Is There A 250K Pay Check In Your Future?
More than half of high school grads in America go on to earn at least a two-year college degree. According to the United States Department of Education, someone who spends just two years in college can expect his or her lifetime earnings to exceed that of a high school grad by a whopping 250,000 dollars. Figures like these support the conclusion that not everyone hungry for higher learning needs to sign up for a four-year course of study at a college or university. High school grads can earn a two-year Associate Degree from their local community college, junior college, technical school or online university.
The extra earning power of the Associate Degree reflects what has become a three-tiered earning structure in many career fields. In this model, different levels of education are required to perform jobs with different levels of specialization. Within almost any career field, job seekers will find jobs requiring different degrees: a multi-year graduate degree, a four-year Bachelors degree, or in many cases just two years of specialized training culminating in an Associate Degree.
A case in point is the medical or health-care field. Top earners in this field doctors and dentists, for example all must complete more than four years of college or university work. Those holding second level jobs in the health care sector a physical therapist or recreation administrator in a nursing home or hospital must have a four-year college degree. But high school grads who invest just two years to earn their Associate Degree will also find an ample supply of well-paid third level jobs in the medical and health-care job market. Job examples include dental hygienist, occupational therapy assistant or registered nurse.
While health care illustrates the many job opportunities waiting for the holder of an Associate Degree, it is by no means the only career field where degree holders can anticipate earning above-average pay. Depending on the kind of degree they earn there are two general categories of Associate Degree with specific degrees ranging from the Associate in Nursing degree to the Associate in General Studies degree grads can find work in many well-paid professions. Job titles may include medical laboratory technician, surveyor, car mechanic, water-treatment plant operator or registered nurse.
Besides the opportunity for a respected career path with a good-paying job, there are good secondary grounds for considering an Associate Degree. As a rule, high school grads can earn their diploma locally at a conveniently located community college, junior college or technical school. In addition to saving on living expenses, they also benefit from the mostly lower fee structures associated with community colleges or local technical schools.
For those who want to work full-time and complete their two-year degree in their free time, distance learning may be an alternative worth considering especially for adults still holding a full-time job. A significant number of the country's top online universities offer two-year degree programs along with their conventional four-year degrees. One place to begin researching this option is the nations biggest online university, the University of Phoenix Online. The University of Phoenix Online offers several Associate Degree programs through its sister university, Axia College of University of Phoenix. Take a look at the resource box at the end of this article for links to websites that will help you learn more about online learning.
About the Author
Matt Paolini works from home as a distance learner. Visit MBA University of Phoneix or MBA University of Pheonix for free distance learning info.
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