Glossary of Degree Levels (2024)

FAQs

What are the levels of degrees in order? ›

There are four types of degrees. In order of level of education, they rank as associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's or graduate degrees, and doctorate or professional degrees.

There are four main types of academic degrees: associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Earning a degree may lead to more job positions and a higher salary. But it's worth comparing the potential opportunities in your field to the cost of tuition and time spent for the degree.

Bachelor's or Baccalaureate Degree

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

An “eight-year degree” typically refers to a doctorate degree or PhD.

An associate degree is a two-year college degree that you can obtain from a community college, junior college, online university, or some four-year institutions in the US. In terms of education, an associate degree falls between a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree.

Designed to be completed in 4 years, bachelor's degree programs provide in-depth knowledge and skills across a wide variety of career paths to help you stand out in today's competitive job market. Bachelor's degrees are in high demand.

An associate degree is an education level beyond a high school diploma but not yet to the level of a bachelor's degree. Typically, associate degrees are two-year programs (or 60 course hours) offered in community colleges and technical colleges.

A master's typically takes one to three years to complete, but several factors can affect that timeline. A master's is a graduate degree that typically takes 18 months to two years of full-time study to earn, but several factors can increase or decrease that timeline.

Postgraduate/graduate master's degrees (MA/M.A./A.M., MPhil/M. Phil., MSc/M.S./SM, MBA/M.B.A., LLM/LL. M., MAsc, etc.) are the traditional formal form of master's degree, where the student already holds an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree on entry.

What is the most used degree? ›

Associate's Degree - an award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. Bachelor's Degree - An award (baccalaureate) that normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work.

On average, a Ph. D. may take up to eight years to complete. A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years to complete—however, this timing depends on the program design, the subject area you're studying, and the institution offering the program.

An online master's program will typically take two years to complete, like an in-person program, if you are enrolled full-time. However, if you enroll part-time, an online master's can be 3-4 years, and a great way to study while balancing family, career, and who knows what other adventures.

A perpetual student or career student is a college or university attendee who re-enrolls for several years more than is necessary to obtain a given degree, or who pursues multiple terminal degrees. Perpetual students might publish or work in several fields. They are often considered polymaths.

Typically taking about two years to complete, an associate degree provides a solid option if you want to enter the workforce as quickly as possible. Plus, you can jumpstart various careers — in fields like healthcare, business, and law — with an associate degree.

A PhD is a doctoral research degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. The degree normally takes between three and four years of full-time work towards a thesis offering an original contribution to your subject.

Accredited colleges and universities award academic degrees after a student successfully completes a program. If you have a degree, start by listing the highest degree you've earned immediately after your name, such as a master's degree, bachelor's degree or associate degree.