The correct form is bachelor’s degree, with an apostrophe before the s. The phrase bachelors degree is a common mistake in standard written English.
This rule matters in resumes, college essays, professional bios, job applications, and school pages. The small apostrophe shows that bachelor’s is a possessive form in this fixed academic phrase. However, formal degree names follow a different pattern, such as Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.
Quick Answer
Write bachelor’s degree when you mean the general undergraduate degree. Do not write bachelors degree in formal writing. Use Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or another official degree name when naming the exact degree. In that formal title, do not use an apostrophe.
What Is Correct?
The standard phrase is bachelor’s degree.
Correct: She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Incorrect: She earned a bachelors degree in marketing.
Incorrect: She earned a bachelor degree in marketing.
The apostrophe belongs before the s because the phrase uses a singular possessive form: bachelor’s. It does not mean one specific person owns the degree. It is the accepted form of the academic phrase.
When you name the formal degree, use Bachelor of with no apostrophe.
Correct: He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology.
Incorrect: He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in biology.
The Core Grammar Rule
The grammar rule is simple: use the possessive form bachelor’s before degree.
In this phrase, bachelor’s works like a possessive noun. The apostrophe goes before the s, not after it. That is why bachelor’s degree is correct, while bachelors degree is not standard.
The same pattern appears in master’s degree. However, it does not apply to every degree name. You write associate degree and doctoral degree without a possessive apostrophe.
When Each Form Is Correct
| Form or Pattern | Best Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| bachelor’s degree | General reference to the degree | Standard possessive form |
| bachelor’s | Short form when degree is understood | Keeps the apostrophe |
| bachelor’s degrees | More than one bachelor’s degree | The plural is on degree, not bachelor’s |
| Bachelor of Arts | Formal degree name | Uses Bachelor of, not possessive bachelor’s |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Full official degree title | Capitalized formal title with no apostrophe |
| bachelors | Plural noun for more than one bachelor | Correct only outside the degree phrase |
Use bachelor’s degree in normal sentences. Use Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science when you need the official title.
When It Is Incorrect Or Less Natural
Bachelors degree is incorrect in standard formal writing because bachelors is plural, not possessive. It looks like you mean more than one bachelor, not the name of a degree.
Bachelor degree is also less natural in US English when used in a regular sentence. You may see it in shortened labels or non-US contexts, but bachelor’s degree is the safer and clearer choice in polished American writing.
Bachelor’s of Arts is incorrect because it mixes two structures. Use either bachelor’s degree or Bachelor of Arts, not Bachelor’s of Arts.
Meaning, Structure, Or Emphasis Differences
The difference is mainly about correct structure, not a major meaning change. Readers usually understand bachelors degree, but the form looks unpolished in resumes and academic writing.
Bachelor’s degree is the general phrase. It does not name the exact degree type. For example, someone may have a bachelor’s degree in education, business, chemistry, or art history.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science are formal degree names. These titles sound more official and specific. They are common on resumes, diplomas, academic profiles, and college program pages.
Real-World Examples
Correct: I earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Correct: Maya has a bachelor’s in accounting.
Correct: The company prefers applicants with a bachelor’s degree.
Correct: He completed two bachelor’s degrees before starting graduate school.
Correct: She received a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Correct: I am working toward a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Incorrect: I earned a bachelors degree in communications.
Incorrect: Maya has a bachelors in accounting.
Incorrect: She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in English.
Incorrect: He completed two bachelors degrees before starting graduate school.
Common Mistakes (And Quick Fixes)
The most common mistake is leaving out the apostrophe. This often happens on resumes because writers focus on the degree field and miss the form of the degree phrase.
Fast Fixes
- bachelors degree → bachelor’s degree
- bachelor degree → bachelor’s degree
- bachelors in finance → bachelor’s in finance
- bachelors degrees → bachelor’s degrees
- Bachelor’s of Arts → Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology → bachelor’s degree in psychology
Capitalize the phrase only when it starts a sentence, appears in a title or heading, or belongs to a formal degree name.
Grammar Rule Details
Rule
Use bachelor’s degree for the general academic degree. The apostrophe shows the possessive form in this fixed phrase.
Correct Usage
Use bachelor’s degree in normal prose: “She has a bachelor’s degree in economics.”
Use bachelor’s as a short form when degree is understood: “He earned his bachelor’s last spring.”
Use Bachelor of for the official degree title: “She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts.”
Incorrect or Less Natural Usage
Bachelors degree is incorrect in formal writing because it uses a plural noun instead of the possessive form.
Bachelor degree is less natural in standard US prose when the general degree phrase is needed.
Bachelor’s of Arts is incorrect because Bachelor of Arts already has the correct structure.
Examples
My sister earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Jordan has a bachelor’s in political science.
The role requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
Nina completed a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.
The school offers several bachelor’s degrees.
Common Mistakes
Writers often move the apostrophe after the s in plural phrases. Do not write bachelors’ degrees for the normal plural. Write bachelor’s degrees.
Writers also overcapitalize the general phrase. In a sentence, bachelor’s degree is normally lowercase unless it begins the sentence or appears in a heading.
Exceptions
There are no useful exceptions to the core form bachelor’s degree in standard US writing.
The main difference is not an exception but a separate pattern: official degree names use Bachelor of, as in Bachelor of Arts, with no apostrophe.
Quick Test
Ask this: Am I using the general phrase before degree?
If yes, write bachelor’s degree.
Ask this: Am I naming the official degree with of?
If yes, write Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or the exact formal title.
Usage Notes
For resumes, either phrase can work depending on the detail you want.
Use bachelor’s degree in accounting for a general description. Use Bachelor of Science in Accounting if you want the formal degree name.
Avoid bachelors degree anywhere you want polished, professional writing.
FAQ
Is bachelors degree ever correct?
No. Bachelors degree is not the standard form in formal US writing. Use bachelor’s degree with an apostrophe before the s.
Should bachelor’s degree be capitalized?
In a normal sentence, write bachelor’s degree in lowercase. Capitalize it only at the start of a sentence, in a heading, or when using a formal title such as Bachelor of Arts.
Is bachelor’s degrees correct?
Yes. Bachelor’s degrees is correct when you mean more than one degree. The word degree becomes plural, while bachelor’s keeps the apostrophe before the s.
Is Bachelor of Arts the same pattern as bachelor’s degree?
No. Bachelor of Arts is a formal degree name. It uses Bachelor of, so it does not take an apostrophe.
Can I write bachelor’s without degree?
Yes. You can write bachelor’s when degree is understood. For example, “She has a bachelor’s in finance” is natural in many professional and conversational contexts.
Which form is best on a resume?
Use Bachelor of Arts in English or Bachelor of Science in Biology if you know the official title. Use bachelor’s degree in English if you want a general description.
Conclusion
The correct general phrase is bachelor’s degree, not bachelors degree or bachelor degree. Keep the apostrophe before the s because the phrase uses a possessive form.
Use lowercase for general references, as in bachelor’s degree in history. Use capitals and no apostrophe for formal degree names, as in Bachelor of Arts in History. That simple split keeps resumes, school writing, and professional bios clean and correct.
