Bachelor's Degree Programs: Types of Institutions and Examples
A bachelor's degree (BA, BS, BFA, etc.) typically requires 120-130 semester credits (4 years full-time). Institutions vary by governance, focus, and selectivity.
Institution Types
| Type | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Public Research Universities | State-funded, large, PhD-granting, research-intensive, broad majors | UC Berkeley, UMich, UT Austin, UW, Penn State |
| Private Research Universities | Endowment-funded, often highly selective, strong research | Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT |
| Liberal Arts Colleges | Undergraduate-focused, small classes, broad core curriculum | Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, Pomona, Middlebury |
| Comprehensive/Master's Universities | Mix of teaching and applied research, master's-level focus | CSU system, many state universities |
| Community Colleges (Some) | Select institutions now offer bachelor's in applied fields (BAS, BSN) | Santa Monica, Miami Dade, Austin CC, Dallas College, NOVA |
| Specialized Institutes | Focused on art, tech, music, maritime, etc. | RISD, Juilliard, CalArts, Webb Institute |
| Online/Competency-Based | Flexible, self-paced, often for working adults | WGU, SNHU, Arizona State Online |