cream to your resume and get you more job opportunities and a better salary, the associate degree will be well suited for you. It will give you a feel for your field of choice and will prepare you well for a specific job. On top of that, you can then carry it forward and convert it into a bachelor’s when you have an opportunity, so it should not be a waste in any way. You cannot expect it to get you the same opportunities as a bachelor’s degree, but an associate’s is far from worthless.
Frequently asked questions
1. Are there any limitations to using my associate’s degree as half my bachelor’s degree?
It is generally easy to continue into a bachelor’s degree using the credits gained in the associate degree You will need to do your research beforehand to ensure all your credits can be transferred, and which courses you will have to take to complete your final degree. A transfer agreement outlines how credits are transferred between two institutions. Some institutions offer free transcript evaluations to tell you how many credits you will need and the time and money required.
2. How many credits do I need for an associate degree?
You must complete a minimum of 90 quarter or 60-semester credits for an associate degree.
3. Can you do a master’s degree after an associate one?
No, to apply for a master’s degree you must have a bachelor’s degree.
