<prompt> Human: So my wife 28 and I live in Northern Virginia. She works as a dental assistant and makes about 21 an hour. She likes what she does, but has concerns about how dental assisting might play out as a career, since shes already among the highest earners in that job field. She also has concerns about how assisting long term might affect her back since she is bent and leaning all day. She does not have a degree and is considering going to school and changing her career. She could attend our local community college for relatively low tuition, while she works full time. Are there any arguments for or against community college? More importantly, are there any associates degrees to avoid? Finally, any advice from people who went back to school later in life would be appreciated. Thanks.  <response>: Mhm, has she considered becoming a dental hygienist? Median salary is 81k in VA, and higher in DC, and Nova offers this degree. Nova also offers an associates in nursing, then if she would like to advance in that career receive her BSN at the local university which offers an online ADN-BSN with only 30 credit hours. 