Completing an AA or AS degree has the benefit of program and/or course equivalency agreements which have been negotiated with four-year colleges and universities that allow you to transfer as a junior.
AA degree completion also fulfills the lower division general education requirements of many transfer schools.
The AS degree includes slightly more math and science requirements than the AA does. In most cases, students transferring to an Illinois four-year college or university will complete lower division general education courses after transfer (one additional course in Humanities or Fine Arts and one additional course in Social and Behavioral Sciences). Some schools automatically evaluate an AS course-by-course (including Augustana College). If you are unsure which degree is best for your plans, select the AA and then talk with your advisor.
The AAS degree prepares students for immediate employment following program completion. The AAS emphasizes field-specific training combined with about a semester of general education courses. Students in AAS and career Certificate programs who think they may want to transfer should talk with their advisor about selecting general education courses. See the transfer checklist and planning guides at Transfer from Career Programs.