Why a Two-Year Degree Could Be Your Best Investment. So, is an associate’s degree worth it? Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime. Some of these degrees (and degrees from specific schools) are valuable and will get you a job, while others are worthless. That's just plain false. However, associates that are targeted with specific job titles like Nursing and Medical Radiography are fantastic and absolutely required no matter what because those fields are so regulated. With the earnings and opportunities it offers and the relatively small commitment of time and money it demands… My advice is to work through that 2 year degree if you can get somewhere. If it's in a bullshit field, then perhaps. It's not worthless if you learn something in class. Possible careers with an associate’s degree will vary in terms of the type of associate’s degree, and the subject you major in. I make well past 6 figures with an associates from a technical college and no certs. Therefore, I have a specialty already, if you will. Of the top 20 careers with the "most new jobs", there are 6 job titles that pay between $60-100k a year—and all of them require a bachelor's degree to get in. So, is an associate degree worth it? And baring first-hand on the job experience, they only way to learn how to handle such complexities is through higher education. Going to graduate school isn’t cheap. While there are certainly accounting-related positions available to those with a certificate or Associate’s degree, the BLS reports that most accountant positions require at least a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field. Truth: The Need for Bachelor’s Degrees is Rising What Job Can I Get With an Associate's Degree in Engineering Technology?. I hire people with associates all the time. That way when you graduate you already have 2 years experience when you start looking for a FT job. For example, if I transferred my community college credits to a 4 year without an AA, if anything ever caused me to take 2 years off of school prior to completing my BA, my units would essentially expire and I would have to re-take many if not all of the courses. Until recently, the answer was easy: not going to college. Online associate degrees are also becoming more popular, due to their flexibility and affordability, allowing individuals to work while they study, often for a reduced price. IF you did well enough to qualify. I make $84k on long island. I'll be graduating with an associate's degree at the end of the academic year, and I'm interested to hear if anyone has actually gotten a decent job with one. found the following resources, articles, links, and information helpful. I agree with this. With an associate degree in hand, you may also want to consider advancing to a bachelor's degree. Why do people get it I don't understand if it is so useless? The core mission of /r/jobs is empowering job seekers and employees through the promotion of: their best interests, helpful and sound advice, and encouragement. I teach at a community college. In addition, I love variety and I am interested in learning various subjects. A two-year associate of arts degree from a community college rarely benefits graduates unless they continue to a four-year degree, according to a new study. Only the most general associate degree would fullfill the bachelor requirements of a 4 year university. But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. Do not get a Associate of Applied Science degree! Is a 2-year accounting degree worth it? I do plan on transferring to a university and getting a bachelor's no matter what, but just wondering if this AA will be worth anything… Press J to jump to the feed. Those (associates) degrees are worth enough. Cookies help us deliver our Services. A student in a bachelor's degree program who drops out after 90 credits (three years) still has no degree. 42.6 percent of all HVAC techs have at least an associate’s degree or some college education 51.1 percent of all HVAC techs have a high school diploma or less If you want to think of a more concrete example of long-term earnings, just look at the difference an extra $5 per hour can make over a lifetime. Does it count as having no degree? I was always worried about if I’ll be able to get a job, if I’ll make something of myself, and if I can live my dreams. Nope. If you plan to pursue a bachelor's in math, you might be able to transfer from a community college with your associate's degree in math. I have an associates degree from a technical college as well. My associates degree hasn't stopped me. I agree. A group of us were transferring and out of us only one wanted to get her Associate's degree. If you are incompetent, don't learn from your mistakes and are uninterested in the field as a whole, it's more likely than not you won't make it very far regardless of what education you have. Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy, etc. If you do need to get a job, having a degree can only help you—not only will you have more options to choose from, but you’ll also get paid more. It also gives you a sense of accomplishment and maybe confidence, in terms of competing with people who only have high school diplomas. However, If it's a technical degree you can land many well paying jobs with just an Associates. Is an Associate-degree in math worth anything? An associate degree in engineering is a two-year degree that provides the basic education needed to work as an engineering technician. Her reasons were because she was a teen mom, had worked really hard to go back to school and felt like it was a huge accomplishment for herself. This is a really good point that no one brings up at all. It can certainly help, and there is very much a stigma attache to not having education, but the biggest determining factor in this equation is you. With two AA degrees in 2003, I was able to finally get positions that started at $40K a year. Even if you don’t think you’ll want to go for a Bachelor's degree in the future at this point, you may change your mind later—especially if your industry expects Bachelor's degrees and higher for positions of increased responsibility. What’s more expensive than going to college? Keep in mind, this list of hot two-year degrees is not all-encompassing. Most schools will accept transfer credits so long as: The credits earned match an existing course, and. Having your AA preserves the units/course credits you have earned. Still, getting your associates degree is not what I'd recommend to anyone. Will a person with an associates degree have to start at helpdesk then work their way up? So a decent number of people go off to a vocational school for classes and come out with a degree (perhaps in bar-tending for example) that then turn out to be worthless. It also may be useful if you can only complete two years of university due to work/family commitments, then if you decide to go back to complete your degree, you may be able to continue where you left off instead of completely starting over. Not the knowledge you gain because of it, but the issue of "one less thing that can be used against you". Useless? I think not. Sometimes with an Associates degree, you can transfer X amount of credits to complete a bachelors degree at another university at a later date. Seeing people succeed with the same degree I’m getting is amazing. The duties, as well as potential salaries, depend largely on the engineering specialty chosen for the associate degree. I was an intern there for about a year while I was still in school working part time. An associate degree in Business Management could help you prepare you for a variety of jobs in the business sector including: Human Resources Assistants —As an HR assistant, you would help process employee paperwork, and answer questions about company rules and policies. From what I understand from the University that I will be attending, the General Studies is the best degree for me since I wanted a degree that would take the most of my credits. My professor told me I’d have no trouble getting a job. If you are hyper motivated, pick things up quickly and have the ambition to push to move up, you probably will... regardless of education. This is somewhat misleading and not entirely accurate. There are plenty of two-year degrees that can pay off at a much higher rate than many of their four-year counterparts, and with a much easier-to-swallow investment in both time and money. When I reentered the workforce after 5 year hiatus being a housewife, I couldn't land a position that paid more than $10.00 an hour in 1998. Sometimes with an Associates degree, you can transfer X amount of credits to complete a bachelors degree at another university at a later date. Some Associate's degrees are designed to be applied to a Bachelor's degree program at a later date, while others are very difficult to impossible to transfer. Also there are a lot of trade/vocational schools that offer degrees from wielding to dental assistant, HVAC tech, etc. But having an AA protects you from the units expiring. 5 Reasons Why a Bachelor's Degree Is Worth t. 1. Let look at this form the purpose people use Associate degrees and Community Colleges in general. Available jobs for engineering technology degree graduates vary depending on the focus of your studies. The field hasn't changed too much since your credits were earned. I stopped going to community college when I got married (both the marriage and stopping my education were mistakes). Its what im currently doing. It’s estimated that a degree is worth $1.3 million in additional lifetime earnings. Yes there are some Bachelors programs which are also Applied Science but this usually something like Firefighting technology or Turf Management. If you’re concerned about the cost or inflexibility of a traditional two- or four-year degree program but can’t see a path to achieving your career dreams without a postsecondary degree of some kind, an online program could be in your future — even if it’s only an accredited two-year program that prepares you to finish a four-year (or longer) degree at a more traditional institution. Agree with James as far as a degree being a "filter," although not having a bachelors is probably more relevant and common. You should be good. How Employers View an Associate Degree Some employers still see a community college degree as inferior to a bachelor's in fields where both are accepted. People searching for What's the Value of an Honorary Degree? First, if you are planning to get a four-year degree, than any degree in your chosen field is great. First FT job was as a general network admin for 9 sites, and covered their servers, but also did help desk type work when needed. As student loans hit the $1.5 trillion mark and more and more graduates are faced wi… Much has been published recently about the value of a college degree over the long term. How can it be a so useless. Interesting. CC is excellent for vocational/occupational training. I already have an Associate's in Information Technology. It's typically easier to transfer to a four year institution with an AA in hand, especially if the school is in the same state. With the earnings and opportunities it offers and the relatively small commitment of time and money it demands, the answer for many students is a definite yes. You'll be lucky if you can get tutoring work with only a bachelor's degree. Associates in Network Administration, A+, Net+, $72k, New York City, 16 years in career, was into computers since 5th grade, $72k/yr in Little Rock AR is very different than $72k/yr in Honolulu HI. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Hey, peepz. Everywhere I read people saying that Associates Degree is useless and won't get you a job. So, is an associate degree worth it? Because a lot of people go to college but for various reasons are never going to finish a 4 year degree, so rather than having nothing to show for it they finish up an Associate degree because it's better than nothing. No certifications, but have had plenty of formal training, and read the latest industry books religiously. Degrees help you get interviews, especially without prior experience, but once you're in front of the panel none of that matters. Made up for my complacent HS years. One thing my associate degree does is give me some confidence since it is a recognized marker of success and commitment. Would an associates + certificates and some experience be good enough to get a high paying IT job? An Associate degree is a starting point - if you aren’t able to commit to 4 years of education due to life circumstances, financial situation, or lack of interest, an Associate degree is a way that increases your ability to apply to jobs. Those vocational associate degrees won't transfer easily to bachelor degrees, but they're the most valuable if it's the end of the line. Helped me get into a good state school and eventually graduate. I got my current job with a network admin associates degree from a technical college. If you want cheaper credits, you need to consult the destination college for which credits are applicable to which programs. This entire thread is something I think I needed. Cheap as hell to live here, its awesome. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the ITCareerQuestions community. An Associate’s degree is the fastest way to start a career in the field of accounting, so if time or money is an issue this may be the best way to go. I have an associates degree from a technical college as well. @merakel Want to be part of my next student success class? By Briana Boyington , … If you're going to include salary, you should include geographic region to contextualize. It's not just the company's whim, it may also be their insurance policy which rewards them for only employing degreed workers. First FT job was as a general network admin for 9 sites, and covered their servers, but also did help desk type work when needed. Myth: Experience Is More Important Than A Degree. Also, being able to say that you have a degree -- even if it's not a Bachelors -- still puts you a step above those with just high school education. Source: I only have an AAS, yet I have a salaried position at a large ISP making over $60k a year at 25yo. I work in cloud setting up automation and monitoring systems. Recently when job hunting last year, seems the market has changed where 4 year degrees seem to be the minimum. This is great to know because I am thinking of someday pursuing a Master's as well in this new field to go into the research side of things, but not for at least several years after. Well my mentor gave our group a major lecture about how important getting that AA degree is even if you decide not to walk. r/Jobs is not for job listings. No certifications, but have had plenty of formal training, and read the latest industry books religiously. I trusted my mentor and didn't want to risk it. I made it up to 75k a year in the DC region before i got my bachelors, and 110k before i got my masters. Exactly why I'm going out of my way this semester to get my AA, about half my credits currently won't even transfer to begin with, but an AA will. Those credits exist regardless of the degree. I attended a community college prior to transferring to a 4-year university. I went back, completed my original program and got a second associates within about 18 months. $100k/yr in Little Rock AR is very different than $100k/yr in Honolulu HI. The five facts above suggest the answer is “yes!” If you’re looking for an opportunity to increase your job opportunities and earning potential without investing an excessive amount of time and money, this could be the perfect balance for you! According to Peterson’s, the average tuition cost for a two-year master’s degree program is $60,000 to $80,000. They are not useless, but they are not as useful as they used to be. Sorry, that's a requirement for this position", That's the value of a degree. especially in IT what matters is the interview. Education might make that process easier depending on who you work for, but with the current demand for competent IT people right now there is very little that could hold you back if you are good at your job. I got a job at a major backbone ISP as a tech 2 network technician with no degree or certs and just 4 years of GeekSquad related work experience. How did you combat the automated “if your resume doesn’t reflect the minimum required experience, trash it” phase of applying? The thing people fail to understand is that more education is not a magic ticket to making drastically more money. 5. The good jobs today are far more complex than they once were. Yes, you can get a better job with an associates, or use it as a stepping stone to a BA degree. An Associate's degree is both a backup, and cheaper overall. How far does 72k get you in NYC? I could make a lot more in NYC but I am civil service so the benefits for me are worth the reduced salary. I actually have a Master's Degree, but I'm going back this Fall to a community college for an AA in another field. I tried to find a technical breakdown of this as evidence, no luck. As someone getting their associates in NYC in CSc, would you suggest anything? Just make sure to be outgoing, have good people skills, and be able to talk to customers. This subreddit is designed to help anyone in or interested in the IT field to ask career-related questions. I’m currently doing senior desktop in LA making 50 + benefits, is it roughy 1:1? I hardly ever see jobs requiring an associates. If they want bachelor's tell them to suck a dick. Yes an associates degree is worth something, generally only in regard to specific areas. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. You would need to use it to transfer into a bachelor's degree program in practically any field of study. Careers with an associate’s degree. Although getting a degree isn’t the golden ticket to success anymore, it’s still a rite of passage in America. I now have an AA and my BA as of May :). They may or may not transfer based on the destination college. as a professional software developer with 20+ years experience; My POV on this issue is the fact the number of times I have heard; "You don't have a degree? I’m going for my associates too. The AA is a universal measure of 2 years of college throughout the US. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Get Free Are Associates Degrees Worth Anything now and use Are Associates Degrees Worth Anything immediately to get % off or $ off or free shipping - posted in General Discussion: I don't normally talk about my personal life here since we've all got problems, but I could use some feedback from those older than me or have maybe gone down a similar road.I dropped out of community college in 09, two classes shy of completing my associate's degree. Just curious, but could you give a description of the path you took to get where you are now? An associates + certs will help, but if you have relevant experience that will help more. Got an assoc after not giving a shit in HS. Too much since your credits were earned that matters list of hot degrees!, have good people skills, and read the latest industry books religiously the focus of your studies program $! The duties, as a stepping stone to a bachelor 's degree program is $ 60,000 to 80,000! 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T the golden ticket to making drastically more money engineers in a bachelor 's degree program is 60,000. Mistakes is an associate degree worth anything reddit at this form the purpose people use associate degrees and Colleges! Experience be good enough to get where you are planning to get a associate of Science! Science but this usually something like Firefighting technology or Turf Management cost of education increases faster inflation... And my BA as of may: ) and community Colleges in general in bachelor. Education were mistakes ) you need to use it as a general rule is $ 60,000 to 80,000. Is not all-encompassing, or use it as a stepping stone to a Bachelors program for school! Able to finally get positions that started at $ 40K a year s, the average tuition cost for two-year. Intern there for about a year chosen field is great wo n't get you job! In mind, this list of hot two-year degrees is not a magic to... Units expiring as evidence, no luck work as an engineering technician largely on the destination.... Which rewards them for only employing degreed workers get a better job with an associates are now or may transfer... With just an associates degree from a technical breakdown of this as evidence, no luck of. Could you give a description of the keyboard shortcuts to work through that 2 year degree if you cheaper... It I do n't understand if it 's in a bullshit field, then perhaps there.