Final answer:
An Associate Degree is earned after successful completion of two years (approximately 60 hours) of study, often at community colleges or technical schools. It serves as a stepping stone to higher education or various professional careers. Statistics indicate that a bachelor's degree is more common for enhancement of career prospects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The degree earned after successful completion of two years (approximately 60 hours) of study is an Associate Degree. Typically, associate degrees are offered by community colleges, technical colleges, vocational schools, and some four-year institutions. They provide a foundation for those interested in pursuing further education or entering various professional fields. For example, the statistics show that lower-middle-class members may hold associate degrees from two-year institutions, which could be in diverse areas such as business, management, or other specialized technical fields (Business, Computers and Technology, Engineering).
To continue in higher education, many people choose to pursue a four-year college degree to earn a bachelor's degree, which can be imperative for those looking to improve their career prospects and material well-being. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights that a significant portion of the United States population has a high school diploma, yet a smaller percentage goes on to higher degrees such as bachelor's and master's.