It typically takes two years to get an associate degree, but depending on the program and your own schedule it may take more or a bit less. Some students want to continue working while earning their associate degree or have other responsibilities that they can't neglect. Therefore, they might only attend school part-time and choose to take three years to earn their degree. Other programs may take less time.
However long you take to get an associate degree, you must complete 60 college credits, which usually works out to about twenty courses. There are two types of associate degrees: an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or the Associate of Science (A.S.).
People choose to get an associate degree for a couple of reasons. First, some careers only require an associate degree, such as:- Computer support specialists
- Dental hygienists
- Paralegals
- Registered nurses
- Veterinary technologists
Second, tuition at community colleges is usually much less than the tuition at 4-year colleges and universities. Therefore some people prefer to complete their first two years of college at a community college and then transfer. If you elect to go this route, you don't have to get an associate degree in order to transfer, but it can help.
It's also easy to get an associate degree online. In fact, half of all degrees earned online are associate degrees. An online program makes it even easier for those who wish to simultaneously work and study since they can take courses from the comfort of their own home.
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