A Selection of American College Degrees

In the United States, the dream of a college education for all is a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, when the first college was founded in America in the1600s, it only had a little over a handful students! However, today, a college education is a dream that most Americans hold dear for themselves and for their children.

America's post-secondary educational system draws students from around the world in droves. Over 690,000 international students attended American universities in the 2009 - 2010 school year. America has one of the best post-secondary educational systems in the world, and more Americans than ever are taking advantage of their chance to attain a college degree.

Of course, one of the main reasons that students want to complete a college degree is to attain a certain level of economic stability. It's a well-known fact that over a lifetime, college degrees can double the income that a person can earn. Seeking an advanced degree means an even higher earning ratio: people who hold a Master's degree earn an average of $31,900 more a year than a high school graduate.

Many people are confused as to what kind of a degree they should seek. The type of degree a person chooses to seek really depends on the person's skills, talents, and interests. It is always a good idea for a student to seek a degree in a field in which he or she has a serious and sustainable interest.

For example, people who are good with their hands and who are interested in working in a skilled trade or profession may want to think about seeking an Associate's degree. This is a two-year college degree that often focuses on a specific skill set. A very good example would be an Associate's degree in nursing; nursing is a skilled profession that offers extremely competitive pay and benefits.

However, many people have a desire to earn a Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university. This type of degree will give the student education and training in a professional job such as engineering, education, science, or architecture, to name a few. Often a four-year degree will lead to an entry-level job in a professional field that will also require additional training or internship.

Graduate degrees follow the completion of a four-year degree program. The first level of graduate study is a Master's degree. This program is generally one to two years in length and is a rigorous program of academic study in the student's field of choice. Students must apply and be accepted to Master's programs in the United States.

The final levels of collegiate study degrees are the doctoral (PhD) programs and professional degree programs. PhD programs are available in most fields that have Master's degree programs and can take several years to complete. Generally, the candidate must complete and defend a lengthy dissertation before they can matriculate. Medical doctors, dentists, and lawyers hold professional degrees. These degrees frequently take years to complete, following a rigorous internship program or examination before the graduate can officially hold the professional degree to which they aspire. Regardless if one's goal is to achieve the highest degree possible or to attend trade school, he or she can enroll inonline college, where the menu of college degrees is just as widespread as it would be at a traditional college or university.