The Difference Between Graduate and Undergraduate Degrees

Graduate and undergraduate degrees are often used interchangeably, but they differ significantly. 

These concepts are confusing because of the terminology. For example, what’s referred to as undergraduate studies in the U.S. may be known as graduate studies in other countries. 

Especially for international students searching for U.S. school programs, knowing what fits their needs is essential. If you’re one of those confused students, this article will cover the main differences between undergraduate and graduate degrees and explain everything in detail.

What Does Undergraduate Degree Mean?

An undergraduate degree refers to the first level of higher education, also known as a bachelor’s degree. These studies usually take place at a college or university. 

Students who pursue these studies are called undergraduate students, working to earn a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree. Undergraduate studies take four years, while associate degrees require two years.

Students enrolled in an undergraduate degree have the freedom to follow different programs such as a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Arts. They can also get specialized degrees such as computer science, English literature, etc.

What Does a Graduate Degree Mean?

A graduate degree, also known as a postgraduate study, is the next level students pursue after an undergraduate degree. When students complete their first degree, they may want to specialize in their fields by obtaining a master’s degree (M.A.) or a doctoral degree (Ph.D.).

Students who have earned their undergraduate degrees and are now pursuing advanced degrees are called graduate students. Unlike undergraduate studies, postgraduate programs occur at higher education institutes or universities. A graduate program can take 1-6 years to complete, depending on the field of study.

At the end of their studies, students earn titles such as:

  • Master of Arts

  • Master of Engineering

  • Master of Science, etc.

Undergraduate vs. Graduate Degrees: What’s the Difference?

We know that undergraduate programs lead to bachelor’s and associate’s degrees and graduate programs lead to master’s and Ph.D. degrees, but what are some other differences? Well, there are plenty of them, and here are the most relevant ones:

Time commitment

One of the first differences is that when you’re an undergraduate student, you’ll have time to learn and have fun simultaneously, but that’s not the case with a graduate student. During graduate school, you must sacrifice your time on school-related tasks; that’s how busy it is.

Especially for students who were too excited to pursue a graduate degree, the extra time and commitment won’t seem like a big deal. At the same time, graduate programs require more research, so it’s only natural that it will take more of your time.

Course load

The course load which makes up the two degrees is another difference. Undergraduate students have around 5 to 7 courses per semester, while graduate students usually have 4 classes every semester. However, this depends on the field of study because graduate programs are loaded with more coursework.

Additionally, graduate courses require you to do more research and make presentations, projects, and discussions, which is one reason the course load is more intense. Undergraduate courses, on the other hand, rely on lectures or textbooks.

Tuition

Depending on the length of your program type of university, undergraduate and graduate degrees have different tuition costs.

For undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the average annual tuition is around $9,000, while for an associate degree, the tuition is about $3,000. In public higher education institutes, a 4-year degree costs approximately $23,000, while private universities/colleges cost $31,000.

Graduate students don’t have it easier either. The average cost at public colleges and universities is around $30,000, and private ones cost $40,000.

Students can manage these costs by attending public universities or colleges, attending part-time while working full-time, and taking advantage of financial aid programs.

Admission requirements

The process of getting into undergraduate and graduate programs is also different. Graduate studies are more specific, so they have stricter requirements, but the process is relatively simple for both programs.

Undergraduate programs require a high school diploma, while graduate ones require a bachelor’s degree. The requirements are pretty different for standardized testing as well. For example, you usually need a test to get into an undergraduate program. However, this doesn’t apply to all graduate schools since you can also find specific programs that don’t require entrance exams.

Lastly, letters of recommendation also depend on the type of program or school, but they are most common with graduate students.

To get a better understanding, here’s what the admission requirements for undergraduate studies include:

For graduate studies, admission requirements include:

Professor-student relationship

One of the crucial differences between these two programs is the professor-student relationship and how professors change their approach as you advance your education. It makes sense that professors are more communicative during undergraduate studies because students still seek answers and explanations for what is being taught.

In graduate studies, on the other hand, professors tend to take another role where they treat you like a peer rather than a student. They provide guidance rather than active explanations, becoming like mentors. Professors also advise on how to complete research and what methods to use, but they don’t teach you how to achieve them.

Course content

Another significant difference between undergraduate and graduate programs is the course content. Undergraduate classes are more general, and students have many subjects unrelated to their major. However, graduate classes are more specific and help you specialize in your chosen field of study.

Once students get a general understanding of subjects in their undergraduate program, they pick a specific field where they will get their graduate degree.

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Difficulty

In undergraduate school, students have more flexibility to switch majors or schools mainly because of the similarities between programs across institutions, making it more manageable for them. In graduate school, however, changing your major is more complicated.

Since graduate studies are more specific, the curricula can be different, so it’s more challenging to transfer to another university. This is not to say that it’s not possible, but if you want to make a change, it’s best if you initiate it during your first semester.

Undergraduate vs. Graduate Student

Undergraduate and graduate students differ because they’re on different paths in life. Usually, undergraduates are full of energy and know how to have fun and study simultaneously. For grad students, life starts to change and have different outlooks.

Some grad students divide their life between work and university, or they may have started a family, so they don’t have enough time to socialize with peers. Then again, it makes sense because graduate school is much more complex than an undergraduate school for all the reasons above.

Conclusion

While both programs help you achieve your academic goals and prepare you for the following stages in life, they have some prominent differences. Depending on your level of commitment, undergraduate and graduate studies have different outcomes.

They vary in many aspects, such as programs, coursework, admission, and relationships. The best thing about undergraduate school is that it teaches you what field you want to pursue in life, while graduate school prepares you for success.

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