How many credits is a bachelor's degree?
A bachelor's degree is usually 120 semester credits, which is about 40 courses of 3 credits each. Schools on the quarter system count about 180 quarter credits for the same degree. At 15 credits a semester you finish in four years. Some programs, such as engineering, nursing or architecture, ask for more, sometimes up to 140 or higher.
In more detail
Most US colleges run on semesters, and 120 semester credits is the standard bachelor's degree. A typical course is worth 3 credits, so 120 credits is about 40 classes spread over eight semesters. A quarter credit is worth two thirds of a semester credit, so quarter-system schools ask for about 180 for the same degree. Some states cap the total: Texas, for example, limits most bachelor's programs to 120 semester hours unless a school gets approval.
The credits split into three groups. General education (writing, math, science, humanities) is usually 30 to 45 credits, the major takes about 30 to 60, and electives or a minor fill the rest. Schools add their own rules on top. The University at Albany asks for at least 60 credits in the liberal arts and sciences, and the University of Oregon, which counts in quarter credits, asks for at least 36 credits in the major, 24 of them upper-division. Read your own catalog before you plan.
How long it takes depends on your load. At 15 credits a term you reach 120 in eight semesters. At 12 credits, the full-time minimum, it takes ten semesters, about five years, unless you add summer classes. Credits you already hold count: AP and CLEP scores can cover some courses, and an associate degree usually brings about 60 credits, which leaves about 60 more. Whether credits transfer is up to the school that receives them.
A 120-credit bachelor's degree at a glance
| Measure | Semester system | Quarter system |
|---|---|---|
| Credits for the degree | 120 | About 180 |
| Courses | About 40 | About 40 |
| Credits per term to finish in 4 years | 15 (8 semesters) | 15 (12 quarters) |
| Full-time minimum per term | 12 | 12 |
| Time at the full-time minimum | 10 semesters, 5 years | 15 quarters, 5 years |
| General education (typical) | 30 to 45 | 45 to 68 |
| Major (typical) | 30 to 60 | 45 to 90 |
| Electives or minor | The rest | The rest |
Step by step
- 1
Find the exact total: open your school's catalog or degree audit and read the credits for your major.
- 2
Subtract the credits you already hold, including AP, CLEP, dual enrollment and transfer credit.
- 3
Divide what is left by the terms you plan to attend. 60 credits left over four semesters is 15 a term.
- 4
Map the required courses first, because some are offered once a year or have prerequisites.
- 5
Add a summer or winter term if you want to finish sooner or keep a lighter load in fall and spring.
How StudyPDF helps
StudyPDF helps with the work inside those credits. Upload a course's slides, readings and notes into its own course and it builds flashcards, quizzes and practice exams from them, each answer linked to its source page. Your mastery per concept shows which course needs your next hour. The free plan covers about 4 materials a week, no card needed.
See also
More questions
Are all bachelor's degrees 120 credits?
No. 120 is the standard, but engineering, nursing, architecture and some science programs often need more, sometimes up to 140 or higher, and a few schools set their own total. Your program's catalog gives the number.
How many credits do you need to graduate with a bachelor's degree?
120 semester credits at most schools, or about 180 quarter credits, plus your school's general education and major requirements. Most schools also ask for a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to graduate.
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