So, you’re interested in enrolling in Campus to pursue either a certificate or an online associate degree in business. The problem is that you aren’t certain which one to choose. After all, both can lead to you snagging the job you want. To help you decide, here’s the difference between a certificate and an associate’s degree.
What's an Associate Degree?
An associate degree is a post-secondary two-year college degree that prepares you for further education or an entry-level job. It can also prepare you to start your own company. You can get an associate degree at a community college such as Campus, which offers programs including paralegal studies, business, and cloud computing.
An Associate Degree in Business Administration at Campus - We also offer an online associate degree in business administration, which provides you with a solid foundation for a career in business. The program will help you develop the critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills required for business professionals.
At Campus, professors who are top academic scholars at a number of the best colleges and universities nationwide teach your live classes. All Campus professors are experts in their field. Our business administration degree offers coursework covering areas such as marketing, management, accounting, data analytics, analytics, and entrepreneurship.
In our program, you’ll learn how to use AI to streamline processes, produce high-quality presentations, design impactful spreadsheets, and provide employees with useful feedback.
What are Community College Certificates?
Community college certificates, such as those we offer, are programs that provide you with skills and practical training for specific jobs. In addition to community colleges, such certificates are also offered by technical schools and private companies. Most certificate programs last a year or less. These certificates also provide evidence to employers that you completed education and training. Plus, you’ll develop transferable, in-demand skills.Moreover, you can transfer credits you earn from a certificate into a degree program.
What Types of Certificates are Available? - In addition to business, areas in which you can get a certificate include technical and trade, information technology, health professions, and cybersecurity. Certificates are also available in industrial training, construction supervision, journeyman industrial, and more.
What Certificates are Offered by Campus? - Here at at Campus we offer the following certificates, some of which are online, in-person, or both:
— AWS Cloud Solutions Architect. The 24-week program is offered online.
— Barbering. This in-person program runs for 30 weeks.
— Cosmetology. The certificate program is in-person and takes 30 weeks to complete.
— Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 36 weeks to complete this in-person program.
— Legal Administrative Assistant. This is a 42-week online program.
— Medical Assisting. The hybrid program takes 36 weeks.
— Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy. Another hybrid, the program takes 48 weeks to finish.
— Medical Billing and Coding Professional. It takes between 36-42 weeks to finish this online program.
— Phlebotomy. This is a relatively short in-person program — just 16 weeks.
— Technical Support Specialist. To complete this online program, you’ll need to set aside 36 weeks.
What's the Difference Between a Certificate and an Associate's Degree?
While it takes a few months to a year to earn a certificate, an associate degree takes two years if you attend full time. Also, certificates generally have higher completion rates, compared with degree programs, and are much lower in cost. Note, though, that if you’re eligible for a federal Pell Grant, you may have no out-of-pocket tuition costs at Campus.
Moreover, certificates provide specialized training and education that allow you to develop transferable skills that are specific to the field or type of job you want to be in. In addition, certificates allow you to plunge into your area of focus and graduate sooner with the skills you need to gain employment fast.
An associate’s degree provides you with knowledge and study in your primary area of focus. It also requires you to take courses covering the basics in general education. Depending on your field choice, you may also have to take prerequisite classes.
In Summary
Both certificates and degree programs are valuable. Whichever one you choose, we at Campus provide you with a personal success coach to help support and guide you.
We also provide unlimited access to tutoring in writing and math, available around-the-clock at no extra expense.
Interested in enrolling at Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.