By Brennan, B.S. Engineering · Published · Updated
The biggest BA vs. BS difference is math and science. When you compare a Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science in the same subject, the BS usually requires more math, science and technical classes, while the BA usually leaves more room for broader classes, sometimes including a foreign language. Many majors, like psychology and computer science, are offered both ways, and the core classes in the major are often the same.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering. My school didn't offer a BA in engineering or chemistry, and almost all of its STEM programs were BS degrees.
What does a Bachelor of Arts mean?
A Bachelor of Arts is a bachelor's degree that leans toward breadth. Alongside your major, a BA program usually leaves room for classes across the humanities, social sciences and arts, and some BA programs require a foreign language.
What does a Bachelor of Science mean?
A Bachelor of Science is a bachelor's degree that leans toward depth in math, science and technical work. A BS program usually requires extra math, lab science or statistics classes beyond what a BA in the same subject would.
What's the difference between a BA and a BS?
When I compare programs at colleges that offer both, the difference is usually extra math and science for the BS, and more room for languages and broader classes in the BA. Here's what four real programs require:
| College and major | How the BS and BA differ |
|---|---|
| Murray State University, psychology | The psychology classes are the same for both. The BA requires foreign language courses; the BS requires an additional science or math course instead. |
| University of Texas at Austin, psychology | The BS requires 25 hours of science and math courses at the science-major level, including calculus. The department recommends the BS only for students headed to medical school or other health professions. |
| University of Minnesota, computer science | The BS requires two lab science courses (one is Physics I) and an upper-level math requirement. The BA requires four semesters of a second language or proven proficiency. |
| Florida State University, computer science | The BS requires Calculus II, Discrete Mathematics II and a statistics course. The BS is accredited by ABET's Computing Accreditation Commission; the BA is not. |
Sources: each department's own degree pages (listed below). Requirements change, so check the current catalog at any school you're considering.
How much more does a BS require?
It can be a lot. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the chemistry major's required courses add up to 52 credit hours for the BA and 72 for the BS. That's 20 more credit hours. The extra hours in the BS go to:
- A second semester of physical chemistry, plus a physical chemistry lab
- 15 hours of advanced chemistry electives and a capstone lab
- More math: multivariable calculus and differential equations
- Calculus-based physics. BA students can take physics written for life science students instead.
The University of Maryland's chemistry department describes a similar split. Its BS programs "provide more laboratory and advanced coursework" and are recommended for future professional scientists and science graduate students. Its BA is designed for careers outside lab research, such as secondary education, business, clinical and health professions, law and public policy.
When I look at those two lists, UNC's chemistry BS is a much heavier, more technical load. At some schools, like Murray State, the gap is small. So read the full course list for each version, not just the degree name. Our guide on how to choose a college major shows what to look for.
Is a BS better than a BA?
Not in general. Neither one is better for everyone; it depends on where you're headed. Accreditation can matter in technical fields. At Florida State, for example, only the BS in computer science is ABET-accredited.
In my own field, the letters do matter. When I sit on hiring committees for engineering roles, we look for a Bachelor of Science. I think most employers want a BS for engineering, chemistry and math roles, though I can't speak for every field.
Does a BA or BS matter for grad school?
For medical school, not by itself. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) says "there's no required or even preferred majors that medical schools are looking for." In the AAMC's 2025-2026 data, more than half of M.D. applicants (32,038 of 54,699) were biological science majors. The rest came from many fields, including math, statistics, social sciences, health sciences and the humanities.
Schools still steer students differently. UT Austin recommends its psychology BS for students headed to medical school, while Maryland lists clinical and health professions among the careers its chemistry BA is designed for. So pick the version that fits where you're headed.
Other graduate programs can care more about the classes you took. Florida State's computer science department says BA graduates who want to enter its computer science graduate program may need to take prerequisite courses first.
Should you get a BA or a BS?
Match the degree to your plans:
- Lean toward a BS if you're aiming for engineering, science, lab or other technical work, or if accreditation matters in your field.
- Lean toward a BA if you want room for a foreign language, a wider mix of classes, or a field where the math and lab science of a BS won't help you.
In my opinion, the Bachelor of Science is the better pick if you're torn.
Still choosing the major itself? The free quiz takes about 4 to 6 minutes and can give you a place to start.
Where does a BBA fit?
A BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) is a bachelor's degree in business. Schools name their business degrees differently, so look at the classes as well as the letters:
- Cleveland State University offers a BBA with majors such as accounting, finance, marketing and management.
- Lincoln Memorial University offers both a BA in Business and a BBA. Its BBA requires a 42-credit business core plus a 24-credit concentration, such as accounting, finance or marketing.
- Indiana University's Kelley School of Business calls its undergraduate business degree a Bachelor of Science in Business.
What is a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)?
A BAS is a bachelor's degree that builds on a technical, career-focused associate degree, usually an Associate of Applied Science (AAS). It's for people who already have that two-year degree and want a bachelor's without starting over.
Washington's community and technical colleges show how it works. Students first earn an associate degree they can use to go to work right away, then come back for the bachelor's. Some programs add a two-year management track on top of the technical training. As of January 2026, all 34 of the state's community and technical colleges offered applied bachelor's degrees, in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and radiation and imaging sciences.
The state board says these programs serve AAS graduates who have few other ways to finish a bachelor's, and working adults who can't move away for school. If grad school might come later, check that program's admission rules early. Washington's BAS guidelines say they don't change the admission criteria graduate programs set.
More BA and BS questions
Does a BA or BS matter for jobs?
It depends on the field. In engineering, yes: when I've helped hire engineers, we've wanted a Bachelor of Science. In other fields, check job postings for the careers you're considering to see what they ask for.
Is a BS harder than a BA?
A BS usually requires more math and science classes, so it can feel harder if those subjects are tough for you. How hard either one feels depends on your strengths and interests.
Is psychology a BA or a BS?
Many colleges offer psychology both ways. At Murray State and UT Austin, for example, the BS adds math or science classes that the BA doesn't require.
Can you switch from a BA to a BS?
It depends on the school, and it can be harder than going the other way. The University of Maryland's chemistry department says it's much easier to switch from the BS to the BA, because the BS needs certain math and physics classes first. My advice: if you might want the BS, take those math and physics classes early.
Related reading
Deciding on a degree type is one part of choosing a major. See also how to choose a college major and what a minor is and whether you need one. Thinking about earning a BA and a BS at the same time? See double major vs. dual degree.
Sources
Degree rules differ by school, so this page uses each school's own catalog or department pages, plus the AAMC and Washington's community college board, and every figure was checked against the original. If your school says something different, go with yours.
- Murray State University, Department of Psychology. Undergraduate degree programs. murraystate.edu
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology. Degree information. liberalarts.utexas.edu
- University of Minnesota, Department of Computer Science and Engineering. B.A./B.S. in Computer Science. cse.umn.edu
- Florida State University, Department of Computer Science. Differences between the BS and BA in Computer Science. cs.fsu.edu
- Cleveland State University, Monte Ahuja College of Business. Undergraduate programs. business.csuohio.edu
- Lincoln Memorial University. Undergraduate catalog: School of Business. undergraduatecatalog.lmunet.edu
- Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. Undergraduate programs. kelley.iu.edu
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Undergraduate catalog: Chemistry Major, B.A. catalog.unc.edu
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Undergraduate catalog: Chemistry Major, B.S. catalog.unc.edu
- University of Maryland, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Frequently asked questions about the CHEM-BA program. chem.umd.edu
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). How to Choose the Best Premed Major. students-residents.aamc.org
- Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Bachelor's Degrees (fact sheet, January 2026). sbctc.edu
- Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. State Board Policy Manual: Applied Baccalaureate Program Approval Process. sbctc.edu