| Two Years to a Degree? By: Gesina A. Phillips When high school students look towards their next step, they often overlook the possibility of a two-year college degree. However, it may be worth considering for many reasons. Earning an Associate degree can either be the extent of a person’s college education or a lead-in to a four- year degree. The first concern for many students looking into colleges is generally cost. Let’s face it: college is expensive! The good thing about two-year degree programs is that they are far less expensive than four-year degrees due to the shorter span of time and, often, the smaller scale of the institution. For example, San Diego City College in California charges just $26 per credit unit (classes range from two to four units), while tuition and fees at public University of California schools run around $7,000 per year for state residents. A year at a private school like Stanford costs upwards of $40,000. A second benefit is that two-year institutions are often conveniently located—check around the nearest city center, you will be sure to find at least one. Finally, the flexible schedule of two-year institutions is helpful for people with time constraints due to work or family obligations. Many programs, such as those at Berkeley College in Manhattan and New Jersey, offer night, weekend and online classes to fit such a busy schedule. If cost, location, or an unusual schedule make college seem like a far-off dream, a two-year degree may be right for you. There are two different paths to consider when looking into two-year degree programs. The first is a terminal degree: you go to school for two years and start working as soon as you receive your diploma. The second option is to transfer to a four-year college after earning your Associate degree. The strictly two-year degree, or occupational degree, is a good idea if you are looking to join the working world right away. There are many different career areas in which Associate degrees are offered. Some of the most popular are business, health services and computer science. Within these fields, you can become a Registered Nurse, a preschool teacher, a paralegal, a dental assistant, a substance abuse counselor, or pursue one of the many other careers. With a two-year degree, people stand to earn more money than if they just had a high school diploma; according to a 2006-2008 survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, they earn on average about $6,000 more annually.1 Additionally, employment rates are 6.2% higher for people with Associate degrees than those with no college degree. 2 However, a person with an Associate degree needs to network and have career experience in order to compete for jobs against people holding Bachelor’s degrees. The second option for those pursuing a two-year degree is to transfer to a Bachelor’s program upon completing the Associate’s. Attending a two- year community college to complete the general education classes required by many four-year colleges can save a great deal of money. Also, if your high school GPA or standardized test scores are not all that they could be, a two-year degree program gives you time to meet stricter college admissions standards. Finally, if you are unsure of what you want to study, you might choose to explore an Associate’s program rather than enrolling in an expensive degree program with no clear direction. In this case, it is best to make a plan as early as possible to make sure that whatever credits you earn will transfer to your four-year program. Whether your interest lies in working right away or enrolling in a four- year program, an Associate’s degree is something to consider. |
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