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Another important consideration is to think about how much time you are willing to invest in a college education. There are some professions that may only require an Associate degree. Generally, most professions require a Bachelor’s degree at minimum. And there are certain professions that specific certifications can prepare you for.

Associate degrees can either prepare students for a specific career and/or enable them to apply earned credits towards a future Bachelor’s degree program. They generally consist of about 20 courses (roughly 60-62 semester hours) and consist of General Education, Core/Concentration, and in some programs, Elective Requirements. Traditionally, a full-time student may complete this program within two years and tuition is considerably less than that of a Bachelor’s degree.

You will have the benefit of entering the workforce much sooner than with a Bachelor’s degree and have greater earning potential than with only a high school diploma. Employment fields in which associate degrees are beneficial, such as paralegal studies, health care, web publishing, etc. are continually growing. However, the biggest challenge people find with Associate degrees is the growing competition for limited jobs. Generally, many positions may even require a Bachelor’s degree instead in order to qualify.

Bachelor degrees generally consist of about 40 courses (roughly 120 – 124 semester hours) with courses in general education, core, concentration, electives, and final program requirements. Full-time students may complete this program within 4-5 years. Upon graduation, a person earning a Bachelor’s degree may choose to enter the workforce immediately or continue their studies to the graduate level. When job-seeking, you would be given preference over those who either do not have degrees or those with lesser degrees, regardless of experience. The biggest complaint associated with the Bachelor’s degree is the expense in terms of time and money; however, it is worth the investment as long as you consider all your options prior to deciding on the best degree plan for YOU.