How to Get a Bachelor's Degree: Requirements to Graduate

Once you enroll in a bachelor’s degree program in the United States, you will need to successfully complete a set number of credit hours, as determined by your program, and fulfill other administrative requirements to graduate. This process can take anywhere from four to six years when you attend full-time. It's also possible to graduate at a faster pace if you are strategic about your time.

Learn how to get your bachelor's degree, including the requirements to graduate, and ways you can speed up that timeline.  

How to get a bachelor’s degree

The requirements for earning a bachelor’s degree in the US differ by college and institution. But typically, you will need to: 

• Complete at least 120 credit hours of general education, major, and elective coursework.

• Earn a minimum cumulative college GPA (usually 2.0), as established by your institution.

• Finish all coursework within a set time period, usually seven to eight years, though most students earn their bachelor's degree in four to five years. 

Additional requirements to graduate

Beyond successfully passing your courses and accumulating the minimum credits needed to graduate, there are certain administrative requirements you may need to fulfill.

• Continuous enrollment: You must remain enrolled nonstop at your degree-granting institution. If you require significant time off from your coursework, you’ll likely need to apply for a leave of absence. Otherwise, you’ll need to reapply for admission when you’re ready to start again.

• Residency: You must either live in the state where the institution is located for a set period of time (generally two years) or complete a certain number of credits from the specific institution. 

• Foreign language: You must complete a certain number of credit hours in a foreign language or fulfill the requirement in another approved way. 

Tip: In order to understand any specialty requirements outside of coursework and GPA, it’s a good idea to search for your institution and either “graduate requirements” or “degree requirements” before applying.

Bachelor’s degree coursework explained

Earning your bachelor's degree means completing a range of coursework. The first two years of your program are usually meant to lay a strong liberal arts foundation through general education coursework. Then, you'll select your a college major and take courses in that area to develop more in-depth knowledge that you'll ideally apply to a passion or a career.

Combined, your coursework should total at least 120 credit hours, though each institution’s requirements may differ. Let's review the kinds of classes you'll be expected to take in a bachelor's degree program.

Gen ed coursework

During the first two years of a bachelor's program, you’ll take general education courses—sometimes called core curriculum. These courses usually include introductory subjects in composition, science, math, and the arts. Through them, you can expect to develop well-rounded knowledge as well as important skills, such as critical thinking, problem solving, and written communication.  

Each institution sets different parameters for gen ed coursework, but generally you may be expected to complete between 42 and 60 credits.

Major coursework

At some point during your program, you'll declare your major. Some institutions require you to do so as soon as you enroll, while others expect you to do it at the end of your second year (or around the time you finish your gen ed requirements). Take note that some majors require you to apply because those departments only accept a limited number of students.

The number of required courses you’ll be expected to complete for your major differs by department, but on average, you can expect to take around 30 to 40 credit hours. If you’re considering different programs, be sure to investigate what their requirements are so you have a clear idea about what it will take to finish.

Learn more: What Should I Major In?

Elective coursework

Throughout your degree program, you'll have the ability to fulfill the remainder of your credit requirements by taking electives. Electives are an opportunity to take courses in subjects that interest you or supplement what you're learning in advantageous ways.

Some students also choose to double major or declare a minor, fulfilling a portion of their remaining credits in a more focused subject.

How fast can you get a bachelor’s degree?

Getting to 120 credit hours takes several years as a full-time student, but there are ways to speed up how quickly you move through your coursework and earn your degree. Here are a few ways you might be able to complete a bachelor's degree in less time.

Transfer previously earned credits

You may be able to transfer certain credits, applying them to your coursework and reducing the length of time it takes to earn your bachelor’s. Freshmen students may be able to apply their advanced placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate® (IB) courses toward credit if they’ve successfully passed the corresponding exams. Returning or professional students may be able to transfer previously earned college credits, including an associate degree.

It’s important to note that many on-campus colleges and universities require transfer students to complete a set number of semesters or credit hours at their new institution in order to qualify for graduation, though the exact number varies. Make sure to research any restrictions that may apply to your status as a transfer student.

Read more: Do College Credits Expire?

Test out of requirements (CLEP)

The College Board offers the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) in 34 introductory college courses, including introduction to psychology, financial accounting, biology, composition, and more.

Instead of taking a semester-long course, you can register and pay a fee of $95 to take an exam that certifies your knowledge in a subject and may be used toward college credit [1]. It’s best to double-check whether your school accepts CLEP tests before signing up for that option.

Attend summer semesters

While students who attend an on-campus institution are traditionally required to enroll in classes during the fall and spring semesters, summer semesters are optional. But they provide an excellent opportunity to take additional classes that count toward your overall total coursework.

Summer semester courses may not be as plentiful compared to other semesters, but taking one or two each summer can speed up the amount of time it takes you to graduate.

Translate professional experience into credits

Many colleges and universities, especially those that work with professional or returning students, exchange work experience for college credit. You can submit a professional portfolio for credit for prior learning (CPL) or a prior learning assessment (PLA).

Your experience won’t make up for all of the coursework you need to complete, but if a college or university grants CPL or offers PLA, you may be able to earn up to 30 credits.

Enroll in an online bachelor's degree

Online bachelor’s degrees have become an increasingly popular alternative to on-campus degrees, especially among professional and returning students. In fact, many of the same renowned brick-and-mortar institutions have online degree options.

You may find that you can complete your degree program faster when studying online because often you can control the pace. There are several other benefits that factor into earning a bachelor’s degree online:

• Flexible scheduling: Whether you attend a live virtual lecture or take your classes asynchronously, learning online tends to be more flexible than relocating and attending in-person classes. Many online degree programs also feature part-time and full-time degree options, so you can complete the required coursework at a pace that best suits you.

• Cost: The total cost of an online bachelor’s degree ranges from $40,536 (in-state) for public institutions to $63,185 for private institutions [2]. Compare that to the average annual cost of just tuition and fees ($11,011 for public institutions and $43,505), which doesn't include additional costs such as housing and meals [3].

• No residency requirement: Because you don’t need to live in the same state as the college or institution offering your online degree, there’s no residency requirement to fulfill, which means no relocation or commuting costs.

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