Highest College Degree Types: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of higher education can be a daunting task, especially when trying to understand the different types of college degrees available. From associate to doctoral degrees, each level offers unique opportunities and career paths. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the highest college degree types, helping you make informed decisions about your educational future.

Understanding College Degree Levels

College degrees are broadly categorized into undergraduate and graduate degrees. Undergraduate degrees include associate and bachelor’s degrees, while graduate degrees encompass master’s and doctoral degrees. Each level signifies a different depth of knowledge and specialization in a particular field.

Associate Degree

An associate degree is often referred to as a two-year degree and is typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and career colleges. Some four-year universities also offer this degree. As Dylan Talbot '23, an admission counselor at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), notes, "Associate degrees are known as a 2-year degree and are the first degree you can obtain beyond completing a high school diploma, or equivalent."

Types of Associate Degrees:

Associate of Arts (AA): AA degrees are broader in scope and focus on fields outside of math and science, such as liberal arts, business administration, criminal justice, and culinary arts.
Associate of Science (AS): AS degrees are generally narrowly focused and prepare students for science and math-related careers.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS): AAA and AAS degrees are similar to the other associate degrees but tend to incorporate a more hands-on experience in the classroom and specialized courses. They are designed to provide practical skills and knowledge that students can use in the workforce.

Benefits of an Associate Degree:

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Earning an associate degree can have a significant economic impact. Individuals with two-year degrees earn, on average, about 20% more a year compared to individuals with just a high school diploma. Additionally, an associate degree can serve as the foundation for a bachelor’s program, with the potential to transfer credits earned. If you’re unsure about starting a bachelor’s degree program, earning an associate degree is a great way to kickstart your education and enter the workforce before enrolling in a more advanced degree.

Career Opportunities with an Associate Degree:

An associate degree prepares you for vocational, allied health, and support roles. For example, you can become a dental hygienist, diagnostic medical sonographer, web developer, computer network support specialist, respiratory therapist, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, paralegal, health information technologist, or veterinary technician with an associate degree.

Bachelor's Degree

Most undergraduate students at four-year colleges and universities pursue a bachelor’s (also known as baccalaureate) degree. Bachelor’s degrees require students to complete four- or five-year programs in a specific academic discipline. Talbot notes, "A bachelor's degree is a 4-year undergraduate degree and is the second level degree that can be obtained."

Types of Bachelor's Degrees:

Bachelor of Arts (BA): A BA represents completing an undergraduate program that focuses on a discipline in the arts or humanities.
Bachelor of Science (BS): As opposed to the more philosophical nature of a BA that focuses on the humanities, a Bachelor of Science tends to focus more on technical and scientific areas of a discipline.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): What distinguishes BFA programs from BA programs?
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch):

Benefits of a Bachelor's Degree:

Because bachelor’s degrees train students to enter a specific field, many professional careers require them. Earning a bachelor’s degree can open the door to many job opportunities and increase your potential income. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, over 60% more a year compared to individuals with a high school diploma. Bachelor’s degree programs provide in-depth knowledge and skills across a wide variety of potential career paths to help you stand out in today’s competitive job market. Bachelor's degrees provide graduates with a firm understanding of concepts related to the field of study.

Career Opportunities with a Bachelor's Degree:

In diverse industries like business, tech, and education, a bachelor’s degree can prepare you for many entry-level careers. Some of the highest-paying jobs with a bachelor’s degree include roles in software development, mechanical engineering, microbiology, technical writing, registered nursing, human resources, special education teaching, graphic design, social work, and substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counseling.

Graduate Degrees: Master's, Professional, and Doctorate

Graduate degrees are advanced degrees that some students pursue after earning a bachelor’s degree. These degrees signify mastery of a subject and often come with the title “doctor.”

Master's Degree

A master’s degree can help you gain specialized skills and qualify for higher-paying roles. As a graduate student, you’ll work closely with experts in your field to explore advanced topics. A master's demonstrates expertise in a subject area, Talbot said.

Types of Master's Degrees:

Master of Arts (MA):
Master of Science (MS): Master’s degrees, like Master of Science (MS) or Master of Arts (MA), are available across a wide variety of subjects.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA):
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs are among the most well-known master’s degree programs, with opportunities to study finance, accounting, international business, criminal justice, information technology management and more.
Master of Education (M.Ed.):
Master of Laws (LL.M.):
Master of Public Administration (MPA):
Master of Public Health (MPH):
Master of Public Policy (MPP):
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN):
Master of Social Work (MSW):

Benefits of a Master's Degree:

Earning a master’s degree can be a great way to position yourself for growth in your desired field. With a master’s degree, you can qualify for management-level careers and specialized roles in a field like healthcare, research, and social services.

Career Opportunities with a Master's Degree:

With a master’s degree, you can qualify for management-level careers and specialized roles in a field like healthcare, research, and social services. The highest-paying master’s degrees include MBAs and nurse practitioner degrees. Popular master’s degree jobs include physician assistant, nurse practitioner, political scientist, industrial-organizational psychologist, marriage and family therapist, occupational therapist, economist, speech-language pathologist, statistician, and historian.

Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree is the highest level of education one can attain. It typically requires several years of rigorous study, research, and the completion of a dissertation or licensing examination. Doctoral degrees can take up to 7-years of intense study to complete. And, according to Talbot, after completing doctoral degree coursework, you could potentially need to sit for comprehensive subject matter exams. A doctorate degree allows you to pursue advanced career pathways. The skills you learn during your doctorate program will allow you to better apply the principles of that field to the problems you face in everyday situations. Because students learn to think this way, you will find that many who achieve doctorate level degrees shape the minds of those around them through teaching, consulting, or other means.

Types of Doctoral Degrees:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): A PhD. program is a doctorate degree that has slightly different requirements than other professional doctorates. A Ph.D. is focused on your own research and advancing theories in the field. At the end of your Ph.D. you must present your findings, typically in front of a committee, via a dissertation. A dissertation is an academic paper that summarizes all your research and findings in response to your original theory or question. Despite the name, a PhD covers many disciplines, not just philosophy.
Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): A doctoral degree tailored to business professionals looking to explore, examine and address business issues.
Doctor of Education (EdD):
Doctor of Medicine (MD):
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP):
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD):
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD):
Juris Doctor (JD):

Benefits of a Doctoral Degree:

A doctorate degree allows you to pursue advanced career pathways. The skills you learn during your doctorate program will allow you to better apply the principles of that field to the problems you face in everyday situations. Because students learn to think this way, you will find that many who achieve doctorate level degrees shape the minds of those around them through teaching, consulting, or other means.

Career Opportunities with a Doctorate:

If you want to become a physician, professor, or lawyer, you’ll need a doctorate. In many fields, a doctorate translates into higher salaries. Lawyers, pharmacists, and physicists all report median salaries of over $125,000 per year, according to the BLS. Popular doctoral degree jobs include physician or surgeon, dentist, physicist or astronomer, pharmacist, lawyer, veterinarian, physical therapist, psychologist, postsecondary teacher, and audiologist.

Professional Degrees

A professional degree is an application-oriented degree, meaning it prepares students for a specific working position. Examples are Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), and Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) in the field of medicine, and Juris Doctor (JD) and Doctor of Judicial Science (SJD) in the field of law. Most professional degrees can take three to five years to complete. These degrees often have specific requirements and may require professional licensure or certification.

Joint Degrees

Some students may choose to pursue a joint degree, also known as a dual degree, which means they simultaneously study for a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree. Joint degrees can be pursued in the same college or can be split between two different colleges. For example, Berklee College of Music and Harvard University offer a dual bachelor’s/master’s program in which a student receives a Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Harvard and a Master of Music (MM) or Master of Arts (MA) at Berklee. Depending on the program, it may be possible to study at the same time for a master's degree and a doctorate. A master's student is called a graduate student or “grad student” for short.

Choosing the Right Degree

"If you are thinking about pursuing a degree, the first step is determining which degree option is best suited to your needs," Talbot said. The right degree level for you depends on your specific career goals, interests, and circumstances. For some careers, an associate’s or bachelor’s degree is enough. For more specialized career paths, you’ll need a master’s or doctorate.

You should also think about what’s practical for you right now. Look at each degree’s time, cost, and commitment and decide if it’s worth the investment. Choosing a degree that aligns with your career path while being realistically achievable is key. It’s also completely reasonable to want to earn a degree that will pay off.

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