| -> | | | | Consider your future salary |
| There are entire books published every year listing of | | | | With an associate degree, you can be sure to make |
| all sorts of majors and programs for which you can go | | | | more money than you would if you only had a high |
| to school. Before you even select a major itself, how | | | | school diploma. With a bachelor's degree, you may |
| do you know whether a bachelor's degree or an | | | | have the opportunity to make more than you would if |
| associate degree is better suited for you? All students | | | | you only had an associate degree. The more |
| ask this question as they examine the costs and | | | | education you have, the more likely you are to qualify |
| benefits of going for continued education. It may help | | | | to earn more money. This is just a common practice |
| you to narrow down the major differences between | | | | of the modern day business world and has to be a |
| the degrees themselves to figure out which will be | | | | consideration as you take a closer look at which type |
| best for you. | | | | of degree is best for you. |
| In order to help you find direction concerning your | | | | Don't consider the stigma |
| academic endeavors, consider these areas as you | | | | There is a stigma by some people that an associate |
| examine relevant degree programs that will prepare | | | | degree is not as good as a bachelor's degree. This is |
| you for your future career: | | | | only going to be true if you allow it to be true. We |
| Consider the tuition and other costs | | | | hope that a capable, competent person will beat out |
| Generally, a bachelor's degree takes four years to | | | | an incompetent person for a job, regardless of the |
| complete while an associate degree takes two years. | | | | degree they hold. Go into your interviews knowing that |
| In schools that design programs to help you get your | | | | you may have more relevant technical knowledge |
| degree more quickly, a bachelor's degree may take as | | | | than you do broad based education, but that doesn't |
| little as 18 months and an associate degree will take | | | | have to mean you are less qualified or prepared than |
| even less. Because it is shorter, an associate degree | | | | someone else. A bachelor's degree will broader your |
| program costs less to receive. You don't need to take | | | | scope of understanding in your field, but this does not |
| as many classes, therefore the cost per credit will not | | | | have to mean that you have fewer skills after |
| add up as quickly. | | | | completing an associate degree program. |
| There is more than just the initial tuition cost to | | | | Consider getting both degrees |
| consider. Also, if you decide to go for your associate | | | | It may be a good idea for you to start with your |
| degree, that's two years less that you have to be in | | | | associate degree and plan on getting your bachelor's |
| school. This translates to two more years of work | | | | degree later. This is a good option for many people. It |
| time where you can be earning money. Some people | | | | may end up costing you less overall. You can get |
| are interested in a more streamlined program where | | | | some career experience in between degree |
| they can learn the skills they need for a job and then | | | | programs, which will make you more marketable when |
| jump into the professional world. These people will find | | | | you do complete your bachelor's. You will have |
| that an associate degree is better suited for them. For | | | | additional education to support your advancement to |
| someone who wants to take a little more time getting | | | | higher positions. |
| his or her education, a bachelor's program will offer a | | | | If you choose the same school to get both degree |
| broader array of coursework. | | | | programs, you will not have to worry about |
| Consider your career goal | | | | transferring credits. The last thing you want to do is |
| Depending on the job you would like to have, you may | | | | spend the time and the money on an associate |
| or may not need a bachelor's degree. Someone | | | | degree and then have to retake the same classes |
| studying security management may not need a | | | | when you are studying for your bachelor's because |
| bachelor's. However, people who go into accounting or | | | | some credits didn't transfer. |
| business, may find that they can only advance so far | | | | Whether you choose an associate degree program, a |
| until they need a bachelor's degree to keep moving up | | | | bachelor's degree program, or both, receiving an |
| within a company. So even though you may start out | | | | education is never a bad idea. Simply choose the one |
| at the same job regardless of having a bachelor's or | | | | that you feel will best help you to achieve your career |
| associate degree, you may not have the same | | | | goals. |
| opportunities for advancement in the future. | | | | |