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How Many Credits Do You Need to Earn a Bachelor’s Degree?
By
Savannah Dawson
Prior to coming to Scholarships360 for her first internship in 2022, Savannah utilized her campus publications by joining various fashion publications that are offered at Ohio University. One of those publications is Thread Magazine, where Savannah has had the opportunity to work on articles related to world-wide related fashion news and events, as well as articles closer to home, such as a fashion piece on Athens hometown-hero Joe Burrow. This year, Savannah also had the opportunity to be a content writing intern for Aiken House, as well as a section editor for Southeast Ohio Magazine. In 2023, Savannah served as the Chapter President of her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta. These collective experiences, as well as her experience currently working for Ohio University’s Undergraduate Admissions, has led her to Scholarships360 and aided in her passion for helping students better understand the college admissions process and financial aid. In her free time, Savannah enjoys horseback riding, watching Formula One races, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. Savannah will graduate from Ohio University in May 2024 with a degree in Journalism News and Information and a certificate in Italian Studies.
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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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How many credits a student needs for a bachelor’s degree depends on multiple factors. What college or university you choose to attend, as well as what your field of study is, usually determines how many credits are needed for a bachelor’s degree. Let’s look into what you need to know about bachelor’s degrees and credits needed to earn one!
What is a bachelor’s degree?
A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree that typically takes four years to complete. Some people are able to complete it in a shorter amount of time, and others take a bit more than four years.
Bachelor’s degrees prepare students for the type of knowledge needed for the real world once they graduate and move onto their chosen careers. This is why students must choose a major during their time completing their undergraduate degree.
There are also several types of bachelor’s degrees that a student can attain, depending on what career path they choose to take. Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science are two of the most popular bachelor degrees. Usually, a bachelor’s degree requires students to earn 120 college credits.
What are college credits?
College credits are the system used by colleges and universities to track how much time you have spent learning certain subjects– from your general education requirements to your specialty (or your major).
Some colleges will say that one credit hour is equal to one hour in class a week, and two hours of homework, which can be true for many people. Some classes meet for longer than an hour a week, so this formula varies. Most college courses meet for a total of 9 hours a week for an entire semester. This is normally three credit hours.
Also see: Why should I earn college credit in high school?
How many credits do you need to complete your bachelor’s degree?
In general, bachelor’s degree programs require that students complete 120 credits to graduate. Most students will actually take more than 120 credit hours because they may choose to pick up a second major or start a minor or certificate. This evens out to about 40 classes over the course of four years as a fulltime student. This may seem a lot now, but if you are averaging at five classes a semester, this is normal, and it doesn’t feel like much when you are experiencing it hands on.
Some colleges and universities may also require students to complete an internship program prior to graduation. These programs usually count for college credit as well, depending on the school.
Final thoughts for students
Although this may seem like it is very cut and dry, there are so many variations of these rules when it comes to each college. For example, you may already have some college credits coming into college from high school. If you took Advanced Placement (AP) classes or International Baccalaureate (IB), they usually carry over to some sort of college credit. This can be beneficial so that you can give yourself the opportunity to finish your degree early. Remember, there are also state specific programs that allow you to earn college credit in high school. For example, Ohio has the College Credit Plus Program, which offers free college classes for eligible high school students.
Additional resources
At Scholarships360, we understand that the college admissions process can be challenging, so let us take some weight off of your shoulders! We have so many resources right at your fingertips, from our scholarship database to tips on writing your college admissions essays. Good luck!
Frequently asked questions about how many credits you need for a bachelor’s degree
What is a bachelor’s degree?
Do I have to stop at 120 credits in my Undergraduate studies?
Do college classes I took in high school count toward my 120 credit hours in my undergraduate studies?
If I am a transfer student from another college, will my credit hours count towards my degree at my new school?
