An associate's degree is a valuable option for high school graduates as well as persons who are looking to enhance their education. There are many benefits to this type of degree. We want to tell you why you might want to consider an associate's degree, and there are several factors involved.

Before we move on, a little more information about the associate's degree. This type of degree is a two-year study program. Once the student completes the associate's degree, they can use the credits to move on to a bachelor’s degree. But there’s more to consider, so let’s have a look at the different reasons for choosing such a path.

Reasons for Choosing an Associates Degree

Many high school graduates are undecided as to their future career path. In this case, choosing a four-year bachelor’s degree route may not be the most sensible option. An associate's degree gives a grounding in the chosen subject. It is a foundation that can later be converted.

Another bonus is that you do not need to go to university to follow the associate's degree path. You can study for two years at a junior or community college. The cost saving over a traditional four-year university degree can be considerable.

For the student who wants to study further but is not set on a career, this is a good choice of degree.

It should also be noted that there are many jobs that accept an associate's degree as a valid qualification. These will naturally pay a better salary than those that require only a high school diploma.

For example, you can become a paralegal with such a qualification, and earn $40,000 and more. Other roles available include registered nurses and various well-paid IT roles. What is important is to understand the different types of associate's degrees, so let us explain.

Three Types of Associates Degree

There are three types of associate's degrees, each of which is designed to provide a grounding in a certain area. These are:

-        Associate of Arts (AA) which focuses on the arts and humanities. Students taking the AA tend to go on to graduate with a liberal arts degree. An AA can lead to good jobs in management and sales.

-        Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) is a more specialist degree that follows a direct path to a particular profession and is far more hands-on.

-        Associate of Science (AS) is the one to study should you wish to go into the healthcare, law, or computer science fields.

If you are undecided about your career path, then AA is the best choice. It will leave you with a qualification that has enhanced your knowledge across a wide range of subject areas, and the credits earned can be used to apply for a bachelor’s degree in the field you later decide you want to work in.

The associate's degree is a great way to begin your post-high school education, and we recommend you investigate further if this sounds like the right choice for you.