2027 Best Two-Year Degrees for Parents

Business Programs

An associate degree in business administration or accounting can suit parents seeking office work, bookkeeping-related roles, or a foundation for a bachelor's degree. An AA or AS often emphasizes transferable general education; an AAS may focus more on workplace skills. Ask whether required courses run asynchronously and whether accounting software is taught. Business is comparatively flexible to study, but a degree alone is unlikely to qualify someone for a management position. If your goal is a bachelor's, confirm that the destination university will apply - not merely accept - your credits.

Healthcare Programs

Career-focused AAS programs in dental hygiene, radiography, and respiratory therapy can lead toward specific occupations. They are better fits for parents who can arrange dependable childcare for labs, clinical placements, and travel, which may occur during daytime hours. Admission to the college does not guarantee a place in a selective health program. Verify prerequisite sequencing, programmatic accreditation where relevant, clinical schedules, and whether graduates can pursue the required state license or professional credential.

Information Technology Programs

An AS or AAS in information technology, networking, or cybersecurity can prepare parents for entry-level support or technical roles, particularly when it includes hands-on labs and employer-relevant projects. Some coursework may be online, but group work, proctored exams, and scheduled labs can limit flexibility. Ask which classes run each term and whether equipment is needed at home. Cybersecurity job titles often require experience beyond an associate degree; an IT support role may be a more realistic first step.

Nursing / Pre-Nursing Programs

An associate degree in nursing (ADN) is a career-focused route toward registered nursing, subject to program approval, graduation, and passing the NCLEX-RN for state licensure. Expect science prerequisites, competitive admission at many schools, and in-person clinical shifts that may not accommodate a parent's preferred hours. A pre-nursing AS is different: it typically covers prerequisites or transfer coursework and does not itself qualify a student for RN licensure. Check clinical-site travel and childcare plans before choosing either path.

Criminal Justice Programs

A criminal justice AA or AS may support transfer into a bachelor's program; an AAS may emphasize entry-level public-safety or corrections work. For parents, course delivery may be manageable, but the eventual job schedule may involve nights or weekends. Police and corrections hiring commonly includes separate background, fitness, academy, or state training requirements. Ask local employers which credential they recognize rather than assuming the degree replaces their hiring process.

Psychology / Counseling Programs

An AA or AS in psychology is generally a transfer pathway, not a qualification to practice as a counselor or psychologist. It can fit parents who want flexible introductory coursework and intend to continue studying. Licensed counseling typically requires graduate education, supervised experience, and state licensure. Before enrolling, identify a bachelor's transfer destination and check how its major prerequisites align with the associate program. Parents seeking quicker workforce entry should compare other fields.

The best choice is the one that fits both your career goal and the hours you can reliably devote to school. Business and IT are strong starting points when scheduling flexibility matters most; nursing and allied health offer more defined occupational routes but demand substantially more in-person time. Psychology and some criminal justice degrees make the most sense when transfer is the plan.

This comparison shows the principal scheduling and career trade-off for each field. Actual requirements depend on the college and the occupation.

If you need job-specific training but cannot yet commit to an associate program, compare relevant certificate programs. Check whether any resulting credits would count toward a later degree.

Among the fields discussed here, dental hygiene and nursing connect to occupations with relatively high national median pay. These are occupational wages, not starting salaries or earnings guaranteed by an associate degree. Both paths have substantial in-person training and licensing requirements.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following May 2024 median annual wages. Use them to compare occupations, then investigate local openings, schedules, and entry-level pay.

A higher median is not automatically the better financial choice for a parent. Compare the full cost of attendance and the income you may forgo during clinical training with the schedule and pay of jobs available where you live.

Nursing and several allied-health fields offer a clearer connection to specific occupations than broad transfer majors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects registered nurse employment to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034. That national projection signals continuing demand, but it does not predict hiring in your area or remove the need for licensure.

IT can also be worth considering if local employers hire for support roles and you can demonstrate practical skills. Before choosing any field, compare nearby job postings for required credentials, experience, shifts, and pay. A growing occupation is a poor fit if its available hours conflict with your childcare arrangements.

Many associate programs require about 60 semester credits and are designed around two years of full-time study. Parents attending part time often need longer. Prerequisites, courses offered only in certain terms, accepted transfer credits, and clinical placement availability can all change the timeline.

Ask an advisor for a term-by-term plan based on your actual weekly availability, including summer courses only if you could realistically take them. If you need a shorter initial commitment, 4 week certificate programs online are an alternative to investigate - not a way to earn an entire associate degree in four weeks. Verify what a short course qualifies you to do and whether its credit transfers.

Yes, when the format gives you workable study hours and matches your career goal. Asynchronous business, IT, or transfer courses may let you study after children are asleep, but they still have deadlines. Scheduled video classes can be harder to manage, while nursing and allied-health programs generally require in-person labs or clinical work even when lectures are online.

Request a sample weekly schedule and ask specifically about live attendance, exam proctoring, campus visits, placements, and access to advising outside standard work hours. "Online" describes delivery; it does not establish that a program is fully remote or self-paced.

Colleges generally ask for an application and proof of high school completion or an accepted equivalent, but placement and prerequisite policies vary. Nursing and other health majors may have separate applications, science prerequisites, minimum grades, entrance assessments, or limited seats - even at a college with broad general admission.

Ask admissions to distinguish requirements for entering the college from requirements for entering your major. If you have previous coursework, request a credit evaluation early; accepted credits may satisfy a course, count only as electives, or not apply to the degree at all.

Start with tuition and mandatory fees for your residency status, then calculate the cost of completing your course plan. Books, technology, transportation, childcare, and lost work hours matter; clinical programs may add uniforms, screenings, and placement-related travel. A low per-credit price is less useful if required courses are unavailable when you can attend.

Submit the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal aid, and ask about state grants, scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and childcare support. Compare aid offers using the remaining amount you would pay or borrow, not the published tuition alone. If a bachelor's or graduate degree is part of your long-term plan, protect that future budget too: compare transfer agreements now and investigate affordable masters degrees only when graduate study is actually required for your goal.

Registered nurses and dental hygienists need state licensure beyond completing a degree. Other allied-health roles may involve state licensing, registration, or an employer-preferred certification. Requirements can include an approved or accredited program, examination, background review, and continuing education.

By contrast, business and IT associate degrees do not generally confer a professional license, though a particular employer may prefer an industry certification. Counseling and psychology associate degrees do not qualify someone for licensed clinical practice. Check the licensing board for the state where you intend to work before paying a deposit, especially if you will study through an out-of-state online college.

Confirm that the college holds institutional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For regulated healthcare roles, also check the occupation's program-approval or programmatic-accreditation rules with the relevant state board. Accreditation matters, but it does not by itself guarantee licensure eligibility, transfer acceptance, or a job.

For a practical final check, request a written degree plan, a complete estimate of required costs, and the schedule for courses, labs, or clinical placements. If you plan to transfer, get the destination school's assessment of how credits will apply to your intended major. Avoid enrolling on the strength of a "fully online" label or an occupational salary figure alone. Parents planning much further ahead can also learn what is a competency based masters degree, but should first establish whether their immediate associate credits and career path support that longer-term plan.

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