what does ba ma and phd mean in degrees

What Does BA, MA & PhD Mean in Degrees?

College students have several options when choosing which type of degree to pursue. For some careers, only an undergraduate degree is necessary, while others may require a more advanced degree. It is essential for students to have a general understanding of each type of degree in order to choose the one that is best for their career goals. This article discusses the three main types of college degrees in the United States.

Bachelor's Degrees

There are two different types of bachelor's degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Both are considered undergraduate degrees and require about four to five years of study. Those who study humanities or liberal arts earn a Bachelor of Arts and might work in education, journalism or psychology. Those who study in math or science fields earn a Bachelor of Science and might have careers in accounting, nursing or computer science.

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Master's Degrees

A graduate, advanced or master's degree is the next step. A Master of Arts (M.A.) or a Master of Science (M.S.) degree usually takes about two additional years to earn, and it often requires students to perform original research and write a thesis. Holding a master's degree can make job seekers more competitive in their field or lead to increased salaries. For some positions, such as school administrator, librarian and clinical psychologist, a graduate degree is a necessity.

More For You

The difference in the ph.d. degree vs. the pharm.d. degree, what is the difference between a terminal degree & a research degree, msba vs. mba, purpose of writing a dissertation, how long do you have to go to school for zoology, doctoral degree.

Ph.D. is an abbreviation for "Doctor of Philosophy," commonly called a doctoral degree. It is typically the highest academic degree awarded and requires at least four years of study and extensive original research. Doctoral degree candidates must also complete and defend a dissertation on their research, and often they publish portions of this dissertation during their studies. University professor, scientist and researcher are examples of positions that may require a doctoral degree.

Choosing the Right One

Choosing a degree is an important process and can be overwhelming. Students should research careers they are interested in and seek the help of a college advisor to help determine which type of degree is preferred or necessary in their desired field. It is also important to make sure that the degree is earned from an accredited institution.

• The College Board: Quick Guide: Your College Degree Options
• The College Board: Matching Careers to Degrees
• College Atlas: Types of College Degrees

Houston area native Marie Anderson began writing education articles in 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Science in exercise and sports science and a Master of Science in education administration. She has seven years of teaching and coaching experience within the Texas public school system.

BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD - what do they all mean?

BA, BSc, MA, MSc, PhD (and more) are abbreviations of British degrees.

They reflect the specific level and discipline of a qualification achieved at university.

While most courses are conducted on a full-time basis, there are options for part-time, distance learning and other flexible learning arrangements.

Here is a breakdown of some of the most common qualifications and ones that Aberystwyth University offers.

• BA = Bachelor of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences;
• BSc = Bachelor of Sciences;
• BENG = Bachelor of Engineering (Software, Robotics and Physics);
• LLB = Bachelor of Law.

Achieved after 3 to 4 years of study. The extra year (for a 4 year course) can be from a year studying abroad or a year working in industry.

Integrated-Masters:

• MARTS = Masters of Arts;
• MBIOL = Masters of Biology;
• MCOMP = Masters of Computer Science;
• MENG = Masters of Engineering;
• MMATH = Masters of Mathematics;
• MPHYS = Masters of Physics;
• MSCI = Masters of Sciences and Humanities.

4 years course (3-year Bachelors, 1 year Masters) that enables you to secure a loan for the full duration rather than having to fund a Masters degree separately.

• MA = Masters of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences;
• MSc = Masters of Sciences;
• MBA = Masters of Business Administration;
• MPhil = Masters of Philosophy: Advanced research Masters degree;
• MRes = Masters of Research: Contains some taught and research elements;
• LLM = Masters of Law.

Achieved after graduation from Bachelors level, usually 1-2 years duration.

• PhD = Doctor of Philosophy: for a range of disciplines.

Achieved after graduating from Masters level, usually 3-8 years duration.

A wide range of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Further-Research courses – across the Arts and Sciences – are available at Aberystwyth.

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Deciphering Degrees: An Introduction to Academic Titles

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At any institution of higher learning, there will be individuals with various types of degrees attached to their names. Professors and students alike all have different educational backgrounds, sometimes to the point where juggling all the different acronyms and titles can become confusing.

In this blog post, we’ll go over not only what goes into the various degrees you’ll encounter in higher education, but also provide advice on how to address people of various degrees, a skill you’ll need to have as you interact with individuals of all different education levels in high school, college, and beyond.

Why is it important to know about various degrees?

Degrees and titles are part of the language of higher education. Whether you are at a small liberal arts college or on campus at a larger university, you will hear them tossed around often. Understanding what exactly these degrees mean will not only help you feel more at home, but will also help you understand both your position as a student and others’.

What can degrees tell you?

The degree or title a person has, especially someone who is considered a professional or even an expert, can tell you a lot about their background and expertise. It says what kind of schooling and training they have had.

Furthermore, if the person is one of your professors, or someone teaching your class, it allows you to evaluate their background more carefully — you may be looking for a teacher who can speak to processes of going through higher education in their field. If you intend to get one or all of the degrees in that subject area eventually, it can help to know someone who can explain the process, as it may vary slightly in different fields (for example, some areas of study require extensive time in the lab, while others call for research abroad).

When Evaluating Professors: Terminal Degrees

When you are evaluating a professor on their degrees and titles, it is important to understand the concept of terminal degrees. In some fields, the highest university-given degree or professional degree available is not a doctoral degree. In other words, the “terminal” or end of the education track in that field may be a master’s degree. This phenomenon is emphasized more in the United States, however, and is not discussed as much overseas.

United States Degrees (Not Necessarily the Same in the Rest of the World)

Here, it should be noted that all of the degrees in this article refer to the standards in the United States only. Other countries may have different academic systems, degrees, and titles, that may or may not transfer to the United States’ system. If you plan on attending school abroad, you should look into the degrees of that country specifically, along with whether or not they are broadly recognized if you decide to pursue further studies in the United States.

What are the kinds of degrees one can have?

There are two broad categories that degrees can be broken into: graduate and undergraduate. Undergraduate degrees (associate and bachelor’s degrees) must be awarded before graduate study (master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees) begins, kind of like a prerequisite. Below, the specifics of each degree type are explained.

Associate Degree

An associate degree is awarded for about two years of academic study. These degrees are typically found in programs at community colleges. The abbreviations for this kind of degree depends greatly on the field of study. For example, AA stands for an Associate of Arts, AS stands for Associate of Science, and ABS stands for Associate of Business Science. You can usually identify an associate degree by the “A” at the beginning of the abbreviation.

Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree is awarded for roughly four years of academic study, though it can range from three to seven years depending on the program and institution where it is completed. The bachelor’s degree is the standard degree level awarded by undergraduate colleges — it is not considered a graduate degree.

As with the associate degree, the full title of a bachelor’s degree and its abbreviation depend on the subject area in which the studies were conducted. Most common are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS). Some schools with engineering programs also award the Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). The BS can also be denoted another way: Sc.B. Additionally, at some schools you can get a BA in a science field — different schools have different options and requirements, so a BA does not rule out science as that person’s undergraduate field of study.

There are some other types of bachelor’s degrees as well, but they are rare in the United States and you will likely only encounter BA, BS, and occasionally BSE.

Master’s Degree

The master’s degree is a graduate degree for advanced, specialized study beyond the bachelor’s degree. Master’s degrees are usually awarded for one to three years of graduate study.

The two most common types of master’s degrees are the MA (Master of Arts) and the MS (Master of Science), but there are a wide range of specialized degrees in specific academic and profession fields. These include, but are not limited to MTS (Master of Theological Studies), MSW (Master of Social Work), MFA (Master of Fine Arts), MBA (Master of Business Administration), MPH (Master of Public Health), MPP (Master of Public Policy), and MDiv (Master of Divinity).

Like the bachelor’s degree, some master’s degrees are denoted in various ways. For example, the MS can also be written as Sc.M. Also, some professors may have a master’s degree as their highest degree. Regardless of their degrees and titles, you should always formally address them as “professor” if they have a post-secondary teaching role.

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Doctoral Degree (Academic)

The academic doctoral degree is a graduate degree awarded for extensive, highly specialized study and research. It usually takes five to ten years to complete, and often culminates in the completion of a major piece of research. This is called the doctoral dissertation, and is sometimes published as a book following graduation. The most common kind of doctoral degree is a PhD, but others exist, such as the DBA (Doctor of Business Administration).

Those who have received a doctoral degree are formally addressed as “doctor” or “professor.” The title used depends on their personal preference, but, in general, people with PhDs and similar doctoral degrees are less frequently referred to a “doctor” publicly. The title of doctor is more common for people with medical degrees (explained below). Your college-level classes may be taught by doctoral-degree candidates (another way to describe students in the doctoral program), and TAs are almost always graduate students as well.

Medical Degrees

Medical degrees are graduate-level degrees awarded for extensive, specific training in the medical profession. Doctors receive MDs (Doctor of Medicine), nurses receive MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) and other degrees (like the BSN, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing), dentists receive DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), and veterinarians receives DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). Furthermore, there are other degrees within more specialized fields.

You may also see these degrees among professors in science and health fields. There are practicing doctors (those who see patients), teaching doctors (those who teach students the art of medicine and how to see patients), and researching doctors (those who conduct research) — and some who are two or all three! When speaking to and about people with medical degrees, you should formally address doctors, dentists, and veterinarians as “doctor.”

Law Degrees

Most law students in the United States receive a JD (Juris Doctorate) for three years of legal study. Though this is technically a doctorate degree, it is more often regarded as a professional degree. Also, there is a higher research doctorate in law called the SJD (Doctor of Juridical Science).

People with a JD may write “JD” after their names. Those who actively work as attorneys may add “Esquire” or “Esq.” to their signatures, whether or not they have a JD. When talking to someone who teaches and has a law degree, you should always default to calling them “professor.”

Honorary Degrees

Honorary degrees, known as “Degree Honoris Causa,” are awarded by a college or university to a person that the college would like to specially honor. They are usually named as a doctoral degree, but are sometimes labeled a master’s degree — the exact titles vary because they do not reflect any actual level of study at that school.

Note that honorary degrees do not designate academic or professional study or qualification: You should not assume that a person with an honorary degree has studied what would actually be required to complete the degree. That said, the honorary degree is a sign of great respect and indicates that the person is highly respected by the college. In general, the recipient will not be referred to by the degree title by others — think of it more like an award that will connect them to that school but not change their status or actual qualifications.

There are many degrees, but if you understand them broadly — undergraduate and graduate, and the general types within each category (such as bachelor’s vs. associate’s, and academic doctoral versus medical) — you can get a general understanding of what kind of academic training a person has had.

When in doubt about how to address someone who teaches at your college or university, it is always best to default to “professor.” Those with medical degrees (often people found in the medical professions, like doctors, dentists, and vets) should usually be called “doctor.”

Don’t worry if it is confusing at first — this is all you need to know to start off, and as you make your way through college and academia, the divisions of degrees will become more clear. For now, read our CollegeVine guide Majors, Minors, and More: Which Degree Should You Pursue? to help you tackle your own college degree.

If you are looking to apply for your bachelor’s degree in science or a medical degree, check out our CollegeVine guides A Beginner’s Guide to 7-Year Med Programs and BS/MD Programs vs. Premed: Which One is Right for You?

Alternatively, if your interests are more in the arts, or you want a better understanding of dual-degree programs, read Dual Degree Music Programs: The Best of Both Worlds? , Liberal Arts vs. Professional Education: Which is Better? , and Are Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Programs Right for You?

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Academic Degrees, Professional Designations, and Periods

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Since it’s the season of graduations, I thought it appropriate to talk about how to use academic degrees and professional designations.

Typically, abbreviations of academic degrees are written with periods after each element of the degree:

The term “MBA” is commonly written without periods when talking about an executive with certain training rather than the degree itself. The degree is still “M.B.A.” with the periods.

When using the degree as part of the name, do not use personal titles before the name and only use the degree when using a person’s full name:

• Dr. John Powell, M.D. SHOULD BE John Powell, M.D.
• Mr. John Smith, Ph.D. SHOULD BE John Smith, Ph.D.

However, other titles may precede the name when they do not convey the same meaning as the degree that follows the name:

• Dean John Smith, Ph.D.

When two or more academic degrees follow a name, they should be listed in the order they were awarded and honorary degrees should follow earned degrees.

Professional designations are generally written without periods when used alone, but  with periods when used with academic degrees:

• Frank Brown, CPA
• Frank Brown, B.S., M.B.A., C.P.A.
• Kathy Sieckman, PP, PLS, ACP

List professional designations only where one’s professional qualifications are relevant to the topic under discussion. I take this to mean that when you have worked hard to earn professional certifications, they should be used whenever you are representing your profession.

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The 6 Types of Degrees at University (Associate to Doctorate)

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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The 6 types of university degrees are: associates degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, research doctorate, professional degree, honorary doctorate.

Types of Degrees

1. associate degrees, types of associate degrees.

An associate degree can be awarded for both academic and professional subjects, like marketing and liberal arts, as well as in terminal career and technical programs like nursing and radiography.

Unlike diplomas and certificates, the associate degree is recognized by both the U.S. Government and many other countries.

Degrees earned in academic programs are almost always:

• Associate of Arts (AA)
• Associate of Science (AS)
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) is a common degree in technical and vocational programs, but many indicate the specialization in the name, e.g., Associate of Electrical Engineering Technology (A.E.E.T) [2]

How Long is an Associates Degree?

Associate programs usually take about two years of full-time study or roughly 60 credits to complete. Many students attend part-time and take longer.

How much does an Associates Degree Cost?

Associates degrees have lower tuition costs than other postsecondary degrees. According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, average yearly tuition from 2016-2019 was $3,800 at a public institution, $16,000 at private non-profits, and $19,000 at private for-profits. [3]

Average Tuition Cost for an Associate Degree (Excluding cost of supplies and board)

What Jobs can you Get with an Associates Degree?

Associates degrees offer preparation for many different kinds of careers, from web designer to fire-fighting or the visual arts.

From 2018-2019, some of the most popular were in business, especially accounting, health professions, and liberal arts. [4] Requirements are completed in the classroom and in lab facilities designed to emulate “the real world.”

Learning during an associate degree is predominantly supervised and not self-directed. Most associate degree credits are recognized by undergraduate programs and can be transferred. [5]

How Popular are Associates Degrees?

Title IV Institutions awarded almost one million associate degrees in 2019-2020. Twice as many were awarded by two-year colleges than by four-year universities. [6]

A recent report by Georgetown University concluded not only that associate degrees now almost as common as bachelor degrees, but also that in technical fields they offer an excellent return (median yearly salary) on investment. [7]

2. Bachelor Degrees

Types of bachelor degrees.

Bachelor degrees are offered in a wide range of disciplines, from the fine arts, to engineering, psychology, pre-law, or kinesiology.

Most bachelor degrees are either:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.),

However, but a number of discipline-specific names are also in use. Some of the more common are:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.E. or B.Eng.), and
• Bachelor of Computer Science (B.C.S). [8]

How long is a Bachelors Degree?

Completion of all requirements for a bachelors degree usually takes four years of full-time study or approximately 120 credits. Programs with a work-study component may take five years. In England, you can complete some bachelors degrees in three years.

How Much does a Bachelors Degree Cost?

A bachelor’s degree is expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, tuition at public institutions for in-state resident averaged $8500/yr in 2019.

Average tuition at private for-profit schools was $17.5/k year and at nonprofit institutions $30k/yr. Books and supplies are estimated at another $1200/yr. For students living on-campus, room and board is an additional $10,000. [9]

Average Tuition Cost for a Bachelor’s Degree (Excluding cost of supplies and board)

How you Learn in a Bachelor Degree

Bachelor degrees are designed to either prepare the student for entry-level positions in the labor market or advanced research.

Courses are taught by instructors with graduate-level qualifications often with the help of currently enrolled graduate students.

Bachelor degrees require both breadth and specialization. The student must both complete advanced coursework in a declared “major” discipline and general education requirements (languages, introductory-level courses in other academic departments, etc.).

An assigned faculty advisor is responsible for helping the student construct a curriculum in which the two components complement each other and prepare the student appropriately for the next stage of their career. [10]

How is a Bachelor with Honors Different?

A bachelor degree with honors requires more independent study, the successful submission of a thesis or portfolio-type project, and oftentimes-stringent admission qualifications.

In other words, a bachelor with honors additionally requires seeing a large project through to completion and maintaining high academic standards. [11]

How Popular are Bachelors Degrees?

Bachelor degrees are the most common postsecondary award in America. 36% of the adult population over the age of 25 holds one and that proportion has been rising over the past decade. [12]

Roughly two million bachelor degrees were awarded by Title IV institutions in 2019-2020. [13]

Read Also: Is a Liberal Arts Degree Useless?

3. Master Degrees

Types of masters degrees.

A master’s degree is the first and most popular graduate-level award in the U.S. higher education system.

The most common academic master’s degrees are:

• Master of Arts (M.A.) and
• Master of Science (M.S.).

It is also common for professional fields to specify the subject matter of the program in the award title, e.g.:

• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) or
• Master of Public Health

In recent years, doctoral research programs have increasingly accepted applicants without a master’s degree. The most common awards include health and medical fields, social services, public administration, business, and education. [14]

How long is a Master’s Degree?

Masters programs are usually two years, but can vary to accommodate part-time studies or the acquisition of additional skills.

How much does a Master’s Degree Cost?

Average tuition for a master’s degree is about $20k/yr. This varies widely between school and program. For example, although the average tuition at public institutions is only $12k/yr, the average among the most expensive schools (75 th percentile or more) is almost $45k. [15]

2021-2022 tuition fees for a Master in Business Administration at Columbia are a whopping $77k/yr. [16]

What are the Requirements for a Master’s Degree?

The requirements for a master’s degree in an academic field are generally four-fold:

• Completion of graduate-level courses;
• Passing of comprehensive exams in the specialty field as well as at least one subfield;
• Preparation and defense of a master’s thesis.

A faculty supervisor is responsible for helping the student craft a curriculum appropriate for their future goals and supervising the research project. In the fine arts, a portfolio or large project will often be substituted for the thesis.

In some professional fields, it is common for master’s degrees to be structured as for other academic degrees such as a bachelor’s. This is especially true of engineering, computer science, and public health.

In other fields, programs are structured to prepare students to work outside the academic research setting. Professional internships are a frequent component of these degrees as well as the completion of courses and a large capstone project.

How Popular are Masters Degrees?

The proportion of the population that holds a master’s degree has doubled in the last two decades, rising from 10.4% to 21%. [17]

Title IV institutions awarded 844k master’s degrees in 2019-2020. [18]

4. Research Doctorate

Types of doctorates.

The research doctorate is the highest academic qualification in the American education system.

By far the most common doctorate is the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

More than three-quarters of all earned doctorates in 2019 were in the sciences and engineering. [19] Between those two fields, the life sciences and psychology and the social sciences are most common.

Although the sheer number of doctorates awarded in non-sciences and engineering fields each year continues to grow, they account for a smaller percentage than before the economic downturn of 2008. [20]

How Long is a Doctorate?

A doctorate usually takes between six and nine years to complete. Students tend to complete faster in the sciences and engineering fields than in the humanities , arts, or education.

Over the past two decades, the median time of completion for most degrees has stayed the same. In education, this number recently fell to twelve years (from more than fourteen in 2000).

How Much Does a Doctorate Cost?

Most research doctorate programs offer funding of some kind to admitted students. Often, the terms of their enrolment include teaching, laboratory, or research service in exchange for tuition and stipend.

This funding is often only for the first years of doctoral work, and afterwards the student is expected to secure grants and scholarships from within the university or from external sources like the NHS (in England).

In 2019, less than 30% of doctorate recipients in science and engineering fields excluding psychology and social sciences reported holding debt related to their graduate education. In psychology and social sciences, humanities and arts, and in other non-S&E fields, about 50%; in education, less than 50%. [21]

What to Expect

Structured doctoral programs combine doctoral-level coursework, comprehensive exams, and the submission and oral defense of a doctoral dissertation before a committee of two-to-five senior faculty.

In the sciences, it is not uncommon for the dissertation to be substituted with a portfolio of two-or-three articles published in peer-reviewed journals about the candidate’s research project.

Most doctoral programs in the United States include some form of work experience for the student, either in preparation for a role as a postsecondary instructor or as a laboratory researcher.

In 2019, more than 40% of all doctorate recipients with jobs were employed in academia. Those employed in industry or business had higher median annual salaries. [22]

How Popular are Doctorates?

Approximately 56k doctoral degrees were awarded in 2019-2020. [23]

5. Professional Degrees

Types of professional degrees.

There are ten fields that award professional degrees that prepare a student to qualify for state licensure in their field.

Tuition fees vary widely between programs. The figures provided are approximated medians.

• Medicine (M.D. And D.O.) — $30k resident $60k non-resident /yr —4 years [24]
• Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) — $32k resident $55k non-resident /yr — 4 years [25]
• Law (J.D.) — $25k resident $50k nonresident /yr — 4 years [26]
• Dentistry (D.D.S. Or D.M.D) — $55k resident $72k non-resident /yr — 4 years [27]
• Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) — $25k resident $50k non-resident /yr — 4 years [28]
• Optometry (O.D.) — $36k resident $50k non-resident /yr — 4 years [29]
• Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod. D.) — $40k/yr — 4 year [30]
• Physical Therapy (D.P.T.)— $18k resident $40k nonresident /yr — 3-4 years [31]
• Audiology (Au.D.)— $40k resident $100k/non-resident / full — 10 semesters [32]
• Chiropractic (D.C. Or D.C.M.)— $30k /yr — 4 years [33]

Divinity (D.Min or M.Div) is an outlier. Both tuition costs and program lengths vary widely in these programs, as does the focus of their curriculum. Some programs specialize in international missionary work, others in leading a local congregation.

What is the Purpose of a Professional Degree?

Professional degrees are designed to prepare someone for a specific profession that requires a license to practice.

Professional degree programs are generally accredited by a specialized agency. State-level licensing boards set their own policies about degree requirements, qualifying institutions, and mandatory standardized entrance or examinations, like the MCATs, LSATs, and bar exams.

In other words, professional licensure is not always easily transferable from one jurisdiction to another. [34]

6. Honorary Doctorates

Honorary degrees do not have formal requirements but are instead awarded in recognition for outstanding achievement to either the university or society at large.

The submission and selection process for honorary degrees is often shrouded in secrecy. At most universities, several people are nominated for such awards each year and discussed at length in closed-committee meetings. [35]

The recipient is often asked to deliver a formal speech at commencement ceremonies. For example, Dr. John Gottman addressed the crowd of University of Wisconsin-Madison graduates in 2020 on the occasion of his honorary PhD in recognition of his work on marital stability and divorce prediction. [36] While other diplomas open doors to further academic or professional studies, an honorary degree recognizes work already accomplished.

It is considered bad form for the holder to use the formal address “Dr.”, with the notable exception of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from both University of St. Andrews (1759) and Oxford (1762).

Honorary degrees are awarded for far more than research, however.

Philanthropists, musicians, politicians, and entrepreneurs are frequent recipients. Oprah has four (Princeton, Howard University, Duke University, and Harvard), and before winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, Malala Yousafzai was granted an honorary master’s for her work on children’s education from the University of Edinburgh. [37]

Because honorary degrees are a public and explicit acknowledgement of outstanding contribution, the actions of recipients can pose problems for university PR departments, often years later.

For example, Bill Cosby collected over sixty honorary degrees from such illustrious institutions as Temple, NYU, and Yale and was once a frequent fixture of college commencement podiums. Since 2015, most of these awards have been rescinded. [38]

Likewise, Pres. Donald Trump began his run for office with five honorary doctorates (LeHigh, Robert Gordon, Wagner, and Liberty), but in 2021, all but the two from Liberty have been revoked. [39]

Honorary degrees have long been criticized as a shady means of fundraising. Universities like the Michigan Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia, for example, have policies that prohibit these awards. [40] Others, like UCLA, have suspended the practice and award medals of recognition instead. [41]

In recent years, Internet sellers of honorary doctorates have become more common. Often these “colleges” claim “accreditation” from an acronym-named board with no government recognition. In exchange for a sizeable sum, the donor receives by mail an impressive-looking diploma to adorn their wall.

There are six major types of university degrees. These range in progression from an associates degree up to a doctorate. Below associates degree are certificates and diplomas, which are not considered degrees.

Usually, you cannot get one degree until you have completed the lower form of degree. The major exception is an honorary doctorate, which is recognition for life’s work rather than coursework. Still, honorary doctorates are not honored as true degrees.

[1] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[2] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[3] . The U.S. Department of Education only receives information from “Title IV” institutions, or those that qualify for federal aid programs.

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2011 and Winter 2016-17 through Winter 2019-20, Student Financial Aid component; and Fall 2010 through Fall 2019, Institutional Characteristics component. (This table was prepared September 2020.)

[4] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2009 through Fall 2019, Completions component. (This table was prepared June 2020).

[5] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[6] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Fall 2020, Completions component (provisional data).

[7] https://1gyhoq479ufd3yna29x7ubjn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/CEW-SubBA-PR.pdf

[8] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[9] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Fall 2020, Institutional Characteristics component (provisional data).

[10] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[11] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[12] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2020/educational-attainment.html

[13] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Fall 2020, Completions component (provisional data).

[14] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[15] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), “Fall Enrollment Survey” (IPEDS-EF:89-99), “Completions Survey” (IPEDS-C:90-99), and “Institutional Characteristics Survey” (IPEDS-IC:89-99); IPEDS Fall 2000 through Fall 2018, Institutional Characteristics component; and IPEDS Spring 2001 through Spring 2019, Fall Enrollment component. (This table was prepared December 2019.)

[16] https://academics.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/tuition-financial-aid

[17] https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/02/number-of-people-with-masters-and-phd-degrees-double-since-2000.html .

[18] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Fall 2020, Completions component (provisional data).

[19] https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21308/report/fields-of-study

[20] https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21308/report/fields-of-study

[21] https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21308/report/executive-summary

[22] https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21308/report/postgraduation-trends

[23] https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21308/report/executive-summary

[24] https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/reporting-tools/report/tuition-and-student-fees-reports

[25] https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/funding-your-degree/cost-comparison-tool/

[26] https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/law-school-cost-starting-salary

[27] https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/dental-statistics/education

[28] https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aacpdata/viz/TuitionDashboard_16300967895330/TuitionandFeesDashboard

[29] https://www.sco.edu/optometry-schools-in-usa ; https://eyesoneyecare.com/resources/the-best-optometry-schools/

[30] https://www.aacpm.org/wp-content/uploads/2018-2019_CIB_FINAL_FOR-WEB-1.pdf

[31] https://www.ptprogress.com/best-physical-therapy-schools/

[32]   https://www.asha.org/siteassets/uploadedfiles/data-at-a-glance-for-audiology.pdf ; https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-health-professions/hearing-and-speech/audiology-(aud)/tuition-costs-and-financial-assistance.html

[33] https://handsdownbetter.org/about-chiropractic/ ; http://doctorly.org/cost-vs-reward-of-a-chiropractic-school-education/

[34] https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-structure-us.html

[35] https://commencement.jhu.edu/our-history/honorary-degree-nominations/ https://www.nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance/policies-and-guidelines/honorary-degrees-policy-statement0.html .

[36] https://news.wisc.edu/broadway-star-prominent-psychologist-to-be-speakers-for-spring-commencement-ceremonies .

[37] https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2013/malala-211013 .

[38] https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-academy-has-spoken-but-how-will-colleges-handle-cosby-630691/ https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/09/bill-cosby-is-being-stripped-of-his-honorary-doctorates/408235/

[39] https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2021/01/09/liberty-is-now-the-only-university-to-not-rescind-donald-trumps-honorary-degrees/?sh=6f3d635c10b9

[40] https://news.mit.edu/2001/commdegrees .

[41] http://www.adminpolicies.ucla.edu/APP/Number/140 .

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2 thoughts on “The 6 Types of Degrees at University (Associate to Doctorate)”

I’m unsure if you have your statistics in the proper order when discussing Bachelor degrees; how is it that at a private non-profit the cost is significantly elevated in comparison with the for-profit cost? In the previous section for Associate degrees it is more expensive to attend the for-profit universities, which makes sense, as they are seeking to profit.

Good catch – the sources on this seem credible to me, though, so not sure why this is the case. There may be some market incentives or interventions that skew the data? I’d be curious if any other readers have an answer to this.

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