The Difference between Associate's, Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

The Versatile Associate's Degree

In just 2 years, any way you slice it, an associate’s degree will take you to the next level. Whether you are looking for a professional edge, entrance into a new career, or a jumpstart on your bachelor’s degree, this initiative can pay off.



The cost of an associate’s degree is low and number of careers available with one are many. After graduation, a boost in income is highly likely. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2006 data, those with an associate’s earn an average yearly salary of $35,103, while those with a high school education earn an average annual income of $26,156.



Expect to take away actual job skills in an associate’s program – through internships and/or cooperative work experience, creation of a body of work referred to as a journal, portfolio, or book and certificates obtained after 1 year of study – all of these tools can provide immediate credentials for job placement.



Associate’s degrees come in several types: AA (Associate of Arts), AS (Associate of Science), AAB (Associate of Applied Business), AAS (Associates of Occupational Studies), AN (Associate of Nursing), just to name a few. An occupational associate’s degree provides hands-on training for your career choice. A transfer associate’s degree allows you to more easily transfer your credits to a 4-year college to obtain a bachelor’s degree.



Opportunities for success in professional careers are very real with an associate’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high-paying jobs could become available: Computer specialist earning a median $59,480 a year, nuclear technician earning $59,200, dental hygienist earning $58,350, radiation therapist earning $57,700, fashion designer earning $55,840, aerospace engineering and operations technician earning $52,500, diagnostic medical sonographer (x-ray technician) earning $52,490, registered nurse earning $52,330, etc. Source: CNNMoney.com. So what are you waiting for? Get matched to your next associate’s program and be on the path to success!



The Well-Rounded Bachelor’s Degree

When you want to maximize your education investment and earn a competitive salary, 4-year bachelor programs deliver just that. The BA (Bachelor of Arts) and the BS (Bachelor of Science) are the most common avenues for this higher learning experience.



While bachelor’s degree tuition varies by school, the outcome is clear: U.S. Census Bureau (2006) shows that a bachelor’s will double your income when compared to high school education ($26,156 average annual income with high school education and $49,656 per year average with a bachelor’s degree). That means you can add nearly $1 million in lifetime earnings to the bank.



The incentive for earning this degree is plain to see when one considers the overall cost of a bachelor’s program. The average tuition, fees, room and board cost of a bachelor’s degree is $12,796 a year for public colleges and $30,367 for private colleges and universities (CollegeBoard “Trends in College Pricing” data for 2006-07). These figures are nothing compared to the average payout that a bachelor’s degree can provide. You could very well pay back the entire cost of attendance in less than 2 years.



With a bachelor’s degree, your options and chances for success multiply revealing a whole new landscape for your career, life, and ambitions. The 10 fastest growing careers that can be achieved with a bachelor’s level of education are (listed with average annual salary):



1) Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst: $61,300.

2) Physician Assistant: $69,200

3) Computer Applications Software Engineer: $76,300

4) Computer Systems Software Engineer: $81,100

5) Network and Computer Systems Administrator: $59,100

6) Database Administrator: $61,900

7) Computer Systems Analyst: $67,500

8) Biomedical Engineer: $70,500

9) Employment, Recruitment, and Placement Specialist: $41,200

10) Environmental Engineer: $67,600



Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition and Postsecondary-education or Training Category Search.

The Highly Specialized Master’s Degree

Once you’ve obtained a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree – or graduate degree – can do a lot to separate you from the heard. With advanced and concentrated class material, a master’s degree program can provide a full understanding of an industry and profession.



The necessary pre-requisite for a MA (Master of Arts), MFA (Master of Fine Arts), MBA (Masters of Business Administration), etc. is a bachelor’s degree, which in itself will earn you an average of $49,656 a year (U.S. Census 2006); with a master’s degree, your average income would climb to around $65,190 a year. That brings standard lifetime earnings to $2.6 million. This is a sizable leap, one that can be attained in 2-3 years, even faster than a bachelor’sacce degree.



Recently the New York Times noted the sizable increase in master’s degrees due to the obvious return on investment that follows: “Master’s programs are the most obvious targets of opportunity,” states George L. Mehaffy, vice president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Additionally, others believe that landing great jobs would be difficult without a grad degree. “Without the degree, I wouldn’t have the job,” [Craig Nelson] posits. “So even though I’ll be paying the loan for 10 years, it was a good move for me.” Craig received his master’s in science technology and environmental policy in 2 years and now works for the 3M Company®.



Rapidly growing careers requiring a master’s degree are Physical Therapist, Medical Scientist, Occupational Therapist, Postsecondary Teacher, Hydrologist, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor, Instructional Coordinator, Mental Health Counselor, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker, Epidemiologist, etc. All these professions start off in the $60,00 a year salary range. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections. Explore one of these options or something new by searching for a school now. You could be on your way to a higher degree!