Is It Better to Have Two Associate Degrees or One Bachelors?
Moving incrementally up the ladder, is it better to have two associate’s degrees or one bachelor’s?  Two bachelor’s or one master’s?  Two master’s or one doctorate?  If you’re looking for a one-size-fits all response, you might be disappointed.  As with most things in life, the answer is never simple.  The number and type of degrees that you pursue ultimately depends on what you want to do with them.

What Kind of Career Do You Want?
If you wanted to launch your own business, having an MBA and law degree would probably be way more useful than having any single doctorate diploma.  Conversely, if you wanted to become a university professor, it is unlikely that any combination of associate degrees could get you there.  It’s really a matter of how specialized  you want to become in any given field versus how many different areas you would like to explore.  Do you want to become a Jack of all trades or master of one.

Cost, Time, and Effort as Major Determinants
Resource investment is also another criterion you should consider.  Are you prepared to apply to many schools, or would you prefer to apply to just one or two?   In addition, many doctorate programs provide generous funding, while most associate’s degrees offer very little in the way of free money.

Ultimately, you need to decide what you want from your education, what you hope to do with your diploma(s), and what you’re prepared to accomplish in the process.  These answers will inform your final decision.