Good associate of applied degrees thay may match my interests?

It has been kind of reccomended in other threads that I get an associates degree that’ll allow me to work after graduating since I mentioned my concern about student loan debt from going to a four year college since it is a lot more expensive and the chance of me being accepted to a four year Institution.

It isn’t my primary goal to do this but I’m still open to it since there may be options that match my interests and hopefully I would still have the option to transfer to a four year school if I complete the general education/transfer core certificate at my community college or work for a little while before returning to school to complete a bachelor’s degree.

these are some of the options at my community college I have considered but am not sure if I am deeply interested in them:

BioTechnology
Chemical Technology
Medical Laboratory Technology (not offered at my campus but at others)

these are some community college programs that more closely match my interests that I mentioned I wanna major in at a four year Institution but aren’t offered at any CC in my state:

Civil Engineering Technology
Environmental Engineering Technology
Geological Technology
Petroleum Technology
Wildlife Technology

I understand that I need to focus on my studies and finish the two math courses I’m in to see how I do in those, so I still have the option to transfer to a four year school, and then determine what path I should follow.

I’ve actually gotten a little more confident recently about being able to transfer to a four year school and being able to go to a four year college without student loans. That’s because Purdue (the school I want to transfer to the most) has started a new Boiler affordability grant that’ll cover whatever my Pell and state grants don’t cover. I’m confident about getting my GPA above a 3.0 but if not there are options to transfer to four year schools with only a 2.5 or even a 2.0. Four year college is my most desired path!

Does it actually seem common for people that earn associate of applied science degrees to transfer eventually to a four year school? Is it possible that someone could change from a almost completely different field? For example, If someone worked as a chemical technician for a while, would it be possible for them to return to school to study Engineering or Meteorology?

I thought this would be a good topic of discussion because it can be a good path too. There are people with associates degrees, apprenticeships, or Job/military training that are successful and make good money or even six figures.

My DD is getting an Associate of Applied Sciences in Graphic Design. My understanding is that they don’t transfer well and are not meant to be a transfer. At least in her case, she will have taken basically all of the Graphic Design classes she would have taken in a 4 year school, but very few of the gen eds. Other courses/schools may be different.

Applied science degrees don’t transfer to 4 year universities, which basically means that you would have to completely start over if you decide to go to a 4 year school. THAT would put you in debt. If you’re at a community college, it’s best to focus on your general classes with a bachelors degree in mind. You can get a general associates and use that to transfer to a local university and complete the last 2 years of your bachelors. That’s the best way to keep the debt down.

these are the links to the out of state associate of applied science programs that most interest me that are still considered in STEM.

https://frontrange.smartcatalogiq.com/2016-2017/Catalog/Degrees-and-Certificates/Forestry-Wildlife-and-Natural-Resources/Forestry-Wildlife-and-Natural-Resources-Associate-of-Applied-Science-Degrees/Wildlife-Technology
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/environmental-engineering-technology
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/environmental-engineering-technology-water-and-wastewater
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/environmental-engineering-technology-stormwater-management
http://www.wtc.edu/petroleum.html

i’m not giving up on my dream in STEM so my options are to stay in the state i’m in and get a bachelors degree in one of my interests or move out of state.