When I became a new American several decades ago, one of the first things I knew I had to do was expand my education. I wanted to find a way to increase my earnings relatively quickly and lay the foundation for further education that I knew I would ultimately pursue. An associate degree from a local technology college was the way for me to do that. Not only was I able to take classes for half the day and work the rest of the day, I was hired from a job fair at the school before I even completed my program. I would have loved it, if online education had existed in it’s present form back then.
Many people do not fully appreciate the value of an associate degree and that the majority of the fastest growing jobs based on reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics require an associate and not a four year degree. In 2001 people with associate degrees earned $128 weekly more than those with only a high school diploma. Additionally, the unemployment rate for people with associate degrees was 30% lower than for those with high school only.
Years ago some thought less of two-year programs because they thought it meant that students did not plan to attend a four-year college or could not get into a four-year school. That is not the case today. Students today are making informed choices to take the fast track to good incomes by going to a career college. Before you think that associate degrees are just for new high school graduates or immigrants like me – think again. Consider my aunt, a retired chemist, who went back to school now enjoys a new “encore” career in a major Florida hospital.
Source: http://www.bls.gov
Contributing blogger - Marcia R.