Meaning & use
associate degree
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableAmerican
A qualification awarded after about two years of college study, below the level of a bachelor's degree.
Grammar: Takes an or an: she earned an associate degree. Usually lowercase; names like Associate of Arts are capitalized.
Patterns
- an associate degree in subject
- earn an associate degree
He earned an associate degree in nursing before starting work.
Many students first complete an associate degree at a community college.
She plans to turn her associate degree into a bachelor's degree.
Word forms
| plural | associate degrees |
|---|
Common combinations
- earn an associate degree
- She earned an associate degree in two years.
- associate degree in nursing
- He holds an associate degree in nursing.
- two-year associate degree
- A two-year associate degree can lead to a technical job.
- transfer to a four-year college
- After her associate degree, she transferred to a four-year college.
- complete an associate degree
- He will complete an associate degree this spring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- two-year degree
- Is a casual description of the same qualification, without the official name.
- foundation degree
- Is the British qualification of similar level, but it is not the same system.
- diploma
- Is broader and can be any certificate of completion, not necessarily a degree.
Word family
Commonly confused: associate degree or bachelor's degree?
associate degree vs bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree takes about four years; an associate degree takes about two.
Practice
Dan finished two years at a community college and received his ____ before looking for work.
Choose one answer.
An associate degree is the usual two-year college qualification. A master's degree comes after a bachelor's, so it is the tempting wrong option.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “associate degree”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.