College credits are units that measure the learning of students during their degrees. You may be wondering how many credits to graduate college are needed. In this article, we will determine how many hours you need to graduate college, along with other vital information like semester hours vs credit hours.
Let’s look at the credit hours required for different degree levels and subjects. Find out what transfer credits are and what schools accept transfer credits. Learn how many credits you need to graduate college, how many transfer credits colleges accept, and more. You can meet the education requirements for your degree and graduate with a strong academic record.
What Are College Credits?
College credits are units that measure how much learning a student will complete during a college degree. Each course that you take has a specific number of credits assigned to it. Usually, each credit represents one hour of attendance in class and two hours of independent work each week.
Most college courses have three credits per class. During each three-credit course, students will spend three hours per week in the classroom listening to lectures and six hours per week completing assignments and studying independently.
Types of College Credits
There are a few different college credit types depending on different kinds of courses. You get elective credits, major credits, and general education credits. The course will award you a specific type of credit, and each degree program has specific college credit hour requirements. You will need a particular number of major, elective, and general education credits for graduation.
Area of Study
Area of study credits, also known as major credits, are credits earned through courses directly related to your major. A student’s major is the main subject they are studying during their degree programs, such as economics, engineering, or graphic design. Each degree has a specific number of credits you need to earn by taking major courses.
General Education
General education credits are aimed at giving students a broad knowledge of subjects such as mathematics, oral communication, and writing. Math courses, literature courses, and history courses will help students earn general education credits. Each university usually has a list of general education courses students can choose from.
Electives
Elective credits are earned through elective courses, which are courses that students can choose from. These elective courses will make up the additional credit hours needed to meet the graduation requirements. Taking easy electives can help you meet education requirements while getting a higher grade point average.
How Many Hours Do You Need to Graduate College?
You will need 120 credits to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree. You need to earn a specific number of credit hours depending on your degree program. Each degree level has a particular number of credits required for graduation. If you are pursuing an associate program, you need to earn approximately 60 credit hours.
For example, an Associate of Arts degree takes two years to complete, meaning students will need to earn 15 credits per semester. While completing a bachelor’s degree, students usually need to earn 120 course credits to qualify for graduation. Undergraduate degree programs typically require more credit hours than graduate degrees.
A student pursuing a master’s degree will need to earn 30 to 60 credits to reach degree completion. In comparison, doctoral degree credit requirements vary greatly and usually have between 30 to 90 credit hours. This depends on your major requirements and the type of program you’re enrolled in.
Semester Hours vs Credit Hours
Credit hours are the amount of credits a student will receive for the courses they are enrolled in. In comparison, semester hours are the number of credit hours students will earn and are enrolled in during a semester.
Some private and public institutions use these two terms interchangeably, so do your research and contact an advisor at your school of choice to understand the difference. Your credits can affect both your class schedule and your cumulative grade, so make sure you know what credits you’re getting.
How Many College Credits Is Full-Time?
Undergraduate college students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per semester to be considered full-time students, according to the University of Nebraska Omaha. This rule applies to most colleges and universities, so do your research first.
Most full-time undergraduate students complete 12 to 15 credit hours per semester. Graduate students should be enrolled in at least nine credits per semester to be considered full-time students. These numbers will differ if you’re in summer classes or a specialized career field.
How Many College Credits Is Part-Time?
Students completing an undergraduate degree at a university or college must be enrolled in six credit hours per semester to be considered part-time. In contrast, graduate students usually must be enrolled in four credits each semester to qualify as part-time students. Completing a degree as a part-time student may take much longer than if you complete a full-time degree.
How Many Credits to Graduate College With an Associate Degree?
Each associate degree program has specific degree requirements to be able to graduate. Usually, an associate-level degree takes two years to complete and has 60 or more credit hours. Look at the table below of education credits required to graduate from an associate program in subjects like accounting, business administration, and computer science.
| Degree Name | Credits Needed: Full-Time | Credits Needed: Part-Time |
|---|---|---|
| Associate of Applied Science in Accounting | 60 – 68 | 60 – 68 |
| Associate of Applied Science in Computer Animation | 60 – 70 | 60 – 70 |
| Associate of Applied Science in Information Assurance and Cyber Security | 25 – 100 | 25 – 100 |
| Associate of Applied Science in Project Management | 60 – 94 | 60 – 94 |
| Associate of Arts in Graphic Design | 60 – 72 | 60 – 72 |
| Associate of Science in Business Administration | 60 – 66 | 60 – 66 |
| Associate of Science in Computer Science | 57 – 67 | 57 – 67 |
| Associate of Science In Electrical Engineering Technology | 60 – 90 | 60 – 90 |
| Associate of Science in Social Media Marketing | 60 – 63 | 60 – 63 |
| Associate of Science in Software Engineering | 60 – 67 | 60 – 67 |
How Many Credits to Graduate College With a Bachelor’s Degree?
You will need to earn 120 credit hours or more during your bachelor’s degree to qualify for graduation. Each bachelor’s degree program has a specific amount of credit hours depending on the school and program requirements.
You can find particular credit requirements on each university’s official website. Read the table below of the credit requirements for an industrial design, economics, or artificial intelligence bachelor’s degree.
| Degree Name | Credits Needed: Full-Time | Credits Needed: Part-Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts in Economics | 120 – 176 | 120 – 176 |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design | 120 – 188 | 120 – 188 |
| Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence | 60 – 180 | 60 – 180 |
| Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering | 120 – 195 | 120 – 195 |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering | 90 – 183 | 90 – 183 |
| Bachelor of Science in Data Science | 120 – 186 | 120 – 186 |
| Bachelor of Science in Financial Management | 81 – 180 | 81 – 180 |
| Bachelor of Science in Marketing | 120 – 180 | 120 – 180 |
| Bachelor of Science in Network and System Administration | 118 – 180 | 118 – 180 |
| Bachelor of Science in Web Development | 117 – 175 | 117 – 175 |
How Many Credits to Graduate College With a Master’s Degree?
The credit requirements for graduation from a master’s degree vary depending on the program. Most master’s degrees require 30 education credits or more to qualify for graduation. The list below will look at various master’s degrees in game development, advertising, and more. Read below to find out how many credits each program requires.
| Degree Name | Credits Needed: Full-Time | Credits Needed: Part-Time |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations | 19 – 48 | 19 – 48 |
| Master of Arts in Communication | 30 – 48 | 30 – 48 |
| Master of Legal Studies | 24 – 33 | 24 – 33 |
| Master of Science in Biotechnology | 30 – 48 | 30 – 48 |
| Master of Science in Criminology | 30 – 36 | 30 – 36 |
| Master of Science in Environmental Engineering | 30 – 45 | 30 – 45 |
| Master of Science in Game Design And Development | 30 – 36 | 30 – 36 |
| Master of Science in Machine Learning | 30 – 96 | 30 – 96 |
| Master of Science in Nursing | 34 – 42 | 34 – 42 |
| Master of Science in Quality Engineering and Management | 30 – 39 | 30 – 39 |
How Many Credits to Graduate College With a Doctorate Degree?
To graduate with a doctorate degree, you will need to earn around 30 education credits. A doctoral degree usually requires students to earn 30 or more academic credits to qualify for graduation, but special programs will differ in credit requirements.
Look at the detailed list below of different PhDs and their credit requirements. We will discuss how many credits you need to earn a PhD in Cyber Security and many more subjects. If your career goals include an advanced program like a doctoral degree, these credit requirements are important to look at.
| Degree Name | Credits Needed: Full-Time | Credits Needed: Part-Time |
|---|---|---|
| PhD in Business Administration | 45 – 79 | 45 – 79 |
| PhD in Computer Science | 30 – 96 | 30 – 96 |
| PhD in Cyber Security | 48 – 90 | 48 – 90 |
| PhD in Data Science | 36 – 78 | 36 – 78 |
| PhD in Industrial Engineering | 30 – 85 | 30 – 85 |
| PhD in Information Systems and Business Analytics | 45 – 84 | 45 – 84 |
| PhD in Marketing | 42 – 84 | 42 – 84 |
| PhD in Mechanical Engineering | 24 – 90 | 24 – 90 |
| PhD in Nanoscience | 36 – 90 | 36 – 90 |
| PhD in Software Engineering | 30 – 66 | 30 – 66 |
What Are Transfer Credits?
Transfer credits are education credits students have earned during previous educational experiences in a different college or program. Students can transfer these credits to another university, which will count towards the minimum credit requirements of their degree or diploma at another higher education institution.
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Many colleges and universities accept transfer credits from transfer students, but some do not. Research transfer credit information on the school’s official website to determine whether it accepts transfer credits.
Colleges That Accept Transfer Credits
- Southern New Hampshire University. This highly reputable university allows transfer students to transfer up to 90 college credit hours. Southern New Hampshire University accepts transfer credits for both on-campus and online programs.
- University of Phoenix. Prospective students transferring to the University of Phoenix can transfer their credits as long as they have attended an accredited academic institution. Other students who have transferred credits to this postsecondary institution have saved between $5,000 and $12,000 on tuition.
- University of North Texas. Full-time students and part-time students at the University of North Texas can transfer up to 44 education credits. To transfer credits, there are also specific GPA requirements for students. Check the school’s official website to find out detailed transfer credit information.
- Saint Louis University. This four-year institution accepts college credits from other universities but requires students to have a grade of C or above to be eligible. Students can transfer an unlimited number of semester credits to Saint Louis University.
- Clemson University. Clemson University accepts transfer credits but requires students to submit their academic transcripts beforehand.
How Long Are College Credits Good For?
College credits are good for life and do not usually expire, although this can depend on the area of study. This is helpful for students who need to take breaks from studies for some reason or want to further their education later in their lives. However, several factors influence whether you can transfer your credits, such as the age of credits, their relevance, and the transfer policy of the school you choose to attend.
Do College Credits Expire?
No, college credits do not usually expire. However, certain credits may not be transferable for several reasons. Credits earned from courses in rapidly changing areas such as science, technology, engineering, and math, have a shelf life while general education courses do not. Reach out to the university or college of your choice to see how many of your credits earned are still usable.
How Many Credits Do You Need to Graduate College?
You will need between 30 and 180 credits to graduate college, depending on the degree level of your program and the subject. Each program is unique, and it’s up to you to determine how many credits are needed to graduate from the program.
Typically, undergraduate degrees consist of 60 to 180 credits, while graduate degrees require students to earn 30 to 90 credits to graduate. Make sure to do your research and become familiar with your chosen school’s credit transfer guidelines.
How Many Credits to Graduate College FAQ
Yes, you can complete a bachelor’s degree in less than four years if you have already completed an associate degree. This will allow you to transfer your credits earned during your associate degree to your bachelor’s degree. Transferring credits will save you time and money.
No, you cannot earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree without earning credits. However, many universities offer non-credit programs which will award you a certificate upon completion of the program.
Yes, online degrees will require the same credits as in-person degrees. The only differences between an online degree are that you will attend online classes, and it may take less or more time to finish depending on how much time you spend on your studies each week.
Yes, community colleges do accept transfer credits. Each community college has different transfer credit policies, so research these policies before transferring your credits.
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