Bachelor or Bachelor’s: Which One Is Correct?

Bachelor and bachelor’s can both be correct, but they are used in different ways. The confusion usually appears when writing about an academic degree.

If you mean the qualification in general, the usual form is bachelor’s degree:

She has a bachelor’s degree in English.

But when you write the formal name of a degree, use Bachelor without an apostrophe:

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

There is also bachelors, but it is normally the plural of bachelor, not the standard form for an academic degree.

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Quick Answer

Use bachelor’s degree when you are referring to an undergraduate degree generally.

Use Bachelor in formal degree names such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Engineering.

Use bachelors without an apostrophe when you mean more than one bachelor.

Form	Correct example	Main use
bachelor	He is a bachelor.	Singular noun
bachelors	The two bachelors attended the event.	Plural noun
bachelor’s	She has a bachelor’s degree.	General degree reference
Bachelor	He earned a Bachelor of Science.	Formal degree title

Bachelor’s Degree: The Usual Form

When you are talking about an undergraduate qualification without giving its full formal title, bachelor’s degree is the standard expression.

Examples:

I have a bachelor’s degree in English.
She is working toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
He completed his bachelor’s degree last year.
A bachelor’s degree is required for this position.
They both have a bachelor’s degree in business.

The apostrophe in bachelor’s is part of the standard spelling of the phrase.

You may also see bachelor’s used without the word degree when the context is already clear:

She completed her bachelor’s in 2025.

He is still working on his bachelor’s.

In these sentences, bachelor’s is understood to mean bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor or Bachelor’s in Science?

The formal degree name is Bachelor of Science, not Bachelor’s of Science.

Correct:

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

When speaking about the qualification generally, however, you can say:

She has a bachelor’s degree in science.

The difference is simple:

Bachelor of Science = formal degree title

bachelor’s degree in science = general description

The same pattern works with other degrees.

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor of Arts (BA) is the formal name of a specific degree.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History.

Bachelor’s degree is the general term.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in history.

Both sentences are correct. The choice depends on whether you are giving the official degree title or simply describing the qualification.

What Does “Bachelors” Mean?

Bachelors without an apostrophe is usually the plural of bachelor.

For example:

Three bachelors rented the apartment.

Here, bachelors refers to people, not degrees.

It can also refer to more than one bachelor in other contexts:

The television show featured several bachelors.

So:

bachelor = one bachelor
bachelors = more than one bachelor
bachelor’s = possessive form or part of the phrase bachelor’s degree

That apostrophe makes a real difference.

Bachelor’s vs. Bachelors

Consider these sentences:

She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Several bachelors attended the conference.

The first sentence refers to an academic qualification. The second refers to people.

This is why bachelors degree is not the standard spelling for the degree. If you mean the qualification, write bachelor’s degree.

What About “Bachelors’ Degrees”?

Bachelors’ degrees is grammatically possible when the meaning is plural possessive—for example, when talking about degrees belonging to multiple bachelors.

However, it is not normally the form you need when simply talking about multiple academic degrees.

In most ordinary writing, you would say:

The university offers several bachelor’s degrees.

You do not need to turn bachelor’s into bachelors’ simply because the word degrees is plural.

This is an important distinction that often gets missed.

Bachelor or Bachelor’s Degree on a Resume?

For a resume, use bachelor’s degree when describing your qualification generally.

For example:

Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature

You can also use the formal degree title:

Bachelor of Arts in English Literature

If your university officially awarded a particular degree, using the official title is often the clearest option.

Examples for a Resume

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration
ABC University, 2024

Or:

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
ABC University, 2024

Both are clear. The second gives the formal degree name and abbreviation.

How Do You Write a Bachelor’s Degree?

The standard general form is:

bachelor’s degree

Notice the apostrophe before the s.

Correct:

She has a bachelor’s degree in education.

Incorrect:

She has a bachelors degree in education.

Also correct, when giving a formal degree title:

Bachelor of Education

The apostrophe is not used in the formal title Bachelor of Education.

Bachelor’s of Science or Bachelor of Science?

Use:

Bachelor of Science

Not:

Bachelor’s of Science

The same rule applies to other formal degree names:

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

The possessive form belongs in bachelor’s degree, not in these formal titles.

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing?

Both expressions can be correct, but they are not identical in form.

Use bachelor’s degree in nursing as a general description:

She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Use Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) when giving the formal degree title:

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

This distinction is useful on resumes, applications, and professional profiles.

Is “Bachelor” Ever Used Without “Degree”?

Yes.

You can use bachelor’s by itself when the context makes the meaning clear:

He completed his bachelor’s last year.

She is pursuing her bachelor’s at the university.

However, for maximum clarity, especially in formal writing, bachelor’s degree is often better.

Bachelor also appears without an apostrophe in formal titles:

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Science

So there is nothing wrong with the word Bachelor itself. The correct form depends on the construction.

Common Mistakes

Bachelors degree

❌ I earned a bachelors degree in English.

✅ I earned a bachelor’s degree in English.

Bachelor’s of Science

❌ She has a Bachelor’s of Science.

✅ She has a Bachelor of Science.

Bachelors of Arts

❌ He earned a Bachelors of Arts.

✅ He earned a Bachelor of Arts.

Bachelor degree

❌ She completed a bachelor degree in nursing.

✅ She completed a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Bachelors instead of bachelor’s

❌ I completed my bachelors in 2024.

✅ I completed my bachelor’s in 2024.

The first form suggests the plural noun bachelors. The second is the possessive form used for the degree.

Bachelor’s or Bachelors: Easy Way to Remember

Use this quick rule:

Talking about the degree generally? → bachelor’s degree

Writing an official degree title? → Bachelor of Science

Talking about more than one bachelor? → bachelors

For example:

I have a bachelor’s degree.

I earned a Bachelor of Science.

The event was attended by several bachelors.

Once you separate these three uses, the apostrophe becomes much easier to handle.

Bachelor’s Degree Examples

Here are natural examples showing how the forms work in real sentences:

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English.
He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Maria completed her bachelor’s last year.
I listed my bachelor’s degree on my resume.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History.
They offer a Bachelor of Engineering program.
He completed a Bachelor of Business Administration.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Several bachelors attended the wedding.
My bachelor’s degree helped me qualify for the position.
He is finishing his bachelor’s this semester.

Is a BA or BS More Respected?

A BA and a BS are both bachelor’s degrees. Neither is automatically more respected in every situation.

The difference usually comes from the program and its academic focus. A BA may have more humanities or liberal-arts coursework, while a BS may involve more science, mathematics, or technical coursework, depending on the institution.

For employment or further study, the specific program and its requirements usually matter more than simply whether the abbreviation is BA or BS.

Does a Bachelor Count as a Degree?

Yes. A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic degree.

For example:

She has a bachelor’s degree in economics.

The word bachelor can also refer to an unmarried man, so the surrounding words matter.

What Is a Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree Called?

It is generally called a bachelor’s degree.

A four-year program is a common structure in some education systems, but not every bachelor’s program takes exactly four years. Program length can depend on the country, university, course load, and transfer credits.

Do You Put BS After Your Name?

You can use BS after your name when it is useful and appropriate for the context.

For example:

Daniel Smith, BS

However, on most resumes, it is usually clearer to list the full degree under the Education section rather than relying only on letters after your name.

FAQs

Is it Bachelor or bachelor’s degree on a resume?

Use bachelor’s degree when referring to the qualification generally. If you are naming the exact qualification, you can use the formal title, such as Bachelor of Science.

Is it Bachelor or Bachelors in Science?

The correct formal title is Bachelor of Science. Do not write Bachelors of Science as the degree title.

What is the difference between Bachelor and Bachelors?

Bachelor is singular, while bachelors is plural. Bachelor’s is the possessive form and is used in bachelor’s degree.

Should I say Bachelor or bachelor’s?

Say bachelor’s degree when referring to the qualification generally. Use Bachelor in titles such as Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science.

How do I put my bachelor’s degree on my resume?

You can write Bachelor’s Degree in English or use the formal title, such as Bachelor of Arts in English, followed by your university and graduation year.

Does a Bachelor count as a degree?

Yes. A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate academic degree.

How do you write a bachelor’s degree?

Write bachelor’s degree, with an apostrophe before the s. For a formal title, use forms such as Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.

What is a four-year bachelor’s degree called?

It is generally called a bachelor’s degree. The phrase “four-year” describes the typical program length in some education systems.

Which is higher, PhD or bachelor’s?

A PhD is a doctoral degree and is academically higher than a bachelor’s degree.

Do I put BS after my name?

You can, but it is usually clearer to list your full degree in the Education section of a resume.

How should I punctuate “bachelor’s degree”?

Write bachelor’s degree, with an apostrophe before the s.

What qualifies you as a bachelor?

In an academic context, completing an approved undergraduate program and receiving the qualification makes you a bachelor’s degree holder. In another sense, bachelor can mean an unmarried man.

What is the quickest bachelor’s degree to get?

There is no single fastest bachelor’s degree for everyone. Completion time depends on the program, institution, transfer credits, and study schedule.

Is a bachelor’s degree enough anymore?

It depends on the career. Some jobs require a bachelor’s degree, while others may require additional qualifications or experience.

Final Takeaway

The easiest rule is:

Use “bachelor’s degree” for the qualification in general. Use “Bachelor” in a formal degree title. Use “bachelors” when referring to more than one bachelor.

So write: