College Degree

When students graduate high school, many decide to continue their education at a 2 or 4-year college. 

Associate's Degree (2-Year)

Community colleges offer programs where students can earn an associate degree in two years.  After earning an associate degree at a two-year college, many students choose to enter the workforce, but some choose to continue their education at a four-year college. There are different types of degrees for each scenario. 

Professional-technical certificates and degrees 

These certificates and associate degrees train students for specific fields so they can go straight to work. They do not transfer to four-year universities.

• Professional-Technical Certificates

• Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS)

• Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS-T) Note: These only transfer to applied baccalaureate degrees at community or technical colleges or with universities that have an agreement with the community or technical college issuing the degree. Do not confuse this degree with the transfer degrees described below. 

Transfer degrees 

These associate degrees let you begin work on your bachelor's degree and then transfer to a four-year university.

• Associate in Arts Direct Transfer Agreement (AA-DTA or AAS-DTA)

• Associate in Science-Transfer Degree (AS-T)

• Major Related Program (MRP or DTA/MRP)

Factors to consider

• Admission: No minimum GPA requirement; Higher acceptance rate than 4-year colleges

• Cost: Typically have much lower costs than four-year colleges; shorter programs; no housing cost

• Lifestyle: Minimal lifestyle changes; students typically live away from campus and commute to school

• Campus size: Typically smaller than four-year colleges, with smaller campuses and class sizes

Bachelor's Degree (4-Year)

Most four-year colleges award Bachelor’s degrees. Two common degree programs are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.). The B.A. program usually includes studies in humanities, such as English, history or philosophy. The B.S. program has a technical, medical or scientific focus, with majors in chemistry, physics or biology. In either program, students typically take general education courses for their first two years and major-specific courses for the final two years. 

Factors to consider

• Admission: Acceptance rates are generally lower than community colleges; higher standards, such as G.P.A., class rigor and other application materials

• Cost: Typically much more expensive; higher tuition and fees; includes room and board

• Lifestyle: Campus-living lifestyle offers many socialization opportunities for students

• Campus size: Large campuses with bigger class sizes; more learning opportunities

Professional, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees

After earning a bachelors Degree, you can choose to continue your education by pursuing a professional or graduate degree. 

A professional degree is a degree that prepares students for a specific career. Some examples of professional degrees include: Juris Doctor (JD), Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Education (EdD), and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).

A master's degree is usually earned after one or two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. It can help you develop skills for problem solving and critical thinking, and prepare you for management and leadership roles. Master's degrees are more versatile, with a wider range of applications. 

A doctoral degree, or PhD, can take three to seven years to complete. It can help you develop skills for writing, analytical thinking, and research, and prepare you for a career in research. Doctoral degrees are more specialized than master's degrees. Though the traditional path entails completing a master’s program before embarking on a doctorate, some schools and programs offer options to skip the master’s entirely.

Recommended Resources

• Types of Associate Degrees and Certificates: WA state board for Community and Technical Colleges resource describing the different Transfer and Professional-Technical Certificates and Degrees