Know best college degree programs after high school

From high school to a degree college – this journey will set you on the path of chartering your professional life. Essentially, there are four types of college degrees:

• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Doctoral Degree

There are other degrees too like Transfer Degree, Professional Degree, and Specialist Degree but theses are descriptors of one of the four above-mentioned degrees.

Each of your college degrees has different:

• Program duration
• Cost of study
• Objectives
• Career opportunities
• Salary potential

The more or higher you study, the better will your prospects be. However, rather than choosing your college degree, first review and recognize what you have an aptitude for, what your core skill and passions are, and what your career objectives are. In doing so, you will do well in your college degree.

Read on below about your college degree options:

1. Associate’s Degree

An Associate’s degree is an undergraduate program of two years full-time duration and requires about 60 credit hours. Usually, an Associate’s degree is offered by community colleges, vocational schools, as well as a few universities.

Academic options in an Associate’s degree program are:

• Automotive Technology
• Community Healthcare Worker
• Cosmetology
• Nursing
• Welding Technology

And many more.

Depending on what program you choose to pursue, you will earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.) or an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree.

Benefits of an associate’s degree program are:

- The cost of studying at a community college is much less than it will be at four-year colleges or universities.
- Transferring credits is possible after completing an Associate’s degree and thereafter pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. This is possible only if the community college is regionally accredited.
- Job readiness ensures that you get into the profession right after two years of study.

The best Community Colleges in the US are:

Walla Walla Community College  - https://www.wwcc.edu/

Santa Barbara City College - https://www.sbcc.edu/

Lake Area Technical Institute - https://www.lakeareatech.edu/

2. Bachelor’s Degree

A Bachelor’s degree is a four/six-year, full-time program with at least 120 credit hours. Besides four-year colleges and universities, there are community colleges that also offer Bachelor’s degree programs.Usually, the program comprises general education, a core course, and an elective course. The general education section lays more emphasis on the Liberal Arts and is common to all students. The core courses aim to help students become accomplished in a particular area of study which is further honed in the elective course. A student with an Associate’s degree from a regionally accredited community college is exempted from most of the general education component of the Bachelor’s degree program.

Academic options in a Bachelor’s degree program are immense. Some of them are:

• Art & Design
• Business Management
• Computers & Technology
• Liberal Arts & Humanities
• Science & Engineering
  And many more

Upon completion of your chosen program at a degree college, you will either earn a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.). There are other bachelor’s degrees that convey the area of specialization e.g., Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Benefits of a Bachelor’s degree program are:

- Higher income
- Career opportunities 
- Job security
- Benefits like healthcare, retirement investment, travel, and many other perks

The best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in the US are:

Stanford University - https://www.stanford.edu/

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - http://www.mit.edu/
Princeton University - https://www.princeton.edu/

3. Master’s Degree

Also known as a Graduate degree, this is simply a continuation after completion of the Bachelor’s degree. The duration of your college degree program varies – it is usually 30 - 60 credit hours over two years of full-time study but it is more exhaustive than a Bachelor’s degree program.
You choose your area of study with no general education requirement for a degree from college.

Academic options in a Master’s degree program are:

• Economics
• Finance
• Humanities
• Information System Management
• International Studies
  And many more

Common Master’s degrees are the Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Business Administration. Most Master’s degrees from degree colleges have the specialization mentioned alongside.

Benefits of a Master’s degree program are:

- Specialized expertise
- Enhances your job opportunities
- Better earning prospects

The best Master’s degree Colleges in the US are:

Yale University - https://www.yale.edu/

Harvard University - https://www.harvard.edu/

University of California—Berkeley - https://www.berkeley.edu/

4. Doctoral Degree

This is the highest degree that you can earn from any degree college and thus conveys that you are a master in your chosen discipline. It is often called a ‘terminal degree’. Studying a Doctoral degree calls for complete devotion to your study and it can take you from two to six years. For your college degree, you will need to put in a lot of time, energy, immense commitment, and perhaps a deep pocket too since this is a full-time program.

This degree from college is customized for certain professions. There are various kinds of Doctoral degrees:

• Professional Doctorate
• Research Doctorate
• Higher Doctorate
• Honorary Doctorate
  

Academic options in a Doctoral degree program are:

• Philosophy
• Medicine
• Science
• Theology
• Engineering

And many more.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the most popular doctoral degree. Other Doctoral programs from degree colleges will have a prefix ‘Doctor’ with the area of specialization – e.g., Doctor of Pharmacy

Benefits of a Doctoral degree program are:

- Specialized level of authority in your field
- Better earning prospects
- Career Security
- Peer respect

The best Doctoral degree Colleges in the US are:

California Institute of Technology - https://www.caltech.edu/

Stanford University - https://www.stanford.edu/

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - http://www.mit.edu/

Some of the factors you must consider for your degree college are the cost involved, financial aid, duration of the program, prospects on completion of the program, and most important your aptitude and love for the study program.