How much time is saved with 46 semester hours saved from AP classes? How many semester hours is an Associate’s generally? Or any frame of reference; I have no idea
A typical BA/BS requires 120-128 semester hours, or about 15-16 semester hours each semester over 8 semesters. A typical AA/AS requires 60-64 semester hours. Since a semester hour means 3 hours of work per week (including in-class and out-of-class time), that means that such a course load nominally means 45-48 hours of school work per week. Most courses at most colleges are 3 or 4 semester hours of credit and work.
46 semester hours of AP credit is theoretically 3 semesters’ worth, but it may be difficult to shorten time to graduation by 3 semesters, since AP credit typically gives subject credit for frosh-level courses (rather than more advanced or specialized courses that are required in your major) and may not have been chosen (while in high school) to cover degree requirements in college.
Colleges also reserve the right to set the minimum AP score required to replace college classes. They also may cap the number of AP credit accepted. The bottom line is that AP credits with top scores can only help you.
It is really school specific - sometimes you get college credit for AP classes, sometimes no credit but the ability to start at a higher level, some may be free elective credits that you may not ever need etc. Sometimes just having the credits may mean your at a higher grade level such as a freshman starting with sophomore credit standing which might mean registering for classes before freshman, getting to pick next year’s housing sooner etc.
The credits may not mean graduating sooner but there is a chance they might make some things easier such as perhaps lower a course load for a semester, ability to double major and graduate in 4 years easier than it would have been, ability to do an internship, study abroad, or take graduate classes as an undergrad (if school allows) can be easier.
While it isn’t an exact thing for every college - in general a high school AP credit gets 3 to 4 college credits when credit is given - 4 for math/science which are longer classes and 3 for others - 4y credits sounds like roughly 1.5 years of credits though it isn’t usually an exact match.