Better career prospects motivate more than fifty percent of U.S. high school seniors to pursue some kind of college degree. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that lifetime earnings for someone who spends just two years in pursuit of higher education outstrip earnings for a typical high school graduate on average by 250,000 dollars. Figures like these support the conclusion that not everyone hungry for college diploma 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, prospective job applicants will find jobs requiring 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.

The medical or health-care field is just one of many excellent examples. Top earners in this field doctors and pharmacists, for example all must complete more than four years of college or university work. Those holding second tier jobs in the medical or health-care field a chiropractor or health services manager, for example require a four-year university degree. But high school graduates who invest just two years to earn their Associate Degree will also find plenty of well-paid third tier jobs in the medical and health-care field. Job examples include dental hygienist, medical laboratory technician or registered nurse.

While health care is a good example of the many career opportunities eager to welcome the holder of an Associate Degree, it is by no means the only career field where grads can anticipate earning above-average pay. Depending on the type of degree they earn there are two basic types of Associate Degree with specific degrees ranging from the Associate in Nursing degree to the Associate in Physical Therapy degree grads can find work in many high-paying professions. Job titles may include computer technician, hotel or restaurant manager, heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration technician, water-treatment plant operator or registered nurse.

In addition to the chance for a respected career path with a good-paying job, there are excellent secondary reasons to choose an Associate Degree. As a rule, high school grads can get their degree locally at a nearby community college, junior college or technical school. In addition to saving on living expenses, they also reap the benefits of the generally lower fee structures at community colleges or local technical schools.

For students who want to work full-time and complete their Associate Degree at their own pace, distance learning may be an option worthy of a closer look especially for adults still holding a full-time job. A significant number of the country's leading online universities offer Associate Degree programs along with their classic four-year courses of study. One place to begin researching this option is the nations biggest online university, the University of Phoenix Online. The UOP offers a number of Associate Degree programs through its sister organization, Axia College of University of Phoenix. Youll find links to help you explore this option in the resource box below.