What is Associate Degree: Requirements, Duration, Costs & Careers
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Associate degree is a two-year undergraduate degree students opt out of school. Associate degree meaning is an undergrad degree taken up in the desired field of study. What Associate degree means in layman's terms is gaining some non-vocational training before opting for a bachelor’s degree. Check out all the details in the article for what is Associate degrees and where are they offered in different countries abroad, their requirements and key differences between associate's and bachelor's degrees.
Associate degrees are popular in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia and are offered widely across universities, colleges or designated institutions. Oftentimes, the initial course structure of a bachelor’s degree coincides with the Associate degree taken up. Thus, a bachelor’s while studying abroad is no less than 3-4 years, but going for an Associate degree for a shorter duration can be an advantage. In this case, the applicants will have to decide between an Associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. Check out all about the associate degree in this article.
What is Associate Degree?
An associate degree meaning is a degree that is taken up by students right after high school but before an undergraduate degree. Enrolling for an Associate degree is the very first step towards an undergraduate degree. An Associate degree meaning derives from the way it is offered which is at the UG level and the duration of the course as well.
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The Associate degree definition officially states that it is an academic program which can be taken up by applicants at the UG level. After the associate degree, applicants can opt to transfer to a bachelor’s degree, which is also a full-time undergraduate degree offered at bigger universities or colleges.
An associate degree is usually 2 years long and is offered across disciplines of Arts, Science, Applied Science, Management, IT and others.
How Long is Associate Degree?
An Associate Degree is usually 2 years long for a full-time applicant, but for those taking up part-time Associate Degrees can have a longer duration course. The course duration will also depend on the umber of credits, universities offering it and the country where applicants wish to pursue an associate degree.
Types of Associate Degrees Abroad
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There are three types of Associate degrees offered broad, they are as follows:
- Associate of Arts (AA): These are basically for arts-related courses offered across - Business, Arts & Humanities, Social Science and other related course options.
- Associate of Science (AS): This is for those who wish to go for Science courses at the Associate degree level. Courses can vary between pure sciences and Math subjects.
- Associate of Applied Science (AAS): Courses covered under this degree type include technical and vocational courses. Law, IT, and Computer Science Technology are some of the courses that come under the AAS degree type.
- AAA (Associate of Applied Arts): An AAA degree includes courses like - Business Management, Criminal Justice, Fine Arts, Marketing and others. Here, students aim for entry-level positions in the liberal arts specifically.
Applied courses primarily aim to equip students with practical vocational skills tailored for specific careers. In contrast, AA and AS programs are designed for students aspiring to pursue bachelor's degrees, emphasizing academic preparedness for higher levels of study.
Popular Associate Degree Majors
Students looking for Associate degree majors can choose from the below-given majors which are popular among international students:
| Popular Associate Degree Majors |
||
|---|---|---|
| Nursing |
Accounting |
Arts |
| Criminal Justice |
Business Administration |
General Studies |
| Communication |
Imaging Specialist |
Computer Science |
| Computer Support Specialist |
Fine Arts |
Math |
| Music |
Political Science |
Psychology |
These are just a few majors that are opted widely, applicants can take a look at the entire list based on the country of admission and then make a choice.
Why Pursue Associate Degree?
There are six major reasons to consider if getting confused about opting an Associate degree. These reasons are as follows:
- This is a shorter duration degree type credit of which can be useful while transferring to a bachelor’s degree, and not repeating the already pursued courses.
- There are very basic admission requirements to apply for an Associate degree like 18 years of age, high school completion and the GPA requirements.
- Not necessary for students to stay on campus while pursuing an Associate degree, rather they can commute from anywhere. Please note, that this is for full-time courses only.
- An associate degree means a shorter duration, hence easy on the pocket. Thus, full-time associate degrees are usually cheaper than other major degree types.
- Associate degrees are offered part-time and online also, thus, applicants can choose based on their comfort. In case applicants choose these modes of education, they can work part-time also.
- Those graduating with an Associate degree can get a median weekly pay of USD 1,005. Plus there is a wide range of jobs that they can opt for as well. (based on US BLS Report 2022)
There may be numerous reasons which can be considered by applicants to opt for an Associate degree and build their path towards gaining more knowledge.
Top Universities Abroad Offering Associate Degrees
Those aiming to study abroad and pursue an Associate degree can consider the following university options for study:
| Top Universities |
Associate Degree Offered in |
|---|---|
| Accounting Technology Business Management Technology Criminology & Justice Studies Cybersecurity Information Technology |
|
| Web Development Technology |
|
| Computer Science |
|
| Health Information Management |
|
| Early Childhood Education |
|
| Legal Studies |
|
| Applied Business Applied Science Agribusiness Applied Technologies |
|
| Science Business |
|
| Business (International Hotel & Resort Management) |
|
| Construction Management |
Scope After Associate Degree Abroad
There is a good scope after pursuing an Associate degree. Usually, there are two options with a student, one is to continue their education and transfer to a bachelor’s degree and second, is to begin working. Other than this with an Associate degree, applicants can also:
- Upskill by pursuing certain online courses as they like based on their areas of study and interest.
- Go for internships and get hands-on experience and also earn skills and money.
- If the case arises, applicants can begin researching and find a path upwards towards getting a degree.
There can be other options that can be considered like starting up one’s own business, getting into research and others. Thus, there is a good scope for applicants with an Associate degree.
Difference between Associate Degree and Bachelor's Degree
Confused between an Associate's and a bachelor's degree? Check out the table below for key differences between Associate's and bachelor's degrees:
| Factors | Associate Degree | Bachelor's Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Offered in |
|
Offered across all countries abroad |
| Meaning | An associate degree is a skill-enhancement degree option for gaining credits before getting a bachelor's degree. | A bachelor's degree is a full-fledged degree program for applicants who have enough skills and knowledge to attend a college. |
| Duration | An associate degree is 2 years long. | A bachelor's degree is four years long. |
| Cost | An associate degree costs one-third of a bachelor's degree. | Bachelor's degrees are more expensive than associate degrees. |
| Entry Requirements | Require class 12th scores, with admission essays, LORs, IELTS/TOEFL, SAT/ACT scores and 20-40 credits. | Requires class 12th scores, admission essays, LORs, SAT/ACT, IELTS/TOEFL and 120-140 credits. |
| Level of Competition | Lower | Higher |
| Acceptance Rate | 88.6% (2022) | 42.5% (2022) |
| Transferability | Available with partnering universities in USA for those enrolled in community colleges | Available but the process can be challenging to transfer from one US university to another |
| Median Salary (weekly) | USD 963 | USD 1,334 |
These are some of the key differences between an associate degree and a bachelor's degree. Applicants stuck between the two choices, can seek guidance from our team of expert counsellors. Applicants can sign up for free at Shiksha Abroad Counselling and our counsellors shall get back to you.
Top 10 Career Options After Associate Degree
Check out the top 10 career options for Associate degree holders in the following table along with the annual average salaries:
| Jobs After Associate Degree |
Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Marketing Assistant |
USD 40,000 |
| Web Developer |
USD 45,000 |
| MRI Technologist |
USD 35,000 |
| Assistant Retail Manager |
USD 40,000 |
| Dental Hygienist |
USD 50,000 |
| Customer Service Representative |
USD 35,000 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant |
USD 30,000 |
| Administrative Assistant |
USD 25,000 |
| Legal Assistant |
USD 40,000 |
| Civil Engineering Technician |
USD 35,000 |
Thus, opting for an Associate degree is ideal for building a skill set, giving time to oneself for exploring various other possibilities of study and flexibility which come while pursuing this degree. For queries on associate degree, write to us in the comments below.
The university does not charge any application from its national or international applicants. It means that aspirants for all courses/programs may apply to the university free of cost.
Yes, all the graduates receive a British degree irrespective of the campus locations. Programs follow similar patterns and examinations on all campuses. The degree awarded is even recognised by the reputed institutions and also approved by Royal Charter in UK.
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
The University of Rhode Island ranks among the best institutions in the country. Shiksha Popularity Rankings ranks the institute #102 as part of its the latest country-level rankings.
Further, an unofficial source ranks it #152 as part of its National Universities Rankings 2025, while another ranks it #1001 as part of its the latest World University Rankings.
The university's courses are also ranked very highly by Shiksha, with its BBA program ranking #159, while its MIM program ranks #160 among all higher education US based institutions.
Selkirk College Canada expects a non-refundable application fee from international students, which is USD 100 (INR 8K). International students must fill out the application form where they must upload documents like transcripts, test scores, passport ID page, resume, and more. At the end of the application, international students can expect to pay the application fee, and once their application meets eligibility, they get an offer of acceptance.
According to an unofficial source, NTU has been placed at #1 in the UK for employability. In addition to this, as per the details available on the web, some of the top companies where NTU UK alumni work are Deloitte, Microsoft, Tesco, Turner & Townsend, The Access Group, etc. Some of the industries where the alumni work are Operations, Business Development, Arts and Design, Sales, Marketing, IT, Engineering, Finance, Media & Communication, etc.
Centennial College does not assist with any visa process. International students are advised to contact Australian government's Department of Human Affairs which works on all visa related inquiries. Usually applying for a student visa can cost up to AUD 1600. Eligibility to be able to apply for a student visa is:
- Student must be 6 years or older
- Student must be enrolled in a full time course from a recognised instituion.
What is Associate Degree FAQs
Q. What is associate degree?
A. An associate degree is a two year long degree program focused at enhancing one's skills and gaining additional credits to study at a biiger college or university to get a bachelor's degree. Applicants who do not fulfil criteria for a bachelor's degree admission based on credits can opt for an associate degree.
Q. Which countries provide an associate degree?
A. Various countries aborad offer associate degrees to international applicants. Some of the popular destinations inlcude - USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Spain, Singapore and Netherlands. The associate degrees are offered either across universities in these countries or there are specialised institutions which offer associate degrees to applicants.
Q. What are the benefits of associate degrees?
A. There are various benefits of pursuing an associate degree and they are as follows:
- The cost of associate degrees is loer than a bachelor's degree.
- Competition for admission is lower for associate degrees and the acceptance rates are usually higher.
- While pursuing an associate degree abroad, applicants can work part-time and earn.
- Applicants can also transfer to another university or college after completing associate degree. They can study for two more years and get a bachelor's degree.
- There is no hard and fast rule for transferring to a university for bachelor's, with associate degree also, applicants can earn higher end salares.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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