Is an Associate Degree Enough to Start Your Career in 2026?

Updated Dec. 1, 2025 by Rachel Cromidas, editor at LinkedIn News.

TL;DR: Associate degrees are an asset to students with needs that do not fit the logistical demands of a typical bachelor’s degree program. These two-year degrees are more affordable, flexible, shorter and easier to qualify for than bachelor’s programs. An associate degree will enable you to obtain various jobs, launch a career or continue your education.

By Lora Korpar

A four-year university isn’t for everyone. However, an associate degree is an option many overlook, and it has unique benefits.

An associate degree is the middle ground between a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree. College is expensive and time-consuming, so an associate degree can be a good alternative.

Some with associate degrees can even make as much money as someone with a more advanced degree.

But which jobs would most benefit from an associate degree, and how does one go about obtaining an associate degree?

I spoke with Marc Battista, associate vice president and dean at Oakton College, and Joshua Perez, director of admissions at CUNY Bronx Community College, to explore what an associate degree is, its benefits and the jobs you can obtain with one.

1. What Is an Associate Degree?

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree that typically takes two years to complete. According to TopUniversities, an associate degree “aims to give students the basic technical and academic knowledge and transferable skills they need to go on to employment or further study in their chosen field.”

Four types of associate degrees are available:

• AA: Associate of Arts
• AS: Associate of Science
• AAA: Associate of Applied Arts
• AAS: Associate of Applied Science

According to TopUniversities, applied associate degrees emphasize practical, career‑specific skills, whereas the other two are more general and typically lead students to continue on toward a bachelor’s degree.

Associate degrees tend to be quicker to obtain than bachelor’s degrees. They are also cheaper because many people earn associate degrees at community colleges. Associate program entry requirements tend to be less competitive, too.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that, in 2024, people holding an associate degree had median weekly earnings about $169 higher than those with only a high school diploma. Those with a bachelor’s degree earned $444 more per week than associate degree holders. But students still have many reasons for choosing an associate over a bachelor’s.

2. Key Benefits of an Associate Degree

Perez said an associate degree can provide a smooth transition into the academic world.

“An associate’s degree can be an entry into the experience of being a college student,” Perez said. “A lot of students may be the first in their family to go to college, or may not know what they want to study… So an associate’s degree gives the students that nice foundation where they can take some liberal arts courses, sample out different areas of study and leave with that two-year degree, then go on to particular careers or advance based on what they've gained interest in.”

Battista said one of the most immediate benefits of a two-year degree is the difference in cost.

“In-district tuition [at Oakton] is $136.25 per credit hour, which if you're taking a three credit hour class, roughly is a little over $400,” Battista said. “Whereas in four-year institutions, you can see the cost per credit hour is upwards of $400 to $500 each… A lot of [community college] students are able to graduate with little or no debt as a result of that and scholarship opportunities.”

Many colleges also provide programs to help students graduate and save money. Perez said Bronx Community College offers the Accelerated Studies and Associates Program (ASAP) to match students with mentors, tutors and financial assistance.

“Our goal at BCC is that our students finish their degrees in a timely fashion and graduate debt-free,” Perez said. “Over 70% of our students graduate debt-free and receive financial aid assistance.”

According to the National Society of High School Scholars, an associate degree is especially useful if you are a parent or working a full-time job. Completing the degree takes less time and allows you more flexibility in your schedule. A career-changer can also benefit from the speediness of an associate degree.

Battista added that those who value smaller class sizes would appreciate receiving a two-year degree at a community college.

“Our class size at Oakton on average is at most around 25 to 30 students for traditional-oriented classes, whereas if you're taking a Psychology 101 class at a four-year, you could be in a class with 400 students,” Battista said.

Associate programs also allow students to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree. Students with associate degrees become juniors at four-year institutions, allowing them to earn a bachelor’s at a fraction of the cost.

“Students can take the CUNY credits they've obtained with us and seamlessly transfer into a four-year school like… Boston College, NYU and Columbia,” Perez said. “So students are really given that passport to navigate to other four-years and enter at a much more comfortable level because they have this foundation of two years.”

Some community colleges also offer certification programs that students can stack into associate degrees. Battista said if someone earned a certificate in automotive technology at Oakton, the classes they took can translate to credit hours for an AAS.

“So when life gets in the way and they have to work, they can do that,” Battista said. “But when they want to come back and continue their education in that same trajectory, they can apply those credits and that certificate toward the larger two-year degree.”

3. High-Paying Jobs for Associate Degree Holders in 2026

According to Post University, some of the most popular careers people can obtain with associate degrees are dental hygienist, paralegal, air traffic controller, veterinary technician, court reporter and ultrasound technician.

“We're in an era where we’d like to see immediate results, and that's something that Bronx Community College is aware of,” Perez said. “[Students] want to obtain their education, but also be successful.”

Battista said he has seen increased enrollment in Oakton’s technical programs, especially ones in which students can stack their certifications into AAS degrees. These programs include the automotive, manufacturing and computer-oriented fields.

“Manufacturing is one where, in some instances like robotics or automation engineering… median job earnings are in the $60-an-hour range,” Battista said.

Perez said automotive degrees are also popular at BCC, plus radiologic technology, criminal justice and liberal arts. According to U.S. News and World Report, technical associate degree jobs are usually the highest paying. This includes technicians, medical assistants, mechanics and web developers.

“One of the majors that we've seen some great traction in is our cybersecurity associate's degree,” Perez said. “Students can graduate and enter the cybersecurity field and make as much as $70,000.

“We also have our medical lab technician (MLT) program, where students are on the frontlines battling against illness, performing tests and tracking down diseases," he added. "And as you know, with the past few years that we've had, our MLTs have become heroes. And those students can enter the field and earn as much as $50,000 starting. So it's a very high-demand position and we're placing our students right into the field when they're ready.”

Choose a career path with care and consider an associate degree in a community college if these benefits align with your goals.

“I just want to re-emphasize the value of community college and the ability to save tremendous amounts of money, have quality education, and enter into the workforce with tangible skills,” Battista said. “And then there’s the opportunity to come back and not waste those initial credits and apply it toward something larger for the continual ability to learn more over a lifetime.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Associate Degrees

• What is an associate degree? Associate degrees are two-year degrees that help you continue your education or obtain jobs. Students tend to complete these at community colleges. Four types of associate degrees exist: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Arts and Associate of Applied Science.
• What are the main benefits of an associate degree? Associate degrees tend to be cheaper, faster and more flexible than bachelor’s degrees. People can stack their certifications to earn an associate degree on their schedule. They can also use an associate to continue on toward earning a bachelor’s degree. Associate degrees make sense for students seeking affordability, flexibility, or smaller class sizes, and for working adults, parents and career changers who can't commit to four years of study.
• Which fields are best for someone looking to start their career with an associate degree? Technical fields like manufacturing, automotive industry and medical care are most accepting of associate degrees. Technical associate degree roles like air traffic controllers, medical lab technicians and robotics or automation specialists have salaries ranging from $50,000 to $70,000 or more a year.