Types of College Degrees Explained

From certificates you can earn in months to doctoral degrees that take years — understand what each degree type involves, what it costs, and where it leads.

Certificate Programs

Cert.

Certificate programs are short-term, focused educational programs designed to teach specific job skills in a compressed timeframe. Unlike degrees,...

3 to 12 months$2,000 – $15,0008 core classes

Associate Degrees

Associate of Arts

A.A.

The Associate of Arts is a two-year degree focused on liberal arts, humanities, and social sciences. It is the most common transfer degree, designed...

2 years (full-time)$6,000 – $20,000 total10 core classes

Associate of Science

A.S.

The Associate of Science is a two-year degree with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Like the A.A., it is designed...

2 years (full-time)$6,000 – $22,000 total10 core classes

Associate of Applied Science

A.A.S.

The Associate of Applied Science is a two-year degree designed to prepare you for a specific career immediately after graduation, rather than for...

2 years (full-time)$8,000 – $25,000 total9 core classes

Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts is a four-year undergraduate degree with a broad liberal arts foundation. B.A. programs emphasize critical thinking, writing,...

4 years (full-time), 2 years with transfer credits$40,000 – $160,000 total (varies widely by institution)11 core classes

Bachelor of Science

B.S.

The Bachelor of Science is a four-year undergraduate degree with a stronger emphasis on math, science, and technical coursework compared to the B.A....

4 years (full-time), 2 years with transfer credits$40,000 – $180,000 total (varies widely by institution)11 core classes

Bachelor of Fine Arts

B.F.A.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is a specialized four-year degree considered the standard professional undergraduate degree in the visual and performing...

4 years (full-time)$40,000 – $200,000 total (art schools can be expensive)10 core classes

Bachelor of Business Administration

B.B.A.

The Bachelor of Business Administration is a four-year degree focused specifically on business management and operations. Unlike a B.A. or B.S. in...

4 years (full-time), 2 years with transfer credits$40,000 – $160,000 total11 core classes

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

B.S.N.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a four-year degree that prepares graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam and practice as registered...

4 years (traditional) or 12-18 months (RN-to-BSN for licensed nurses)$40,000 – $120,000 total (traditional BSN)12 core classes

Master's Degrees

Master of Arts

M.A.

The Master of Arts is a graduate degree typically focused on humanities, social sciences, education, and liberal arts fields. M.A. programs usually...

1 to 2 years (full-time), 2-3 years (part-time)$20,000 – $80,000 total8 core classes

Master of Science

M.S.

The Master of Science is a graduate degree focused on STEM fields, healthcare, and applied sciences. M.S. programs are more technically rigorous than...

1 to 2 years (full-time), 2-3 years (part-time)$20,000 – $100,000 total8 core classes

Master of Business Administration

M.B.A.

The MBA is the most well-known and widely pursued graduate business degree in the world. It provides a comprehensive education in management,...

2 years (full-time), 2-3 years (part-time/online)$20,000 – $200,000+ total (massive range by program tier)11 core classes

Master of Education

M.Ed.

The Master of Education is a professional graduate degree designed for working educators who want to improve their teaching practice, qualify for...

1 to 2 years (full-time), 2-3 years (part-time)$10,000 – $50,000 total9 core classes

Master of Public Health

M.P.H.

The Master of Public Health is a professional graduate degree focused on preventing disease, promoting health, and protecting entire communities and...

1 to 2 years (full-time), 2-3 years (part-time)$20,000 – $80,000 total9 core classes

Master of Social Work

M.S.W.

The Master of Social Work is a professional graduate degree required to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Social workers help...

2 years (full-time), 1 year (advanced standing for BSW holders)$20,000 – $80,000 total9 core classes

Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy

Ph.D.

The Doctor of Philosophy is the highest academic degree in most fields. It is a research-focused degree that requires original, significant...

4 to 7 years$0 – $30,000 (most STEM PhDs are fully funded with stipend)9 core classes

Doctor of Medicine

M.D.

The Doctor of Medicine is the professional doctoral degree required to practice medicine as a physician in the United States. Medical school is a...

4 years (medical school) + 3-7 years (residency)$150,000 – $350,000 (medical school only)12 core classes

Juris Doctor

J.D.

The Juris Doctor is the professional doctoral degree required to practice law in the United States. Law school is a three-year post-graduate program...

3 years (full-time), 4 years (part-time/evening)$100,000 – $250,000 total11 core classes

Doctor of Nursing Practice

D.N.P.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a practice-focused doctoral degree for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Unlike the PhD in Nursing (which...

3-4 years (post-BSN) or 1-2 years (post-MSN)$40,000 – $120,000 total10 core classes

Doctor of Education

Ed.D.

The Doctor of Education is a professional doctoral degree designed for educational practitioners who want to lead at the highest levels of education:...

3 to 5 years (typically part-time while working)$30,000 – $100,000 total9 core classes

Not Sure Which Degree Is Right for You?

Take our free Career & Degree Matcher quiz to get a personalized recommendation based on your goals, budget, and schedule.