What's the Value of an Associate Degree?

Conveying to students the value of an associate degree is an ongoing mission for everyone. Here are the top five benefits to get that associate degree:

  • Money – completing the first two years of a bachelor’s degree can save you several thousand dollars; people with associate degrees make more than people with high school diplomas and those with some college; and an associate degree in a career/technical field may help you find and keep a job.
  • Accomplishment – on your resume, it says you set a goal and met it.
  • Employment – with an Associate of Applied Science and the certificates you pick up along the way, you are telling employers that your skills are up to date and you are credible and job-ready.
  • Transfer – in Texas your degree is guaranteed to transfer to public colleges and universities in the state and you will be core ready with a junior standing.
  • Ownership – nobody can take it away from you; maybe life happens to you along the way to your bachelor’s degree (a move, an accident, a change in goals) you have a college degree and nobody can take it away from you.

Contributed by Vice President of Academics Jimmie Bruce and adapted by Range Community College