It Depends
The General Rule
"Bachelor's degree" is a description, not a proper noun – so it stays lowercase in everyday writing. Think of it like "high school diploma" or "driver's license." You're describing a category of credential, not naming a specific one.
The capital letters come out when you write the official name of the degree. Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts – these are proper nouns, the same way Harvard University is. The distinction is between the generic label and the specific title.
This catches people off guard because they see the capitalized version on diplomas, transcripts, and university websites. Those documents use the formal name. In a sentence, you're usually talking about the degree generically – and that means lowercase.
Quick Rules
Capitalize when
- Writing the full formal degree name: Bachelor of Arts in English
- Using the official title on official documents: She was awarded a Bachelor of Science.
- It appears in a heading or title (title case rules apply)
Keep lowercase when
- Referring to it generally: a bachelor's degree
- Using it informally: He finished his bachelor's last year.
- Describing the level: a bachelor's-level program
- Using the possessive form in running text: her bachelor's degree in marketing
Tip: If you're writing "bachelor's degree" with those two words, it's almost always lowercase. If you're writing "Bachelor of [Something]," it's the formal name – capitalize.
The Apostrophe Question
Almost as common as the capitalization question: where does the apostrophe go?
The correct form is bachelor's – with an apostrophe before the s. The degree belongs to a bachelor (singular), not multiple bachelors. Same logic: master's degree (one master), not masters degree or masters' degree.
You can also drop "degree" entirely: She has a bachelor's in chemistry. The apostrophe stays.
The abbreviations – BA, BS, MA, MS – don't use apostrophes or periods in most modern style guides. AP style: She has a BA in history. Chicago style accepts both B.A. and BA, though the trend is toward dropping the periods.
All three major style guides – AP, Chicago, and APA – agree on the core rule: lowercase "bachelor's degree" as a general term, capitalize the full formal name (Bachelor of Arts). Where they all agree: never capitalize "degree" when it follows "bachelor's" in a generic reference. It's bachelor's degree, not Bachelor's Degree.
Examples
✓ Do
- She earned her bachelor's degree in 2023.
- The program awards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
- A bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete.
- He holds a BA from the University of Michigan.
✗ Do not
She earned her Bachelor's Degree in 2023.
General reference is lowercase: She earned her bachelor's degree in 2023.
He has a bachelors degree.
Needs an apostrophe – singular possessive: He has a bachelor's degree.
She completed a bachelor's degree in English Literature.
The field of study "literature" is lowercase (only "English" stays capitalized as a proper noun): a bachelor's degree in English literature.
Edge Cases Worth Knowing
These are the scenarios that trip up resume writers, college essayists, and HR professionals most often.
- Master's degree. Identical rules. Lowercase master's degree in general use, capitalize Master of Business Administration. Apostrophe before the s: master's, not masters.
- Associate's degree. Same pattern: an associate's degree (general) vs. Associate of Applied Science (formal). Some style guides accept "associate degree" without the apostrophe – AP allows both forms.
- Doctoral degree. No apostrophe needed – doctoral degree, not doctoral's degree. "Doctorate" is also correct: She earned her doctorate. For the formal name: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
- "Bachelor's" standing alone. You can use it without "degree": She finished her bachelor's in May. The apostrophe stays. Same for master's: He's working on his master's.
- Plural. Tricky but rare: bachelor's degrees (multiple degrees of the bachelor's type). The apostrophe stays in the singular possessive form even when "degrees" is plural.
Frequently Asked Questions
Including "bachelor's degree" in a title? Our free Title Case Converter handles the capitalization – and the apostrophe – across AP, APA, Chicago, and MLA styles.
Open the converter with a prefilled example and adapt it to your headline.
Try It NowRelated Capitalization Questions
About Oleh Kovalenko
Oleh Kovalenko develops practical capitalization guidance for editorial and SEO workflows, with a focus on consistent rule application.
