The types of college degrees people choose to pursue depends on what’s being studied and what each person’s career plans are. If you're just getting started, a certificate or diploma might be enough. For some professions though, you may need a higher, more in depth degree.

We’ve compiled a detailed list of the types of college degrees offered and the benefits and differences between them. Read through each degree to figure out which is the right type of college degree for you.

Certificates and diplomas are a great option for people looking to extend their current set of skill quickly. Depending on the subject these types of degrees can usually be earned in a year or less. They can be earned at two year colleges and some four year colleges at either the undergraduate or graduate level. All college certificates and diplomas require a high school degree and some require work experience in an environment related to your career field of choice.

There are many great careers that only require these types of college degrees. These jobs include surgical technologist, fitness trainer, respiratory therapy, pre-school teacher, desktop publisher, massage therapist, medical transcriptionist, emergency medical technician legal secretary, commercial pilot and court reporter. These two types of college degrees will provide a foundation for further study for any of these jobs.

The average income for a person with these types of college degrees is approximately $34,000.

Associates degrees are often earned in two years or less and can be attained at two year colleges and even some four year colleges. This type of college degree is usually all you need to get your foot in the door to most entry level technical and vocational fields. Depending on your program of choice an associate's degree can lead to, and give you credits toward, a bachelor’s degree.
This type of college degree offers many career possibilities. Among these are veterinary technician, dental hygienist, respiratory therapist, medical sonography, computer support specialist, paralegal, registered nursing and forensic science technician.
The average income for this type of college degree is $38,000. That’s approximately $4,000 more than simply a certificate or diploma.
Bachelor’s degrees are earned almost exclusively at four year colleges and universities. They usually involve a general course of study consisting of a core of general education courses and then a more specialized course of study in your chosen subject area. This type of college degree generally takes between two and four years to complete.

A bachelor’s degree offers a more detailed curriculum and the job opportunities are even greater. Database administrator, network and computer systems administrator, fashion design, personal finance advisor, public relations manager, sales manager, film and video editors and child and family social worker are just some of the jobs having this type of college degree can get you.

The average income for someone with this type of college degree is $50,000, a nearly $12,000 difference from an associates degree.
 
Masters degrees are academic degrees usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course. For some fields, it might be necessary to go beyond a bachelor’s degree and admission to a master's program is normally contingent upon holding a bachelor's degree. Getting this type of college degree takes around one to three years to complete.

This type of college degree opens doors to more a more detailed line of work. These jobs include physical therapy, mental health counselors, market research analysis, economists, anthropologist, librarian, historian,

The average yearly income for a person with this type of degree is around $59,000.

Doctorate (PHD) degrees are academic degrees of the highest level. There are essentially three types of doctorate degrees including research, terminal/professional and honorary. Having this type of college degree takes about five to seven years. Admission to a doctoral program is usually based on a student's past educational history with a bachelor and master degree, and a considerable amount of previous experience in the field.
Careers acquired by having this type of college degree include Post secondary teaching such as a two or four year college professor, computer and information scientist, physicists, astronomy, clinical counseling and school psychology.

On average the income for these types of degrees is $79,000. That’s an incredible $20,000 difference from having a master’s degree.

Choosing any of these types of college degrees is sure to enhance your life and your future in the career world. The higher types of college degree you earn, the more employment opportunities you are given and higher pay you’ll receive.