More than half of high school graduates in the United States go on to earn at least a two-year college degree. According to data released by the U.S. Department of Education, holders of a two-year college degree have lifetime earnings that outstrip those of a typical high school graduate by over 250,000 dollars. Figures like these support the conclusion that not everyone hungry for a college degree needs to sign up for a four-year course of study at a college or university. High school grads can earn a two-year Associate Degree from their local community college, junior college, technical school or online university.
According to experts, the Associate Degree makes good sense for those savvy enough to leverage the three-tiered pay hierarchy now common in many career fields. In this model, different levels of education are required to perform jobs with different levels of specialization. Within almost any career field, prospective job applicants will find jobs requiring a multi-year graduate degree, a four-year Bachelors degree, or in many cases just two years of specialized training culminating in an Associate Degree.
One excellent example is the medical or health-care field. Top earners in this field doctors and pharmacists, for example all must complete more than four years of college or university work. Those holding second tier jobs in the health care sector a physical therapist or recreation administrator in a nursing home or hospital must have completed a four-year college degree. But high school grads who invest just two years to earn their Associate Degree will also find an ample supply of well-paid third level job opportunities in the medical and health-care job market. Job examples include medical records technician, physical therapy assistant or radiologic technologist.
While the health care field illustrates the many career opportunities waiting for the holder of an Associate Degree, it is by no means the only career field where graduates can anticipate earning above-average salaries. Depending on the kind of degree they earn there are two basic kinds of Associate Degree with specific degrees ranging from the Associate in Nursing degree to the Associate in Physical Therapy degree grads can find jobs in many high-paid professions. Job titles may include medical laboratory technician, hotel or restaurant manager, heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration technician, water-treatment plant operator or physical therapy assistant.
In addition to the prospect for a respected career path with a well-paid job, there are excellent secondary reasons to choose a two-year course of study. Generally, high school grads can earn their diploma locally at a nearby community college, junior college or technical school. Along with saving on living expenses, they also reap the benefits of the generally lower tuition fees at community colleges or local technical schools.
For students who want to continue to work their existing job and earn their Associate Degree part-time, distance learning may be an alternate plan worth taking a look at especially for working adults. Dozens of the country’s top online universities offer two-year degree programs along side their classic four-year Bachelor Degrees. The nations biggest online university, the University of Phoenix Online, is one place to start exploring this alternative. The UOP offers several Associate Degree programs through its sister organization, Axia College of University of Phoenix. Take a look at the resource box that follows this article for links to websites that will help you find more information about this topic.
