How Many Credit Hours for Bachelor's, Associate's, & Master's Degrees?
Every US college degree boils down to a credit hour count. An associate takes 60 credits, a bachelor's needs 120 credits, and a master's ranges from 30 to 60 credits. Here's the side-by-side comparison and what the numbers mean for your timeline.
✓ Associate = 60 credits / 2 years
✓ Bachelor's = 120 credits / 4 years
✓ Master's = 30–60 credits / 1.5–2 years
Typical full-time load: 12–18 credits
Credit Hours by Degree — Comparison Table
The quick answer for every US degree level, side by side. Numbers below assume standard semester credit hours at regionally accredited institutions.
| Degree Type | Typical Credit Hours | Years to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Associate (AA / AS) | 60 Credits | 2 Years |
| Bachelor's (BA / BS) | 120 Credits | 4 Years |
| Master's (MA / MS) | 30–60 Credits | 1.5–2 Years |
How Many Credit Hours to Earn a Bachelor's Degree?
Most bachelor's degrees require roughly 120 semester credit hours. This is typically split into 60 credits of general education and 60 credits for your major and electives. Some specialized programs — engineering, architecture, nursing — can require 128–140 credits, but 120 is the near-universal baseline used by US accreditors and the US Department of Education.
English, math, social sciences, natural sciences, humanities. Identical to an associate degree's 60 credits.
Upper-division major courses (300/400-level), electives, and often a capstone or thesis.
At 15 credits per semester, 120 credit hours takes exactly 8 semesters — or 4 academic years of full-time study. Use our Credit Hours Calculator to track progress toward your 120-credit bachelor's goal and see how each semester’s load translates into weekly class and study hours.
How Many Credit Hours for an Associate Degree?
An associate degree (AA, AS, or AAS) requires 60 credit hours — roughly half of a bachelor's. The full 60-credit breakdown, semester-by-semester planning, and weekly workload is covered in our dedicated guide:
How Many Credit Hours for a Master's Degree?
Master's programs vary more than undergrad. The typical range is 30 to 60 credit hours, almost always completed in 1.5 to 2 years of full-time study (9 graduate credits = full-time at most US schools).
- Academic master's (MA, MS): 30–36 credits. Heavy on research, often includes a thesis or comprehensive exam.
- MBA: 36–60 credits. Core business courses plus a concentration or capstone.
- MSW (Social Work), MPH (Public Health), MEd (Education): 36–60 credits. Usually includes a supervised practicum.
- Clinical / practitioner programs (MSN, DPT preparation, MS in Counseling): 60+ credits. Clinical hours are tracked separately from credit hours.