Types of Associate Degrees

Whether you’re seeking a new career or are going back to school after years in the workforce, understanding the types of associate degrees available is an important first step on your path to higher education.

“For some students, they are right out of high school, while others are coming back to school after years in the workforce,” said Dr. Meleena Eaton, an executive director of academic effectiveness at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). “The shared commonality is that all students who enroll in an associate program do so because they see it as a benefit to their career path.”

Keep reading to learn more from SNHU educational leaders about the types of associate degrees available and the benefits of earning one.

How Many Years is an Associate Degree?

You might be surprised how quickly you can earn an associate degree. On average, associate degree programs can be completed in just two years, requiring 60 semester credits of study or about 20 college courses.

There are several factors that can impact your journey to graduation, including your pacing and whether you have transfer credits.

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Get an Associate Degree?

What Are Some Types of Associate Degrees?

The majority of associate degree programs fall into two categories — Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) — and can give you a strong foundation of knowledge in your area of study and improve your long-term employment and earning potential.*

Associate degree holders earn 18% more than workers with only a high school degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).* Unemployment rates are 2.8% for individuals with an associate degree, compared to 4.2% for those with a high school diploma, according to BLS data.*

There are associate degree programs across many fields of study, so it's important to explore your degree options and the careers they can prepare you for before enrolling.

What is an AA Degree?

An Associate of Arts degree can help you develop the soft skills employers seek, including communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

“Earning an AA degree can open the door to many professional opportunities and is also a great way to continue to prepare for transfer into a (bachelor's) program,” said Tara Stabile, an associate dean of general education at SNHU.

Core AA degree courses explore a wide range of disciplines and meet many general education requirements of most bachelor's degree programs. Many associate degree credits can also transfer directly to a bachelor's degree program, fast-tracking your ability to earn a four-year degree in almost any field of study.

AA in Liberal Arts

An associate degree in liberal arts is a good choice for anyone who wants to earn a college degree but is still determining their ideal career or educational path.

“A liberal arts associate degree would give students the opportunity to try out a few different flavors," said Priscilla Hobbs-Penn, an senior associate dean of general education, before choosing a major.

A liberal arts education will let you explore everything from writing and public speaking to humanities and social sciences. By earning an associate of arts, job opportunities may exist in customer service, administration, retail and more.

Some of the careers that are possible with a liberal arts associate degree include:

• Administrative Assistant: As an administrative assistant you could help manage the day-to-day work of an office. Administrative assistants earned a median salary of $47,460 in 2024, according to BLS data.*
  
  
• Customer Service Representative: With a job as a customer service representative, you could work to support customer needs face-to-face, over the phone or online. Full-time customer service representatives earned a median salary of $42,830 in 2024, according to BLS.*

AA in Digital Photography

An associate degree in digital photography offers an introduction to the technical skills of digital camera operation, lighting and post-production editing, and can prepare you for entry-level work as a professional photographer.

If you're interested in advancing your photography career, an associate degree can lay a strong foundation for a four-year degree that can hone your professional development skills like branding and social media.

Some of the careers that are possible with a digital photography associate degree include:

• Aerial Photographer: As an aerial photographer, you can utilize drones and other technology to capture images of land, real estate, new construction projects and even special events.
  
  
• Portrait Photographer: As a portrait photographer, you could start your own photography business or work for a photography company, capturing everything from family photos to professional headshots.

What’s the Difference Between an AA and an AAS Degree?

An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) is not currently offered at SNHU.

The difference between an AA and an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree lies in their purpose and focus. An AA degree is built around general education and liberal arts, Stabile said, ideal for students planning to transfer to a four-year institution.

“It supports careers that value broad knowledge and communication skills, such as roles in education, nonprofits or media,” she said. “In contrast, an AAS degree is career-oriented, emphasizing technical training for employment in fields like healthcare, IT, skilled trades and manufacturing.”

Because of these distinctions, career opportunities vary. “Industries typically prefer one over the other based on whether the job demands specialized training or a broader academic foundation," Stabile said.

What is an AS Degree?

An Associate of Science degree is a 2-year degree typically focused on business, technology or social and practical sciences. By earning an associate of science, jobs may be available across a variety of industries, including marketing, business administration and information technology.

AS in Business

Earning a 2-year degree is a great way to start or advance a business career, whether you’re interested in an associate degree in business administration or studying a particular area of business, such as:

• Accounting
• Data analytics
• Finance
• Marketing

“I think the biggest benefit is that it allows students to begin working in their field quicker, and getting the real-world experience that in marketing is so valuable,” said Eaton.

With an associate degree in business, jobs in marketing, sales or administration could be available, including:

• Marketing Assistant: With a job as a marketing assistant, you could help support the efforts of a marketing department, including social media, advertising and content marketing.
  
  
• Sales Manager: As a sales manager you could oversee a department or organization's sales representatives. Sales managers earned a median annual wage of $138,060 in 2024, with employment opportunities projected to grow 6% between 2023-2033, according to BLS data.*

AS in Computer Science

An associate degree in computer science is another great way to jumpstart a career with many opportunities for growth. Tim Hogg, an adjunct computer science instructor at SNHU, said big tech organizations are placing less of an emphasis on education level in favor of skilled candidates with a portfolio of work.

While advancing may be challenging without a bachelor's degree, Hogg, who also manages a team of AI engineers, noted several benefits to entering the field with a 2-year degree. "Pros of of starting with just an associate degree: Obviously, faster path into the job market, lower costs, less time commitment," he said.

A couple careers that are possible with a computer science associate degree include:

• Computer Support Specialist: In this role, you could work to maintain computer systems and networks and provide technical support to system users. Jobs for computer support specialists are projected to grow 6% between 2023-2033, earning workers a median salary of $61,550 in 2024, according to BLS.*
  
  
• Web Developer: You could work to stand up websites for clients and maintain them as a web developer. At the associate degree level, you might find job titles such as "associate web developer" or "junior web developer" to be a good entry into the field. Web developers earned a median of $95,380 in 2024 with a projected growth of 8% through 2033, BLS said.*

Read more: Top 5 Jobs With a Computer Science Associate Degree

No matter what your career goals, earning an associate degree is a great way to get started with higher education and boost your long-term success in education and the workforce.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer focused on higher education. She started her career working as an education reporter for a daily newspaper in New Hampshire, where she reported on local schools and education policy. Gagnon served as the communications manager for a private school in Boston, MA before later starting her freelance writing career. Today, she continues to share her passion for education as a writer for Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with her on LinkedIn.