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
Enrollments in undergraduate certificate and associate degree programs both grew by about 2% in fall 2025, while enrollment in bachelor's degree programs rose by less than 1%, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
—
Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
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
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Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
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
Cite this Entry
“Associate degree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/associate%20degree. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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