An associate degree program is composed of about 60 hours of course work, while a bachelor degree includes about 120 hours If the course work is completed on a full-time schedule, an associate program will take about two years to complete, and a bachelor degree will take four years to complete. Of course, the amount of dedication to the course work plays a major role in the number of years required for completion.
The cost of a bachelor degree is greater than the cost of an associate degree. The financial demand of faculty salaries and overhead for a traditional four-year institution that offers bachelor degree programs is greater than those same components of a two-year institution. It costs more, but in general, affords the graduate higher earning potential. Therefore, the bachelor degree is more valuable than an associate degree.
The options available to bachelor-degree graduates are much more diverse than those available to an associate-degree graduate. The bachelor-degree graduate has the option of finding employment immediately or enrolling in graduate school. The bachelor degree can be the first step toward attaining a terminal degree, such as M.D., Ph.D. or DVM. However, the associate degree affords the graduate the option of immediate employment or entrance into a bachelor degree program.
The associate degree program is less rigorous than a bachelor degree program. The associate program is sometimes used by individuals to obtain core credits before transferring to a four-year institution for a bachelor degree. It is also used by some as a testing ground to see if college is what they really want. In general, the entrance requirements for a two-year college offering associate degrees are lower than those of a four-year institution.