The Difference in Degrees

Associate’s Degrees –

• Completion of a two-year program equates to an Associate of Arts (AA) or an Associate of Science (AS)

• A degree awarded after completion at a two-year college

• Often at a community college, technical college or junior college

• Two types of associate majors are offered: technical/vocational and non-vocational or university paralleled

• The technical and vocational specialties are generally for entrance into an occupational field, falling under one of six categories*:

1. business and commerce technologies

2. data processing technologies

3. health services / paramedical technologies

4. mechanical/engineering technologies

5. natural science technologies

6. public service-related technologies

• The university paralleled degrees are often referred to as transfer degrees, since they mirror the first two academic years of a four-year college curriculum, given in “Arts and Sciences” or “General Studies”

(*according to The Higher Education General Information Survey or HEGIS)

See the Next Degree Level »

Need money to pay for college?

Every semester, Fastweb helps thousands of students pay for school by matching them to scholarships, grants and awards for which they actually qualify. Sign up today to get started. You'll find scholarships like the Course Hero's $5,000 Scholarship, and easy to enter scholarships like Niche $2,000 No Essay Scholarship.