What is the Difference Between Professor and Associate Professor?

The main differences between a professor and an associate professor are their professional rank, experience, and responsibilities in a college or university setting.

• Professor: A professor is a senior-level university educator who has achieved the highest promotion available on the tenure track, other than special distinctions. Professors often have an international reputation among their colleagues and their research. They continue their responsibilities as educators to expand their research and build their body of work. Full professors also often take a leadership role in the department and may be involved in important decision-making processes.
• Associate Professor: An associate professor is a mid-level professor, typically above the rank of assistant professor and below the rank of full professor. Associate professors continue their responsibilities as educators to expand their research and build their body of work. They usually have an international reputation among their colleagues and their research. After approximately six years, associate professors have the option of applying for promotion to full professor.

In summary, the main differences between a professor and an associate professor are their professional rank, experience, and responsibilities within a college or university. Professors hold the highest rank, while associate professors are mid-level academics who have already achieved tenure and are working towards earning a full professorship.

Comparative Table: Professor vs Associate Professor

The main differences between a professor and an associate professor are their levels of experience, responsibility, and rank within an academic institution. Here is a table comparing the two roles:

Both professors and associate professors typically hold a Ph.D. and are responsible for teaching, conducting research, and developing lesson plans and syllabuses. However, a professor has a higher rank within the academic institution and usually has more experience, responsibilities, and influence within their department compared to an associate professor.