What is the Difference between Graduate and Undergraduate?

In most jurisdictions, undergraduate studies refer to the period of time spent by students in the process
of obtaining a degree upon successfully finalizing their high school studies while graduate studies refer
to the period of time taken by students while undertaking an additional, further degree upon
successfully obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Other jurisdictions such as those situated within the
Common Wealth use the terms “graduate” and “postgraduate” as opposed to “undergraduate” and
“graduate.”

Whereas both forms of studies ultimately result to students obtaining college degrees, they have a
number of differences such as the requirements needed prior to admission, the period of time taken to
undertake the studies, the coursework provided, the class setup and possible job earnings amongst
other differences (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021). This paper seeks to look into the above-mentioned
differences in detail in order to establish a clear difference between undergraduate and graduate
studies.

 Types of degrees

There are two types of degrees that are usually offered under undergraduate programmes. These are
inclusive of an associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. An associate degree is the initial stage of
higher education which is usually obtained in community colleges or technical schools. This type of
degree makes it possible for its students to undertake general studies alongside some limited particular
courses in fields linked to their professional objectives. A bachelor’s degree on the other hand is the
subsequent stage of higher education which is usually provided by colleges and universities mostly for a
term of four years (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021). Despite the fact that there is a necessity for general
education courses with this type of degrees, students that are enrolled for undergraduate studies tend
to emphasize on majoring in a specific subject that are linked to their professional objectives. A
bachelor’s degree is usually the most popular kind of college degree which is likely to prepare students
to join the professional field in an entry-level position or to continue with their academic progress at the
graduate stage (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021).

Graduate studies on the other hand, is divided into two broad classes though the second classification is
further divided into a number of groups. The first classification of graduate studies entails the master’s
degree while the second classification entails the doctoral degree. According to the Indeed Editorial
Team (2021), “A master’s degree is focused on a specific area of research and is usually career-specific”
while a doctoral degree is the highest degree any student can obtain.

It can enable you to enter the workforce at an advanced level or to pursue a doctoral degree. The most
common master’s degrees include a Master of Arts, a Master of Science, a Master of Business
Administration and a Master of Fine Arts.

Doctoral degree

A doctoral degree is the most advanced degree you can earn. Graduates with these degrees are experts
in their fields. An academic doctoral degree is a Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. These degrees focus
primarily on research in a specific field, and the people who earn them often become professors or
researchers.

Professional degree

A professional degree is also a doctoral degree, but one that is required for certain careers. Common
professional doctorates include a Juris Doctor to practice law, a Doctor of Medicine to become a
physician, a Doctor of Education for educational leadership roles and a Doctor of Pharmacy to work in
the pharmaceutical industry.

Related: How to Find Your Passion

2. Admission requirements

To enter an undergraduate program, you must have a high school diploma, GED or another equivalent
to secondary education. Specific admission requirements vary depending on the college or university,
but they often ask students to submit scores from standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, a personal
essay, letters of recommendation and high school transcripts.

To enter a graduate program, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree. Graduate programs often
require GRE standardized test scores, writing samples, statements of philosophy or research proposals,
and letters of recommendation in addition to undergraduate transcripts.

Related: The New Graduate’s Guide to Job Search

3. Length of study

The time it takes to earn a diploma can vary based on several factors, such as whether a student attends
college part-time or full-time, transfers schools or changes majors. In a graduate setting, it is much more
difficult to switch programs or transfer to another school, since the curriculum is focused instead of
generalized and varies by university.

For undergraduate degrees:

An associate degree typically takes two years to complete.

A bachelor’s degree often takes four years to complete, or an additional two years if you already have an
associate degree when you begin to pursue a bachelor’s.

The time to complete graduate degrees varies widely, depending on the program requirements and
level of degree.

Master’s degrees often take two years to complete, but some programs can take one year or three
years.

Professional degrees can take three to four years to complete classwork and exams. Some programs,
especially in medical fields, require additional years to complete residencies or internships.

Academic doctoral degrees often take four to six years or more, since programs often require learning
several foreign languages or extensive research and writing projects.

Related: Guide: How to Get a Job After College

4. Coursework

A full undergraduate course load varies by school and program, but it is usually around 15 credits per
semester or four to six classes. Undergraduate coursework often involves a variety of writing
assignments, projects and other subject-specific tasks, and many courses require students to pass an
exam to earn credit. The types of courses these students take include a mixture of the following:

General education subjects

Students take these courses before pursuing courses related to their career specialties and include a
variety of subjects, with most programs requiring students to complete courses in English, history,
science and mathematics.

Major subjects

Undergraduate students are encouraged to select a “major,” a subject or discipline to specialize in. They
enroll in courses that discuss the topics, issues and experiences relevant to their major. Some majors
may have overlapping courses in general education requirements, while others require courses tailored
to specific career goals, such as those in science, engineering and business.

Minor subjects
Students may choose to further tailor their degree program by selecting a “minor,” a second, less
intensive specialization that allows them to take additional courses in another discipline. Some students
pursue minors directly related to their career paths, while others select minors in subjects of personal
interest.

Graduate coursework

Graduate coursework is much more specialized and advanced than undergraduate work and typically
follows a track of classes or expected subjects outlined by the university or program. Though a full
course load varies by university and program, students typically take about nine credits, or three or four
classes, per semester. These students may take comprehensive exams for the degree as well as exams
for each course. Alternatively, they may complete large final projects, dissertations, portfolios or other
qualifying exit assignments.

Related: Guide: How to Choose a Career

5. Classroom environment

The typical classroom environment of undergraduate and graduate studies differ widely.

Students at the undergraduate level may experience the following elements in the classroom:

Larger class sizes

Class sizes vary from school to school and from class to class. Some undergraduate courses may accept
more students for specific courses, such as those in the general education portion of a degree program
that every student must take. Larger class sizes may mean less individualized attention from professors.

Lectures

Some courses may be organized with the professor leading the class and the students taking notes and
completing assignments independently. Professors may encourage students to participate and ask
questions, but some courses may have students interacting more with a teaching assistant who helps
the professor grade assignments and conduct more personalized small group sessions.

Class discussions
While many courses may encourage student participation, some professors lead courses specifically
built around students asking questions and discussing class materials, such as lectures and assigned
readings. These courses may involve more individualized attention from professors.

Graduate degrees are less common, resulting in the following classroom elements:

Smaller class sizes: Graduate classes tend to be smaller, often due to schools accepting a limited number
of students or employing more professors to ensure increased individualized attention.

Advanced discussions: These courses are also intensely focused in a certain field and of increased
difficulty, and they tend to be more interactive, with professors expecting the students to be prepared,
contribute to the learning and apply information. The discussions depend on the content of the degree
program, course and students’ academic interests.

Mentoring with professors: Students often work closely with professors as their mentors and often meet
with them when completing research, creating portfolios or taking independent study. These
mentorships also occur in regular classes.

6. Potential job earnings

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, attaining a higher degree of education correlates to higher
potential job earnings. Certain degrees allow you to work in fields that are more specialized and make
more money on average because of extensive training. Some employers might value education in their
industry and pay those with higher degrees a higher salary. A survey shows the average weekly income
by degree:

Associate degree: $836

Bachelor’s degree: $1,173

Master’s degree: $1,401

Doctoral degree: $1,743

Professional degree: $1,836

7. Tuition costs

Tuition costs for college degrees vary widely according to a number of factors, including scholarships,
grants, in-state vs. out-of-state tuition, whether classes are taken online and whether the school is
public or private. It is important to consider your potential job earnings before deciding the level of
investment you want to put in your education.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, average annual undergraduate fees for 2015-
2016 ranged from $17,237 for public colleges to $39,734 for private colleges. Average annual graduate
fees ranged from $11,303 for public universities to $23,919 for private universities.

Undergraduate programs are more general in nature. They include general education courses in a wide
variety of subjects that are not part of graduate education. Graduate programs are highly specialized
and much more advanced than undergraduate programs.

Undergraduate classes are usually much larger and less individualized. In graduate programs, students
work closely with professors, often on a one-to-one basis.

While some undergraduate programs require a senior project or a similar activity, graduate studies are
much more research oriented. Master's and doctoral programs include some class work, but research
preparation and defense is a primary focus in most programs. Undergraduate programs usually restrict
examinations to those related to individual classes; graduate programs also include comprehensive
examinations that are very important.

It is comparatively easy to change undergraduate major subjects and to move to a different school
during a program. It is much more difficult to do so in graduate programs, as they are narrowly
specialized. Graduate programs in psychology, for example, may be very different from one university to
another.