Undergraduate college students are students who are pursuing their associate’s degree or their bachelor’s degree. Graduate college students are working towards a master’s degree, professional degree, or doctorate degree. While many universities have both undergraduates and graduates attending, the experience of these students can vary quite a bit. Below, we’ve compared graduate vs undergraduate programs so you can plan ahead for your future education.
Graduate vs Undergraduate – What’s the Difference?
At a high level, here are the basic differences of graduate vs undergraduate programs:
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Purpose | Broad and foundational education in a specific field | Advanced knowledge in a specific field, building upon the previous program of study |
| Prepares students for | Advanced study or entry-level careers | Advanced careers, including the potential for higher salaries, and professional roles |
| Degrees available | Associate’s, bachelor’s, certificate | Master’s, doctorate, professional certificate |
| Length of program | 2 years for associate’s, 4 years for bachelor’s (on average) | 1-2 years for master’s, 4-8 years for doctorate |
| General admission requirements | Application, high school degree or equivalent, SAT/ACT | Application, bachelor’s degree for master’s and master’s degree for doctorate, entrance exam(s) |
| Structure | General education followed by core courses related to the selected major | Specialized focus on a specific subject, emphasis on research, and required thesis or dissertation |
| Cost | Often much less expensive than graduate programs, but costs can be very high at some colleges, such as private schools. Community college is less expensive than 4-year institutions. | Since they’re specialized, graduate programs tend to be much more expensive, but costs vary quite a bit depending on the school and program |
Now that you’ve explored at a high level, let’s go more into depth at what each programs entails.
What is an Undergraduate?
An undergraduate is a college student who is pursuing higher education for the first time. Most will be working towards their associate’s or bachelor’s degree, but some may be studying to earn a certificate. They lay a solid foundation of general education after high school, and allow the student to choose a focus or major for their degree.
Associate vs. Bachelor’s
On average, associate undergraduate programs take 2 years to complete for full-time students. These are most often offered by community colleges, but they can also be found at 4-year colleges and universities. Students can expect to take general education courses, electives, and career courses related to their chosen focus. Most associate degrees will require 60 total credit hours, including 36 credit hours in general education and 24 credit hours of electives.
If the student is attending full time, bachelor’s degree programs usually take about 4 years, though some are designed to be completed in just 3. While some community colleges have limited 4-year programs, they’re most often found at colleges and universities. Students earning a bachelor’s degree will also take a mix of general education courses and electives, but will also have to choose a major by the end of their sophomore year or beginning of their junior year. Undergraduate students earning this degree can expect to take at least 120 credits.
Common Undergraduate Admission Requirements?
Whether you’re pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree, you will need a high school diploma or equivalent, such as a GED, in order to be accepted.
Many community colleges and some 4-year schools have open admission policies, meaning they accept almost all who apply, but a majority of 4-year colleges and universities have competitive admissions. Students will have to complete college applications in order to be accepted. Application processes vary from school to school, but they often require:
- Personal information
- SAT/ACT results
- High school transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- College essay
- Information about extracurriculars, volunteer work, and more
Most community colleges have rolling admissions, meaning they’ll accept students until the classes are full, and accept new, incoming students for both the fall and spring. Many 4-year undergraduate programs require students to apply by January 1st for the upcoming school year starting in the fall, but there are some exceptions.
What is The Undergraduate Learning Experience Like?
Undergraduate students usually have to follow a very structured schedule on a quarter or semester timeline. They can expect to attend classes in several different subjects, such as math, science, and English, to cover their general education requirements. But they’ll also have to choose a focus or major in order to earn a degree.
Students earning their associate degree will usually pick electives based on their interests or intended career, but bachelor’s students will have to select a major or design their own through the college. Those getting a 4-year degree can usually expect 2 years of general education and 2 years of focus on their chosen major, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule.
In the classroom, undergraduates can expect a combination of lectures, discussions, exams, and assignments. They’ll receive an overview of their major, and unless they’ve designed their own major, will have to adhere to the school’s requirements for that major and degree. For example, you may have to meet general requirements and take foundational courses, capstone courses, and electives from an approved list.
In order to graduate within 2 or 4 years, students have to take an average of 15 credit hours per semester.
What Financial Aid is Available for Undergraduate Students?
Attending college is expensive. Between tuition, books, room and board, and other related expenses, students can pay thousands of dollars to tens of thousands for just a single year. The average tuition and fee cost for an undergraduate attending a public 4-year school as an in-state student was just over $11,000 for the 2023-24 academic year. Community colleges are less expensive than 4-year colleges and universities, but they can still be out of reach for some students.
Thankfully, there are several financial aid options available to undergraduates.
- By completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), students may be eligible for subsidized and unsubsidized loans, Pell Grant, and other programs through the government.
- Schools also use the FAFSA to determine recipients of need-based grants. In addition, there are thousands of scholarships dedicated to undergraduate students, and many states have grant programs dedicated to their residents.
- Undergraduates could explore private student loans to bridge the gap between current financial aid and need.
However, it’s important to note that federal unsubsidized loan limits differ between graduates and undergraduates. Graduates often have much higher limits compared to undergraduates, but graduates aren’t eligible for subsidized loans.
What is a Graduate?
A graduate is a college student who is pursuing higher education after a bachelor’s degree. It often refers to students working towards their master’s, but those studying for a Ph.D. or a professional degree can often be called graduates. Their courses are more focused on a chosen field than a bachelor’s degree, with a higher focus on research, analytics, and advanced concepts. Graduate classes will go far more in-depth on very specific topics compared to bachelor’s.
Master’s Degree Vs. Ph.D.
Both master’s degrees and Ph.D.s are offered at universities and provide advanced knowledge within a specific field. A Ph.D. is the terminal degree in a number of fields, which means it’s the highest level of education offered. However, some subjects, including more niche ones, only offer a master’s or professional degree as the terminal degree.
Master’s degrees usually take 2 years to earn if they’re attending school full time, but there are some programs that take more or less time. Graduates will usually have to take between 30 and 72 credit hours. Coursework is involved, but most graduates will be expected to present an approved thesis. A thesis is a final, major project that presents research on a particular topic. Some programs, such as ones in business, don’t require a thesis, but instead will have internships, capstone projects, or another type of project.
PH.D.s, or Doctor of Philosophy, can take between 4 to 8 years to earn, with length of programs depending on the subject, nature of the research, and the student. Early on, focus will be on highly specialized coursework, while later in the program, graduates will have to focus heavily on research, write a dissertation based on that research, and present and defend their dissertation in front of experts.
What Are Common Graduate Admission Requirements?
Graduate school admission can be very competitive, and some programs will be more competitive than others. Requirements will vary depending on the program and school, but almost all master’s programs will require a relevant bachelor’s degree. Some will also require at least one year of professional experience and a minimum GPA (usually 2.5).
Doctoral programs also require relevant degrees and usually applicants need to have a 3.0 GPA plus 2 to 3 years in their field. However, these professional experience requirements are not written in stone. Many students go directly from undergraduate programs to graduate programs to doctorate programs, but they may also work as teacher’s assistants during their time as a graduate.
In order to apply, future graduates will often have to send:
- Personal information
- Personal statement or essay
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Relevant test scores, such as the GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, or other
What is The Graduate Learning Experience Like?
Graduate students tend to have a more flexible schedule compared to undergraduate students. This is partly due to the fact that many graduates are working full-time jobs while in school, but also because the study requires much more independent research and work.
Coursework for graduates is very focused. Students are often studying a subject within a subject, so classes are specialized and study requires research and theory. Undergraduates built a foundation through their education, and graduate courses build upon that foundation. While undergraduates are welcome to pick a major for their bachelor’s any time during the first two years of college, graduates need to know their area of study before they apply to a program.
Graduate courses also tend to have much fewer students compared to undergraduate classes. This is because graduates need to be able to work directly with their professors on their theses or dissertations. Classes won’t be as structured, either, but often contain a mixture of lecture and discussion. Participation in the classroom is highly encouraged.
What Financial Aid is Available for Graduate Students?
Graduate degrees can cost much more than undergraduate programs. On average, a master’s degree costs just under $60,000 and doctorate degrees can cost around $133,000, but prices can vary quite a bit depending on the school, program, and length of the program. Just like undergraduate degrees, there is financial aid available to graduates.
- Graduates should also complete the FAFSA as they can be eligible for unsubsidized loans (at higher limits compared to undergraduates), grants, and work study programs.
- Many states also have grant programs dedicated to students pursuing their master’s or higher degrees.
- In addition, schools use the FAFSA to determine institutional grant aid, and some employers will cover educational costs if it’s related to your line of work.
- Thousands of scholarships are open to undergraduates and graduates, and some are dedicated just to graduates. Using scholarship databases can help you find these awards.
- And like undergraduates, graduates can also apply for private student loans.
In order to become a graduate, students need to be undergraduates first. Master’s programs require a bachelor’s degree before you can apply, and almost all Ph.D. programs require a master’s degree. Although all of the various available programs are through colleges, the higher the degree level, the more advanced the coursework and the more research it requires.
If you’re thinking about earning your associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree, it’s important to find the right college or university for you. College Raptor’s College Match makes it easy to find the school that meets your goals. See how it works here.
