How to Get a Bachelor's Degree

Earning a bachelor’s degree in the United States means enrolling in an undergraduate degree program that involves completing a set number of credit hours and earning a minimum grade point average (GPA) established by the college or university you attend. But there are a number of ways to earn your degree faster.

In this article, we'll review what it takes to get a bachelor’s degree, and how you may be able to accelerate the process. 

How to get a bachelor’s degree: Key facts

The requirements for earning a bachelor’s degree in the US differ by college and institution. But typically, you will need to: 

• Complete at least 120 credit hours of general education, major, and elective coursework

• Earn a minimum cumulative GPA (usually 2.0), as established by your institution

• Finish all coursework within a set time period, usually seven to eight years, though most students earn their bachelor's degree in four to five years 

Some institutions may also require: 

• Continuous enrollment: You must remain enrolled non-stop at your degree-granting institution. If you require significant time off from your coursework, you’ll likely need to apply for a leave of absence, otherwise you’ll need to re-apply for admission when you’re ready to start again.

• Residency: You must either live in the state where the institution is located for a set period of time (generally two years) or complete a certain number of credits from the specific institution. 

• Foreign language: You must complete a certain number of credit hours of a foreign language or fulfill the requirement in another approved way. 

Tip: In order to understand any specialty requirements outside of coursework and GPA, it’s a good idea to search for your institution and either “graduate requirements” or “degree requirements” before applying.

Bachelor’s degree coursework explained

Earning your bachelor's degree means completing a range of coursework that lays a strong liberal arts foundation through general education and elective courses, and exposes you to a specific subject of your choice (known as a college major). Combined, your coursework should total at least 120 credit hours, though each institution’s requirements may differ.  

Let's review the kinds of classes you'll be expected to take in a bachelor's degree program.

General education 

During the first two years of a bachelor's program, you’ll take general education courses—sometimes called core curriculum. These courses usually include introductory subjects in composition, science, and math, as well as electives that offer you a chance to explore or build on your interests. 

Major coursework

As an undergraduate student, you’ll be asked to declare a major—or concentration. Some institutions require you to declare a major as soon as you enroll, while others expect you to do it during the end of your second year (or around the time you finish your gen ed requirements).  

The number of required courses you’ll be expected to complete for your major differs by department, but on average you can expect to take around 30 to 40 credit hours. If you’re considering different programs, be sure to investigate what their requirements are so you have a clear idea about what it will take to finish.  

Read more: What Should I Major In? 5 Things to Evaluate

Minor coursework

Depending on your institution, you may choose to complete a college minor. While not always required, doing so is a way to gain knowledge about a subject area complementary to your major. If you choose to complete a minor, you will likely be expected to complete 18 credit hours in that field.  

Faster ways to earn your bachelor’s degree

Getting to 120 credit hours takes time, but there are ways to speed up how quickly you move through your coursework and earn your degree. Here are a few ways you might be able to complete a bachelor's degree in less time.

Transferring previously earned credits

You may be able to transfer certain credits, applying them to your coursework and reducing the length of time it takes to earn your bachelor’s. Freshmen students may be able to apply their advanced placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate® (IB) courses toward credit if they’ve successfully passed the corresponding exams. Returning or professional students may be able transfer previously earned college credits, including an associate’s degree.

It’s important to note that many on-campus colleges and universities require transfer students to complete a set number of semesters or credit hours at their new institution in order to qualify for graduation, though the exact number varies. Make sure to research any restrictions that may apply to your status as a transfer student. 

Read more: Do College Credits Expire?

Testing out of requirements (CLEP)

The College Board offers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) in 34 introductory college courses, including introduction to psychology, financial accounting, biology, composition, and more. 

Instead of taking a semester-long course, you can register and pay a fee of $89 USD to take an exam that certifies your knowledge in a subject and may be used toward college credit. It’s best to double-check whether your school accepts CLEP tests before signing up for that option. 

Attending summer semesters

While students who attend an on-campus institution are traditionally required to enroll in classes during the fall and spring semester, summer semesters are optional. But they provide an excellent opportunity to take additional classes that count toward your overall total coursework.

Summer semester courses may not be as plentiful compared to other semesters, but taking one or two each summer can speed up the amount of time it takes you to graduate.   

Translating professional experience into credits

Many colleges and universities, especially those that work with professional or returning students, exchange work experience for college credit. You can submit a professional portfolio for credit for prior learning (CPL) or a prior learning assessment (PLA). 

Your experience won’t make up for all of the coursework you need to complete, but if a college or university grants CPL or offers PLA, you may be able to earn up to 30 credits. 

Enrolling in an online bachelor's degree

Online bachelor’s degrees have become an increasingly popular alternative to on-campus degrees, especially among professional and returning students. In fact, many of the same renowned brick-and-mortar institutions have online degree options. 

You may find that you can complete your degree program faster when studying online because often you can control the pace. There are several other benefits that factor into earning a bachelor’s degree online:  

• Flexible scheduling: Whether you attend a live virtual lecture or take your classes asynchronously, learning online tends to be more flexible than relocating and attending in-person classes. Many online degree programs also feature part-time and full-time degree options, so you can complete the required coursework at a pace that best suits you.

• Cost: The total cost of an online bachelor’s degree ranges from $38,496 (in-state) for public institutions to $60,593 for private institutions [1]. Compare that to the average annual cost of tuition alone ($9,400 for public institutions and $37,600), which doesn't include additional costs such as housing and meals [2].

• No residency requirement: Because you don’t need to live in the same state as the college or institution offering your online degree, there’s no residency requirement to fulfill, which means no relocation or commuting costs.  

3 benefits of earning your bachelor’s degree 

While the cost of college requires you to invest both your time and money, the return on investment can be worthwhile. Below, we've gathered three of the stronger reasons why people pursue a bachelor's degree, but you can also read more about whether a bachelor's is worth it.

1. Earning potential 

A bachelor’s degree can amplify your earning potential. Employees with a bachelor’s degree earned a median salary of $74,464 USD in 2022 compared to employees with a high school diploma, who earned $44,356 USD, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [3]. 

While there are high-paying jobs that don't require a degree and are worth exploring, you may find that you need an undergraduate degree to progress to more advanced positions.

2. Career opportunities

A bachelor’s degree has the potential to broaden the types of jobs you qualify for and open up new possibilities. A study conducted by Georgetown University found that 65 percent of all jobs available in the US now require a college degree [4].

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [5], entry-level jobs that tend to require a bachelor’s degree include: 

• Civil engineer

• Computer systems analyst

• Financial analyst

• Graphic designer 

• Human resource specialist 

• Marketing specialist 

• Public relations specialist

• Social worker 

Learn more about the high-paying jobs you can pursue with a bachelor's degree.

3. Career stability 

Earning a bachelor’s degree has also been found to lower your risk of unemployment [3]. 

Thanks to the foundational classes all undergraduate students must take, a bachelor’s degree can also help amplify your communication skills and analytical skills, which are two key transferable skills that may help prepare you for career changes.

Explore online bachelor's degrees on Coursera

Whether you’re looking ahead to the next phase of your education, or you’re considering going back to school to broaden or change career paths, getting a bachelor’s degree can be a lucrative investment. As you’re reviewing your options, explore online bachelor’s degrees in high-demand subjects like data science, management, public health, and marketing from respected universities on Coursera.  

If you’d like more information about what an undergraduate education entails, consider enrolling in the University of Washington’s course Understanding College and College Life, which goes over what faculty expect from undergraduate students, study habit tips, how to choose a major, and more.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)