University of Massachusetts in Amherst has over 25,000 students, and offers six associate's degree programs. Students can earn an associate's degree in arboriculture and community forest management, equine industries, fruit and vegetable crops, horticulture, landscape contracting and turfgrass management. Most of the coursework in these areas of study can be transferred to related bachelor's degrees and can prove useful for entering the workforce. Tuition here is affordable, costing state residents just over $11,000 per year in 2011. Federal loans, grants and scholarships can help defer costs for students who qualify.
This private liberal arts college in Springfield is one of the smallest schools in the country to offer comprehensive degrees, from associate's through doctoral. With just over 5,000 students, WNEC focuses on creating a collaborative learning atmosphere and boasts small class size. The college's School of Arts and Sciences offers an associate's degree in liberal studies. This degree prepares students for continues study at the bachelor's or master's degree level. The courses are generally completed over two years, and focus on the sciences, math, English and foreign language requirements. Tuition at WNEC ranges from $28,000 to $36,000 per year. Scholarships, grants and federal loans are available.
Greenfield Community College offers two associate's degree programs with a multitude of focuses. Some are aimed toward students who hope to transfer into a four-year bachelor's program, and some are geared for direct entry into the workforce. The associate of arts focuses on preparing students for liberal arts studies, and helps them complete the prerequisites required for transfer, including English, foreign language, social sciences, psychology and electives of the student's choice. Greenfield also offers an associate of science degree for students who want to study accounting, fine arts, medicine, management and occupational therapy. Two-year associate of science degrees are also awarded in nursing and fire science technology. Greenfield operates a program called "MassTransfer," which greatly simplifies the transfer process to University of Massachusetts for qualified students.
Holyoke offers an associate of arts and associate of science degree. Students have over 50 concentration options, including history, English, pre-med, nutrition, physical sciences, mathematics, business, computer technology, education and more. Holyoke also offers the MassTransfer program, which takes much of the guesswork out of class transferability. Tuition is affordable, costing approximately $5,000 per year.