Yes, associate degree students are considered graduates. Many students choose an associate degree over a bachelor’s degree because an associate degree is more affordable and it requires less time to complete the full course.
Key Takeaways
- The length of an associate degree is 2 – 3 years and anyone can enroll with a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation
- The value of an associate degree is higher than a high school diploma but lower than a bachelor’s degree
- Various educational institutes like community colleges, junior colleges, online colleges, etc. offer associate degrees to the students
- The entry requirement of an associate degree is less competitive compared to a bachelor’s degree
- After completing the associate degree you can transfer into a bachelor’s degree program at a university
What is an Associate Degree?
According to Wikipedia –
“An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor’s degree.”
This type of degree was first awarded in the UK in 1873. Then it became very popular in the USA. Now associate degree is available in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Turkey, etc. This is a two-year academic program and it is offered at the undergraduate level. You can obtain an associate degree from a community college, junior college, online college, etc. The main aim of an associate degree is to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge so that they can work in a particular field. Some students take an associate degree as a preparation for a bachelor’s degree. If you enroll for an associate degree then you can transfer into a bachelor’s degree program at a university.
Types of Associate Degree
There are quite a few types of associate degrees available. They are –
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Science
- Associate of Applied Science
- Associate of Applied Arts
- Associate of Forestry
- Associate of Engineering
- Associate of Industrial Technology
- Associate of Business Administration
- Associate of General Studies
- Associate of Applied Business
- Associate of Fine Arts
- Associate of Pre-Engineering
What are the Admission Requirements for Associate Degrees?
Associate degrees have minimum admission requirements which is an advantage for students. Some common admission requirements are –
- The student must have a high school diploma
- The average GPA should be 2.0 – 2.5
- Proof of English proficiency:
- TOEFL iBT (60 – 70)
- IELTS Academic (5.5 – 6.5), or
- PTE Academic (50)
- Official transcript of records
- Application fee
However, for some associate degrees, you might have to submit some additional documents like SAT, ACT, or CLT test results. Moreover, depending on the institute, you might need a higher GPA of 3.0 or above!
List of Top 50 Best Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
| Rank | Name of the School |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 | Stanbridge University Irvine, California Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, Indiana Embry – Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide Daytona Beach, Florida Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts San Mateo, California Columbia Southern University Orange Beach, Alabama Bismarck State College Bismarck, North Dakota American Public University System Charles Town, West Virginia Central Texas College Killeen, Texas Excelsior College Albany, New York Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles, California Pennsylvania State University – World Campus University Park, Pennsylvania South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota George Washington University Washington, District of Columbia Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania Ranken Technical College Saint Louis, Missouri Southeast Technical Institute Sioux Falls, South Dakota Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News, Virginia Baptist Health System School of Health Professions San Antonio, Texas Fashion Institute of Technology New York, New York Waldorf University Forest City, Iowa Coastline Community College Fountain Valley, California New York University New York, New York Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, New Hampshire Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology Lancaster, Pennsylvania Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, Oregon The New School New York, New York Strayer University-Global Region Washington, District of Columbia St Catherine University Saint Paul, Minnesota Pennsylvania State University – Hazleton Hazleton, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University – Dubois DuBois, Pennsylvania Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, Minnesota Columbia College Columbia, Missouri Lake Area Technical Institute Watertown, South Dakota Pennsylvania State University – Shenango Sharon, Pennsylvania Santa Fe College Gainesville, Florida The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Arkansas Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana Pennsylvania State University – Mont Alto Pennsylvania Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, Texas Eastwick College-Ramsey Ramsey, New Jersey Lee College Baytown, Texas Rasmussen College – Florida Ocala, Florida Saint Leo University Saint Leo, Florida Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers, Florida Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, California Vermont Technical College Randolph, Vermont Prince George’s Community College Largo, Maryland Sheridan College Sheridan, Wyoming Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, Illinois Rasmussen College – Minnesota St. Cloud, Minnesota |
Difference between Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree
| Associate Degree | Bachelor’s Degree |
| The length of an associate degree is 2 years | The length of most bachelor’s degrees is 4 years |
| Associate degrees mostly focus on entry-level education | Bachelor’s Degree has a more advanced course curriculum and mostly focuses on research and practical education |
| The earning potential of an associate degree is less compared to a bachelor’s degree | An individual with a bachelor’s degree can earn $19,000 or more per year |
| The cost of an associate degree is more affordable | The tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree are much higher compared to associate degrees |
| You will have fewer job opportunities with an associate degree | A Bachelor’s Degree will offer you more job opportunities |
| The entry requirement of an associate degree is less competitive | The entry requirement for Bachelor’s Degree is very competitive |
References:
https://www.quora.com/Do-associate-degree-students-graduate-1
https://www.collegefactual.com/rankings/best-colleges/associates-degrees/