Options for going back to school

Choosing a Degree Level

Knowing the field and career you are pursuing will help you determine what degree level you should pursue.

There are 4 college degree levels:

• Associate’s degree: Approximately 2 years of full-time study (60 credit hours); Qualifies you for entry-level jobs in some fields. (An associate’s degree is not a required pre-requisite to earning your bachelor’s degree. You can skip the associate’s degree if you already know that you want to complete your bachelor’s degree.)
• Bachelor’s degree: Approximately 4 years of full-time study (120 credit hours); Qualifies you for entry-level or management positions, depending on the field
• Master’s degree: Approximately 1-2 years of full-time study beyond the Bachelor’s degree; Qualifies you for advanced or executive-level positions
• Doctoral degree: Approximately 3-5 years of full-time study beyond the Bachelor’s degree / May require earning your Master’s degree first, but not always; Qualifies you as a field expert to work in business or research, or as a college professor

The most commonly pursued degree is the bachelor’s, but which degree is right for you depends on your goals. Try searching the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website for the career you’re considering to find out what type of degree is necessary.