Most Common Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded by Schools
Higher Education Articles April 1, 2015Many bachelor’s degrees are available, but Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees are the most common. These degrees are available through majors that range from visual and performing arts to psychology to business.
Common Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
Schools award many bachelor’s degrees. Students have a choice of degrees ranging from Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) to Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) to Bachelor of Marine Science. The most common degrees awarded are the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.).
A major in a particular field of study is available to students earning a B.S. or a B.A. Computer science, education, engineering, business, psychology, and biology are among the many majors offered by schools.
Differences Between Programs
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programs differ in fundamental ways. As there are fewer majors and more electives courses, coursework in B.A. programs is easier to tailor to suit the student’s interests. By contrast, there are more technically-focused and proof-oriented courses in B.S. programs; these require more science and math courses, and consequently, schools allow fewer electives.
List of the Top Ten Bachelor’s Degree Majors Ordered by Number of Degrees Awarded
The most common bachelor’s degrees awarded have been identified by the National Center for Education Statistics based on research and publication of statistical data on an array of topic areas related to education. The chart below displays the top ten bachelor’s degree majors given by schools as listed by the NCES.
During the 2008 – 2009 academic year, schools awarded around 1.6 million bachelor’s degrees. (Note: the list only differentiates between the major fields of study and not between B.S. and B.A. programs.)
| Major | Degrees Awarded |
| Business | 347,985 |
| History and social sciences | 168,500 |
| Health professions and related clinical sciences | 120,488 |
| Education | 101,708 |
| Psychology | 94,271 |
| Performing and visual arts | 89,140 |
| Biomedical and biological sciences | 80,756 |
| Journalism, communication, and related programs | 78,009 |
| Engineering | 69,133 |
| English language and literature or letters | 55,462 |
