Is there really value in an associates degree?

I mean normally it takes two years of prerequisites to even get into a program. Seems like you get cheated to go 2 years when others are going 4.

 

The value? Maybe you could help fill your own medicaid forms if you're lucky enough to work at McDonalds, and have to use the HR dept to do it?

 

It could be helpful if one needs to only have a degree in order to qualify for an occupation where one will be trained anyway.

 

In other words..NO. Might even be a hinderence, since the big boys want cheap, cheap, cheap, labor these days. They see 'degree' on your resume, they'll think you'll want to much money and probably throw it in the trash, looking for some poor slob they can get cheap. (all that's assuming you can even find a decent job, which you won't, either way).

 

25 Highest Paying Jobs Requiring Associates Degrees
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]1
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Computer Specialists, All Other
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$32.97
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$68,600
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]2
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Radiation Therapists
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$31.81
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$66,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]3
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Nuclear Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$31.49
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$65,500
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]4
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Dental Hygienists
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$30.19
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$62,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]5
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Fashion Designers
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$30.10
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$62,600
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]6
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Nuclear Medicine Technologists
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$29.95
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$62,300
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]7
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Commercial Pilots
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]N/A
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$57,500
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]8
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$27.60
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$57,400
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]9
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Registered Nurses
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$27.54
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$57,300
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]10
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$27.48
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$57,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]11
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Ship Engineers
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$26.36
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$54,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]12
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$26.08
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$54,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]13
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$25.62
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$53,300
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]14
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$24.35
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$50,600
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]15
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Funeral Directors
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$23.86
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$49,600
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]16
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$23.16
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$48,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]17
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.95
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$47,700
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]18
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Respiratory Therapists
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.80
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$47,400
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]19
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Avionics Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.57
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$46,900
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]20
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Electrical and Electronics Drafters
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.51
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$46,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]21
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Industrial Engineering Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.51
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$46,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]22
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Geological and Petroleum Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.19
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$46,200
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]23
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Mechanical Engineering Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$22.04
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$45,800
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]24
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Court Reporters
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$21.93
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$45,600
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: bodytext"]25
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext"]Forensic Science Technicians
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$21.79
[/TD]
[TD="class: bodytext, align: right"]$45,300
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
http://hr.blr.com/HR-news/Compensat...ghest-Paying-Jobs-Requiring-Associates-Degree

 

Today one needs some kind of degree to get most lower (but average) paying jobs. If one wants work that pays near the poverty line then a degree is not required. Of course, if one is passionate about their personal avocation, it is possible to become very successful without any degree at all.

 

Virtually ALL of the college credits I have accumulated have prepared me for living a more fruitful life.

Maybe the person who gets 'educated', makes the greatest difference in reality.

Degrees are helpful, but someone who makes effective use of what they have learned realizes their education is money well-spent.

 

My husband has done well with an associates degree--in IT. I think its more the area of study then the degree---that creates a valuable asset employers are willing to pay for. My step-son didn't go to college at all....and has always done well.

 

The value is in how you can use the education for the betterment of society, the 2nd value income will come in time. You have to decide what you want to do, what makes you happy, what you would be good at doing. If you have a miserable job the money is not worth it, never will be.

If you think you think you are well educated above the degree, you can challenge tests and shorten the time spent in college. I had a 23 year old PhD. for a professor in psychology once. She came from a family of parents who practice psychiatry, so grew up with it.

And you have to decide how far up the ladder you want to go, and then investigate colleges to insure you are not paying for classes in the AA, and that can't be used at the next college you go for the BA, Masters, PhD. Thats a waste of time and money. So map the journey out. And also keep an eye on the employment in the field you chose, and what other occupations cross over for your talents and classes you are taking.

 

Associates degrees are usually in some job specific area. They are of far more value than many 4 year degrees such as a degree in Fine Arts. A degree in Fine Arts only means you have gone to college, probably racked up a bunch of college loans, partied for 4 years and drank a lot of beer. A degree in Fine Arts means that you are qualified to be as assistant to the assistant manager at Burger King. Unless you go to college for a specific job related degree, IMO you are wasting 4 years of your life and blowing a lot of money.

 

Point is, it's hardly worth the time and money investment any more, as everybody wants labor, cheap, cheap, cheap! Mega profit demands low wages by default.

 

Funeral directors require a university degree?? In what?

 

Mortuary Science.....That one seemed a bit odd to me as well, but here are the requirements.

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/funeral-directors.htm#tab-4

 

Usually, the 1st 2 years are just basic knowledge: English, math (algebra/analyt), Govt, history, etc. The last 2 yrs are mainly concerned with the field one is entering.

An associates degree focuses on the field more so...the 'fun' part!

 

my mother made a nice career with an Associate's degree.... it's not super high, but it'll do.

I have an asociates degree too.... but mine became as worthless of used toilet paper the moment I graduated University a couple of years later. I put it on my resume just because... but it doesn't do me anygood.

I went to community college, then transferred to a State university. If I had dropped out of university, my junior year, at least I still had an Associate's degree. Had I gone straight to university, and dropped out my junior year, I'd have "college credits"

I did it because Community college offered the same pre-requisit courses at 1/3 the cost of my university, where I'd have to take the same course my first 2 years. Mine was a financial decision.

 

There absolutely is value in an associates degree. I have 2 in college, both studying toward an associates. My oldest will be an RN and will decide upon completion whether to pursue a bachelor's, which for her will consist only of completing more electives toward the total number of credits for the bachelors. But she is fully qualified as an RN at the associates level because the entire program focuses on nursing whereas a bachelors focuses on core curriculum plus electives.

My son is too young to become a police officer and attended college classes during his high school time so he is ahead of the curve. He only wants to be a cop so he's studying criminal justice and can decide when he finishes whether to try to become a corrections officer while too young to be a cop, or whether he wants to continue his education toward a bachelors.

I don't think anyone gets cheated unless they misunderstand the difference between the two degrees. A bachelors requires more time and effort, which gives it more value to an employer.

 

Some AA's are very career and skill specific, so they have value in terms of job training.

The questioner ought to give some thought about what education means to him.

If it's just a matter of getting your ticket punched, then I would suspect that you'll use some of the responses here to rationalize not bothering.

That would be a mistake.

A college education is a completely different experience than high school. The environment is radically different when you're with students who want or need to be there instead of have to be there.

You'll also meet and interact people from outside the world you grew up in and outside your comfort zone. That is a very big character builder for people at that stage of life.

And you'll also be exposed to ideas and possiblities for yourself that you would never find if you stayed in the bubble of spending life hanging out with your high school buddies.

Community colleges are good for getting started, particularly if you want to save money by getting your core work done cheaply. They are aslo good for preparing people for trades.

Their weakness is with the high population of students who have vague ideas about going to college but no plan and no real motivation. They often come from the same group that went to high school together. They tend to teat community college as high school plus, and drop out in high numbers.

This is a group best avoided.

If you can get into a four year school, do it. It will change your life for the better even if you never strike it rich.

 

I couldn't agree more with your description of "highschool +" and high drop-out rates. My brother is one of them. He does fine now, but it is exactly what you describe.


I used it exactly how you stated it could be used for. My drive and motivation was the only thing keeping me driven to complete it (despite it taking 4 years due to my work schedule and inability to afford to go full time)

 

Look at the list that has been posted. Anyone and that is anyone that thinks their life would be fine without the people on that list will die in sickness in a cold house that has nothing working at all.

 

i think that is a great point.

 

OTOH if you meet up with a person that has a wonderful degree in fine arts, they can tell you all about some middle ages painter. Funny tho when I have interviewed for a job that never came up. Strangely when I applied for a job, just to get past the receptionist, I had to pass a simple test on electronics!!!!

 

Tell us about your well rounded college education that told you about some middle ages painter that has painted some ugly painting that looks like it was painted by a 3rd grader. How is that going to help you in your daily life? I would rather have someone with a Comm College Assoc Degree that can fix my airconditioner when it is 105 degrees out side.

 

The big $$$ these days is in entertainment, fluff, and 'folly'----practical trades, skilled craftsmen, etc. these days are often looked down on....til you need a plumber, electrician, etc., esp after trying to do it yourself!

But my gen grew up learning about tools by working on our cars--many young men 'these days' dont even know the name of some of the tools, as the newer cars really cant be worked on..plus interferes with their PC/Video game time.....

 

Actually, I've had a well-rounded education myself. Management, Music Education, Sociology, Electronic Engineering (math), Electronic Technology, hands-on mechanical and electronics experience.

I'm expert in only two of those things... but Lord knows, all of the knowledge has been very useful at times.

I agree that having more than one skill and practical knowledge is extremely useful, and that a society needs those with a wide range of knowledge to help balance things socially. That is, if people were educated ONLY to make money, it's not difficult to understand that they would be lacking in other things. And I don't think this society would be healthy as a result. That person who knows 'art' or the person who can enhance people's lives in the more self-actualized fashion are very important to the entire human experience and thus the health of any given society.

I don't really disagree with you, I just saw something more to share overall.

 

I justsaying, you seem to make a lot of posts about education and careers.

what's got your mind going? Maybe you should network more. I have found that meeting new people and talking about jobs is a great way to find a satisfying career.

Cheers.