What Jobs Can You Get With an Associate Degree?

An associate degree–also called an associate of applied science degree (AAS)–is a two-year undergraduate degree that can lead to improved employment opportunities and higher earnings. It is awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and some four-year colleges and universities.

Major - Average Completion Time - Average Salary - Tuition* - Total Credits

You’re eligible to graduate once you’ve completed your final proctored exam at the end of your fourth semester. In order to receive your AAS, you need to:

1. Earn the total number of credits required for the degree program.
2. Pass all your courses.
3. Complete a minimum of 25% of the total credit hours through Penn Foster College.
4. Achieve a cumulative Quality Point Average (QPA) of 2.0 or higher in all classes.
5. Finish all your courses within six years of enrollment.
6. Meet all financial obligations. All payments must clear before you receive your degree.

Earning an AAS at Penn Foster costs between $999-1,499 per semester, which means that four semesters of classes cost between $4,000-6,000.

Finishing your AAS can take two years if you’re tackling school full-time but can take up to four years if you're taking classes at a slower pace.

An associate degree can be a worthwhile investment, depending on your individual circumstances. Consider your educational and job goals, financial situation, and what you want to study.

Benefits of an associate degree include:

• Takes less time to earn than a BA or BS
• It’s cheaper than a four-year degree
• You’ll learn skills you’ll use in the real world
• Having a degree can help you get a job
• You could earn more money with a degree
• An associate is a stepping stone to earning a bachelor’s

Yes, if you have earned an associate degree, you are considered a college graduate because you have successfully completed a post-secondary education program. An associate is a type of college degree, even though it is not a bachelor's degree (BS or BA). So, individuals with an associate degree can claim the status of being college graduates.

Yes! It is possible to complete your courses around your work schedule thanks to online learning’s flexible, self-paced platforms. Izabella Suarez graduated with an AAS in Early Childhood Education while working at a daycare. She said, “I was able to keep my daycare job, and a lot of the things that I was learning in class, I can also practice in the real-world setting.”

Listen to Izabella’s full interview here!

Read more: How to Balance Working Full Time with Online School

Yes! Since you can finish your classes at your own pace, you don’t have to worry about real life interfering with school. Flexibility is what makes online associate degrees great for parents.

Lauren Campion, LVT, Penn Foster Veterinary Program Grad, said, “When I first had [my daughter], I thought I would never finish. But it's all about the support you have around you and how dedicated you are. Just keep to a plan and realize that if you can’t finish what you planned to do, finish the next day or the next week. Just leave it open; keep going. You can always get an extension if something happens. There’s options [to help you]. If you have a plan and keep going, eventually, you’ll get it done!”

Listen to Lauren’s entire interview here!

Transferable credits are credits earned from one school that can be applied towards a degree or program at another school. Whether or not credits are transferable is up to the receiving school and depends on factors such as the content of the courses, the grades earned, and whether the schools are accredited.

• Penn Foster credits may transfer to some schools.
• Check with the school you plan to attend.
• Up to 75% of credits may transfer if you have a grade of 65 or higher.
• Only equivalent courses will transfer.
• For example, Algebra I would transfer if you earned a D or higher.

The shortest major at Penn Foster College is the medical assistant associate degree which will take between 20-36 months to complete 60 credits. It’s also the degree with the least number of credits required to graduate. The average salary for a certified medical assistant with a two-year degree is $37,190.

If you’re looking for a way to get a better-paying job as quickly as possible, one option is the business management AAS, which takes as little as 20 months to complete and has an earning potential of over $50,000 a year. Another option is computer information systems, which is a job you can do from home. Earning an AAS in computer information systems could get you over $55,000 per year. If you are tech-savvy and either need or want to work from home, this might be a good fit.

The top 8 associate degrees that can lead to the most money are:

• Business Management – $50,244
• Graphic Design – $50,710
• Health Care Management – $51,660
• Computer Information Systems – $55,510
• Paralegal Studies – $56,230
• Industrial Electronics and Electrical Maintenance Technology – $60,360
• Engineering Technology – $60,460
• Criminal Justice – $66,020

Source: BLS

• Jobs in information technology and computer support are on the rise–the job outlook for these roles is job outlook for these roles is 5%, which is faster than average (average is 3%).
• Certified medical assistants have some of the highest job growth at 14%
• The job outlook for credentialed veterinary technicians is 21%, which is much higher than average.

Earning an associate degree is a valuable investment that can help you jumpstart your career, change fields, or lay a strong foundation for further education. Our admissions team can help you find the program that best fits your needs. Call 1.888.427.6500 today to get started!

Read more: 10 Jobs You Can Get with an Online Degree