Is an Associate Degree an Undergraduate Degree? Exploring Educational Pathways

An undergraduate degree marks the first step on your higher education path. There are two types of undergraduate degrees: associate and bachelor’s degrees. While a bachelor’s degree is often referred to as an undergraduate degree, it’s not the only degree under the undergraduate umbrella. An associate degree, often called a “2-year degree,” requires half as many credits and takes much less time to complete than a bachelor’s degree, but it is also an undergraduate degree.

Defining Undergraduate Degrees

In the United States, an undergraduate degree refers to a program of study that you can pursue immediately after high school - or any time thereafter. The first rung on the higher education ladder is the associate degree. Bachelor’s degrees include general education courses and classes specific to your major that can position you for direct entry into a variety of career fields. Only after you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree can you work toward a graduate degree. The types of graduate degrees include a master’s or doctoral degree. Individuals pursuing graduate degrees gain expertise in a particular subject area, develop leadership skills or increase their earning potential. While some earn a master’s degree before entering a doctoral program, others do not.

Associate Degrees: A Closer Look

An associate degree is a 2-year undergraduate degree that provides technical and academic knowledge. The material covered depends on the program. You can also choose to transfer to a 4-year college after you receive your associate. If you attend full time and take 15 credits on average per semester, you should graduate with an associate’s degree in 2 years. These programs typically require 60 credits - or around 20 total classes. Students can usually earn an associate’s degree by attending a community college.

Types of Associate Degrees

There are four types of degrees you can earn - although you must complete a bachelor’s degree before you are eligible to apply to graduate school. Associate degrees require 60 credits (the equivalent of 20 classes) and typically take 2 years to complete. They fall into two categories: Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS).

The associate degree type can impact your career and education options after graduation. Associate of Arts (AA) programs are broad, focusing on social sciences, business, literature, arts, and other general education subjects. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) programs cover technical and vocational skills required for a specific career field.

Read also: Higher Education Degrees Explained

The Value of an Associate Degree

Many people view an associate degree as a stepping stone, a goal to achieve as they work their way toward a bachelor’s degree. However, earning an associate degree is an impressive achievement all on its own.

Earning an associate degree can benefit you in several ways. Furthering your education and mastering new skills is a rewarding accomplishment and an achievement in which you can take pride. This experience can help you identify talents or areas of interest and strength that you can use in your professional career.

Earning an associate degree can also have financial rewards. Data shows that obtaining an associate degree can greatly improve your lifetime earning potential when compared with that of someone who doesn’t have a college degree. In 2024, those with associate’s degrees earned $1,099 weekly on average. By comparison, employees with some college but no degree earned $1,020/week.

Completing the requirements for an associate degree will also give you a good start on earning a bachelor’s degree in the future, should you decide to do so. At some schools, you can transfer the credits you’ve earned in your associate degree program toward your bachelor’s degree. Many 4-year schools accept community college credits, but should understand how your classes will transfer before you enroll. The 4-year school may not transfer all of your credits 1:1, which means you’d have to retake some courses.

Associate Degrees in the International Context

An associate degree or associate's degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. The first associate degrees were awarded in the UK (where they are no longer awarded) in 1873 before spreading to the US in 1898.

Read also: Associate Degree Length

Two year associate degrees are found throughout the West Indies. They are offered by regional organisations such as the Caribbean Examinations Council and the University of the West Indies, and at institutions of higher education in particular, within the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and St.

In the Netherlands, there were four pilots between 2005 and 2011 to assess the added value of the associate degree. In 2007 the associate degree was added to the Dutch system of higher education within the Higher Professional Education (HBO) stream taught at universities of applied sciences (hogeschool). Associate degree courses form part of HBO bachelor's degree courses, and advising requirements are the same for the two-year associate degree and the related four-year bachelor's degree.

In Hong Kong, associate degrees were first introduced in 2000 with the aim of increasing the number of students with post-secondary qualifications. As originally introduced, the qualification took two or three years, but this was reformed in 2012 to a two-year course.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has approved Associate Degree Programs (ADP) to replace the traditional two-year BA/BSc programs. This transition aligns with HEC's Undergraduate Education Policy, which mandates that all ADPs must receive approval from the relevant statutory bodies of the respective universities. An associate degree is a two-years undergraduate degree program abbreviated as ADP in Pakistan and is authorized by the Higher Education Commission through an Authorization Letter.

In Argentina, tertiary colleges (institutos terciarios) offer carrera técnica, tecnicatura or Técnico Superior Universitario qualifications that are similar to associate degrees in a variety of areas, including qualifications for elementary and high school teachers, as well as other technical fields, upon completion of three or four years of study. Some of these degrees may be articulated with university programs to obtain a bachelor degree, usually after two additional years.

In 2001, Brazil added tecnólogo ('technologist') as a form of undergraduate degree program (graduação). A technologist's degree varies between two and three years of full time studies to complete.

Education in Canada is a provincial power: each province and territory regulates tertiary education and the degree system in their jurisdictions, with pan-Canadian co-ordination in a Council of Ministers of Education, Canada. Aside from British Columbia, the Canadian provinces do not offer associate degrees but do offer similar higher education qualifications below the bachelor's level. These are two-year courses resulting in a diploma in a broad range of technical, professional and academic subjects. Articulation into bachelor's programs is the norm but can differ by subject (with some specialties rarer among bachelor's degrees). Quebec offers the Diplôme d'études collégiales (diploma of college studies), taught at post-secondary collèges d'enseignement général et professionnel (colleges of general and professional education; cégeps) can be a two-year pre-university qualification that is a pre-requisite for entry into the bachelor's degree.

Qualifications on the short cycle of the Bologna Process/level 5 on the European Qualifications Framework sit between secondary education and bachelor's degree level and are thus approximately equivalent to an associate degree. In Czech Republic one equivalent title is DiS. (Diplomovaný Specialista; Certificated Specialist).

Associate degrees are not part of any of the national qualifications frameworks in the United Kingdom. Two-year sub-degree higher education qualifications that are considered short-cycle qualifications in the European Higher Education Area are foundation degrees, Diplomas of Higher Education and Higher National Diplomas (if awarded by a degree-awarding body).

Bachelor's Degrees: A More In-Depth Education

Bachelor’s degrees require 120 credits (the equivalent of 40 classes) and traditionally take 4 years to complete. Today, online learning options and shorter, more frequent terms provide you with the flexibility to take classes that fit your schedule.

Classes focus on general education, major-related courses, and electives. These degrees are earned after a 4-year program at an undergraduate college.

Choosing a Major

Ideally, choosing the right college major can lead to a satisfying job and a rewarding career. Your major is the subject area you focus on within your college degree program. According to College Board, you will take between a third to half of your coursework in your major. You might decide to “double major” or major in more than one subject area, and others also pick a minor - a specialization that requires fewer credits than their major. While both associate and bachelor’s degrees require you to pick a major, they have different timelines when it comes to making a final declaration. It’s important to choose a university that offers a variety of majors in case your interests or goals change.

Hung up on what to major in? Take heart: your college major alone is not likely to determine how successful you will be in your career. Your degree, prior work experience, soft skills and professional network are all key factors employers consider.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) vs. Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

A Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree covers all arts studies, including anthropology, communications, French, music and politics (to name a few).

Beyond the Bachelor's: Graduate Degrees

To earn a master’s degree, you must successfully complete a bachelor’s degree. Similar to a BA, an MA includes majors related to the liberal arts and social sciences while an MS builds upon business, scientific and technical subjects. If you are a licensed nurse working in a healthcare setting, an MSN can help you improve patient outcomes by teaching you how to manage and improve healthcare systems, policies, processes and services. The 2-year programs cover more advanced classes in a specific concentration.

Doctoral degrees, or doctorates, are terminal degrees that can take 4 to 6 years to complete. Popular doctorates include the PhD in Education Leadership, which explores topics in social justice, equity and leadership within the field and prepares you to drive organizational change. Doctoral degrees emphasize research; therefore, Ph.D. students often find careers in academia or highly specialized fields, such as medical, political or legal. A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the most commonly known doctoral degree, but these degree programs are not reserved for philosophy students. You can earn a Ph.D. in many other subjects, such as health and sciences or the arts.

Making the Right Choice: Associate vs. Bachelor's

Which one is the best option for you: an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree? That depends on your educational and professional goals. Some associate degree programs focus on a specific type of vocational training or career-based specialty. For people seeking employment in those roles, that credential alone may be enough to achieve their professional goals. A bachelor’s degree also represents a more substantial investment, in terms of time and money. If you aren’t sure that is something you can commit to at this time, earning an associate degree may be a more realistic goal as a starting point.

Before deciding on your education goals, consider your career goals. Your desired field may only require an associate’s, not a bachelor’s, which can save you years and thousands of dollars in tuition and related costs. Many jobs require you to have at least an associate’s degree, such as a dental hygienist or a veterinary technician.

Choosing the Right Associate Degree Program

Many associate degree programs focus on developing practical skills that graduates can use in a specific vocation or trade, so if you already have a career path in mind, look for a program that would prepare you well for those job requirements.

If you are unsure about your long-term goals or want to explore a variety of potential career options, consider a broad program such as the Associate in Arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences program. Designed to allow the student plenty of freedom to customize their own path, this program encourages students to explore a wide spectrum of areas in the arts and humanities, while providing the opportunity to develop strong speaking and writing skills that can be valuable assets in many professional roles. This type of versatile associate degree can serve as the foundation from which you can go on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a wide range of liberal arts disciplines.

Affordability and Financial Aid

There are plenty of benefits to earning your associate’s degree! It’s usually more affordable than a 4-year college. During the 2023-24 academic year, tuition and fees at a public 2-year institution cost between $4,072 and $8,901, on average. The exact price depends on several factors, including the type of school, your residency, and whether you’re living on campus, with family, or off-campus but not with your family.

Even though associate’s degrees are much less expensive than bachelor’s programs, they can still be out of reach financially for many.

Complete the FAFSA.
Apply for state grants. Many states have college grants for 2-year students. In fact, a majority even have discounted or free community college programs for their residents.
Apply for scholarships. There are thousands of scholarships that help students pay for their higher education.
Take out private loans. Private student loans can help you bridge the gap between your financial aid offers and the total cost of attendance (COA). However, private loans tend to have much higher interest rates and fewer repayment options than federal loans.

Time to Completion

How long it takes to complete your associate degree will depend on several factors, including how much time you are able to devote to courses each semester and whether you already have any previous college credits that might transfer. Students who are able to maintain a full-time course load can often earn an associate degree in approximately two years. Your academic adviser can provide insight as to what sort of timeline you might realistically expect based on your individual circumstances.

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