associate degree
noun
variants
or less commonly associate's degree
: a degree that is given to a student who has completed two years of study typically at a community or junior college in the U.S.
Examples of associate degree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Since 2011, more than 100 students have earned associate degrees while in high school and five received bachelor’s degrees.
—
Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
But the per-unit cost to earn a two-year associate degree is $46, and most classes are three units each.
—Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The state also keeps track of students who graduate with both a high school diploma and associate degree from an early middle college.
—Isabel Lohman, Freep.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Morris, who is pursuing an associate degree in science, found a gray pencil skirt, black blazer, white button-down dress shirt and low black wedge heels.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The vaunted plan laid out three distinct public systems, with local community colleges primarily offering two-year associate degrees and serving as transfer launching pads to CSU and the University of California.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship allows county residents to complete an associate degree tuition-free.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Southwestern College student Marilynn Palomino is in the process of earning an associate degree in criminal justice to work in a police crime lab doing forensic work.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Vocational training, certificate or associate degree programs allow job seekers to enter the field more quickly and can earn six figures.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
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Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
But the per-unit cost to earn a two-year associate degree is $46, and most classes are three units each.
—Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The state also keeps track of students who graduate with both a high school diploma and associate degree from an early middle college.
—Isabel Lohman, Freep.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Morris, who is pursuing an associate degree in science, found a gray pencil skirt, black blazer, white button-down dress shirt and low black wedge heels.
—Kelly Meyerhofer, jsonline.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The vaunted plan laid out three distinct public systems, with local community colleges primarily offering two-year associate degrees and serving as transfer launching pads to CSU and the University of California.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
The Future Ready Miami-Dade Scholarship allows county residents to complete an associate degree tuition-free.
—Bryan Penprase, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Southwestern College student Marilynn Palomino is in the process of earning an associate degree in criminal justice to work in a police crime lab doing forensic work.
—Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Vocational training, certificate or associate degree programs allow job seekers to enter the field more quickly and can earn six figures.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Associate degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/associate%20degree. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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