What can you do with an associate’s degree? First of all, getting your associate’s degree proves to potential employers that you care about your education. A degree shows employers that you have follow-through and are willing to do what it takes to achieve a goal – both highly desirable traits in the workforce.

Another bonus to getting your associate’s degree is that it “gets your feet wet” with school. If you’re not sure you’d like to get a bachelor’s degree in web design, for example, then why not go for an associate’s degree first to see if it’s right for you? It’s so easy to change your mind that you can try several different degrees to see what you like the most.

With an associate’s degree you’ll also make more money than you would with only a high school diploma. Associate degree holders earn, on average, $6,600 more than high school graduates and have a 30% lower unemployment rate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. If you’re job-hunting this should be music to your ears.

So, what can you do with an associate’s degree? A lot depends on which degree you get. Some fields, like information technology, can offer competitive salary as soon as you graduate. You can bank on earning a great living with only your associate’s degree in fields like web design, systems administration, and IT.

Other fields, like radiology and nursing, are expected to grow due to the retiring Baby Boomers, so anyone in the medical field should have no trouble finding a job in the next twenty years. Job security is a huge bonus for anyone, associate degree or not.

You can also use your associate’s degree to give you a competitive edge. If you’re currently in a career that you really like and you have dreams of getting promoted one day, then going back to school to get your associate degree can help you move up the ladder. Associate degrees in human resources, business, management, or accounting can be especially beneficial, depending on what field you’re currently in, and what position you’d like to have one day.