An associate degree provides varied paths to success both in and out of the classroom. It gives you the opportunity to enter the field quickly and gain experience, but also the possibility of going back to school to continue your education. A data science associate degree typically prepares students for entry-level analytics, support, or technical data roles rather than full data scientist positions. These entry-level roles use the foundational skills taught in an associate degree program to introduce you to the field of data science and begin your professional career.