Employer Survey: Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degrees

Traditional bachelor’s degrees typically require 124 credit hours to complete. However, a growing number of institutions are now offering Bachelor of Applied Science degrees that require 90-110 credit hours instead. These streamlined programs emphasize career-ready skills, eliminating some elective courses while maintaining the academic rigor in major-specific and general education coursework. Students can often complete these degrees in 3 years rather than the traditional 4 years, reducing both time and cost.

We are interested in understanding how employers view these reduced credit bachelor’s degrees and whether they would be considered equivalent to traditional bachelor’s degrees in hiring and advancement decisions.

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Survey Questions

1. Prior to reading this survey, were you aware that some institutions offer bachelor’s degrees with reduced credit requirements (Bachelor of Applied Science)? *

• Yes, I was familiar with this trend
• I had heard about it but knew limited details
• No, this is new information to me

2. If a candidate held a reduced-credit bachelor’s degree that focused on general education and career-ready skills in their field, how would you view this degree compared to a traditional 124-credit bachelor's degree? *

• I would view it as equally valuable
• I would view it as slightly less valuable
• I would view it as significantly less valuable
• I would need more information about the specific program to decide

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3. What aspects of a reduced-credit degree program would be most important to you when evaluating a candidate? (Select all that apply) *

• Accreditation of the institution
• Specific competencies and skills acquired
• Reputation of the institution offering the degree
• Rigor of the program (course difficulty, standards)
• Whether internships or practical experience were included
• Employer partnerships or input in curriculum design
• Other (please enter query below)

4. Would your organization consider hiring or promoting candidates with a reduced-credit bachelor's degree for positions that currently require a traditional bachelor’s degree?

• Yes, without any concerns
• Yes, but we would evaluate on a case-by-case basis
• Possibly, depending on the specific role and program
• No, we would prefer traditional 124-credit degrees
• Unsure

What additional information or assurances, if any, would make you more comfortable hiring candidates with reduced-credit bachelor's degrees? (Optional)

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