How Valuable Is an Associate’s Degree?

Associate’s degrees could represent one of the most significant educational bargains today. Some students are saving money by earning these degrees at community colleges, then transferring to state schools and private universities. The result is a big reduction in educational costs. Still other students are earning associate’s degrees, then going on to matriculate in colleges after they have worked for a few years and saved enough money to pay for tuition and other costs. And then there are students who simply earn associate’s degrees, start working, and never feel the need to return to college.

What Salaries Do Workers with Associate’s Degrees Earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average median salary earned by holders of associate’s degrees in the U.S. in 2013 was $58,240. (In that same year, the average median salary earned by holders of bachelor’s degrees was $68,190.) What kind of jobs were students with associate’s degrees taking in that year? Here is a list of the most popular jobs, again from the BLS:

• Agricultural technicians
• Civil engineering technicians
• Dietetic technicians
• Electro-mechanical technicians
• Food service workers
• Geological and petroleum technicians
• Nuclear medicine and radiologic technologists
• Paralegals and legal assistants
• Respiratory therapists

Where do students with associate’s degrees earn the highest salaries? The top states in 2013 were Massachusetts (median annual salary was $66,460), Vermont ($55,320), South Dakota ($46,560) and West Virginia ($49,080).

What Does It Cost to Earn an Associate’s Degree?

The answer is, it depends. If 90 credits of coursework are completed at a community college that charges $350 per credit hour, that brings to total to $31,500, which of course is about half of what it costs to earn a four-year degree. Yet there are ways to lower that cost by taking online courses, earning credit for life experiences, and other strategies.

So the Bottom Line Is . . .

If you counsel students, it is time to start thinking about associate’s degrees as useful, cost-effective ways to start careers.

Related Posts
Want to Save 25% of Your College Costs?
Is Transferring from a Community College to a Four-Year College Still a Good Strategy?
Why Transferring Can Be the Greatest College Plan of All
How Are Postsecondary Certifications Affecting the Lives of Working Americans?
While Students Compete to Get into College, Good Skilled Jobs Remain Unfilled

To share your views about what it takes to find the right path to professions, Participate in the National Career & College Pathway Study and receive information on college and career opportunities which match your interests.

We Offer Help to Reach Your College Dreams . . .

The Student Research Foundation is offering high school students and their families up to $15,000 in college scholarship funds! Learn more and Apply.