Finding The Best Fit to Get Top Universities in USA Following successful completion of a predetermined number of credits in a major subject of study, an undergraduate degree, commonly referred to as a bachelor's degree, is granted. Every course awards a specific number of credits, and every institution has a different requirement for the overall credits needed to graduate. Typically, four years of full-time study is required to earn a bachelor's degree. At community colleges in the United States, an associate's degree can typically be obtained after two years of full-time study and requires less credits to graduate.