There are two types of colleges: two-year and four-year. Both types of institutions offer a variety of programs and degrees that can lead to employment in good-paying jobs.

Two-Year Colleges

Many careers, from barber to brokerage clerk, from photographer to programmer, may be learned in two-year associate's degree programs offered by local community colleges. Community colleges are a good fit for students who prefer not to jump into a four-year college, but want to continue their education beyond high school. As a result, two-year degrees are one of the fastest growing and most popular education programs in Indiana and nationwide.

Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are granted to students who complete two-year programs of study.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees are awarded to students who complete two-year technical or vocational programs. These programs often require an apprenticeship.

Students also attend two-year schools to take advantage of the cost-savings and then transfer their degrees/credits to other colleges and universities to pursue a bachelor's degree.

Four-Year Colleges

Four-year colleges offer studies that lead to an academic degree. A four-year college may be one of three types: public, private or proprietary.

College and universities offer two kinds of undergraduate degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts degrees are often found in the liberal arts. They generally require courses in humanities, math, English, sciences, social sciences and language.
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees prepare people for careers in areas such as accounting, engineering and education. Like the B.A., the B.S. degree requires general courses in math, English, sciences, and social sciences, but usually fewer courses in the humanities.

College students earn these degrees after completing four years of full time study. To save money, students sometimes complete the first two years of study at a two-year college and then transfer to the four-year school to complete their degree.

In addition, university systems offer postgraduate masters, academic doctorates and professional degrees, such as doctors of medicine and law.

Learn more about Colleges

Learn more about Going Back to College as an Adult Learner