Which credential is typically earned after completing a four-year college program?

• A. Master's degree
• B. Bachelor's degree
• C. Associate's Degree
• D. Diploma

Answer: (B)

Completing a four-year college program typically yields a bachelor's degree. This undergraduate credential is earned after about four years of full-time study, combining general education courses with a major field. After earning the bachelor’s, many students pursue a master’s degree, which is a further graduate credential requiring additional study (often one to two years). An associate’s degree is usually earned in about two years at a community or junior college and sits below a bachelor’s in the hierarchy of undergraduate credentials. A diploma can be awarded through various programs and isn’t tied to a standard four-year college path. So the bachelor’s degree is the credential most commonly associated with finishing a four-year college program.