Which Associate Degree Programs Will Make You the Most Money?

If you’re looking to gain the most educational bang for your buck, it is tough to argue against an associate degree.
For two years (or approximately 20 classes) of learning and around $5,000 of tuition, you could graduate and be ready to earn just as much as someone with a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, many four-year schools accept applications from community college graduates looking to complete their bachelor’s degree. It’s not as though an associate degree will close any doors for you.
The advantages of earning “only” an associate degree in terms of job prospects depend on your career goals and location. According to a study by Georgetown University, 28 percent of associate degree holders earn more than the average person with a bachelor’s degree. How can you land in that camp? Programs in certain industries will absolutely qualify you to succeed and find a job whose earning power is comparable to what might be available to a four-year graduate.

Career Prospects for Associate Degree Graduates

Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. has identified several of the careers in which associate degree holders comprise a large percentage of the workforce and earn approximately as much as their colleagues who have pursued four-year degrees.

Top Healthcare Industry Jobs for Graduates with Associate Degrees

• Radiation Therapists - median annual wage: $77,560
• Dental Hygienists - median annual wage: $70,210
• Nuclear Medicine Technologists - median annual wage: $70,180
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographers - median annual wage: $60, 350
• Respiratory Therapists - median annual wage: $55, 870

Top Technician Jobs for Graduates with Associate Degrees

• Nuclear Technicians - median annual wage: $69,060
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians - median annual wage: $61,530
• Engineering Technicians, including Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical and Electronics) - median annual wages: $47,560, $51,980, $57,850, respectively

It’s important to note that job opportunities vary significantly by region.
Sometimes, community colleges partner with regional employers to ensure a well-educated workforce, including Ford, General Motors, and John Deere. It’s a win-win, because it’s in the interest of both the school and the employer for students to be prepared for jobs that are in demand. So if you plan to attend a particular community college or are considering only schools in a certain region, check to see if the school has launched any corporate partnerships or job placement programs. It could help to guide you — and ultimately, land you a good job — as you choose an associate degree program with an eye toward career advancement.

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The Best And Worst Master's Degrees For Jobs

Thousands of new college grads will enter the workforce this year, but with unemployment at 9.1% and underemployment near 19%, many will put off the taxing job search process and opt out of the weak job market to pursue graduate degrees.

With this in mind, Forbes set out to determine which master’s degrees would provide the best long-term opportunities, based on salary and employment outlook. To find the mid-career median pay for 35 popular degrees, we turned to Payscale.com, which lets users compare their salaries with those of other people in similar jobs by culling real-time salary data from its 16.5 million profiles. We then looked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment projection data to see how fast employment was expected to increase between 2008 and 2018 in popular jobs held by people with each degree. Finally we averaged each degree’s pay rank and estimated growth rank to find the best and worst master’s degrees for jobs.

As it turns out, although there are too few doctors in the U.S. and too few seats in medical schools, those shortages are good for one segment of the population: people who get degrees as physician assistants.

Physician assistants are medical professionals who provide diagnostic and preventative health care services under the supervision of doctors—and they’re in high demand.
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“They are a good substitute for doctors in primary care,” says Al Lee, Payscale’s director of quantitative analysis. “There is a greater demand for medical professionals as the health care industry continues to grow strongly. And physician assistants are knowledgeable and capable, yet they’re cheaper than doctors.”

They don’t earn as much as doctors, but their mid-career median pay exceeds $100,000. Another advantage of a physician’s assistant degree: Employment opportunities are expected to grow 39% by 2018 (from the 2008 employment numbers), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Would-be physician assistants need to take certain science classes to prep for a master’s program, but they can earn undergraduate degrees in almost any field. The growing demand for them and the promise of fat paychecks put physician assistant degrees at the top of the heap in Forbes‘ second-annual look at the best master’s degrees.

By our count, computer science ties physician assistant studies for the No. 1 advanced degree.

Mid-career median pay for these grads is $109,000, sixth best out of the 35 degrees in our survey. Employment opportunities for computer science degree-holders are expected to expand 27% between 2008 and 2018.

“We’re in the midst of the technology wave, and computer scientists are so highly valued,” says Lee. “Even though so many products and programs no longer require tech professionals’ services or skills, we still need people who really understand computers.” As long as people and businesses use technology, computer science degree-holders will be in demand, he adds.

Not all master’s degree holders enjoy anywhere near such optimistic job prospects or extraordinary pay. Getting a master’s in music, education or social work can be gratifying but pricy. Median mid-career median pay for all those degrees is under $60,000, and employment for them isn’t expected to grow significantly over the next few years.

Music degree-holders bring in $57,600 mid-career, on average. Common jobs for them include music teacher and music director, and there are expected to be just 11% more of them by 2018. “If you love music, then you may be able to have a career and live a good lifestyle with a master’s in music,” says Lee. “But make sure you’re getting a master’s degree for the right reasons.”

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Master of Theology and Religious Studies (Leuven)

Looking to build upon your Bachelor's degree in Theology or Religious Studies? Or perhaps you are engaged in pastoral work and seeking to deepen your theoretical insights? Where better than at KU Leuven, where theology has been taught and practised for nearly 600 years? KU Leuven's Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies has always acted as a think tank within the Catholic community. We offer a history of critical dialogue conversant with tradition, but situated in the present and yet ever conscious of the future - why not make this openness your own? Leuven's famed theology professors will put you in a great position to determine your own future, whether it is in pastoral work, at NGOs throughout the world, in the media, or in politics. The choices are endless. But with Leuven's MA in Theology and Religious Studies, they become meaningful.

The goal of this Master's programme is to expand and deepen students' initial education in Theology and Religious Studies, whether obtained at KU Leuven or elsewhere. It prepares students to engage in independent research in the various domains of Theology and Religious Studies and equips them to function as experts in Church and society. The curriculum has a twofold focus. On the one hand, students are given the opportunity to specialise and write a Master's thesis in one of the faculty's six research disciplines or majors: biblical studies, systematic theology, theological ethics, history of Church and theology, pastoral theology, and religious studies. On the other hand, the curriculum continues to offer a general orientation towards the interdisciplinary academic investigation of the Christian faith tradition in a multi-cultural and multi-religious social context.

This is an initial Master's programme and can be followed on a full-time or part-time basis.

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Online Associate's Degree in Registered Nursing

Those looking for an online Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program can find them in a variety of schools and colleges across the country. Many ADN programs are designed to help transition licensed practical nurses into registered nurses.

Essential Information

An associate's degree is the quickest route to becoming a registered nurse (RN), with most programs requiring two years of study after prerequisites are met. While many courses in an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program are available online, the clinical experience required means the degree can't be earned completely off-campus.

Courses available online usually include general education courses and nursing courses in nursing theory, anatomy and medical terminology. The clinical part of the program takes place in on-campus labs and at medical facilities. Clinical work can sometimes be arranged to take place at a facility near the student's home.

All states require nurses to be licensed. Licensing requirements include graduation from an approved nursing training program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Online Associate in Nursing Degree Programs Overview

An online ADN program teaches students how to care for adults and children with injuries or illnesses. In most cases, before being accepted into a nursing program, students are expected to complete certain prerequisite classes, such as biology, anatomy and psychology.

Program and Computer Essentials

An online ADN program usually allows students to complete the lecture, reading and assignment portion of their education online. Students typically attend labs on campus and fulfill their clinical experiences in local hospitals, physicians' offices or health care clinics.

To communicate online with their peers and instructors, read lecture material and hand in assignments, students need a computer with a reliable Internet connection and a Web browser. Other software may also be required to read documents and work on spreadsheets or presentations. Some schools might also require students to install plug-in software on their computers to play video or audio material.

Typical Associate-Level Nursing Courses

After fulfilling the general requirements for an associate's degree and any nursing prerequisite courses, students move into higher-level nursing classes. Online nursing courses often have a lab or clinical component that reinforces the lecture or reading material. Students usually access class material online through a school's course management software or it might be sent via e-mail.

Nursing Pharmacology Course

Students learn how to prepare and administer medication to patients intravenously, orally and through injection. The various drug classes, drug interactions and side effects are also covered.

Nursing Fundamentals Course

This course is usually the first nursing course for students without a medical background. Covering basic nursing skills and processes, the subject matter includes assessment, documentation, hygiene, safety, nutrition and post-operative care. Students also learn about the registered nurse's role in a medical facility.

Caring for Adults and Children Course

Students learn the basics of caring for children in both community and acute care settings, covering such subjects as immunity and childhood illnesses. Topics in caring for adults with medical or surgical issues include electrolyte and fluid balance, respiratory management and the immune system.

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Online Alternative Medicine Degrees by Program Level

While traditional degree programs in alternative medicine are rare at major universities, special institutes offer online or hybrid associate's degree programs in alternative or holistic medicine. These online programs cover topics in herbology, aromatherapy and reflexology.

Essential Information

Online associate's degree programs in alternative or holistic health are relatively rare, but available. Alternative medicine programs at the associate's degree level take about two years to complete and are offered in both fully online and hybrid formats. Online alternative medicine two-year programs may be available in a range of concentrations, such as herbal medicine or aromatherapy, and are ideal for current medical professionals. These programs are designed to prepare students for further practical investigation in the field of alternative medicine.

Online Associate's Degree in Alternative Medicine Overview

Accredited natural health and wellness institutes provide associate's degrees in alternative or holistic medicine in online or hybrid formats. Interested students can pursue an Associate of Applied Science in Alternative Medicine or Associate of Occupational Studies in Holistic Health. Alternative medicine is a branch of health and wellness that includes other areas, such as aromatherapy, massage therapy, reflexology, nutrition, yoga and acupuncture. Students can choose a specialty from these concentrations and use their techniques to heal the human body. Whereas Western medicine focuses on treating the symptoms of an illness, holistic or alternative medicine focuses on treating the cause.

Program Information and Requirements

Graduates can earn their associate's degree in 2-3 years. Some programs can be completed entirely online, while others require on-campus attendance for certain classes. Distance learners need access to a computer with high-speed Internet. Instructors create a virtual-learning environment by combining traditional texts with current online teaching methods, such as course management systems and online presentations. Instructors and classmates communicate primarily via e-mail.

List of Common Courses in Alternative Medicine

A curriculum in alternative medicine focuses on achieving wellness through balancing and nurturing a person's mind, body and spirit. Derived from traditions and practices in the East, alternative medicine practices mental calmness through life-coaching, yoga and spiritual studies, uses proper nutrition for optimum physical wellness and strives for natural healing using the body's own powers in preventative and restorative methods.

Introduction to Physiology and Anatomy Course

Students get a thorough overview of human physiology and anatomy. They learn how these systems relate to alternative medicine. Topics of special interest include the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems.

Protocols in Holistic Pathology Course

This course covers the principles of naturopathology and natural therapeutics. Instructors teach scientific techniques and philosophical tactics as to how an individual's relationship with nature can be used for natural healing powers.

Terminology in Healthcare Course

Students develop a working vocabulary of healthcare-related terms, giving them practice and knowledge of the healthcare language. They can immediately apply this information to other studies or current employment.

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Where Can You Work with a Master's in Healthcare Administration?

A master’s degree in healthcare administration is mostly a blessing with a bit of a curse tossed in.

It’s a blessing in that you’ll be able to explore management-oriented careers in a wide range of healthcare-related organizations and settings once you’ve finished your program. You’ll also have the potential to oversee an assortment of essential activities: financial matters, regulatory and legal compliance, human resources functions, facilities and equipment, technology, public relations and policymaking, just to name a few.

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Salary: $55,320 - $125,988
Min. Education: Bachelor's
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But for some students studying healthcare administration – also known as health administration, healthcare management or health services administration, depending on the school and program – the seemingly endless variety can be an unexpected curse: The career confusion that stems from having so many opportunities, known and unknown.

“Haziness is common,” says Susan Odegaard Turner, a nurse executive. “Folks just don’t know what to do with [this] degree.”

In fact, one of the more common questions on Monster’s Healthcare Careers message board is, “What can I do with a master’s degree in healthcare administration?”

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The short answer: All kinds of things. The longer, more helpful answer: You can get your hands around the various possibilities by thinking in terms of four employment sectors specified by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration: providers, suppliers, insurance organizations and policy organizations.
Healthcare Providers

Providers account for the most common and most obvious career paths for graduates of healthcare administration programs.

Leading the way are hospitals, which employ about 30 percent of all healthcare administrators, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But hospitals aren’t the only providers in town. Healthcare administration grads can also find jobs with:

1. Group physician practices.
2. Clinics.
3. Nursing homes and elder-care facilities.
4. Home healthcare organizations.
5. Outpatient care centers.
6. Mental health organizations.
7. Rehabilitation centers.

Among the many job titles you might investigate in this sector: administrator, director of business development, executive director, practice manager, vice president, chief nursing officer, director of risk management and director of patient safety.

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Why You Should Pursue a Master's Degree

Pursuing a master's degree can have many rewarding possibilities. The time it takes to receive a Master's will give you the expertise and knowledge to help advance you in your desired career path with the potential of greater earning capability.

After four years of relentless term papers and final exams you have finally received your bachelor’s degree. If you haven’t yet looked through the classifieds or attended your college’s career center it’s easy to say that you’ve found out the hard way. Yes. To make the real money, one must obtain his or her master’s degree. Higher education equates to higher income! But this isn’t the only reason to want to pursue it. Let’s weigh it out.

When one is in a master’s degree program, he or she will do fieldwork and gain more hands-on experience with the field they’re studying. Don’t forget to include this is in your resume. Employers don’t necessarily hire you based only on which degree you hold.

Its prerequisite is the bachelor’s degree and once you have this you can easily pick which master’s program you’re willing to join. The options are endless as they may range from Master of Accountancy to Master of Urban Planning. The only setback of course is the money factor. This is why many people may decide to work while obtaining their master’s. But we all have to invest in order to gain more in the future.

According to a 2002 Department of Education table of income distribution among the various degree levels, 13.3% of master’s degree holders earned more than $100,000 that year compared to only 9.7% of bachelor degree holders. The Department of Education didn’t have a variable for $100,000 or over for years below 2002.

The biggest mistake college graduates make is the break they take between undergraduate and graduate school. Have you ever had a three-day break from work and thought to yourself “I don’t want to go to work”? Well, that’s the same feeling with college students. Once they graduate, they settle for less because they figure they’ve worked hard enough and life in the workplace isn’t so bad! But once you start raking in babies and have a family, you’ll be wishing you went to graduate school. Don’t wait before it’s too late is the bottom line.

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