Associate Degree vs. Bachelor’s Degree: 5 Key Differences

Choosing between an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree is a crucial decision. The degree program you choose should align with your personal, professional, and financial goals for the future.

Both degree programs offer unique benefits tailored to diverse lifestyles and goals. By carefully considering how each program fits into your life plan, you can choose a path that meets your educational needs and sets the foundation for future success.

Getting an associate before a bachelor’s degree

Deciding whether to pursue an associate degree before a bachelor’s degree often depends on your personal circumstances and career goals. An associate degree can be a strategic starting point, especially if you are concerned about costs or in the process of exploring your academic interests. It allows you to earn a degree quickly and often at a lower cost, allowing you to work in your field sooner.

In addition, credits earned during an associate degree often transfer toward a bachelor’s degree, making it a cost-effective way to complete the first half of your undergraduate education.

However, if your chosen career path requires a bachelor’s degree or if you are ready to commit to four years of study, starting directly with a bachelor’s degree is also a good option. With that in mind, consider your financial situation, career urgency, and educational goals when making this decision.

Is an associate degree worth it?

There are various benefits of associate degrees that make them worth considering, especially if you want to quickly enter the workforce or reduce the overall cost of your education. An associate degree typically takes two years to complete, offering a faster route to employment and often requires a lower financial investment compared to a bachelor’s degree.

For students planning a longer academic journey, an associate degree can serve as a stepping stone towards the rest of your academic journey, allowing credits to transfer towards a bachelor’s degree. This path not only spreads out educational expenses but also gives the peace of mind of securing a qualification earlier in your career.

If you’re not sure whether an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree is right for you, knowing these five key differences can help you make the right decision.

Key differences between associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees

1. Program length

The most obvious difference between the two types of degrees is how long it takes to earn each one. For a full-time student, an associate degree program lasts two years. A bachelor’s degree program, on the other hand, lasts four years for a full-time student. Both types of programs can take longer if a student opts for part-time enrollment. Many colleges—including Northeastern—offer flexible schedules, including night, weekend, and online classes, to accommodate working professionals, parents, and other prospective students who cannot attend classes during the day.

2. Program focus

There are two types of associate degree programs, each with a different focus:

• Specialized technical or vocational coursework, which works well if you want to learn a particular set of skills or want to train for a certain job title.
• General studies approach that does not focus on a particular job, set of skills, or declared major, which is the right choice if you want to earn college credit that can later be applied to a bachelor’s degree.

Using an associate degree to complete a bachelor’s degree is common for working professionals whether they are seeking a promotion within their current field or a transition into a new field, says Mike Jackson, vice provost of curriculum and programs and former associate dean of the College of Professional Studies.

“We work to make sure the programs provide an experience that transfers to any company within that career path,” he said. “If someone wants to get promoted, we provide them the skills and competencies to do that. If they want to go to a new job, we try to drastically cut down the learning curve. If they are feeling unhappy but also are not sure what to do, we work to develop tools to help them be more mindful.”

Bachelor’s degree programs focus on a specific major or topic of study. You can expect to complete general education or core curriculum courses in a range of fields (including fine arts, language arts, science, and history) as well as mandatory and elective courses related to your major.

If students in a bachelor’s degree program take enough general education or elective courses on a similar topic that complements their major, they may declare a minor in that topic. A journalism major, for example, could minor in political science.

3. Earning potential

While an associate degree costs less than a bachelor’s degree, there’s a trade-off when it comes to the earnings potential of graduates from those two programs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings of a bachelor’s degree holder are $1,493, which equates to nearly $77,636 a year. For those with an associate degree, the weekly median earnings are $1,058, or just over $55,016 a year.

In other words, students with a bachelor’s degree earn nearly 34% more per year than those with an associate degree. This difference in long-term earning potential is often enough to make up for the cost associated with earning a bachelor’s degree—in short, education pays.

4. Program cost

Though the cost of tuition and fees varies widely from one college to the next, it generally costs less to earn an associate degree than it costs to earn a bachelor’s degree.

But due to the earning potential that comes with a bachelor’s degree—as well as the many jobs that now require a bachelor’s degree—program cost alone should not be a deterrent if you are considering a bachelor’s degree. More than 75 percent of new students at Northeastern receive one or more types of financial aid to obtain a bachelor’s degree, whether it’s a loan, a grant, or a scholarship. Additionally, many colleges will assess and convert relevant prior work experience to college credits, reducing the cost of a degree.

Learn more about applying for financial aid.

5. Career paths

Part of the decision about whether to earn an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree comes down to what you plan to do after completing the program.

As noted, the credits earned in an associate degree program can often be applied to a bachelor’s degree program, especially those that work in partnership with community colleges. For example, if you have an associate degree in business administration, you may be able to apply some or all of those credits to a bachelor’s degree in a major such as business administration, business management, or entrepreneurship. By transferring your associate degree credits, you may only need to complete two years of the bachelor’s degree program, not four.

In addition, certain careers only require an associate degree, such as:

• Computer network specialist
• Nuclear technician
• Dental hygienist
• Radiation therapist
• Fashion designer
• Aerospace engineering and operations technician
• Diagnostic medical sonographer
• Registered nurse
• Engineering technician

While an associate degree can qualify you for entry-level positions, advancing in your career often requires further education. For instance, in fields like healthcare and technology, a higher qualification is essential. A registered nurse may need a bachelor’s degree in nursing to move into supervisory roles or specialized areas.

Roles like a computer network specialist or engineering technician might start with an associate degree but advancing to higher technical positions or management often requires a bachelor’s degree in fields such as computer science or engineering. In specialized roles like a nuclear technician or radiation therapist, continuous education and certifications can be necessary to advance and keep up with technological advancements.

Additional coursework clearly helps students adapt to a changing work environment, Jackson says.

“Today, there’s an emphasis on digital communication. There’s a need for soft skills. Companies want employees who are self-starters, who have the ability to think creatively as well as critically.”

Furthering your career with advanced degrees

Finally, a bachelor’s degree is required if you intend to continue your education and obtain a master’s degree, doctorate, or another professional degree. These degrees will help prepare you for a career in a field such as academia, executive leadership, medicine, or law. These degrees also come with higher earning potential—a median of $1,737 per week for a master’s degree, according to the BLS, compared to $1,493 for a bachelor’s degree and $1,058 for an associate degree.

Pursuing further education significantly expands your professional opportunities, which may not be available without additional qualifications. Whether you choose to pursue an associate or a bachelor’s degree, this decision will equip you with valuable skills and knowledge, making you more competitive in your chosen field.

Want to learn more about turning your associate degree into a bachelor’s? Download our free guide below.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in October 2022 and has since been updated.