All community colleges and some four-year universities offer two-year associate degrees. Associate degrees in many vocational fields such as automotive repair, plumbing, HVAC repair, and information technology, are terminal qualifications, which means they are the highest possible qualification one can obtain for a specific job. Associate degrees in the humanities and liberal arts are aimed primarily at students intending to continue their education at four-year institutions.
United States higher education differs from British and European models in requiring general education courses at the bachelor's level.
Both two- and four-year degrees require some general education courses. These are normally courses which develop a broad knowledge base and critical thinking skills, as opposed to the more specialized courses that form a major. They usually include introductory courses in at least one science, the humanities, and mathematics, as well as writing and/or public speaking.
Focused vocational associate degrees differ from four-year degrees in requiring far fewer, if any, general education courses. Most four-year degrees consist of two years of general education courses followed by two years of concentration on major requirements.
Many community colleges offer two-year associate degrees in the liberal arts or humanities, designed for students intending to transfer to four-year universities. The courses in such degrees are intended to satisfy the general education requirements of the universities into which the students will most likely transfer.
It is increasingly easy to transfer general education credits from community colleges to public four-year universities, especially within a given state. Many individual universities or state university systems have transfer agreements in place that simplify the process.
Whether credits transfer depends on specific institutions and programs. If you plan to transfer to a four-year university, look at the websites of both the two- and four-year institutions you are considering to see which courses might transfer, and consult advising staff if the written guidelines seem unclear.
There are reasons why, even if your eventual goal is a bachelor's degree, you might wish to start at a community college.
Community colleges usually charge less per credit hour than four-year institutions.
Community colleges have lower admission standards. If you had poor high school grades or are re-entering college after several years of working, you are more likely to be admitted to a community college than a four-year one.
Community colleges offer more remedial courses.
Community colleges have more flexible offerings for part-time students.
If you can get into and afford a four-year university, it might be better to take your general education courses at that university:
Universities, especially ones with extensive graduate programs, have distinguished faculty members who are often at the leading edges of their fields.
Universities have better academic resources for advanced students, including extensive print and electronic libraries, laboratory facilities, and studios.
Higher admission standards often translate into more rigorous courses, in which you learn more.
You won't need to worry about whether transfer credits will be accepted.
Students who have not completed high school can take the GED tests to obtain a credential equivalent to a high school degree, sometimes referred to as a General Education or General Equivalency Diploma. The GED, being a high school level equivalent, bears no relationship to general education requirements in post-secondary education.