Admissions FAQ

What’s the difference between a certificate and a degree?

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Typically, your desired job or profession determines what level of education you should pursue. For some technical careers, a certificate is sufficient. Other jobs require either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. Some professions don’t need a degree but offer better pay or room for growth if you have one. An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree qualifies you for entry into a chosen career field, typically at a higher skill level than obtained through a certificate. An AAS degree requires 20 or more courses (60 credit hours). ECC offers transfer options to four-year colleges and universities for some AAS programs for those who wish to continue coursework toward a bachelor’s degree after earning an AAS.

ECC offers two main types of associate degrees:

• Transfer program degrees (such as Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Engineering Science, etc.) prepare students to transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree.
• Career and technical degrees (such as Associate of Applied Science in nursing, culinary arts, or automotive) equip students with the knowledge and skills to enter a specific career immediately upon completion. However, some Associate of Applied Science degrees provides university transfer opportunities to complete a bachelor’s degree.