Should You Get a Second Bachelor’s Degree?

Earning one bachelor’s degree is challenging enough, yet many students consider getting a second bachelor’s degree, too.

If you’re mulling the possibility of a second bachelor’s degree, there are some pros and cons you should consider —like the time commitment and tuition costs. Potential benefits are largely dependent on your post-graduation plans and career goals.

If a student is considering pursuing a second bachelor’s degree, I would suggest the student sit with a career and/or academic counselor to really understand the options available, Norma Feriz-Gordon, a college planning counselor, told BestColleges. I always recommend that students be aware of labor market statistics and explore the return on the investment.

We’ll help walk you through all the things you should consider when deciding to pursue a second bachelor’s degree.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

A second bachelor’s degree could be a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to make a major career change.

You should weigh the potential return on investment (ROI) of a second bachelor’s degree against alternatives like a certification or master’s degree. If you want to change careers and need to develop a vastly different skill set to do so, going back to school for a new bachelor’s could be a solid option.

Another bachelor’s may also help you advance within your current field. For example, pursuing a marketing degree when you already have a business degree could help you learn new skills and advance in your career.

Students should consider obtaining a second bachelor’s degree if they are pursuing a completely different degree than they had originally obtained or if they need a very specific undergraduate degree in order to pursue a master’s degree in that area, Feriz-Gordon said.

Pursuing a second bachelor’s degree is a heavy time and financial commitment, so it may not be for you.

Some people considering a career change may be better served by a graduate degree. For example, if you want to become a licensed social worker, you must eventually earn a master of social work (MSW) degree, so it might be more efficient to enroll directly into an MSW program.

A master’s or certificate program will likely take less time to complete, thus potentially saving you money.

Lastly, first-time students may struggle with the workload of pursuing two bachelor’s degrees at once.

There are benefits and drawbacks to earning a second bachelor’s degree. It’s essential to weigh risks versus the potential payoff in determining if this is the right path for you.

Double majoring allows you to earn one bachelor’s degree with two separate majors.

A double major typically takes less time and money to earn because you’ll be taking classes related to both majors concurrently. It does, however, lead to a rigorous course load.

If you have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree and have two areas of interest, you should consider a dual major instead of two separate degrees, Feriz-Gordon said.

However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can’t add a second major to it. In this case, you’d need to earn a second bachelor’s degree if you have another major you want to pursue.

A master’s degree is likely to increase your earning potential and advance your career more than earning a second bachelor’s degree.

Median wages are approximately 16.3% higher for workers with a master’s degree compared to those with just a bachelor’s degree, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A second bachelor’s degree is also likely to increase your earning potential but not to the same degree as earning a master’s degree unless you are switching industries.

A master’s degree is also required to advance in some fields. Be sure to check the educational requirements of the career you are aiming for, as a master’s may get you to your goal more quickly than a second bachelor’s will.