More 4-year colleges offer 2-year degrees to reach new groups of students https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/more-4-year-colleges-offer-2-year-degrees-to-reach-new-groups-of-students
Good! Greater respect for the Associate degree, within higher education itself and in the labor market, has been an underrated approach to those who have "some college" but didn't finish all four years.
I remember that in the ’80s an AS in Applied Science was often the gateway into high-tech jobs. Over the years, many fields rebranded and shifted toward bachelor’s, but the associate pathway has remained an important launch point. One of my kids started with a cybersecurity certificate that stacked into an AS degree, and it created a clear path into the field. Distance-learning schools like CIE used to offer similar stackable routes—diplomas that built toward an AAS degree—which made technical careers more accessible. Nursing followed a similar pattern. For a long time, an AS in Nursing was the standard way into RN roles, and many of my friends began their careers in hospitals with that degree. By the late ’90s, though, the BSN became the more competitive credential. What’s interesting now is that 4-year colleges offering their own AS degrees could actually strengthen the reputation of associate programs again. When prestigious or well-resourced institutions put their brand behind 2-year degrees, it helps validate that pathway, gives students more support, and creates clearer on-ramps for those who may not be ready or able to commit to a full bachelor’s program right away. It might even reverse some of the credential inflation we saw in fields like nursing and IT. In those fields, additional certifications are required anyway. Veterinary technicians are another good example: the AS in Veterinary Technology has long been the primary route into that profession. Many people built successful careers starting with that two-year degree. My friend Vitaliy is an RVT who did exactly that—after 15 years working as a veterinary technician, he went on to open two veterinary clinics, employ licensed veterinarians, and even run a mobile clinic. His wife manages the administrative side of the business. They’re truly living the American Dream.
