How Many Credits do You Need for a Bachelor's Degree?

Thinking about going to college for a bachelor's degree? Whether you are a high school student or a transfer student with an associate degree, you may be wondering how many college credits you'll need to obtain to get your bachelor's degree.

Not all bachelor's degrees have the same number of credits, but they all have a minimum of 120 credit hours. Some degrees require more credits depending on the content, and schools that operate on a quarter-credit system require at least 180 credits for graduation.

Keep reading for more information

Breakdown of the 120-Credit Requirement

All bachelor's degrees contain three different types of classes:

• general education courses
• core courses
• electives

Let's take a closer look at each of these types of courses.

General Education Requirements

General education requirements feature basic coursework in the arts and sciences. These required courses provide a broad foundation in English, math, history, science, and more.

All students are required to take general education courses, though the exact courses they take can vary depending on their field of study. For example, a communications student may not be required to take math courses, whereas a computer science major might have to take multiple math courses.

General education requirements typically comprise about 60 credits. If desired, you may be able to complete many of these credits while pursuing an associate degree; you can then apply them as transfer credits in a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree program.

Major Coursework and Electives

Major coursework and electives make up the other 60 or so credits of your undergraduate degree. The number of credits you take for each type of course will vary depending on your area of study.

Major coursework, or major requirements, are the courses required for your particular degree. For example, a business administration degree will include major coursework on:

• business ethics
• finance
• entrepreneurship
• other specialized classes

Electives are courses you choose that may or may not be related to your chosen major. As long as you meet all degree requirements, you are allowed to take any elective courses you want to obtain the required number of credit hours and round out your education.

Understanding Credit Hours in Terms of Classes

Now that you have a better idea of how many credits you'll need to complete a bachelor's degree, you may still be wondering how many classes that boils down to. Fortunately, you don't need to take 120 college courses to obtain 120 hours of college credit. Most undergraduate courses consist of three to four credit hours; most college students graduate with their college degree after taking 35 to 40 courses.

Breaking it down even further, full-time college students typically take eight to 10 courses per year or four to five per semester. Part-time students usually take fewer courses at a time. Students in their first and second years take mostly general education courses, along with lower-division major courses and electives. Students in their third and fourth years primarily take upper-division major courses and electives.

Again, though, each degree is slightly different from the next. You will follow a personalized degree program when you enroll in school and declare a major.

Are There Exceptions to the Number of Credit Hours Needed for a Bachelor's?

As noted, 120 credit hours is the minimum requirement for a bachelor's degree; it's not uncommon for specific programs to require a greater number of credit hours.

Some degree programs require extra courses, while others contain the same number of courses but the courses comprise more credit hours. It depends on the difficulty of the subject matter and the amount of time each course is estimated to take.

Many schools operate under a semester-based system, while others use a quarter-based system. Quarters are shorter than semesters, and students can complete more courses in the same amount of time; therefore, students at schools operating under the quarter system must complete at least 180 credits to graduate.

Finally, students pursuing a double major may be required to obtain additional credits to fulfill the graduation requirements of both degrees.

FAQs About the Required Credit Hours for a Bachelor's Program

Do you still have questions about seeking higher education and completing a bachelor's degree? Read on for answers.

Do All Bachelor's Degrees Require 120 Credits?

Yes, all bachelor's degrees require at least 120 credit hours. Full-time students can typically fulfill these requirements within four years.

How Many Classes Is 60 Credit Hours?

Most undergraduate classes consist of three to four credit hours each, so you'll typically need to take 15 to 20 classes to obtain 60 credit hours.

What Is 90 Credits Equivalent To?

If you have 90 credit hours, you have likely completed as many as 30 college classes. You are almost done with your degree and may be able to graduate in as little as a year.

What if I Don't Meet the Credit Requirement in Four Years?

The amount of time it takes you to get your degree doesn't matter. Full-time students often graduate in four years, but part-time students rarely finish in fewer than five to six years. If you don't fulfill the requirements within four years, you can still work toward your degree; you just may have to work a little longer than the average college student.