What can you do with an associate’s degree in business? This two year degree can open up a lot of rewarding job opportunities.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Whether you are planning to build a career or start your own business, this campus-based or online business degree may be perfect for you!
Is an Associates Degree in Business Worth Anything in the Job Market?
Yes, an associates degree in business is certainly worth something. Starting out, you’ll probably earn less than those who have bachelor’s degrees, but getting a job two years earlier has its perks.
Many employers prefer hiring associate’s degree holders because they can take entry-level jobs earlier. Equipped with the core knowledge in business, employers expect you to gain significant experience that will make you more valuable than someone with higher education in the long run.
Students with associate’s degrees in business often have an exceptional edge over other associate’s degrees. The usual coursework in business programs revolves around the skills that companies need for their day-to-day operations.
With less financial and time investment, this degree can help you acquire the necessary knowledge and have enough time to hone your skills and adapt to your workplace.
What Do You Learn in a Business Administration Associates Degree?
An associate’s degree in business administration may only take two years, but it covers most of the skills that employers look for when filling their ranks. So, what will you learn from this degree?
Decision-making, teamwork, and ethical reasoning are three of the most prominent skills that an associate’s degree in business administration can help you develop. These skills can help prepare you for several high-paying positions, such as managerial, human resources, and upper-level management.
Aside from these skills, here’s a taste of the core courses that you may learn in a business administration degree:
Principles of Business Management – tackles the fundamental skill that businesses and organizations need — management. The coursework includes division of work, authority, and discipline, unity of command and direction, centralization, remuneration, scalar chain, and stability of tenure of personnel.
Macroeconomics – covers everything about the strengths, weaknesses, and failures of different markets. It also discusses the long-term effects of various business policies and how they can affect the quality of life.
Microeconomics – deals with the choices that different economists make to manage the resources available to us. It also covers the various factors that affect the hidden price of every product and service that businesses offer.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Business Communications – covers the fundamentals of B2B communications, together with the guidelines in writing memos, letters, and reports. It can also help students improve their writing and grammatical skills to convey persuasive and compelling messages.
Multinational management – covers the sophistication of managerial, financial, and consulting positions in multinational firms, businesses, and organizations.
What Jobs Can I Get with an Associates Degree in Business?
Here’s a shortlist of the most common jobs that you can pursue with an associate’s degree in business. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you may need additional education or work experience to qualify for some of these jobs, depending on the employer.
Medical and Health Services Manager
The medical and health sector doesn’t only need health professionals — they’ll also need someone who can efficiently run different departments’ finances and goals and hire employees to fill the ranks. Medical and health services managers have a median salary of $104,280 per year.
Human Resources Manager
Associates or bachelors — it doesn’t matter in the human resource department, as long as you have experience in managing and dealing with people issues.
If you have the core skills to be a liaison between employees and upper management, businesses may hire you for a position that pays a median salary of $121,220 per year.
Management Analyst
Acquiring the skills to analyze the business’ performance is integral in securing a rewarding career.
If your company is losing clients or the sales are below the company’s expectations, you may be put at the frontline to analyze and improve the situation. The median annual salary for management analysts is $87,660.
Sales Manager
Any business needs to deal with sales, and obtain an associate’s degree, can help you develop the core skills that companies need for generating sales.
A sales manager is different from a salesperson who earns on a commission-basis. It’s a regular salaried employee with a median income of $132,290 per year.
How Much Can You Make with an Associates Degree in Business Management?
Business management is an evergreen degree that can help equip you with the skills and knowledge that businesses always need. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, aside from starting and managing your business, some positions that you can pursue with an associate’s degree in business management include:
| Careers | Annual Median Salary |
| Telemarketing Manager | $78,560 |
| Funeral Home Manager | $74,200 |
| Health and Long-term Care Insurance Agent | $68,940 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $68,270 |
| Assembly Supervisor | $62,850 |
| Real Estate Broker | $60,370 |
| Office Services Supervisor | $58,450 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $49,040 |
| Human Resources Assistant | $43,250 |
| Assistant Store Manager | $41,580 |
What Is the Highest Paying Associate Degree Jobs?
Some community colleges have associate degree graduates that earn more than someone with a bachelor’s degree. Here’s a taste of some of the highest paying jobs that you can pursue with an associate’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Careers | Annual Median Salary |
| Air Traffic Controller | $130,420 |
| Radiation Therapist | $86,850 |
| >Nuclear Technician | $84,190 |
| Nuclear Medical Technologist | $79,590 |
| Web Developer | $77,200 |
| Dental Hygienist | $77,090 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $75,920 |
| MRI Technologist | $74,690 |
| Flight Data Technician | $68,570 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $65,450 |
What Can You Do With an Associates in Business?
Is it worth your time and money to earn an associate’s degree in business? There are certain perks in a business degree, which may put you in a better position for future career advancement.
First is earning your degree earlier than students who are earning a bachelors. A lot of employers prefer to hire employees with significantly more real-life experience than someone with higher educational attainment.
Although the core skills are essential when finding a job, having an early start in your career may put you in a better position for future career advancements.
It doesn’t mean, however, that you only need to look for a job as soon as you earn your associate’s degree. It’s still undeniable that getting a higher education after your associate’s degree in business may make you qualified for jobs that pay higher.
You can also take advantage of the cheaper courses that you can take in an associate’s program. Students who have already planned to earn a bachelor’s degree in business may take the core courses in an associate’s program, then transfer credits to bachelor’s.
This can often significantly reduce the cost of education and the time that it takes for them to earn their bachelor’s.
Accreditation for an Associates Degree in Business
The two-year head start in a real-life experience that you can get from entry-level jobs is, perhaps, more enticing for employers. But it doesn’t mean that career growth and advancement is guaranteed. Your degree will only be valid if you earned it from a regionally accredited school.
A lot of employers only acknowledge regional accreditation because it ensures that the college or university passed the educational standards that accrediting bodies impose.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
The US Department of Education monitors regional organizations to keep the standards of education up-to-date and in line with the industry qualifications and expectations.
An associate’s degree in business administration is a remarkable degree that anyone can take. But if you want to reap its benefits, you always need to check the accreditation of the college program that you’re planning to enroll in.
Financial Aid for a Business Associate’s Degree
An associate’s degree in business is often a cheaper alternative if you want to get a headstart in the business sector. The courses in an associate’s degree are usually less expensive than bachelors, and you can reduce the cost of your education even further by applying to different financial assistance programs.
If you want to check the financial aid available to associates in business administration, you can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form can help you determine your eligibility for different programs that you can take advantage of to reduce the cost of earning a degree.
These programs may come in the form of scholarships, grants, internships, or work-study. You can combine any of these with the financial aid program that your state offers to prevent yourself from getting into too much student debt.
Is an Associates Degree in Business Worth It?
Yes, an associates degree in business is worth it for many professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the business and financial field are set to grow at 5% over the next decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Common careers in this field include assistant store manager, human resources assistant, assembly supervisor, and telemarketing manager.
An associate’s degree holder, regardless of the discipline, may have a significant edge over someone who only has a high school diploma. A bachelor’s degree, on the other hand, may be better, but not everyone can afford to invest four years and more money for education.
That’s why a lot of people consider an associate’s degree as the best for having the best balance between quality education, versatility, and adaptability in the fast-paced business industry.
Look for an accredited business school and enroll in an associate’s program — it may be one of the best decisions you’ll make in your career.
