Types of Bachelor's Degrees: BA, BS, BAS and How To Choose
You have found a subject you want to study, and then the program list hands you a row of letters: BA, BS, BAS, BBA, BSN. Some schools even offer the same subject under two of them. The letters tell you how a bachelor's degree is built (how much of it goes to general education, math and science, hands-on applied work or a licensed profession), so the right type is the one that fits the job or graduate program you are aiming for.
This guide explains each common type, shows real examples from the schools in the CollegeHub directory, and ends with a way to choose.
How a Bachelor's Degree Is Put Together
A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate degree that usually takes about four years of full-time study. At schools that use semester credits, many programs total about 120 credit hours. The ASU Online Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Leadership, for example, lists 120 total credit hours. Some programs, often in engineering, accounting or nursing, require more, so check the program's own catalog page.
Schools on a quarter system count differently. Purdue Global's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology requires a minimum of 180 quarter credit hours in its 2026–2027 catalog, and Purdue Global states on its program pages that 1 semester credit hour equals 1.5 quarter credit hours. So 180 quarter credits is about the same amount of work as 120 semester credits. If you compare programs, compare them in the same unit.
Whatever the total, the credits usually fall into three buckets:
- General education (often called "core" or "gen ed"): writing, math, science, humanities and social science courses every student takes.
- Major requirements: the courses that define your field.
- Electives: free choices, which you can use for a minor, a second interest or transfer credit.
The Purdue Global IT program above splits its 180 quarter credits into 45 core, 89 major and 46 open elective credits. That split, not the letters alone, is what you will actually spend your time on. Ask any school you are considering for its degree map or catalog page so you can see the split for yourself.
The Common Types of Bachelor's Degrees
| Degree | What it usually emphasizes | Examples from schools in the CollegeHub directory |
|---|---|---|
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | A broad base in the humanities and social sciences, more room for electives, sometimes a foreign language | Arizona State University's English (BA) and History (BA); The University of Arizona Global Campus's BA in Business Administration |
| BS (Bachelor of Science) | More math, science and technical courses inside the major | Purdue Global's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity; Colorado Technical University's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology |
| BAS (Bachelor of Applied Science) | A completion degree built on top of an applied associate degree, usually an AAS | Arizona State University's Applied Leadership (BAS) and Health Sciences (BAS) |
| BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) | Business core (accounting, finance, management, marketing) plus a specialization | American InterContinental University's BBA programs in Accounting, Finance and Project Management |
| BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) | Studio or performance work, with a larger share of credits in the art form itself | Arizona State University's Art – Digital Photography (BFA) |
| BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) | Nursing courses and clinical practice; online versions are often RN-to-BSN completion programs for nurses who already hold a license | Purdue Global's Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN-to-BSN; Colorado Technical University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN completion) |
| BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) | Social work practice courses and supervised field experience | Arizona State University's Social Work (BSW) |
You will also see narrower titles. Arizona State University's online list includes a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), a Bachelor of Arts in Education (BAE) and a Bachelor of Science in Design (BSD), among others. American InterContinental University lists a Bachelor of Accounting and a Bachelor of Healthcare Management. These follow the same logic: the title names the field the degree is organized around.
BA vs. BS
At many schools, a BA spreads more of its credits across general education and electives, while a BS puts more of them into math, lab science or technical courses in the major. This is a tendency, not a rule. The same subject can carry different letters at different schools.
The directory data shows how much this varies:
- Arizona State University has 208 online bachelor's-level entries in our directory. Roughly 100 carry a BS and more than 70 a BA, and several subjects come in both: Communication, Global Health, Biochemistry and Justice Studies each appear as a BA and as a BS.
- Purdue Global lists 43 bachelor's programs, and every one except the Bachelor of Social and Behavioral Science is a Bachelor of Science.
- The University of Arizona Global Campus names most of its programs as a BA, including its BA in Accounting, while Colorado Technical University offers a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and American InterContinental University a Bachelor of Accounting.
So an accounting degree may be a BA, a BS or a BBA depending on the school. When a school offers both a BA and a BS in the same subject, compare the two course lists side by side. The BS version will often require more math or science, which can matter if you plan to apply to a graduate program with prerequisites.
BAS: the applied bachelor's
A Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) is designed for students who already finished an applied, career-focused associate degree. ASU says its online Applied Leadership BAS is "designed for students who've completed an Associate of Applied Science degree."
This matters because an AAS is built for going straight to work, not for transfer. The Montana University System, for example, says the AAS "is not designed for students who want to transfer" and that its credits usually transfer only as electives, except into a Bachelor of Applied Science. If you hold an AAS in a field like health care, IT or early childhood education, a BAS may let more of your credits count. Arizona State University lists nine BAS programs in our directory, including Applied Leadership, Operations Management, Project Management, Early Childhood Studies and Medical Laboratory Science.
Professional degrees: BSN, BSW, BFA and BBA
Some degree titles point to a profession with its own rules. Registered nursing is the clearest case. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says registered nurses usually take one of three education paths (a BSN, an associate's degree in nursing or a hospital diploma), must hold a state license and must pass a qualifying exam. It also notes that some employers, particularly hospitals, may require a bachelor's degree.
In the CollegeHub directory, the online BSN programs at Arizona State University, Purdue Global, The University of Arizona Global Campus and Colorado Technical University are all RN-to-BSN programs, meaning they are for nurses who are already licensed. South University's bachelor's in nursing is listed as a campus program. Liberty University lists an online bachelor's in nursing as well; confirm with the school which students it is designed for. If you are not a nurse yet, look for a prelicensure program and check that it is approved by your state's board of nursing.
For social work, fine arts and business, the letters do not license you for anything. They signal how much of the degree is devoted to the profession. If you plan to pursue a license later (for example, in social work), check your state's requirements before you choose a program.
How To Choose the Right Type
Start from where you want to end up, then work backward to the letters.
| If your goal is… | Look first at… | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| A licensed job (nursing, teaching, social work) | The degree your state's licensing board accepts, such as a BSN | Program approval and accreditation, clinical or field placements, and whether the online version is open to students in your state |
| Graduate school in a science or health field | A BS | Whether the program includes the lab science and math courses the graduate program requires |
| A broad career in communication, policy, business or the humanities | A BA or a BBA | How many electives you get and whether you can add a minor or internship |
| Moving up in the field you already work in, with an AAS | A BAS | How many of your AAS credits the school will accept, in writing |
| A creative career in design, film or visual art | A BFA or a design-focused BA/BS | How much studio or portfolio work is included |
| You are not sure yet | A program with a lot of elective room, or an exploratory option | Whether you can switch majors without losing credits |
Then narrow the list with a few practical questions:
- What does the job posting ask for? Many postings ask for "a bachelor's degree in a related field" and don't care whether it is a BA or a BS. Others name a specific degree.
- How many of my existing credits will count? If you have college credits or an associate degree, ask each school for a transfer credit evaluation before you enroll. If you are still choosing between a shorter credential and a bachelor's, see how to plan a career that starts with an associate degree.
- How is the program accredited? Every school in our directory has its institutional accreditation noted on its listing. For some fields, such as nursing, also check the program's own accreditation.
- What will it cost after transfer credit and aid? Tuition varies by program, so ask for a cost estimate based on your own transcript.
Online, Campus or Hybrid
Online bachelor's degrees follow the same structure: the same credit totals, the same mix of general education and major courses. What changes is how you attend.
The schools in the CollegeHub directory show the range:
- Most bachelor's listings in our directory are fully online, including all of the bachelor's programs listed for Purdue Global, Colorado State University Global, Grand Canyon University and Full Sail University.
- Berkeley College lists its 14 bachelor's programs, from Accounting to Interior Design, as available on campus or online.
- South University mixes formats: its bachelor's in Accounting and Legal Studies are listed as online, several others as hybrid, and Health Sciences and Nursing as campus programs.
Start dates differ too. Several schools in our directory, including Colorado Technical University, Colorado State University Global and The University of Arizona Global Campus, list monthly start dates, while University of Arizona Online lists three start dates per year. If you want to begin soon, that can narrow your list quickly.
Before you pick an online program in a licensed field, ask two things: whether the program is available to students in your state, and how any clinical, student teaching or field hours are arranged where you live.
Comparing bachelor's programs? Browse accredited bachelor's degree programs by field and format, then check each school's page for start dates and admission steps.
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