It’s a higher education battle for the ages: Should you get a Bachelor’s degree or an Associate’s degree? Let’s say you are stuck in a job that is going nowhere and you want to make the jump to the next round. You are probably thinking about going to college, and while going the distance for a Bachelor’s degree still is the best way to land a well-paying career, there are some drawbacks which limit its return on investment like student debt or length of study. Maybe an Associate’s degree from the right school could be the right weight class for you. More companies are requiring at least some college or an Associate’s degree outright and this number is projected to grow over the next decade. A two-year degree or certification may be all that you need. It’s a tough choice and you need to have all the data at your disposal to make an informed decision. We’ve put both degrees into the ring to see which one will come out on top, so LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Round One: Average Lifetime Earnings over a Full-Time 40-year Career

• Bachelor’s: $2.3 million.
• Associate’s: $1.7 million.

Round Two: Total Tuition Cost

• Bachelor’s: $38,000 or $9,000 per year.
• Associate’s: $7,000 or $3,500 per year.

Round Three: Student Debt

• Bachelor’s: 66 percent of graduates from public 4-year colleges carry student loan debt for an average of $26,000.
• Associate’s: 60 percent of graduates carry ZERO student loan debt.

While you can’t beat the affordability and one-two punch of an Associate’s degree, there are many advanced careers out there that cannot be accessed without a Bachelor’s degree. And four-year universities still have the allure and campus lifestyle that remains an essential part of the American dream. It’s hard to pick a winner out of the two, but be a champion of your own destiny and do your research so you can come out on top! Join the Conversation: What degree are you planning on obtaining? How did you find out the information you needed to make this decision? Tell us your story on our Facebook page.