Nearly half of Americans expect traditional college to lose its importance within the next decade, according to a recent College Consensus survey of 18-54-year-olds, while most respondents view the return on investment for trade schools almost as highly as traditional college.
In fact, for many would-be students, undertaking a three or four-year degree is not an option. They are unable to cover their academic and living expenses and are worried about plunging themselves and their families into more debt for an extended period of study. The poll noted that "while more than 50% of respondents said they completely or mostly trust traditional 4-year college, they were still very concerned about cost and debt."
And their fears are perfectly justifiable. According to a recent U.S. News report on tuition growth at national universities, "tuition and fees at private national universities have increased about 40%. Out-of-state tuition and fees at public national universities have risen about 38%," and "in-state tuition and fees at public national universities have grown about 56%."
Many aspiring professionals are instead turning to less costly forms of education and professional career development, with options such as:
- Associate degrees and vocational trade schools
- Bootcamps
- Online training led by independent expert instructors
- Online courses (e-learning) taught by the world's leading universities and subject matter experts
While everyone knows that bachelor's degrees and master's degrees tend to pay more and have greater chances of securing lucrative salaries, you might be surprised to learn that you can still achieve the salary of an undergraduate—even a master's degree graduate—without having to study for four years. So long as you choose the right specialization, with just a two-year associate degree, you can make as much as $100,000 and above.
Here are a few high-paying associate degrees worth considering for the upcoming spring semester:
1. Associate Degree In Computer Science Associate Degree
With an associate degree in computer science, you will gain the practical skills it takes to be successful in a range of technical and IT-related career paths, including but not restricted to:
- Help desk specialist (average pay range between $77,623 to $97,511)
- Junior software developer (average pay range between $70,806 to $85,799)
- Web developer (average pay range between $81,232 to $107,121)
You can choose to study this degree online, from the comfort of your home, with many universities providing this option through platforms such as Coursera, for example.
One benefit of studying for an associate degree in computer science is that it warms you up to the tech industry, without having to fully commit for four years. Additionally, it poses less financial risk, and as a bonus, the credits you earn during your studies count towards your bachelor's degree in computer science should you wish to pursue this for upskilling in the future.
2. Associate Degree In Business Administration
An associate degree in business administration is the perfect logical step to follow if you are still uncertain about your career goals, but don't want to waste your time. Business administration is a broad specialism that can be applied to a wide variety of roles, and across every industry that you can think of.
Some likely careers that come out of graduating with an associate in business include high-paying entry-level roles in marketing, sales, and even retail, such as:
- Social media manager (average pay range $102,430 to $129,930)
- Digital marketing manager (average pay range $109,255 to $143,025)
- Account manager (average pay range $29,500 to $106,000—the range varies vastly due to multiple levels, bonuses, and commissions for this role)
3. Associate Degree In Nursing
Let's not forget about nursing. The nursing profession is one of the most financially rewarding yet physically demanding careers you can find yourself working in; yet the benefits of knowing you have improved and positively impacted the lives of patients and their families are priceless—and it is easily accessible through an associate degree in nursing.
The healthcare industry is facing a 6% surge in growth for RN (registered nurse) occupations.
In fact, according to Indeed's Pulse of Healthcare 2024 Report, there is a shortage of several hundred thousand healthcare workers, due to a myriad of factors including the proverbial burnout, low pay, misaligned employer/employee expectations and relationships, and lack of psychological safety initiatives.
That being said, many critical workers are still immensely passionate about their roles and wouldn't imagine working in any other profession, despite these drawbacks; additionally, companies such as Indeed have developed initiatives to support those working in critical healthcare roles such as Careers In Care.
Working as a registered nurse, you can expect to make between $63,250, and $113,450 annually.
These associate degrees prove that you do not need to drain your finances to build a sustainable, financially rewarding, and fulfilling career. You can still land a high-paying job—without the need to incur debt.