The Real "Big 4" is Here!

[daelaria]

Save your breath to pump their tires when they can deliver a bachelor's. Or even just an associates without traditional credits.

They're fantastic for what they are: A great alternative route to an AAS. But they still require more traditional credits for that AAS. Not even an AA/AS, let alone BA/BS.

I would recommend them in all sorts of situations, and I think they're one of the greatest new discoveries this forum has uncovered over the past year or whatever.. but they're not in the same league as the Big 3.

No, definitely not. Associate's degrees have such a limited usefulness that most folks are better off skipping one and going right to a bachelor's. I would only recommend one if it's no pain on the way to the bachelor's, the associate's has a definable value to the students career, or the student simply cannot finish a bachelor's in a timely manner.

Agreed. The only associates that are worthwhile are specific career focused associates like nursing, IT or trades.

That's not really true. This might be different across regions, or maybe even industries. In my state, 60 credits qualifies me to work as a substitute teacher, a tutor, or for various administrative positions. It's not a catapult into the middle class, but it certainly opens doors to fields or positions I wouldn't be qualified for without at least an AA. I've worked in offices and restaurants for the last 15 years and when promotions are on the table, generally a Bartender with an AA will be promoted to bar manager over one without, all things being equal. There are also a lot of entry level jobs that will list an associate's as a prerequisite if someone has other related experience. Many of the positions at the local community college are worded that way. It's not worthless - for many of us starting out at the bottom socioeconomically, that climb from 20k to 28k in earnings is HUGE - as well as the nod of respect that comes with having completed SOME kind of degree.