{"id":19484,"date":"2021-01-23T02:21:41","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T10:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=19484"},"modified":"2025-09-30T14:43:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T21:43:49","slug":"college-degree-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/college-degree-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"Four College Degree Levels that Lead to High-Level Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A college degree greatly improves your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/trade-school-vs-college\/\">career&nbsp;<\/a>opportunities, earning potential, and understanding of academic subjects. People who have a diploma from any one of the college degree levels listed below can work in specialized fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, employers actively seek out people who possess any of these four degree types. In fact, it is becoming important for individuals to earn one for most career fields.<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- load the widget code --><div class=\"esy_widget_container esy_type_search\" style=\"min-height:175px\"><\/div><script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) {ESY.Widget({category_id: '',domain_id: 'careerkarma.com',widget_id: '945946',custom_options: '',tags: '',intro: '',type: 'search'});});<\/script><!-- END load the widget code -->\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are several college degrees out there, and their completion times range from a few years to several. Some careers allow you to work without a degree. However, many others require you to have a bachelor\u2019s degree at the least. Even for just an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/best-paying-entry-level-tech-jobs\/\">entry-level position<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, which degree do you need to succeed? Below, you\u2019ll find a guide to college degree levels and what they\u2019re like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-college-degree-levels\">4 College Degree Levels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-associate-degree\">Associate Degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/what-is-an-associate-degree\/\">Associate degrees<\/a>&nbsp;take the least amount of time to earn in university or college. These programs typically last two years and are designed to give students a basic understanding of their chosen topic. The main goal of an associate degree is to provide students with the necessary qualifications for entry-level work in their chosen field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within the two years that students earn their associate degree, they earn 60 credit hours. There are some accelerated associate programs, which means you can earn a degree within a year of studying.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-types-of-associate-degrees\"><strong>Types of Associate Degrees<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Associate degrees come in four types: Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Applied Arts (AAA), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/associate-of-arts\/\">Associate of Arts<\/a>&nbsp;and Associate of Science degrees focus on developing students\u2019 core knowledge. Students take introductory courses based on their chosen concentration. These programs often focus on theory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For students who work toward an AA, they take liberal arts or humanities courses along with classes in their concentration. Students working toward the AS degree typically take courses focused on the hard sciences, such as biology, mathematics, and chemistry. Both the AA and the AS degrees are recommended for students who want to pursue their bachelor\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students working toward their applied degrees, the AAA and AAS, focus on their technical skills for certain jobs. These degrees are for students who want to earn the qualifications they need to go directly into the job market after graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with the above programs, the arts degree has a stronger emphasis on humanities courses while science degrees emphasize the hard sciences. In either case, you\u2019ll be taking more hands-on and practical coursework, compared to the more theoretical coursework offered in the other degree programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some individuals choose an associate degree to help launch their careers. These degrees show potential employers they have the knowledge necessary to work in their chosen field. However, many others elect to use this degree as a stepping stone toward higher education, such as a bachelor\u2019s degree or a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"967\" height=\"725\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library.jpg\" alt=\"Modern brick and concrete academic building under a blue sky\" class=\"wp-image-28677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library.jpg 967w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library-770x577.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library-20x15.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/library-385x289.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bachelor-s-degree\">Bachelor\u2019s Degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next level of degree beyond associate is a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/bachelors-degree\/\">bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a>. These degrees usually take four years to complete and students take anywhere from 120 to 128 semester or credit hours for the program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students typically complete a bachelor\u2019s degree program within four years. However, it\u2019s not uncommon for individuals to take five or even six years to earn their degrees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to associate programs, some colleges and universities also offer&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/fastest-online-degree-programs\/\">accelerated bachelor\u2019s degree programs<\/a>. However, students in these programs study year-round without a break in order to quickly complete their degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the key reasons why a bachelor\u2019s degree is so popular is the numerous degree concentrations colleges offer. Bachelor\u2019s degrees are also a strong entry point for many high-level careers, whether they\u2019re professional, technical entrepreneurial, artistic, or creative.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another offering for students who work toward their bachelor\u2019s degree is to bundle it with a master\u2019s program. When bundling the two programs, students can earn both degrees within a period of five to six years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-four-types-of-bachelor-s-degrees-nbsp\"><strong>Four Types of Bachelor\u2019s Degrees&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are four types of bachelor&#8217;s degrees:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bachelor of Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bachelor of Arts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bachelor of Applied Science<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bachelor of Fine Arts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each type of bachelor&#8217;s degree has a different requirement and set of concentrations. Depending on your major, you will earn a bachelor\u2019s degree that corresponds to your major.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you wanted to major in biology, you\u2019d earn a Bachelor of Science. Below is a guide to each type of bachelor\u2019s degree:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/bachelor-of-science\/\">Bachelor of Science<\/a>&nbsp;degree typically means you\u2019ll take multiple courses in science. This includes life science, physical science, and mathematical science. These courses are taken along with courses directly related to your degree concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/bachelor-of-arts\/\">Bachelor of Arts<\/a>&nbsp;degree means you\u2019ll typically take courses in arts. This includes fine arts, music, social sciences, and humanities, along with courses related to your degree concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Bachelor of Applied Science is a degree program that focuses on technical and practical sciences in real-world and lab settings. Many of the applied science topics involve taking courses that are both general and specifically related to your degree concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/bachelor-fine-arts\/\">Bachelor of Fine Arts<\/a>&nbsp;degree is earned in a more unique manner compared to the others listed above. Students that work toward this degree typically take a set of liberal arts courses. They also take practical and studio courses for general and specific areas related to their artistic focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bachelor\u2019s degree is one of the more common degree types for many individuals. However, there are even more advanced degree options available to those who want to pursue higher education. This comes in the form of a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/masters-degree-student.jpg\" alt=\"College student wearing glasses and a shite shirt in a library \" class=\"wp-image-28678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/masters-degree-student.jpg 500w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/masters-degree-student-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/masters-degree-student-385x256.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-master-s-degree\">Master\u2019s Degree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Above a bachelor\u2019s degree is the master\u2019s degree. A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/masters-degree\/\">master\u2019s degree<\/a>&nbsp;is a graduate-level program, which means you must complete an undergraduate program and earn your bachelor\u2019s degree before you can enroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some schools allow you to bypass the process of earning your bachelor\u2019s degree first by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/dual-masters-degree-programs\/\">bundling a bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree<\/a>&nbsp;program into one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Master\u2019s degree programs are both intensive and demanding. On top of coursework, students must do research, hold internships, and take comprehensive exams. They may even have to complete a thesis, capstone project, or dissertation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earning a master\u2019s degree opens up more job opportunities, higher salary options, and advancement opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-master-s-degree-types\"><strong>Master\u2019s Degree Types<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Master of Science program is for most of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. It also encompasses many of the hard science subjects, such as physics and chemistry. The program typically involves a lot of research and may require students to do field or laboratory work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Master of Arts program involves most liberal arts, social sciences, and humanities programs. Several subjects have Master of Arts degrees related to them, such as English, political science, communications, history, and education, just to name a few. Students undertaking this program typically have dissertation work, take exams, and go to lectures and seminars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also several master\u2019s degrees that are specific to multiple disciplines. Many of these fall under the two categories mentioned above. However, there are others that fall under their own specialized categories and have unique requirements for completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Woman with long black hair wearing black and yellow graduation robes at a graduation ceremony\" class=\"wp-image-28679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd-385x257.jpg 385w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/phd.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Doctoral Degree (Doctorate)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For most fields, the doctorate is the highest college degree available. Also called the terminal degree, the doctorate degree demonstrates that you have reached complete academic mastery and understanding of your chosen field. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people who earn their doctorate degree do so for the opportunity to work as an executive leader, professor, or researcher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The demands of this degree are enormous and require a great deal of time, energy, and money for many programs. For some professional roles, it is required you earn a doctorate degree, such as practicing psychology or becoming a professor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> A doctorate degree typically takes anywhere from four to six years to complete. On average, a Ph.D. is earned within eight years. The length of time it takes to earn your doctorate is based on numerous factors. This includes the subject you\u2019re studying, the design of the program, and what your chosen institution offers.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-types-of-doctoral-degrees\"><strong>Types of Doctoral Degrees<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-applied-doctorate\"><strong>Applied Doctorate<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Also known as the professional doctorate, the applied doctorate focuses on developing real-world skills and knowledge. This is for application at the highest level, in whatever your chosen profession may be.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This doctorate encompasses many professions, such as healthcare, business, and legal studies. These doctorates typically require fewer credits and take slightly less time to earn than a Ph.D. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-doctor-of-philosophy\"><strong>Doctor of Philosophy<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ph.D. program is the most commonly referred to as doctorate degree type. This program is more focused on research. While it is referred to as a \u201cphilosophy\u201d degree, it actually focuses on the pursuit of knowledge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This degree is for those who wish to do research in their chosen field. Many concentrations involve earning a doctor of philosophy, such as religion, healthcare, and education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vasily-koloda-8CqDvPuo_kI-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"students in graduation robes throwing their hats in front of a white concrete academic building\" class=\"wp-image-28680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vasily-koloda-8CqDvPuo_kI-unsplash.jpg 640w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vasily-koloda-8CqDvPuo_kI-unsplash-20x13.jpg 20w, https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/vasily-koloda-8CqDvPuo_kI-unsplash-385x257.jpg 385w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-in-conclusion\">In Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The four college degree levels involve in-depth study and take several years to complete. Not every career path requires a doctorate and many people still land great jobs without having to earn their doctorate or master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typically, people earn their bachelor\u2019s degrees and don\u2019t pursue a higher degree level unless they wish to advance their careers even further.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to choose a career path or topic that has your interest. Select the degree type based on your interest. Choose the degree level based on your career choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A college degree greatly improves your&nbsp;career&nbsp;opportunities, earning potential, and understanding of academic subjects. People who have a diploma from any one of the college degree levels listed below can work in specialized fields. Today, employers actively seek out people who possess any of these four degree types. In fact, it is becoming important for individuals&hellip;","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":7400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25395],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-19484","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-degrees"},"acf":{"post_sub_title":"","sprint_id":"","query_class":"Best {subject} {course type}","school_sft":"","parent_sft":"","school_privacy_policy":"","has_review":"","is_sponser_post":"","is_guest_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Levels of College Degrees: Four Degree Types for Students - Career Karma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn all about the four levels of college degrees, what it takes to earn each one, and which college degree level fits your career choice.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/college-degree-levels\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Four College Degree Levels that Lead to High-Level Careers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn all about the four levels of college degrees, what it takes to earn each one, and which college degree level fits your career choice.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/college-degree-levels\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Career Karma\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/careerkarmaapp\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-01-23T10:21:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-30T21:43:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/michael-marsh-U0dBV_QeiYk-unsplash.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"786\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Brandon Woods\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@career_karma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Brandon Woods\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Brandon Woods\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/5d3192a3b42875288a13706deb6d928f\"},\"headline\":\"Four College Degree Levels that Lead to High-Level Careers\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-23T10:21:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-30T21:43:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1637,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/10\\\/michael-marsh-U0dBV_QeiYk-unsplash.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Degrees\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/careerkarma.com\\\/blog\\\/college-degree-levels\\\/\",\"name\":\"Levels of College Degrees: Four Degree Types for Students - 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