associate degree
Coverage of associate degree in the Nexus archive.
- US states where adults without bachelor's degrees can earn the most, ranked by median earnings
Maryland has the highest median income for adults with some college or an associate degree at $55,301. Adults with bachelor's degrees earn 38.6% more than those with associate degrees or some college, creating an average annual earnings gap of $18,539. The article ranks US states by median earnings for adults 25+ with varying education levels, using 2024 US Census Bureau data.
- States where a bachelor's degree pays off the most and least, ranked
The article ranks U.S. states by the earnings gap between adults with a bachelor's degree and those with some college or an associate degree. California has the largest gap (58.5%), while South Dakota has the smallest (17.1%), with urban states showing wider disparities than rural economies reliant on industries like agriculture and manufacturing.