Which Program Level is Right for Me?
If you’re like many students who arrive here unsure of which program to choose, you’re not alone. Selecting which level of study is right for you is the first step toward a successful educational experience. Consider your goals and compare your options.
| Associate Degree | Bachelor's Degree | Certificate | NanoCert® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal if you seek a 2-year degree as your final degree in higher education. If you plan to pursue an advanced degree, it may be better to start with a bachelor’s program instead of associate. | The traditional 4-year degree commonly recognized as the standard credential of higher education in the U.S. and most industrialized nations. | Available for undergraduate and graduate students, certificates are 6- to 8-course programs that focus on specific subject areas. May be taken concurrently with a degree program or stand alone. | A NanoCert® program provides a 3-course focus on a particular topic or set of issues. |
| 60 credit hours (about 20 courses) | 120 credit hours (about 40 courses) | 18-27 credit hours (about 6 courses) | 9 credit hours |
| 2 years to complete | 4 years to complete | 1 year to complete | 6 months to complete |
| 7 years allowed to complete program | 10 years allowed to complete program | 3 years allowed to complete program | |
| 45 transfer credits accepted (maximum) | 90 transfer credits accepted (maximum) | 21 transfer credits accepted (maximum, depending on length of certificate program) | no transfer credits accepted |
| Explore All Associate Degrees | Explore All Bachelor's Degrees | Explore All Certificate Programs | Explore NanoCert® Programs |
*This chart represents the average of most of our programs. Credits required for completion, number of courses, and credits accepted for transfer may vary by program. (For example, the Bachelor of Engineering degree is 128 credit hours for completion and the Bachelor of Nursing degree completion is 5 years.) Completion time is dependent on transfer credits accepted and the number of courses completed each term. Please view your individual program for more detailed requirements. | |||
Undergraduate Admissions Requirements
First Time Students
- You must have a high school diploma or equivalent to apply to the university. New students may be asked to self-certify on their application and may be asked to submit a copy for verification. If you have a non-US high school credential, you will be required to submit an international evaluation of your high school credential. Those who have earned 60 college credits or more that are applicable to their current degree plan may be eligible to get this requirement waived.
Transfer Students
- If you are a transfer student, you will be asked to submit your transcripts from any other schools where you earned college-level academic credit.
- If you are a community college graduate, we have agreements with some community colleges that align earned associate degrees with specific bachelor’s programs for maximum transfer credits. Find out if we have an agreement with your school.
- Military undergraduate students will submit a government issued JST or CCAF transcript.
Non-Degree Students
- If you plan to take courses here for personal knowledge or to transfer to other universities, please select “Non-Degree Seeking” on the admissions application.
- Current high school students can take classes via concurrent enrollment before earning their diplomas.
Programs with Additional Requirements
- AAS in Culinary and Foodservice Management: Culinary experience is required.
- AS and BS in Data Science: Applicants must have completed preparation in mathematics equivalent to pre-calculus or higher.
- BS in Accounting: Requires a signed statement of understanding (SOU).
- BA and BS in Computer Science: Applicants must have completed preparation in mathematics equivalent to pre-calculus or higher.
- BS in Nursing: Requires you to have a diploma or associate degree in nursing as well as a current, active, and unencumbered U.S. Registered Nursing (RN) license.
- Child Life Certificate: Requires you to already have a bachelor's degree.
- Electrical Engineering (BE)*: Applicants must have completed preparation in mathematics equivalent to pre-calculus or higher.
You can be at work the whole day, but at the same time, you’re a student at APU. I see myself getting close, closer to my dream. I see myself making a difference in the world
Steps to Get Started
Complete Admissions Requirements
After you submit your admissions application, review the undergraduate degree-seeking or non-degree seeking admissions ecampus tutorial and relevant tuition checklists (i.e., financial aid). An admissions coach will walk you through the follow-up steps you need to get started.
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Sat: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET
Sun: Closed
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