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If you’re exploring higher education options, one of the first distinctions you’ll encounter is between undergraduate and graduate degrees. While both are essential steps in academic and career development, they differ significantly in structure, purpose, and expectations. Understanding how they compare will help you make smarter decisions about where to start—or where to go next.
What Is an Undergraduate Degree?
An undergraduate degree is your first level of academic qualification after high school. In the U.S., this usually means earning either an Associate’s or a Bachelor’s degree. You’ll take a broad range of classes in your first year or two—often including English, math, history, and science—before narrowing into your major.
It’s your foundation. And for most careers or graduate programs, it’s non-negotiable.
Types of Undergraduate Programs
Here are two types of the undergraduate programs you should know:
| Degree | Typical Length | Description |
| Associate’s (AA/AS) | 2 years | Offered by community colleges, can lead to direct employment or transfer into a Bachelor’s program |
| Bachelor’s (BA/BS) | 4 years | Offered by universities and colleges, includes general education and major-specific coursework |
Typical Duration of Undergraduate Study
Most Bachelor’s programs in the U.S. take four years to complete. However, factors like part-time enrollment, transferring schools, or taking extra summer classes can shorten or extend that timeline. Associate’s degrees typically take two years, but many students use them as a stepping stone to a full Bachelor’s degree.
Common Fields of Study at the Undergraduate Level
Undergraduate students often choose from broad academic fields like:
- Business Administration
- Biology or Pre-Med
- Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, etc.)
- Psychology
- English Literature
- Computer Science
- Political Science
You can also major in interdisciplinary or pre-professional fields such as Environmental Studies or Pre-Law.
What Is a Graduate Degree?
A graduate degree is an advanced academic program that builds on knowledge acquired in an undergraduate program. It’s more specialized, research-focused, and often aligned with a specific career path or area of expertise.
Graduate degrees include Master’s programs (like MS, MA, MBA) and Doctoral programs (PhD, MD, JD).
Types of Graduate Programs
Here are two types of the graduate programs you should know:
| Degree Type | Examples | Typical Path |
| Master’s | MA (Arts), MS (Science), MBA (Business), MEd (Education) | 1-2 years of advanced coursework and/or thesis |
| Doctoral | PhD, MD, JD, EdD | 3-7 years, includes dissertation, research, or clinical work |
Graduate programs may be terminal (ending in a career) or lead to further academic work.
Duration and Requirements for Earning a Graduate Degree
“My field averages a 3 year masters. PhD can vary from 5 (which is pretty quick) to 7 years. Not uncommon to hit 7. Degrees are thesis based and a masters is optional…”
Most Master’s degrees take 1 to 2 years, depending on the field and whether you attend full-time. PhDs can take anywhere from 3 to 7 years and often involve original research, teaching assistantships, and a final dissertation. Medical, legal, and education degrees come with licensing and certification requirements on top of coursework.
Popular Fields for Graduate Students
Students pursue graduate programs for deeper specialization in areas such as:
- Data Science
- Law
- Public Health
- Education
- Business (MBA)
- Psychology and Counseling
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biomedical Research
Graduate degrees often lead to roles in academia, industry leadership, policy-making, or professional practice.
What Is the Difference Between Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees?
The difference between graduate and undergraduate degrees comes down to academic level, purpose, and depth of study. Undergraduate degrees—such as associate or bachelor’s degrees—are the first level of university education. They focus on broad foundational knowledge, exploration of majors, and general academic growth. Most students enter undergraduate programs directly after high school.
Graduate degrees—like master’s or doctoral (Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.) programs—come after earning a bachelor’s degree. These programs dive deeper into a specific field, emphasizing advanced theory, research, and professional specialization. While undergraduate study often encourages a wide lens on knowledge, graduate education is much more narrow and focused, designed to produce subject-matter experts.
Here’s a comparison:
| Feature | Undergraduate Degree | Graduate Degree |
| Entry Requirement | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor’s degree |
| Purpose | Foundational education and exploration | Specialization, advanced research, or training |
| Typical Duration | 3-4 years (Bachelor’s) | 1-3 years (Master’s), 4-7+ years (Doctoral) |
| Focus | Broad; general education + major courses | Narrow; highly focused field of study |
| Final Requirement | Coursework, capstone, or thesis (sometimes) | Thesis, dissertation, or applied project |
| Common Degrees | BA, BS, BFA | MA, MS, MBA, PhD, JD, MD |
What Is the Role of Graduate School in Higher Education?
Graduate school acts as a bridge between undergraduate theory and professional or academic practice. It’s designed for students ready to contribute original research, become thought leaders in their field, or enter highly specialized industries.
Graduate degrees are often required for university teaching, advanced research roles, or licensed professions such as clinical psychology, law, or medicine.
How to Choose Between an Undergraduate and Graduate Program?
“In a nutshell I would say undergrad is about being told what to do and doing it. Grad school is about figuring out what you want to do and doing it”
If you’re fresh out of high school or still figuring out what you want to do long-term, an undergraduate program gives you the structure and time to explore. You’ll take general education courses, try out different majors, and gradually specialize as you go. It’s designed to give you a foundation across disciplines and help you grow personally, socially, and academically.
Graduate programs, on the other hand, are about depth. They’re for students who already have a clear direction and want to go further in a specific field—whether that’s research, teaching, medicine, law, or business. You won’t be taking introductory courses or bouncing between departments. Instead, you’ll dive deep into one subject area, often contributing original work, conducting research, or building advanced professional skills. Most grad programs expect a higher level of independence, motivation, and academic maturity.
There’s also a big difference in admissions. Undergraduate programs typically consider your high school performance, standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and personal essays. Graduate schools are more focused on your college GPA, letters of recommendation, and your fit with the program’s goals. Some even require work experience or a portfolio.
Legacy Online School helps students navigate both paths, whether they’re building a strong undergrad application or preparing to apply to competitive graduate programs later on.
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Top Tips from Our Expert
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Ana Lucía Torres, Senior Learning Advisor
Sources: Reddit
