An accelerated associates degree can be an efficient, cost-effective way for you to earn a degree that pays-off quickly without taking up too much of your time. In many cases, you can earn college credit for what you already know, a topic discussed in-depth in the “Earning Credit Before Getting Started” section.
People who hold a college degree make significantly more money over their lifetimes than people who don’t hold a degree. It may take more time, money, energy and effort right now to earn a degree, but the payoff is clear. A minimum of an associate’s degree is required for many high paying and exciting careers. Careers (rather than jobs) are often more long-term, offer more benefits, and usually have more overall job security.
Salary Boost and Career Possibilities with an Associate Degree
In today’s job market, people are wondering if it’s really worth it to get a degree. The simple answer is yes.
The U.S. Department of Education and the National Center for Education Statistics found that for workers between the ages of 25 and 34, the average annual salary for someone without a high school diploma was $22,900. If a worker has a high school diploma, the average annual salary gets bumped up to $29,950. If a worker holds an associate degree, however, the average annual salary is $37,000.
In other words, if you earn an associate degree—which, in an accelerated format can take you less than two years—then you will earn, on average, almost 30 percent more than someone who only has a high school diploma. It may not even cost you the difference in pay to earn your associate degree, which means you could start benefiting from that pay increase the first year you’re in the workforce with an associate degree.
All of the research points to the fact that people who hold degrees are more likely to make a higher salary than people who don’t. The financial advantages are easy to see. What might not be as obvious to some people is that by simply holding an associate degree, your career and job opportunities increase as well. Many job positions will only consider candidates with an associate degree or higher. It’s easy to understand why: During an associate degree or accelerated associates degree program, you will be trained in a specific field and will be able to demonstrate desired skills when you go on the job market. Since a high school diploma only indicates general knowledge and little to no relevant training for the job market, you won’t be as appealing of an applicant as someone with an associate degree.
Types of Associate Degrees
There is not one singly type of associate degree that everyone earns. These degrees are catered to your interests and future career options.
There are three main types of associate degrees:
AA (Associate of Arts)
AS (Associate of Science)
AAS (Associate of Applied Science)
The first two degrees listed (AA and AS) are usually pursued by students who intend to go on and earn a bachelor’s degree, though it’s not required. You can find a job with an AA or AS. An AA degree can land you a position in general education as a teaching aid or assistant, for example, without the requirement of holding a bachelor’s degree.
Students who pursue an AAS in various fields typically go on to the workforce right away. Many can enter into high paying career opportunities immediately. For example, paralegals make an average of $47,000 per year, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Paralegal work is a career opportunity that is available to those who earn a paralegal AAS, which is available in an accelerated associates degree format online.
No matter the degree you pursue, you will be able to choose from a variety of concentrations, including business, communication, accounting, criminal justice, information systems, and human services. Basic core courses will be required in addition to courses that address your specific field. A typical associate degree takes two years to complete, but an accelerated associates degree can be completed in half the time.
Most Popular Associate Degrees and Programs
Some of the most popular associate degrees and programs that can be earned online and in an accelerated format include:
Business
Biblical Studies
Criminal Justice
Early Childhood Education
Graphic Design
Information Technology
Paralegal
Homeland Security
Medical Assisting
Accounting
You can find almost any major or specialization that might be of interest to you in an accelerated format online. Many times, if you develop appropriate and relevant skills in one degree field, you are eligible for a job in a related degree field. With the online format, though, the choices that are available to you are vast since there’s no need to move or travel to take classes.
Accelerated Formats and Programs
Earning your associate degree online and through an accelerated program will be a bit different from earning it in a more traditional setting, so here’s the important stuff you need to know.
There are three main types of accelerated program formats:
Accelerated degrees
Degree completion programs
Accelerated courses
Each format is designed for students who are in different places in their educational careers. If you have no college experience, for example, you’ll want to find a program that offers a fully accelerated associates degree from start to finish. If you have some college experience and had worked toward a degree in the past, you can enroll in an accelerated degree completion program. These programs allow you to use credit you’ve earned in another degree program to accelerate your degree completion process. In as little as a few class sessions or semesters, you can be holding your associate degree.
Accelerated courses are a bit different in that they are not full degree or degree completion programs. You can find accelerated courses through accelerated programs and/or through regular online programs. These courses enable you to take classes that meet for five to eight weeks (instead of the traditional 16 week semester schedule) so that you can complete more credits per year. With this format, you can complete enough credits to earn your entire degree in a single year if you were to consistently take classes each time a new session rolls around. If these classes sound scary because so much is crammed into so little time, then you could sprinkle in an accelerated class when you need or want one. Summer is a great option for these formats.
What to Expect from an Accelerated Online Program
Earning an accelerated associates degree won’t be easy and can’t be done with little to no effort. You will be required to cover the same amount of material as a degree program that’s not accelerated, which means you’ll have less time to learn the information. Don’t let this scare you, though. Many people who work and care for families successfully complete accelerated degrees and go on to find rewarding positions in their fields that pay well. Know what to expect before going in, though, and try to mentally plan ahead. Think right now about where in your schedule you would fit in online lectures, assessments, and reading. Do you usually watch TV on the weeknights? You may have to substitute it with study time. Sacrifices will most likely have to be made to complete your degree, but the long term payoffs far outweigh those short-lived inconveniences.
If you’ve never taken any online courses before and aren’t sure what to expect, here’s a brief overview.
All of your course material and lectures will be made available to you online through a platform that the college chooses its students to use. You may be required to watch lectures and then take online quizzes or exams. You can usually do all of this work when it’s convenient for you, as long as you submit work by the announced deadlines each session. In other words, you can watch lectures and learn the material in the middle of the night if that’s convenient for you. The online format is quite flexible and allows you to choose when and where (your home, a local library, your workplace while on break) you want to work toward your degree.
Choosing an Accelerated Program
With so many online educational choices out there, it can be overwhelming to sit down and research programs before deciding which ones to choose. These categories or considerations are going to be the most important to you right now and in the future. They are not the only ones and if you’ve identified other considerations that are make or break for you, don’t leave them off your research list.
Tuition and Fees
Let’s face it, many people choose an accelerated associates degree program because it usually costs less than a more traditional platform. That is not a given, though, so be sure to understand all the costs and fees associated with the program you’ve chosen. Many programs like to sneak in fees like “registration” fee or “proration” fee that can add up to hundreds of dollars each class session. If tuition and fees aren’t clearly stated on the program’s website, get in touch with someone and inquire. There may also be hidden fees for actions like if you drop a class after registering for it.
Requirements
Most associate programs will require you to have a high school diploma or GED. Some, though, will have other requirements that may not be as obvious. Some of these may include:
A certain GPA
A minimum age to get started
Specific technology to complete coursework online
A fee to apply
These requirements should be clearly listed on the program’s website. If not, get in touch with someone at the college and ask.
Accreditation
If you’ve spent any amount of time on our website, you’ve probably seen this buzz word come up a number of times. It’s a very important word and one that is easily forgotten when searching for accelerated programs. Look for either regional or national accreditation when choosing a program. If you select a field that has a national or regional accrediting agency specific to that field, only select programs that have gone through the accreditation process.
Earning Credit Before Getting Started
You probably don’t know that the knowledge, skills, and life experiences you already have might earn you credit toward your degree, making your time to completion even shorter. You can earn credit toward your accelerated associates degree in these ways:
Military service or training
EMT or Fire and Rescue training (or similar)
Certain scores on exams like AP or IB exams in high school
Credit by Exam via CLEP, DSST, or DANTES exams
Certification or licensure (RN, or EMT, for example)
Many people overlook the exam possibilities listed here. For example, you can sit for a CLEP exam in 33 different core subjects, like History and Literature. If you pass any of those 90 minute exams, you can earn up to six hours of credit toward your core requirements for each one.
Other Benefits of an Accelerated Associates Degree Online
So, we’ve mentioned the potential salary and career benefits of earning an associate degree, but there are some other benefits that may seem less obvious.
For one, completing a degree demonstrates to future employers that you are dedicated to learning. It also indicates that you are trainable, a quality most employers look for in potential job applicants. Completing an accelerated degree means that you can learn a wealth of information in a short amount of time, a valuable skill in the workforce. Additionally, now that even the most prestigious universities are offering online and accelerated degrees, you may even be able to earn your degree from a well-respected and top-ranked college or university. Lastly, you may not be on the market for a bachelor’s degree right now, but credits from your associate degree can transfer toward a bachelor’s degree down the road. And if you choose an accelerated format for your bachelor’s degree, you will be well on your way to holding that degree in your hands, too.
Of course, the online aspect of these accelerated degree programs offer flexibility and convenience. Plus, they usually save you money. The online format also affords you the opportunity to network with students and instructors from around the country, an advantage when you go on the job market with your new degree. Networking is especially important, sine Business Week reports that the best way to find and secure a job is through word of mouth and through the social and business connections you have made.
Inside Higher Ed reports that more than 14 million jobs are held by people who hold associate degrees in this country. An associate degree is a valuable asset when searching for jobs and accelerated associates degree programs can give you a convenient, affordable way to attain that asset.
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