Overview

How to Earn Your Associate's Degree in Less than Two Years

The associate's degree has become a popular way to begin or advance a career today, as it can be earned in less time than it takes to obtain a bachelor's degree.

• Students can cut time even more through various strategies that get them out of community college and into the workforce in less than two years.
• Consider these tips to help you get the training and education you need to advance your career in much less time than a traditional degree program.

CAnva generated this picture of a community college student.

Choosing a Community College

The first step in shortening your stay at a community college is to choose a school that offers an accelerated degree program.

• According to a recent report in USA Today, some community colleges are getting rather creative in their programming structure to help students earn complete associate's degrees in less time.
• Some colleges have even been able to cut their program time in half, allowing students to get their associate’s degrees and move into the workforce in a single year.

Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will begin offering a fall-trimester format to students interested in graduating early.

• Course schedules will switch from 16 weeks to 14 weeks, allowing students to complete the trimester in a shorter period of time.
• To compensate for lost time during the term,

High School Diploma vs. GED

The lack of a high school diploma, or its equivalent, precludes a college education and is a substantial barrier to competing successfully in the workforce.

• For students in high school, it is essential to see it through until graduation.
• Those who have already dropped out of high school must obtain a GED to put their best foot forward in the workforce.
• This article compares high school diplomas and GEDs regarding their acceptance by colleges and universities, the business world, and the military.
• We also discuss how homeschooled high school graduates show that they have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Canva generated this picture of a young man studying for his GED exam.

Regular High School Diplomas

A high school diploma from a traditional brick-and-mortar school that requires attendance in a classroom is the gold standard in demonstrating high school completion and mastery of conventional high school skills.

• A high school diploma signifies that the holder has attended and completed all the courses required by the applicable school district.
• A transcript of the courses taken and grades issued, a common requirement for college and job applications, can be furnished upon request.

Colleges, universities, businesses, and each branch of the United States military accept a regular high school diploma.

• To attend college, a high school diploma or GED is required for admission.
• Students with a

More than 40% of the nation’s college-aged students begin their academic careers at community colleges, according to the US Department of Education. Despite their abilities to provide students with a stellar education, community colleges are surrounded by outdated, inaccurate myths. Although there are some elements of truth, many misperceptions may play a large role in the right choice you make for your college education.

Empower yourself with knowledge of the truth, as the top seven community college myths are hereby exposed!

MYTH #1: Students attend community college because they were not accepted to four-year universities.

THE REALITY: When reviewing statistics of transfer admissions, it is clear that universities see the academic strength in transfer students. For example, 33% of all applicants from California community colleges are accepted into UC Berkeley, which is significantly higher than the 26% of California high school students who applied. Or, for the University of Virginia, over 60% of transfer applications from Piedmont Virginia Community College were accepted, which is a greater ratio than the 50% of students who are accepted as freshmen from in-state high schools.

With the increasing economic burdens felt on individuals and families, many students are making the financially savvy choice of attending community college. The continuously rising costs of university tuition can present a large burden for many families, and by attending a community college, students can save on tuition and living costs.

In addition, many students can gain admission into four-year universities before enrolling in community