What Is a Four-Year School?
As the name suggests, four-year schools offer degree programs that take roughly four years to complete. By the end of your program, you’ll likely have some form of bachelor’s degree — typically either in arts (B.A.), science (B.S.) or fine arts (B.F.A.) — and the skills to find work in a field related to your major. Whichever form of bachelor’s you choose, you’ll likely have to acquire at least 120 academic credits to receive your degree. Of course, since a college degree is mandatory for many office jobs, all that time can be a worthwhile investment and will offer you a mix of general education and focused instruction around your chosen major.
Why Choose a Four-Year Degree?
Four-year degrees are strongly preferred, if not outright required, for many high-income fields like engineering and business, and can be a great way to start your career on the right foot. The blend of well-rounded general education and specialized knowledge that comes with a degree can put you in a very competitive position to find a job after graduation — and they’re also a strong indicator of long-term earning potential. In other words, with a four-year degree, your chances of financial and professional success can go way up.
What Is the Academic Structure of a Four-Year College?
Much like high school, most four-year colleges keep the terminology of “freshman,” “sophomore,” “junior” and “senior.” Freshman and sophomore years are dedicated to general/core education, which consists of common academic topics like the humanities, math and science.
By your junior year, you’ll be expected to declare a major, and the bulk of your classes in the last two years of college will focus on your chosen field. You may also be able to take electives, or classes on a variety of general subjects unrelated to your major, and might finish your major work with a final capstone project during your senior year.
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