BA vs. BS degrees are two major options to choose from in college after completing school. BA (Bachelor of Arts) is related to subjects like English, Social Science, Fine Arts, and so on. On the other hand, the subjects in the BS (Bachelor of Science) program are completely different, and it is more focused on STEM subjects.
Choosing one of the majors will define your career path, so it is crucial to make an informed decision. Stick around with us to learn about the difference between a BA and a BS degree that will help you with your post-secondary education.
What is a BA Degree?
The Bachelor of Arts offers much wider disciplines for students to explore. It is a 3-year program offering students subjects like English, French, History, Literature, Social Science, Psychology, and others.
There are different branches of BA as well, such as:
- BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) covers domains like drawing, sketching, painting, pottery, sculpture, photography, dance, and so on.
- BBA (Bachelor in Business Administration) deals with the science of business administration.
- BA (Bachelor of Arts) includes subjects like language, psychology, journalism, Economics, and Political Science.
Due to the wide range of branches for study, students get to enjoy and explore a great variety of career options. Moving on, let’s look at what a BS degree is all about.
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What is a BS Degree?
As the name suggests, the BS is related to the core science field, where subjects like Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Information Technology are taught.
Some major examples of programs covered in BS are:
- BSCS (Bachelor of Science in Computer Science)
- BSAE (Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineer)
- BSBS (Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems)
- B.S.Ch.E (Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering)
- BSAE (Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering)
These programs are more technical compared to subjects in BA. Usually, programs in BS are 3 years long, with an emphasis on practical skills and laboratory work.
Moreover, both degree consists of different subjects, which means that the offerings and requirements are also different. In the following section, let’s delve into the comparison of Bachelor of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science.
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What is the Difference Between BS and BA?
Science and arts are two different streams that offer distinct sets of knowledge. As mentioned above, Science is more concerned with topics related to the physical world, mathematics, occurrences in nature, practical skill sets, and technology.
Arts is the complete opposite, as the subject is more philosophical and theoretical. It aims to explore ideas, creativity, history, and values that align with humanity. This means the requirements of soft skills are higher in a bachelor of art degree than in a bachelor of science degree, which consists solely of hard skills.
The options for degrees in BS are limited when compared to BA, which results in a lack of diversity in career options. However, there are few similar subjects in both BA and BS.
For example, if we talk about what can you do with a psychology degree in BA and BS. The BA Psychology graduate deals with principles, theories, human needs, and behavior. Whereas, the BS in psychology is linked to understanding the biological and neural aspects of human beings.
Similarly, we have a BA in Economics that deals with statistics and theoretical knowledge about micro and macroeconomy. On the other hand, BS Economics is about the science of applied economics with a data-driven approach.
To break it down, here is the comparison table:
| Basis | BA Degree | BS Degree |
| Subject of Focus | The main focus of a bachelor of arts is subjects related to humanities, social science, art, and music. | Bachelor of Science covers subjects related to science such as chemistry, mathematics, technology, and IT. |
| Duration | 3 Years | 3 Years |
| Emphasis | BA mainly emphasizes theoretical knowledge in humanities. | The main emphasis is given to research work, exploring technology in-depth, and practical skills. |
| Skills Developed | Writing, Communication, History, Creativity, Literature, and Cultural Competency. | Web Development, CSS, AI, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry. |
Apart from the comparison made in the table, there are a few more distinctions to be made. To make the concept of a BA vs. BS degree more clear for you, let’s also take a look at the level of difficulty, education fees, and career options.
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BA vs. BS Degree: Fees and Difficulty
A bachelor’s degree is often expensive if you wish to pursue it from a reputable college. The average education fee of one of the most reputable institutes, Boston University and Boston College is around $50,000 for a BA, and it may cost you anywhere near $66,000 per year for a BS.
You can also choose a community college, which would be an economical option and would cost you around $15,000 per year for a BA and $20,000 for a BS. Otherwise, pursuing an associate degree won’t be a bad option either.
The difference between a BA and a BS degree in terms of difficulty is also distinct. The difficulty level of a BS degree is higher due to the complexity and advanced knowledge.
As technology continues to evolve and since the breakthrough in AI, the syllabus is becoming more advanced. Meanwhile, a BA degree has its own level of difficulty where students have to emphasize more on their thinking and memory retention abilities. However, in terms of parallel comparison, the subject difficulty of a BS degree is much higher.
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BA vs. BS Degree: Job Opportunities and Pay Scale
The significant difference between a BA and a BS degree holder is in job opportunities and pay scale. Both fields are opposite, where science is all about research and practical explanation of natural phenomena. On the other hand, arts are all about theoretical knowledge, philosophy, literature, creativity, and self-expression. Due to such differences in the basis of the subject, the opportunities and the pay scale are also different.
To begin with, opportunities in BA are much broader, allowing undergraduates to explore more. The most notable job opportunities in the field of bachelor of arts is teaching, HR, research, assistant, and others. However, it requires you to pursue a graduate degree as well, such as a master’s or PhD.
There are also a few high-paying job options you can pursue just after completing your bachelor’s. Some high-paying and reputable jobs for people with a BA degree are:
| Designation | Median Salary |
| Graphic Designer | $50,000 |
| Musician | $60,000 |
| Artist | $40,000 |
| Fashion Designer | $60,000 |
| Content Writing/Copywriting | $66,000 |
| Journalism | $63,000 |
| Interior Designer | $56,000 |
These are a few examples of job options that a BA graduate can explore. However, when it comes to BS, the job opportunities are more technical and require advanced skills. Fields like web development, computer engineering, and computer science require more practical skill and experience than career options in BA.
Some of the high-paying career options after pursuing a bachelor of science are:
| Designation | Median Salary |
| Full Stack Developer | $126,000 |
| Computer Engineer | $87,000 |
| Computer Scientist | $99,000 |
| Data Science | $120,000 |
| Pharmacist | $110,000 |
| Chemical Engineer | $88,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | $100,000 |
| Biomedical Engineer | $93,000 |
| AI Researcher | $100,000 |
BS degree is often regarded as prestigious as it holds augmented value and adds a skill to a person. However, some employers may prefer a BA degree holder, as they are usually better at creative and critical thinking skills.
Additionally, a BA graduate student can easily shift his/her career and explore more diverse fields. But for a BS graduate student, it’s not that easy, as the subject is stiffer. For example, a chemical engineer who wishes to change his career cannot pursue an IT-related field due to a lack of expertise and knowledge.
It’s worth noting that the pay scale mentioned above can vary depending on your region and expertise. Moreover, you can upgrade your pay structure by pursuing higher education, as a graduate degree holds more value compared to an undergraduate degree.
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BS Degree vs. BA Degree — Which is Better?
Choosing the career option between a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science purely depends on your interest. Both offer exciting and challenging career opportunities, but surely the difference in pay scale is quite high. So, it is completely up to your interest to choose between BS and BA.
Moreover, enrolling in higher education, whether it is a BA or BS degree, necessitates strong writing, teamwork, analytical, and presentation skills. Students should work on adding value to their character and build a strong recommendation letter to become a likely candidate for college.
We hope you enjoy this comprehensive comparison of B.S. vs. B.A.
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FAQs
Ans:
The main difference between these two programs is that BS is a 4-year program, while BS is a 3-year program.
Ans: There is a huge pay scale gap between a bachelor of science degree holder and a bachelor of arts degree holder. The average BS degree salary is $65,000, whereas it is $38,000 for a BA degree holder.
Ans: Unless the type of job is related to a specific core subject, it won’t matter. For example, professions such as physician or lawyer require you to hold a specific degree.
Ans: No, a BA graduate student can’t pursue any of the fields in a BS degree. This is because the area is more advanced and requires a specialized skill set.
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