1U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, April). Education Pays, 2023. Career Outlook. Retrieved Dec. 19, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the assistant vice president of GCU Marketing on Jan. 22, 2025.
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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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
No matter what form it takes, education is an investment in your future. Learn more about the many different bachelor’s degree programs offered by Grand Canyon University, many of which are available online. Connect with a university counselor to begin planning your future.
