| More than half of high school graduates in the United | | | | While the health care field illustrates the many career |
| States go on to earn at least a two-year college | | | | opportunities waiting for the holder of an Associate |
| degree. According to data released by the U.S. | | | | Degree, it is by no means the only career field where |
| Department of Education, holders of a two-year | | | | graduates can anticipate earning above-average |
| college degree have lifetime earnings that outstrip | | | | salaries. Depending on the kind of degree they earn |
| those of a typical high school graduate by over | | | | there are two basic kinds of Associate Degree with |
| 250,000 dollars. Figures like these support the | | | | specific degrees ranging from the Associate in |
| conclusion that not everyone hungry for a college | | | | Nursing degree to the Associate in Physical Therapy |
| degree needs to sign up for a four-year course of | | | | degree grads can find jobs in many high-paid |
| study at a college or university. High school grads can | | | | professions. Job titles may include medical laboratory |
| earn a two-year Associate Degree from their local | | | | technician, hotel or restaurant manager, heating, |
| community college, junior college, technical school or | | | | air-conditioning and refrigeration technician, |
| online university. | | | | water-treatment plant operator or physical therapy |
| According to experts, the Associate Degree makes | | | | assistant. |
| good sense for those savvy enough to leverage the | | | | In addition to the prospect for a respected career |
| three-tiered pay hierarchy now common in many | | | | path with a well-paid job, there are excellent |
| career fields. In this model, different levels of | | | | secondary reasons to choose a two-year course of |
| education are required to perform jobs with different | | | | study. Generally, high school grads can earn their |
| levels of specialization. Within almost any career field, | | | | diploma locally at a nearby community college, junior |
| prospective job applicants will find jobs requiring a | | | | college or technical school. Along with saving on living |
| multi-year graduate degree, a four-year Bachelors | | | | expenses, they also reap the benefits of the |
| degree, or in many cases just two years of | | | | generally lower tuition fees at community colleges or |
| specialized training culminating in an Associate Degree. | | | | local technical schools. |
| One excellent example is the medical or health-care | | | | For students who want to continue to work their |
| field. Top earners in this field doctors and | | | | existing job and earn their Associate Degree |
| pharmacists, for example all must complete more | | | | part-time, distance learning may be an alternate plan |
| than four years of college or university work. Those | | | | worth taking a look at especially for working adults. |
| holding second tier jobs in the health care sector a | | | | Dozens of the country's top online universities offer |
| physical therapist or recreation administrator in a | | | | two-year degree programs along side their classic |
| nursing home or hospital must have completed a | | | | four-year Bachelor Degrees. The nations biggest |
| four-year college degree. But high school grads who | | | | online university, the University of Phoenix Online, is |
| invest just two years to earn their Associate Degree | | | | one place to start exploring this alternative. The UOP |
| will also find an ample supply of well-paid third level | | | | offers several Associate Degree programs through |
| job opportunities in the medical and health-care job | | | | its sister organization, Axia College of University of |
| market. Job examples include medical records | | | | Phoenix. Take a look at the resource box that |
| technician, physical therapy assistant or radiologic | | | | follows this article for links to websites that will help |
| technologist. | | | | you find more information about this topic. |