associate degree vs bachelor degree

Associate Degree vs Bachelor Degree

The education system in the United States is vastly different from the systems that are in operation across the world. After the completion of high school in the US, you can choose to go for higher studies at a college or university. There are two different degrees that are offered by colleges and universities in the American education systems – an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Both these degrees are quite different in terms of the amount of time taken to complete and the curriculum that is followed. You can choose the type of degree that suits your requirements and time constraints so that you can take out the maximum number of benefits from the education that you receive.

In order to understand the differences between an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree — and delve deeper into the bachelor degree vs associate degree debate — it is important that you understand the basic features of each of these. To make this easier for you, here is a brief outline of both the degrees!

Associate Degree

If you are looking to pick up a job that needs some type of college education – but not necessarily a full four-year bachelor’s degree – an associate degree may be ideal for you. These degrees have become increasingly popular over time – especially over the past two decades – as it just takes two years to complete this associate degree. The degree is essentially just the first two years of your bachelor’s degree – the freshman and sophomore years of college. This turns out to be much cheaper than the regular bachelor’s degree and can make you employable much faster. Here are some of the main features of associate degrees.

Average Time It Takes to Complete

As mentioned before, an associate degree can be earned in about two years. It is almost half of the time that it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree. For people who want to start working quickly and don’t want to spend too much money on their education, an associate degree is the best bet. You will be able to fulfill the basic requirements of education in this manner.

Requirements to Enroll

The requirements for enrollment into an associate degree program are very minimal. In order to qualify for this degree, you will need a minimum GPA and a high school diploma to gain admission into the program. With the minimalistic requirements, it is easy to gain admission into such a program and accumulate all the credits required to graduate from this course.

Average Cost

For most associate degree courses, the tuition can cost around $3,000 or more for a public institution in the state, and close to $15,000 for two years at a private institution. If cost-cutting is your objective, you should try to opt for a public institution and save on a lot of money that would otherwise have been spent on the tuition fee of an associate degree at a private institution.

Average Salaries

An associate degree is the most basic educational qualification that you can get after achieving your high school diploma. This isn’t a specialized course so you cannot expect your salary to reach the level of a bachelor’s degree holder or a more qualified person.  According to some sources, you can expect your weekly pay to increase substantially – by almost $785 – after you get your associate’s degree. As discussed before, an associate’s degree is the prerequisite for a number of jobs, so you can expect an increase in your salary after finishing this degree.


Bachelor Degree

bachelor degree vs associate degreeA bachelor’s degree is the other undergraduate degree that you can earn right after college. It takes longer to complete than an associate degree but it also has more value in the job market, which you will be applying to after the completion of the degree.

Here are some of the primary features of this degree and the prospects that you have upon its completion.

Average Time It Takes to Complete

On average, a bachelor’s degree takes approximately four years to complete. This is the major area of difference between a bachelor’s degree and an associate degree – which takes about half the time. If you choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete a larger course load and more credits in order to receive your degree.

Requirements to Enroll

The requirements of enrollment differ from program to program when it comes to a bachelor’s degree. While some may require just a decent GPA and other qualifying exams, there will be some courses that need letters of recommendations, common applications, essays and so on.

Average Cost

Getting a college-level education isn’t cheap. If you have to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the United States, you may be expected to shell out about $10,000 at a public university in your state. Out of state public university can charge you tuition around the $25,000 scale. If you choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a private institution, you can expect yourself to pay about $35,000. This can leave you dealing with a lot of debt in the years after college, which is something you must keep in mind.

Average Salaries

The average salary for a graduate with a bachelor’s degree is significantly higher – approximately 20% – than the average salary for a student with an associate’s degree. This figure stands at about $50,000 for most new graduates, which has been rising consistently over the past few years.


Wrap-Up

At the end of the bachelor degree vs associate degree distinction, you may have realized that both these degrees have some major differences but the base is quite similar. The amount of time that you put into the course will decide what degree you earn at the end of your education. While some people may be satisfied with a two-year associate degree and get a decent source of income on that basis, people who want to excel in other fields usually try to finish their bachelor’s degree and even follow it up with a master’s degree. Whichever degree you choose to pursue, make sure it is in line with your personal goals and qualifications and you will have the answer to your bachelor degree vs associate degree question!