Looking for Low-Stress Education? Five Degrees for Laid-Back Learners

No degree program is absolutely, 100 percent "stress-free." However, there are certain measures you can take to reduce the impact of the post-secondary pressure cooker. Check out these popular associate's degrees--as well as related college degrees--and learn a few low-stress tips you can use to make the jump back to school an enjoyable one. (Salary information is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) unless otherwise noted.)

Associate's Degree in Nursing

Earn a college degree for a caring profession with an associate's degree in nursing. Become a registered nurse and practice your trade in nursing homes, clinics, or elsewhere. Registered nurses earned mean annual wages of $65,130 in 2008, and enjoyed a career with a high level of projected demand.

• Alternate Degree(s): Bachelor's degree in nursing, diploma in nursing
• Low-Stress Tip: Set aside time every day to do your schoolwork. Once you get into the routine, you may even look forward to study time.

Associate's Degree in Accounting

What sounds like a high-stress career for many may be a welcome challenge for you. Accounting clerks, who typically have an associate's degree in accounting, earned mean annual wages of $33,800 in 2008. Completing more education and earning your certified public accountant (CPA) badge could mean more earnings as a licensed accountant.

• Alternate Degree(s): Accounting bachelor's degree
• Low-Stress Tip: Keep your class notes and files well-organized. You never know when you'll need to consult lessons you learned in a previous course.

Associate's Degree in Visual Communication

Look for the opportunity to specialize in one facet of visual communication; graphic design, Web design, and interactive media are all popular choices. Graphic designers earned mean annual wages of $46,750 in 2008, a healthy salary for a technical and artistic career.

• Alternate Degree(s): Certificate in Web design
• Low-Stress Tip: Plan ahead! Use a desk-sized calendar to plan out homework assignments, deadlines, and more.

Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education

This useful degree allows you to work with children in the day care or preschool setting. In 2008, preschool teachers earned mean annual wages of $26,610 . Make sure to check your state's requirement for preschool teachers; while some require only an associate's degree, others require a bachelor's degree level of education.

• Alternate Degree(s): Bachelor's degree in early childhood education
• Low-Stress Tip: Enlist friends and family to help you commit to your degree. Talk about school with a friend, or set your study time to match your children's homework time.

Associate's Degree for Veterinary Technicians

If you're a pet owner, you know how important veterinarians and their assistants are in your pet's life. As a veterinary technician, you'll work with animals and their owners under the supervision of a veterinarian, taking vital signs, recording patient history, and making animals feel more comfortable at the vet. Veterinary technicians earned mean annual wages of $29,850 in 2008. With more education, you could work as a veterinary technologist and eventually a fully licensed veterinarian.

• Alternate Degree(s): Bachelor's degree for veterinary technologists
• Low-Stress Tip: Never leave homework for the last minute; rather, give yourself plenty of time to respond to technical difficulties or other delays.

Low-Stress College Degree Options

While college degrees don't guarantee employment, they sure can help. Hiring managers across the country look for applicants who possess both experience and education, and a little personality, too. Both campus-based and online associate's degrees can be a great way for you to get your career started, or to retrain in an entirely new profession.

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• Looking for Low-Stress Education? Five Degrees for Laid-Back Learners