Types of college degrees: A complete guide

Earning a degree is crucial for success in today’s economy. The average associate degree leads to $11,251 more in earnings over a high school diploma. This figure rises to $21,723 for a bachelor’s degree. Approximately 65% of the American workforce have at least some postsecondary education, and bachelor’s degree holders earn 57% of all U.S. wages.

Research suggests that the majority of Americans believe the purpose of college is to provide financial mobility and career stability. You can find the colleges and programs most up to this task with our economic ranking tool. The type of degree you choose should depend partially on economic viability, but also your personal career aspirations and the skills and credentials needed to get there.

Associate degree

An associate degree is an undergraduate qualification that takes 2 years to complete. The advantage of this degree is that it takes less time than a 4-year bachelor’s, and it can also be completed in-state, making it both convenient and affordable.

Why get an associate degree?

There are 2 primary reasons to get an associate degree:

1. Vocational

Sometimes an associate provides the highest qualification needed for a particular occupation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), associate degrees are the typical education requirement for 45 different careers – some of which are quite lucrative. Approximately 50% of these careers are found in allied health and engineering.

2. Transfer

Students can fulfill general education requirements during an associate, before transferring to a major at a 4-year college. This tends to be cheaper than attending college for the full 4 years.

If you are considering this route, check whether your targeted college accepts your associate degree. Transferring from an associate’s to a bachelor’s is common, but whether the credits can be reassigned to your new course of study is decided on a school-by-school basis.

Which schools offer associate degrees?

One option is to enroll in an associate program at community college. According to Dr. Gregory Hodges, President of Patrick & Henry Community College, there are many excellent reasons for doing so.

“Community colleges have been created to meet students where they are and take them wherever they want to go. These uniquely American institutions can provide the skills and training needed for students to experience real economic mobility. Additionally, this education and training is available for a fraction of the cost that is associated with the typical transfer institution.”

The expansion of community college baccalaureates also means 4-year degrees are increasingly attainable at community colleges. Whilst there are many exceptional community colleges , an associate’s can also be completed at:

• junior college
• technical college
• affiliated colleges of universities
• university institutes

The science degrees are more aligned to math, science, and technology pathways, while the arts degrees focus on the humanities.

A regular associate degree provides a more general education, and is designed for transfer to a 4-year college or university.

An applied degree tends to be vocational. This is especially the case with AAS degrees. As Dr. Hodges explains:

“AAS programs are designed to lead directly to employment and are created in partnership with local business and industry. Electronics, industrial maintenance, mechatronics, and CADD are just a few of the many examples of AAS pathways that community colleges create to supply the local workforce demands.”

Earnings data below is calculated using all reported earnings 3 years after graduation.

Bachelor degrees

A bachelor’s usually takes 4 years to complete (8 semesters, 120 instructional/credit hours). Students with a job lined up may opt for an accelerated program, which can be completed in a shorter time.

A bachelor’s is the most common first degree. It is considered essential for many jobs and a prerequisite for most advanced programs.

Students can study for a bachelor’s at either a public or private college. There are some excellent government-funded public colleges. These offer in-state tuition and so may be more affordable. Private schools are primarily supported by tuition fees, and encompass some of the most famous schools in the country, including Ivy league ones.

What to expect from a bachelor’s program

Upon arriving at college, a student may be unsure of the study area they want to focus on. Fortunately, they spend the first 2 years completing ‘general education’ classes. These provide the broad skills required to study at college and offer some breathing space while students decide where they want to put their focus.

In the following 2 years, students focus intensely on their chosen major. Note that a bachelor’s education is not one size fits all. Each student has a faculty advisor who helps them with their course choices. One of the most important decisions an advisor can help them with is choosing the right major, because this subject often sets the course of a student’s future career.

BA vs BS

The above information refers to the type of subjects that you can expect to find within the different bachelor programs. However, there is often crossover between these formats, particularly when it comes to the B.S. and B.A.

Many subjects – such as psychology, business, or education – can be completed as a B.A. or B.S. The option a student chooses tends to be based on the curriculum that most appeals.

As Dr. Elaine Maimon, advisor to American Council of Education, and former president of Governors State University, says:

“Many B.S. degrees, even with their emphasis on science, will include humanities courses and will provide a proper liberal arts education. Of course, the B.A. degree is usually more focused on the liberal arts. But the important point is for students to look inside the degree to see what courses are required and recommended.”

Choosing a bachelors based on the courses it contains is a better strategy than basing the decision on whether it is a B.A. or B.S. Employers tend to focus on the content of the bachelor’s studied rather than the naming convention of the program.

Earnings data below is calculated using all reported earnings 3 years after graduation.

Master’s programs

A master’s is an advanced graduate degree that typically requires a bachelor’s as an entry condition. Some choose to complete a master’s directly after their bachelor’s, while others decide to gain work experience before returning to college to advance their skills.

During their master’s, students deepen their understanding and knowledge of a specific area of their chosen field.

It is also possible to enroll in a dual bachelor’s and master’s program, which usually takes between 5-6 years to complete. Studying for both degrees simultaneously can save time and money. Some common examples of dual master’s and bachelor’s courses are a bachelor’s in finance + MBA, bachelor’s in health sciences + master’s in health sciences, and bachelor’s in marketing + MBA.

A master’s degree can increase a candidate’s job prospects, making them a more credible proposition for potential employers.

It is essential to do your research ahead of picking your graduate program. While graduating with a master’s degree generally comes with a much larger paycheck, there are programs out there that lead to post-graduate earnings not at all commensurate with the cost of the degree to students. This can result in massive student debt and little chance of swift payback.

While M.A. programs are favored in the humanities, and M.S. programs in STEM fields, some crossover exists. A humanities M.S. program may be offered where the training focuses on practical skills, or where scholarly research is focused on a scientific discipline (for instance, as part of a history of science program).

Social science programs such as linguistics, anthropology, political science, and library studies are often offered as M.S. degrees. STEM fields are occasionally structured as M.A. programs where the subject matter is highly theoretical as opposed to technical. Psychology master’s degrees are frequently available in both M.S. and M.A. formats.

Earnings data below is calculated using all reported earnings 3 years after graduation.

Doctoral degrees

The highest, or terminal, degree in most academic fields is the doctorate.

Whether you choose to pursue a doctorate degree depends on your circumstances and career goals. Research has shown that doctoral degrees lead to higher earnings, but there are other metrics that can influence this. A doctoral degree is a weighty undertaking. It can be useful to ask yourself what you want to contribute to the field and whether you are fully committed before signing up.

Final thoughts

The various levels of college degrees cater to different professional aspirations. For a career in nursing, an associate degree can be sufficient and lead to earnings of $60,321 just 2 years after graduation. Most engineering jobs require a bachelor’s degree only and yet come with impressive early career earnings of over $75,000.

Few nurses or engineers complete a master’s or doctorate and yet for other professions, advanced graduate degrees are essential.

As of 2019, over half of all working-age adults have earned a postsecondary credential. From vocational and credential certificates through different levels of degrees, achieving the highest possible qualification may not always be the target. Instead, be clear on your career goals and then plan accordingly.

Once you have determined the level of college degree best suited to your ambitions, the next step is to choose the right college.