Are you trying to figure out the pros and cons of earning an associate degree vs. bachelor degree?
Deciding what kind of degree to earn is one of the first things many students think about when making college plans. This decision may influence every other aspect of your education planning.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Let’s discuss the differences between associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree programs so you can better determine which path is right for you.
Associate Degree vs. Bachelor Degree
Associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees are both types of undergraduate college degrees. An associate degree program typically takes 2 years to complete with full-time study, while a bachelor degree program typically takes 4 years.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Credits earned in an associate’s degree program from an accredited institution are often eligible to transfer into a bachelors degree if you decide to continue your education.
What Is an Associate’s Degree?
An associates degree is a 2 year undergraduate degree program. An associates program usually includes 60 credit hours of coursework, including both general education courses and a limited number of specialized courses in your chosen major.
Depending on the program, the specialized courses could cover technical or vocational skills, such as nursing or computer networking. There are also associate’s degrees in general studies. These tend to be most useful for students who plan to transfer into bachelor’s degree programs rather than enter the workforce upon graduation.
In most associate degree programs, the first year of study consists entirely of the core coursework. During the second year, you continue to take core courses but also take courses from your chosen field of study. This schedule assumes full-time enrollment. A part-time associate’s degree program will likely take longer to complete.
What Is a Bachelor’s Degree?
A bachelors is an undergraduate degree that typically consists of 120 credit hours of coursework, which makes it about twice as long as an associate’s degree program. It can generally be completed in 4 years of full-time study.
Bachelors degree students usually spend their first 2 years of study taking core courses and their second 2 years taking courses specific to their major. Students have the opportunity to explore their major in depth. Within their chosen major, they have both mandatory courses and electives. In addition to a major, some students also choose a minor, often in a field that complements their major.
Key Differences Between a Bachelor’s Degree vs. Associate’s Degree
If your highest completed level of education is currently a high school diploma or GED, then both bachelor’s and associate’s degrees are possible options for you to continue your education. The following topics are some of the key differences between the two degrees.
Time to Complete
One of the first differences to note between an associates vs. bachelors is that a bachelors degree program generally takes twice as long as an associates degree program.
A traditional associates program includes 60 credit hours worth of coursework and usually takes 2 years of full-time study to complete. On the other hand, a traditional bachelors program includes 120 credit hours worth of coursework and typically takes 4 years of full-time study to complete.
Coursework
In addition to including twice the amount of coursework, the nature of the coursework may be somewhat different in a bachelors program as compared to an associates program.
An associate’s degree often consists mostly of core coursework in the humanities and sciences, with a relatively small number of specialized courses. Bachelor’s degree students also tend to spend most of their first 2 years completing core coursework, but then they have 2 more years to dedicate to their chosen major.
Depth of Knowledge
Due to the longer program length, bachelor’s degree students get to take more courses in their specialty than associate’s degree students. As a result, a bachelor’s degree program usually provides a greater depth of knowledge in your chosen major.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Associate’s degree programs are intended to help students gain basic working knowledge of their field, but they do not usually get into anything too complex. In many industries, you can qualify for entry-level jobs without advanced academic knowledge.
Career Opportunities
There are many entry-level positions that only require an associate’s degree, but a bachelor’s can often enable you to pursue a wider variety of jobs.
For example, an associates degree can help you qualify for licensure as a registered nurse. Some hospitals and medical practices may give preference, though, to nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Some students earn an associate’s degree and then later decide whether they want to pursue a bachelor’s based on what they learn about the job market in their chosen field.
Earning Potential
In many industries, there is a correlation between income and education level, with bachelors degree holders tending to earn more money than associate degree holders.
Some companies may require at least a bachelor’s degree for management roles and other high-paying positions. Depending on your professional goals, investing time and money into earning a bachelor’s degree could potentially pay off over the long term.
With that in mind, a bachelors is not a guarantee of higher pay or any particular salary. You may want to learn more about the job market and the value of a bachelors in your particular industry before you choose your degree track.
Program Cost
Another factor to consider when comparing associate’s degree vs. bachelor’s degree programs is cost. Because associate’s degree programs require fewer courses than bachelor’s degree programs, they also tend to cost less.
Tuition costs and financial aid availability can vary widely at different colleges, though. So, there may be circumstances in which earning a bachelors at a school with relatively low tuition rates could actually cost less than earning an associates from a school with relatively high tuition rates.
Bachelor Degree vs. Associate Degree Pros and Cons
Associates Degree Pros and Cons
This table displays some of the pros and cons of earning an associate’s degree:
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
An associate’s degree may be a good choice for some people, as it allows you receive training for entry-level roles and enter the workforce more quickly.
Bachelors Degree Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of earning a bachelor’s degree:
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
While a bachelor’s degree requires more time and money in the present, it might pay off over the long-term.
Is an Associate’s Degree an Undergraduate Degree?
Yes, an associate’s degree is an undergraduate degree. There are two basic types of undergraduate degrees: associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Both of these degrees are open to people whose highest level of education is a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
With full-time studies, an associate’s degree is generally a two-year undergraduate program, while a bachelor’s degree is generally a four-year undergraduate program. Credits that are earned in an associate’s program from an accredited institution can often be counted toward a bachelor’s program later on.
Should I Get an Associates or Bachelors Degree?
Whether an associates or bachelors degree is best for you depends on your personal goals. A main difference between an associate and bachelor degree is that a bachelors takes more time to complete. Since a bachelors program is longer, it also teaches more advanced knowledge in your area of specialty.
A bachelor’s degree may also lead to more job opportunities and higher pay, but there are many career paths in which a bachelors is not strictly necessary. In some instances, an associates could be more cost-effective while still providing the basic skills you need to start your career.
Do You Need an Associate’s Degree to Get a Bachelor’s Degree?
No, you do not need an associates degree to get a bachelors degree. Many undergraduate students go straight into bachelors programs. Most four-year bachelors programs effectively include the coursework of a two-year associates program in the same major, but you do not need to earn an associates before graduating with a bachelors.
Some people do choose to earn an associates degree at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college to pursue their bachelors. They may go this route to save money on tuition while completing their general education requirements.
Is an Associate’s Degree Worth It?
Yes, an associate’s degree is worth it for many students. An associate’s degree can provide a way to develop specialized skills beyond a high school education. Associate programs can provide you with basic skills that are necessary to pursue a number of potential careers, depending on your specialty.
Careers that accept specialized, associate-level training include registered nurses, paralegals, and software developers. An associates degree can also help you qualify for entry-level roles in the job market without the time and expense of a bachelors degree.
Earning Your Associate or Bachelor Degree Online
Whether you pursue an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree, either could help you receive training in your chosen field. In addition, there are many degree options available for earning your associates or bachelors.
An online associate degree or an online bachelor’s degree program, for instance, could enable you to conveniently earn your degree from home. Online programming could eliminate the need to commute to campus, and it could also expand your school options beyond the colleges available in your immediate geographic region.
Many degree programs also offer flexible scheduling. You can start exploring accredited colleges and universities today to discover available associate or bachelor programs that match your interests.
