Are You Employable with a Two-Year Degree?

Published on 04/27/2026

Many high school seniors are trying to figure out what type of degree they need to get a good job in the future — maybe you are one of them. Here’s the straight talk from real Minnesota data: Yes, a two-year associate degree can get you a solid job and good money, especially in fields like healthcare or tech.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) tracks the salaries of college graduates through their Graduate Employment Outcomes tool. For students who earned an associate degree in 2015, the median salary seven years later was about $55,588. That’s roughly $5,000 more per year than people who only had a certificate, and significantly higher than the $30,000–$32,000 range many high school grads are still earning in the same timeframe. For comparison, bachelor’s degree holders from the same year were at a median of $66,312. So there’s a gap, but it’s not the massive difference a lot of people assume — especially in practical, high-demand fields.

Let’s talk specifics. Registered nursing is a standout in Minnesota. Associate-degree RNs often start making around $68,000 within two years of graduating and climb to roughly $78,000 by year seven. That’s competitive with — or even better than — some four-year degrees. Other strong paths include dental hygiene, radiologic technology, computer networking, engineering technology, and certain skilled trades. These programs are built to get you hired fast because Minnesota employers are actively looking for people with exactly those skills.

Why This Path Actually Makes Sense for You Right Now

First, speed. You’re done in two years instead of four. That means you’re earning a paycheck while a lot of your friends are still taking out loans and living on beans and rice. Second, cost. The average debt for an associate degree in Minnesota is around $12,500 to $18,000 — way less than the $27,000+ that bachelor’s students often carry. Less debt plus earlier earnings equals a huge head start on life.

Third, real demand. Hospitals, clinics, tech companies, and manufacturers across Minnesota are hiring these grads all the time. You’re not betting on some vague “maybe I’ll find something” — you’re training for jobs that already exist.

The Cons to Think About

As usual, it’s not all sunshine. On average, people with bachelor’s degrees do pull ahead in earnings over the very long run. Also, some employers still treat a four-year degree like the default for promotions or certain office roles. But the main consideration to think hard about is your choice of major, because it matters a lot. If you pick something too general, such as liberal arts, you’ll feel that limitation when seeking for a job. The data is clear: the payoff comes when you choose a program that’s tied to an actual career, not just “college in general.”

One More Thing — You Can Still Get a Bachelor’s Later

Here’s the part most people miss. Getting an associate degree doesn’t lock you out of a bachelor’s — it actually makes it easier. Many college students finish their two-year program, start working, then transfer their credits to a four-year college. Think about it; you get to test the waters, earn money, keep your debt low, and still go on for the bachelor’s later if you decide you want it. Many Minnesota community colleges even have smooth transfer agreements with state universities, so you don’t lose credits.

Bottom line

For a high schooler in Minnesota, a smart two-year program in a high-demand field is a legit, low-risk move. Check out the DEED Graduate Employment Outcomes tool yourself. Try filtering results for different majors and see the actual numbers for the state and your region. If you’re good at hands-on stuff — helping people, fixing things, working with computers — a two-year degree in a high-demand field is one of the smartest moves you can make at your age. You’ll be working, making decent money, and still have the option to keep climbing later. There’s more than one way to build a good life, and for a lot of us, the two-year route is the one path that best fits our needs.