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What is a BS Degree and What Can You Do With It?

A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is a type of bachelor’s degree that tends to be scientific, mathematical and/or technical in nature. A BS degree can help you start your career in a variety of fields, advance your career or unlock additional degrees or certificates.
A student who is earning a BS degree, taking notes as she studies on a laptop in the SNHU library

Understanding the Numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Deciding on a college degree is a big decision and a major milestone in your academic journey. But when there are so many to choose from, it can be hard to know what to pick — or what the options really mean.

Under the umbrella of bachelor's degrees, there are two main types of degrees you can get: a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.

A Bachelor of Science degree often focuses on subjects like technology, healthcare and business. A Bachelor of Arts, on the other hand tends to cover subjects like communication, sociology and the arts. Either type of degree might be the next step in your educational journey, but it's up to you to decide which is the best fit.

What is a Better Degree, BA or BS?

BA and BS degrees have some things in common, like they generally take about four years to complete, and they're made up of 120 credits. But because a BS is heavily focused on industry-specific skills, you sometimes have fewer credits available for things like electives and more major-specific classes than a BA.

For example, SNHU offers both a BS and a BA in Information Technology (IT). The BA has room for 30 free elective credits, whereas the BS in IT has 12 free elective credits.

Neither a BA nor a BS is better or worse, but it's important to know how a degree program will line up with your goals. Regardless of whether you pursue a BS or a BA, your degree program will allow you to expand your knowledge and build your skills, and it might even help you in your current job.

Keshay Randle, a 2024 SNHU graduate with a Bachelor of Science of Business Administration

One popular BS degree that you can pursue is a BS in Business Administration, which has many concentrations that allow you to tailor the program to your interests and career goals. Keshay Randle ’24 recently earned her BS in Business Administration from SNHU, and while she hopes her degree will help her in her career after graduation, it was also relevant to the job she had while in school.

“A lot of the things I was doing in my courses related to my day-to-day life and my job," said Randle. "It helped me improve in areas I didn’t even think it would before I even went on to find another job."

What Degree is Right for You?

To help you decide what type of degree to pursue, spend some time thinking about:

  • Subjects you're passionate about: Think about the subjects that excite you and hold your interest, whether they are in the sciences, humanities, arts or social sciences. What subjects you like studying or what field you think you might want to go into might determine whether you earn a BA or a BS. For example, if you're interested in a career in machine learning or information security, you might consider a BS in Computer Science.

  • Skills you want to learn: Reflect on the skills you want to build during your degree. Do you want to develop strong analytical and quantitative skills, which tend to be more common in science and math courses? Or are you more interested in honing your communication and creative skills, which you might find more of in a BA program?

  • Careers you're interested in: Consider the career paths that interest you and research what degree you typically need for that job or industry. One resource that can be especially helpful is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook which can tell you what level of education or kind of degree you need to pursue different careers in that field.

It can be helpful to talk to professionals and college students in your desired field or major to gather more information before making your decision. An admissions counselor at a college you're considering can also be a good resource.

You might ask about the different benefits or challenges of a specific degree, the requirements of a program you're interested in or even the types of jobs alumni pursue after graduation. Gathering as much information as possible can help you make decisions that fit your goals.

Find Your Program

What Can You Do With a Bachelor of Science?

A Bachelor of Science degree can pave the way for many career paths and opportunities. Whether you're just starting out, looking to advance in your current field or considering a change in career direction, a BS provides a strong foundation in specialized and technical knowledge.

Start Your Career

A Bachelor of Science degree can open up a wide range of career opportunities in fields such as business, research, technology and healthcare (just to name a few). With a BS, you can gain content knowledge as well as the hard and soft skills for a role in your chosen field.

Change or Move Up in Your Career

Alyssa Mcmenemy, a 2023 SNHU graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

A BS can also help you change your career path or move up in your career. By pursuing a BS, you can build the skills and knowledge you need to transition into a new industry or take on a more advanced role within your current field.

Alyssa Mcmenemy '23 is a recent SNHU graduate who decided to get her BS in Environmental Science during the pandemic to help her change careers.

"I'm a dance teacher, and we are not essential workers," Mcmenemy said. "I wanted to have a backup plan and maybe a future in another career. I would love to be an environmental officer or conservation officer, hopefully in New Hampshire."

Changing careers can be a big decision, and earning a bachelor's degree might be a step to help you get there.


Environmental science major reveals her dream job ♻️💚🌱#shorts

Pursue Additional Degrees or Certificates

A BS can also serve as a stepping stone for further education, like getting a master's degree in a specialized field. With an advanced degree or certification, you can expand your skills and knowledge in your desired field and open opportunities for career advancement and higher earning potential.*

Are BS Degrees Worth It?

Different degree programs will prepare you for different career opportunities after graduation. But in general, a bachelor’s degree (whether it’s a BA or BS) can be an important step in your educational or professional journey.

According to the BLS, in 2023, people who had a bachelor’s degree had higher rates of employment than those without one — and their median weekly earnings were higher, too.*

Bachelor’s degree holders had median weekly earnings of $1,493, compared to those who had an associate degree ($1,058 per week) or those who had a high school diploma ($899 per week), BLS reported.* But, there are many other reasons you might choose to get your degree, beyond wanting to advance your career.

Andrew Reil, a 2024 SNHU graduate with a Bachelor of Science of Business Administration

Andrew Reil '24 graduated with his BS in Business Administration from SNHU, and he speaks to the pride he and his family felt after getting his degree. “I’m always trying to better myself within my career, but ultimately, I wanted to get this for my dad and my parents," he said. 

For Reil, graduating felt "unreal and very emotional," especially as a first-generation college student. "It's kind of a big deal for my family. It means a sense of pride," he said. "It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it's a very big power knowing that you're capable of things you might not think you are."

Whatever your career goals are, a bachelor’s degree can be a good way to set yourself up for success.

A degree can change your life. Find the SNHU bachelor's degree that can best help you meet your goals.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.


Meg Palmer ’18 is a writer and scholar by trade who loves reading, riding her bike and singing in a barbershop quartet. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English, language and literature at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and her master’s degree in writing, rhetoric and discourse at DePaul University (’20). While attending SNHU, she served as the editor-in-chief of the campus student newspaper, The Penmen Press, where she deepened her passion for writing. Meg is an adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales University, where she teaches first year writing, honors composition, and public speaking. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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About Southern New Hampshire University

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SNHU is a nonprofit, accredited university with a mission to make high-quality education more accessible and affordable for everyone.

Founded in 1932, and online since 1995, we’ve helped countless students reach their goals with flexible, career-focused programs. Our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH is home to over 3,000 students, and we serve over 135,000 students online. Visit our about SNHU page to learn more about our mission, accreditations, leadership team, national recognitions and awards.