Education Planning

Choosing between a certificate and an associate degree can be difficult, especially when you’re trying to improve your career prospects without spending more time or money on education than necessary. A certificate program might help you develop job-specific skills in a matter of months, allowing you to pursue new opportunities sooner. An associate degree typically

Choosing an online degree program involves more than comparing tuition prices or looking for a school with a recognizable name. Two programs can offer the same degree while having very different curricula, transfer-credit policies, schedules, costs, and student support. For working adults and students returning to college, those differences can have a significant impact on

A bachelor’s degree traditionally takes about four years of full-time study, but that timeline isn’t the same for everyone. If you already have college credits, an associate degree, professional certifications, military training, or other college-level learning, you may be able to finish your bachelor’s degree in less time. Even students starting with no college credits

If you have some college experience but haven’t followed a traditional path to a degree, you may come across terms such as college bridge program, transfer pathway, and degree completion program. These options can sound similar, but they generally serve different purposes. A college bridge program is typically designed to help students transition from one

A 3+1 degree program is an accelerated college program that generally divides a student’s education into three years of undergraduate study followed by a fourth year of additional or advanced study. Depending on the school and program, the fourth year may include graduate-level coursework, specialized professional training, or requirements for a second degree. Unlike a

A 2+2 degree program is a bridge college pathway that allows students to complete roughly two years of undergraduate coursework at one college and then transfer to another institution to complete a bachelor’s degree. In many cases, students spend their first two years at a community college and their final two years at a four-year

If you’re considering a career in healthcare, you may be wondering whether you need a certificate, an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, or some other type of education. The answer depends largely on the healthcare career you want to pursue. Some healthcare careers can be entered with a certificate or other postsecondary nondegree program. Medical

When people think about working in healthcare, they often picture nurses, physicians, physical therapists, radiologic technologists, and other professionals who work directly with patients. These careers can be rewarding, but they aren’t the only ways to work in the healthcare industry. Hospitals, medical practices, public health agencies, insurance companies, healthcare technology companies, and other organizations

Choosing a college degree often starts with a career goal. For some students, that means earning a degree that provides broad knowledge in a particular subject. For others, the goal is more specific: becoming a nurse, physician, lawyer, architect, teacher, psychologist, or another professional who needs specialized education and, in some cases, a state-issued license

Many students begin college at a community college, earn some credits, and then transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. But what happens if they leave the community college without completing an associate degree? Reverse transfer may provide an answer. Reverse transfer is a process that allows eligible students to