What Is an Associate Degree? Requirements, Costs, and More

An associate degree is a two-year college degree you can earn from a community college, junior college, or online university in the US. In order to begin an associate degree program, you will need a high school diploma or GED. After completing this degree, you can often transfer into a bachelor’s degree program or enter the workforce.

Learn more about what it takes to earn an associate degree and the benefits of doing so.

Associate degrees: Key facts

Earning your associate degree is typically more affordable and takes less time than earning your bachelor's degree. It can also help you forge new career paths in professional fields such as medicine, engineering, and computer science. Review the basics of what it costs—and what it takes—to get an associate degree.

Admissions requirements

Admissions requirements can vary, but you'll generally need to meet the following conditions to gain entry to an associate degree program:

• Be 18 years of age by the time you begin your first day of class

• Have a high school diploma or have passed a General Education Development test (GED) or an equivalent test

• Meet GPA requirements established by some community colleges

Credits

Associate degrees typically require completing 60 course credits and maintaining a minimum GPA set by your college or department. At the associate level, you'll work through all of your general education requirements, which are intended to provide a firm foundation to develop more specialized knowledge in your major. Toward the end of your program, you can expect to take a handful of classes in your major. Learn more about college credits and how they're measured.

Time to completion

It generally takes full-time students about two years to earn an associate degree, though it can take longer for part-time students. In fact, attending part-time is a popular option in community college, with the American Association of Community Colleges stating that 66 percent of students attend part-time [1].

Cost

Tuition and fees for one year in an associate degree program average $4,050 in 2024, according to the College Board [1]. That’s for public in-district schools, meaning you’re a resident in the district where the associate degree program is located. Compare that with the average cost of college for a year in a bachelor’s degree program, which is $11,610 for public in-state schools, $30,780 for public out-of-state schools, and $43,350 for private nonprofit schools [2].

Many students work to reduce the cost of their degree. During the 2019–2020 academic year, 59 percent of part-time students worked full-time [1]. Other options to cover the cost of an associate degree including submitting a FAFSA application to see if you qualify to receive federal aid or federal student loans. For the 2019–2020 school year, 55 percent of community college students received aid, while 36 percent received federal grants [2].

Types of associate degrees

The most common types of associate degrees are:

• Associate of Arts (AA): Associate programs focused on business, humanities, arts, or social sciences are often called Associate of Arts degrees. An AA may be a stepping stone to transfer to a bachelor’s degree.

• Associate of Science (AS): Associate programs in a field related to science or math are often called Associate of Science degrees. Along with an AA, the AS is typically recommended by schools for students who want to transfer to four-year programs.

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS): Associate programs that focus on technical and vocational skills are often called Associate of Applied Science programs. These programs are generally designed to prepare students for a specific occupation or work in a specific field after graduation. Fields can include computer science technology, hospitality management, paralegal studies, law enforcement, and welding, among many others. Although it’s less common to use an AAS degree to transfer into a bachelor’s program, some four-year degree programs have begun accepting them for transfers.

What can you do with an associate degree?

Once you earn your associate degree, you have two options to consider. You can extend your education and apply to bachelor's degree programs, or you can pursue jobs where a bachelor's degree is not the minimum required education. There are many such jobs in the medical, engineering, computer science, or legal fields. Let's review each of these options in more detail.

Transfer to a bachelor's degree program.

If you're interested in continuing your education, you can apply to bachelor's degree programs after you earn your associate degree and begin completing courses in your declared major. Earning your associate degree before your bachelor’s can amount to significant savings over two years or more. 

In fact, many students earn their associate degree at a lower-cost community college before transferring to a four-year college or university to finish their bachelor's. Remember that for in-state students, the average annual cost of attending a community college was $4,050 in 2024, compared to $11,610 for a public four-year school [2].

Earning your associate degree before deciding to pursue your bachelor's also gives you time to:

• Build your study skills: If you’ve been out of school for a while and want to improve your study skills or your high school GPA didn’t quite meet admission requirements for a four-year degree, an associate program can give you a boost. Not all community colleges have a GPA requirement for admissions.

• Get more time to explore: If you’re not sure what you want to study, attending a community college for general studies courses can give you time to explore courses that might interest you before you fully commit to getting a bachelor’s degree in a subject.

• Enjoy added flexibility: Many community colleges cater to working people by offering courses at night or on weekends. You can also find lots of options to earn your associate degree online. If you’re working or have family to take care of, starting off with an associate degree could bring you the flexibility you need.

If you’re hoping to start a degree, and factors like affordability and flexibility are important, online bachelor’s degrees may be another option. Online bachelor’s degrees are available in a wide range of topics, like computer science or psychology.

Pursue a career.

There are many high-paying careers you can pursue with an associate degree. Even beyond specific careers, associate degree holders in the United States earn a median income of $1,058 per week compared to $899 for high school graduates [3].

Explore some of the jobs you can typically start with an associate degree. They’re expected to grow at least as fast as average, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [4].

Keep in mind that employers for some positions—like registered nurses—might prefer bachelor’s degree holders but may also hire associate degree graduates.

Differences between associate and bachelor’s degrees

Pursuing any kind of higher education, be it an associate degree or a bachelor's degree, can be a worthwhile investment. Holding an academic degree can lead to more career opportunities, higher salaries, and fewer periods of unemployment. If you're unsure which type of degree is right for you, compare some important differences:

*Data on average annual tuition and weekly earnings comes from the College Board and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, respectively [2,3].

Which is better: Associate degree or bachelor's degree?

The best degree will be the one that helps you achieve your personal, educational, or career goals. While you can pursue a number of careers with an associate degree, you may find more opportunities with a bachelor's degree. But if time is a major factor, then an associate degree may be the best choice for your immediate needs.

Ultimately, it's important to review your situation—your financial resources, your schedule, your objectives—to determine which is the best degree for you.

If you're interested in earning an academic degree to gain entry to a new career path or advance your career in a chosen field, it can help to look at job postings and see the minimum education required. Understanding the standards your industry expects may help determine which degree you eventually earn.

Associate degree alternatives

If your goals don’t require an academic degree, check out these other options that may offer some flexibility.

Professional certificates

Professional certificates are qualifications you can earn by completing courses or exams to strengthen your knowledge and abilities in a field. They often require no previous experience and take just a few months to finish. You can get a professional certificate in a variety of fields, including IT support, data analysis, computer programming, and marketing.

Certificate programs can be part-time or full-time and may be offered online and in person. Because they tend to take less time and financial resources than degrees, professional certificates can be a solid option for those who know what specific skills they want to develop and who prioritize flexibility. If you’re ready to explore, browse some online certificate options.

Trade or vocational school

Trade schools, also known as vocational or technical schools, provide hands-on training so students can enter trade professions. Graduates go on to work as electricians, dental hygienists, chefs, construction managers, and car mechanics, among many other professions.

Trade schools typically take two years or less to complete, though some professions may require additional apprenticeships after the program. They can be a good option if you have a specific job in mind and don’t need or want to pursue an academic degree to secure employment in that profession. Some characteristics to consider when researching trade schools include whether the program is accredited, has a track record of job placement, and makes sense for you financially.

Boot camps

Boot camps—intensive programs that are designed to quickly equip you with a new skill set—can be a fast way to enter a new field or advance in your current one. Boot camps typically take a few months to complete. Though computer coding boot camps are popular, you can enroll in digital marketing, cybersecurity, or UX/UI design boot camps, too. Boot camps can be online or in person, full-time or part-time.

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