Between tuition increases, and balancing life and work, many families are choosing community college as the best move for their careers.
\nA recent study by the financial literacy website, NerdWallet, based on forecasts by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reveals that jobs requiring only a two-year associate\u2019s degree will have the highest average growth through 2020.
\nToday, more and more employers are seeking candidates\u2019 with associate\u2019s degrees for good paying jobs that exceed entry level positions. Some employers look for two year degrees and work experience to obtain a higher level job.
\nAttending a traditional four year institution is a requirement for some professions; however, trends are showing many people are choosing the fast track to get into the workforce quicker.
\n One of the biggest benefits of attending a community or career college is a lower loan debt amount to pay back. This allows for professionals to enter the marketplace earning a substantial income in a shorter period of time.
\n\u201cThe common, accepted advice is to go to school for four years or longer, but there are great opportunities to go for less time and still get a high return on your investment,\u201d said Joseph Audette, VP of Financial Literacy and Education at NerdWallet. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about going to college. It\u2019s about going with a plan for success.\u201d
\nStudents are graduating from four year institutions with large amounts of loan debt, and in many cases are obtaining the same jobs that a two year degree would qualify for. Many of the jobs that require only an associate\u2019s degree pay more than those requiring a bachelor\u2019s or masters.
\n\u201cWhy go through additional years of school and have more debt when the job isn\u2019t going to be paying as much?\u201d asks Audette.
\nThe average growth rate of all jobs by 2020 is just 14 percent, while high-growth jobs requiring an associate\u2019s degree will grow by an average of 35 percent. At the same time, associate\u2019s degrees have the shortest payback period. Lower tuition rates coupled with high median earnings on the job means these graduates pay off their tuition in just two years, on average.
\nAnother major component in education is classes offered online. Most community colleges offer online courses that enable students to attend college and work fulltime to support themselves or family. This allows for students to receive income, while attending college.
\n\u201cAdditional personal loans attribute to large student debt,\u201d said Financial Aid expert and student loan specialist, Marcia Byrd, who has worked 12+ years in the private education sector. \u201cStudents takeout additional loans for living expenses, which adds to the overall debt load they have to pay back.\u201d This creates larger interest, and higher payments, I believe this is why attending two year institutions have become the trend; students can graduate and obtain a viable career in half the time with less debt,\u201d said Byrd
\nAccording to Nerdwallet\u2019s analysis of the 10 best-paying jobs for associate\u2019s degree holders, one could make up to $108,000 starting out at $56,000. Here are the top ten lists for top paying careers for associate’s degree. <\/p>\n
The full list of the 10 best-paying jobs: <\/p>\n
\u2022 No. 1: Air Traffic Controllers Median Salary: $108,040 \u2022 No. 2: Construction Managers Median Salary: $83,860
\n\u2022 No. 3: Radiation Therapists Median Salary: $74,980
\n\u2022 No. 4: Nuclear Medicine Technologists Median Salary: $68,560
\n\u2022 No. 5: Dental Hygienists Median Salary: $68,250
\n\u2022 No. 6: Nuclear Technicians Median Salary: $68,090
\n\u2022 No. 7: Registered Nurses Median Salary: $64,690
\n\u2022 No. 8: Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Median Salary: $64,380
\n\u2022 No. 9: Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians Median Salary: $58,080
\n\u00aa No. 10: Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians Median Salary: $56,040<\/p>\n
For a full list of the top 10 careers and their job description visit http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/lists<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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