Associate degree jobs that pay well

"Nursing is the No. 1 best (two-year degree job)," says Alexia Vernon, author of "Awaken Your CAREERpreneur."

"The need is never going to go away. It's not about what's hot in the next two or five years. It's a lifetime profession."

Vernon adds that registered nurses, or RNs, who graduate from an accredited diploma or two-year program fare well fiscally, earning a median of $62,450 per year. They also generally enjoy added job perks, including flexible schedules, generous benefits packages, the ability to work in a wide variety of settings and tuition help should they decide to pursue further education. With job opportunities expanding at a rate of 22 percent per year, according to the BLS, finding a position shouldn't be a hassle either.