Educational programs available in graphic design are many types such as graduate and bachelor degree programs, graphic associate degree programs, and certificate programs. Every one of these programs has a plus side and a minus side. The one that allows you to meet your career goals is the one that would be ideal for you, which only you can determine. Here we will give a comparison of various aspects of associate and bachelor’s degree programs, so that you will be able to make an informed choice on the program best suited to you.

How You are Perceived by Employers: It’s a shame and totally undeserved that the associate degree has such a bad image in comparison to the bachelor’s degree. According to some employers, you are viewed to be less than the best if you have not attended a four-year school, and you are not talented nor are you the smartest. It is not a fair and accurate evaluation but it is the common fact of the real world. If you “only” have an Associate degree and you are in competition for a job with someone having a bachelor’s degree, it is very likely that your competitor will get the job or the project. Other factors being equal, education is the most important quality.

Your Chosen Career Path: By starting with an associate degree you are likely to qualify for the same jobs as the person who holds a bachelor’s degree and you have the added benefit of starting your career much sooner - two whole years sooner, in fact.

Your Expected Cost: Choosing to earn your bachelor’s degree naturally costs more than if you decide on the shorter associate degree. This is in keeping with the fact that you’re funding fewer total years of study.

No matter which program of study you choose to undertake, you are beginning an inspiring, intriguing career that will continue to evolve as technology evolves.