After graduating with an undergraduate degree, many people enter the workforce right away. In general, employers are more likely to hire a candidate with an undergraduate degree than one that possesses only a high school diploma.1 If your field does not typically hire employees with an associate degree, you may wish to transfer your credits to a bachelor’s degree program and expand your options.

What Is an Undergraduate Degree?

Q: What Is an Undergraduate Degree?

Undergraduate degrees can play a pivotal role in enhancing a student’s job prospects post-graduation. Here’s everything you need to know about undergraduate degrees, including the different types and where they can take you after graduation.

Q: What Does “Undergraduate” Mean?

The meaning of “undergraduate degree” is any academic degree earned by a student who has completed undergraduate courses at an institution of higher education, such as a college or university. They are also colloquially referred to as undergrad degrees. This type of degree can be earned after anywhere from two to four years of college and is divided into two main types: associate and bachelor’s degrees.

Q: What Is an Associate Degree?

An associate degree generally requires 60 credits and takes approximately two years to complete, usually through a community or technical college. The short time commitment makes it a practical option for recent high school graduates, especially those who may have limited resources or wish to enter the workforce sooner. It is possible for a student to transfer credits from a completed associate degree to a bachelor’s program at a university depending on the school’s specific requirements. Some jobs, however, may only require an associate degree, including dental hygienists and registered nurses.

Q: What Is a Bachelor’s Degree?

A bachelor’s degree, the most common undergraduate degree, takes about four years to complete and requires at least 120 credits. Holding a bachelor’s degree leads to greater employment opportunities compared to an associate degree. Since the program involves more intensive study of the subject in question, students will likely have a more well-rounded grasp of the concepts and make more competitive applicants for a variety of positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a bachelor’s degree have higher weekly earnings and a better chance of employment than those without a college degree.1

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Read time 6 minutes

GCE Editorial Team

Published On Feb 4, 2025

An undergraduate degree is an academic degree earned by a student who has completed a program of undergraduate courses at an institution of higher education, such as a college or university. Since high school is referred to as “secondary education,” an undergraduate degree is postsecondary education — a course of study completed after graduating from high school.

What Does “Undergraduate” Mean?

Undergraduate degrees are also colloquially referred to as “undergrad degrees,” and students earning them may be referred to as “undergrads.” All that’s needed to begin an undergrad degree program is a high school diploma or equivalency. (You’ll also need to meet any other admission requirements established by the school which may include a minimum score on a college entrance exam.)

There are two main types of undergrad degrees: associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. There are also different types of associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees, but here we’ll focus on the two main categories:

What Is an Associate Degree?

An associate degree is a type of undergrad degree that students will usually earn through a community or technical college. Individual programs and schools establish their own graduation requirements, but associate degrees tend to require fewer credits for completion compared to bachelor’s degrees.

An associate degree can be a good option for students who are interested in affordable higher education that can allow them to enter the workforce more quickly. It can also be a good choice for those who intend on pursuing a career that may only require an associate degree instead of a bachelor’s. However, an associate degree doesn’t have to be the end of a student’s journey in postsecondary education.

It is possible for a student to transfer credits from a completed associate degree to a bachelor’s program at a university, depending on the school’s specific requirements. You might decide to do this if you changed your mind about your intended career and your new intended career requires a bachelor’s degree. Alternatively, students may prefer to complete their general education requirements with an associate degree, intending all along to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program in order to reduce the cost of higher education.

What Is a Bachelor’s Degree?

The other main type of undergrad degree is the bachelor’s degree, which requires more credits for completion and takes more time to earn compared to an associate degree. Students earning a bachelor’s degree tend to receive a well-rounded education comprised not only of general education courses and electives but also of major-specific courses.

A major is a formal program of study that emphasizes a particular field. For example, a student earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting is majoring in accounting. Similarly, a student earning a Bachelor of Arts in Dance is majoring in dance.

Why earn a bachelor’s degree instead of an associate degree? There are many reasons to consider. For example, a student’s intended career may require a bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification for an entry-level job.

Or, your career goals might require earning a graduate degree. An associate degree does not qualify a person to apply to graduate school, but a bachelor’s degree can. A bachelor’s degree may also prepare graduates to pursue professional training programs that can lead to specialized roles.

What Can I Study During My Undergraduate Program?

Undergraduate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in particular, are available in nearly any subject, such as:

Oftentimes, students customize their college experience by adding a minor or emphasis in a subject that complements their main field of study or by taking electives to supplement their main courses. Some undergrad degrees are available partially or entirely through online courses.

To ensure you’ll be happy with your choice, it’s paramount that you do your research before deciding on both a school and a degree program. Be sure that you understand all of the requirements for your chosen career, such as state-specific licensing requirements, if applicable.

Is a Minor an Undergraduate Degree?

Previously, we touched on how students can customize their education by adding a minor to their degree program. A minor is not a separate degree; that is, if you have both a major and a minor, your major will dictate the degree you earn.

For example, you might major in social work and minor in counseling. The degree you’ll earn will be a social work degree — not a counseling degree. The minor serves to complement your major or to allow you to pursue a secondary area of interest.

Benefits of an Undergraduate Degree

Pursuing higher education can be a meaningful experience. You’ll have the opportunity to meet new people, be introduced to new ideas and perspectives and be taught how to refine your critical thinking skills. Compared to high school, postsecondary education tends to emphasize teaching students how to think rather than what to think.

Education offers opportunities, and those opportunities may be enhanced with each level of education attained. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) offers the following data on workers’ median weekly earnings for 2023:¹

Less than high school diploma: $708
High school diploma: $899
Associate degree: $1,058
Bachelor’s degree: $1,493
Master’s degree: $1,737
Doctoral degree: $2,109

What Comes Next?

After graduating with an undergraduate degree, many people enter the workforce right away. If you graduate with an associate degree but your field does not typically hire employees with less than a bachelor’s, you may wish to transfer your credits to a bachelor’s degree program and expand your options.

Some people may wish to further their education by earning a graduate degree. This is a form of advanced education that includes master’s and doctoral degrees. Graduate education is a commitment that should not be taken lightly, as it not only demonstrates a profound dedication to learning but requires additional time and funds. Earning potential may increase for those with a graduate degree,² however, it can vary based on the field of study.

Overall, undergraduate degrees teach a solid foundation of knowledge that may be built upon in many different ways, whether you aim to gain practical experience after graduation or to pursue further higher education at the graduate level.

Graduate vs. Undergraduate: Meaning and Comparison

If you do plan to continue your studies with a master’s or doctoral degree, you may have some additional questions. Now that you know what an undergraduate degree is, what does a graduate degree involve, exactly? Is it simply additional time spent in class?

Yes, a graduate degree does require additional time spent in school, but it’s not necessarily just a continuation of the same topics you examined as an undergraduate. In fact, it’s possible to earn a master’s degree in a different — but possibly related — field compared to your bachelor’s degree. If you majored in psychology as an undergrad, for example, you might decide to earn a Master of Social Work as a graduate student instead of a Master of Science in Psychology. But consider that you may be required to take bridge courses designed to help you transition to a master’s degree in this different subject.

Even if you stick with the same field of study, the focus may be different. Whereas bachelor’s degree programs include general education courses and offer a broader curriculum, graduate degrees are often more focused on a particular specialization. Graduate degrees are typically available with emphases, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Health Systems Management.

Some graduate programs require field experience or practicum/internship hours for graduation — often to meet state licensure requirements for a particular profession. Some master’s degree programs may require the completion of a master’s thesis — a lengthy research paper. Similarly, it’s customary for doctoral programs to require the completion of original research in one’s field that culminates in a dissertation — an even lengthier research paper.

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