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The Daily Insight

What job can you get with an associate degree in liberal arts?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Updated on February 17, 2026

Associate of Arts (AA), Liberal Arts Average by Job
  • Administrative Assistant.
  • Customer Service Representative (CSR)
  • Office Manager.
  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
  • Sales Associate.
  • Cashier.
  • Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Besides, what can you do with an associates degree in liberal arts?

An associate in liberal arts can lead to entry-level jobs in administration, customer service, healthcare, and social sciences. Students who continue on to earn a bachelor's degree can earn higher salaries with more responsibility.

Also Know, what does an associate's degree in liberal arts mean? Sometimes called a general studies degree, an associate degree in liberal arts offers a broad base of liberal arts education, in subjects like social sciences, natural sciences, and history. These general education courses will help you develop important career skills that are in high demand across many industries.

Beside above, is an associates degree in liberal arts worth anything?

"To be clear, students who complete an A.A. degree earn on average more than a high school graduate -- so it is not that the degree has no value," the report says. "There are skills that students get with a liberal arts education that are arguably just as valuable as the technical skills," she said.

What are the most useless degrees?

20 Most Useless Degrees

  1. Advertising. If you're an advertising major, you may hope to get into digital marketing, e-commerce, or sports marketing.
  2. Anthropology And Archeology.
  3. Art history.
  4. Communications.
  5. Computer Science.
  6. Creative Writing.
  7. Criminal Justice.
  8. Culinary arts.

Related Question Answers

Is it hard to get a job with a liberal arts degree?

A common knock against liberal arts degrees is that they lack overall value and don't easily lead to job opportunities. Some colleges and universities have retreated from liberal arts by cutting such programs. But despite dwindling support at some schools, liberal arts advocates are all in.

Is a liberal arts degree useless?

Do liberal arts degrees hold value in the working world? Liberal arts majors all have a chance when it comes to finding a great career because contrary to popular belief, liberal arts degrees are not completely useless.

Is liberal arts a good major?

A liberal arts degree can teach you in-demand soft skills, such as critical thinking. Due to its broad curriculum, a liberal arts degree prepares you for diverse career paths. Cons of a liberal arts education include lower earnings and more career planning.

What falls under a liberal arts degree?

A liberal arts degree includes the study of history, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creative arts and more. Students who earn a liberal arts degree learn to formulate effective arguments, to communicate well and solve problems.

Can I go into nursing with a liberal arts degree?

Students who study the arts can become nurses if they are able to successfully complete courses and exams involved in a nursing program. There are many pathways for students to become nurses while also pursuing an education in general arts.

Is an AA degree worth anything?

Are Associates Degrees Worth Anything? Yes, an associates degree is worth it and may be a wise investment for many students. According to the Center on Education and the Workforce survey, associate degree graduates earn on average around $400,000 more during their careers than those with just a high school diploma.

Do liberal arts majors get jobs?

Many liberal arts majors go on to pursue careers as teachers and librarians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 5% job growth for education, training, and library occupations between 2019 and 2029. The following table provides average salaries for three careers in liberal arts based on experience level.

Is having an associate's degree worth it?

If you're deciding between no higher education degree at all and an associate degree, the answer is, quite simply, “Yes; getting an associates degree is worth it!” If you are hoping to break into a professional field and want to raise your job prospects, getting an associate degree is going to serve you much better

Should I get an AA or AS degree?

In essence, A.A. degrees are of a more general nature and can help students further their education or enter various occupational fields. A.S. degrees are more narrowly focused and may require students to take on additional courses when they wish to expand their studies.

What is a good associate's degree to have?

These jobs make an associates degree a wise decision.
  • Air Traffic Controller. Salary: $124,540.
  • Computer Programmer. Salary: $82,240.
  • Radiation Therapist. Salary: $80,570.
  • Nuclear Technician. Salary: $80,370.
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Salary: $75,660.
  • Dental Hygienist. Salary: $74,070.
  • Registered Nurse.
  • Web Developer.

What is the highest paying job with an associates degree?

What jobs pay well with an associate degree? MRI technologists, nuclear technicians, funeral service managers, and dental hygienists all earn over $70,000 a year, on average, making their respective degrees among the best associate degrees by salary.

Is an associate's degree a college degree?

An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification between a high school diploma, GED, and a bachelor's degree. In the United States, the associate degree may allow transfer into the third year of a bachelor's degree.

What is the difference between an associate's degree in arts and science?

In general, the Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree is intended to focus your study toward liberal arts while the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree is intended to focus your study toward math and science.

What is an Associates in arts degree?

What is an Associate of Arts degree? An Associate of Arts degree is an undergraduate academic degree earned by people who complete courses in the social sciences, humanities and business fields.

How do you write an associates degree in liberal arts on a resume?

Associate Degree on a Resume As a rule, you should spell out the full name of your degree rather than abbreviate it. If you're short of space on your resume, you're free to abbreviate your degree. Just make sure it's understandable to the recruiter. If in doubt, don't abbreviate.

What is an associate in arts degree good for?

An Associate of Arts Degree is a broad program that allows students to take a variety of general education courses to either prepare them for a bachelor's degree in a more specific field or give them a good foundation for moving into the workforce.

What is the difference between the AAA AAS degrees and the AA as degree?

Both AA and AS are primarily transfer degrees, which generally means that they prepare students to earn their bachelor's degrees at different learning institutions or, in some cases, at the very same schools. AAS, in contrast, prepares students who earn them to immediately start their careers.

Is associates of arts the same as liberal arts?

In short, the AA focuses on liberal arts and general education, the AS targets scientific and business-focused subjects, and the AAS prepares students for immediate entry into the workforce.

Will an AAS degree transfer?

Currently, 30 states have a statewide guaranteed transfer of an associate degree. This policy guarantees students who earn an associate degree before transferring to a four-year institution can transfer all of their credits.