Updated: July 6, 2026

What are the differences between college certificates and degrees? 

Trying to distinguish between college certificates and degrees can become a little confusing sometimes. You may be wondering whether it’s better for you to spend the time, money and effort by earning a college degree, or if obtaining a certificate will be enough to help you get the job you’re looking for. The key is in understanding the difference between the two and knowing what’s the best choice depending on your career goals. Let’s take a deeper look into both options so you can decide which would be the best choice for you.

What is a College Degree?

A college degree is an academic title you earn after completing two to eight years of education in a certain major. There are four types of degrees: associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree. Some of the job opportunities that a bachelor’s and master’s degree can offer you are in the fields of Architecture, Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Education, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Law Enforcement, Marketing and Communications, Telecommunications and many more.

While obtaining a degree may be an investment of money and time, you will be qualified to work in more advanced positions, as many positions are beginning to require colleges degrees for entry-level positions. A college degree may also increase your salary prospects.

What Will I Learn in a Degree Program?

UT San Antonio Online strives to provide students with the best online education experience possible, offering the same rigor, same faculty, and same quality education offered in all UT San Antonio in-person classes. All UT San Antonio Online undergraduate and graduate programs are offered 100% online for students to complete their degrees at their own pace. With UT San Antonio Online classes, you’ll have due dates each week, but you can complete your coursework around your own schedule.

Undergraduate Degrees

All UT San Antonio Online undergraduate programs require 120 credit hours.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

This program is designed to develop and sharpen your communication skills while you explore digital media, editing and technical writing, and intercultural and organizational communications to help you prepare for a career in multiple industries.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity

UT San Antonio Online’s Cybersecurity program will provide you with the necessary skills to build defensive infrastructure, protect sensitive data from external dangers and contribute to long-term business success. The program is nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) in all three areas of Cyber Defense Education, Cyber Defense Research, and Cyber Defense Operations.

Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Sustainability

UT San Antonio Online’s BA in Geography and Environmental Sustainability program combines the spatial analysis and mapping expertise of a geography degree with the sustainable development and environmental stewardship principles of a sustainability degree. Through urban and sustainable landscape analysis, you’ll gain a competitive edge for careers in urban planning, natural resource management, data analytics and more, preparing you to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Influence

This program focuses on enhancing digital production skills and targeting audiences with persuasive messaging. It covers topics like critical thinking, modern digital trends and Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Graduates will be prepared for careers in various industries, equipped with skills in media influence, digital communication, and technology.

Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies

This flexible multidisciplinary program will allow you to pursue a well-rounded 100% online degree that is customized to your interests and skills while making the most of the college credits you have already earned. The program is designed to help you thrive in careers like education, government, management, human resources, law enforcement, nonprofit management, and more. Check out the focus areas offered today!

Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law

In UT San Antonio’s 100% online Politics and Law degree, you’ll gain a deep understanding of law, governance and civic engagement. Through interdisciplinary courses that combine legal studies, political theory and practical applications, you’ll develop critical thinking, legal reasoning and advocacy skills while engaging with real-world issues.

Graduate Degrees

Master of Science in Facility Management

This 100% online program is designed to develop fully-qualified facility managers with skills in management, operations, and leadership in a 30-credit-hour program that will take you approximately two years to complete.

Master of Business Administration

Strengthen your critical thinking, innovation and decision-making skills, so you can be an effective leader in today’s competitive global market. Whether you’re advancing in your field, changing industries or launching a business, a fully online MBA from UT San Antonio can help you build the future you deserve.

Master of Science in Business Analytics

You’ll gain skills in data visualization, predictive modeling, and optimization in a flexible, 100% online format. Learn to drive efficiency, improve outcomes, and support informed decision-making so you can build the future you deserve.

Multidisciplinary Studies

This stackable program is open to students from all academic backgrounds and allows you to design a degree plan that builds on personal interests, academic strengths, and career opportunities. Through this program, you’ll earn three separate credentials: two graduate certificates and either a Master of Science or a Master of Arts, depending on your certificate selections.

What is a Certificate?

A certificate is an official and certified document that serves as proof you have completed the required amount of training for a specific job. A certificate will help you prepare for a job in a desired field or will serve as a stepping stone to help you advance in your career. Certificates can also be earned in preparation for an associate’s or bachelor’s degree if you’re planning to obtain either of those in the future.

However, a certificate can also be earned AFTER obtaining your undergraduate degree. In this instance, a certificate can supplement your degree by giving you an additional credential for your resume. At UT San Antonio Online, you’ll have the opportunity to earn multiple types of graduate certificates. For these, you must have a bachelor’s degree.

Depending on the field you plan on pursuing, some positions mention a specific certification required or preferred within the skills and education requirements section of the job posting. Certificates are academic programs normally built in sets of 9 to 30 credit hours, and they tend to be completed within a year or less by full-time students.

What Will I Learn in a Certificate Program?

UT San Antonio Online’s certificate programs are taught by the same faculty as our on-campus classes, offering the same rigor and quality education provided to all UT San Antonio students.

Among the 100% online graduate certificate programs available to UT San Antonio Online students are:

Bilingual Education Graduate Certificate

You’ll study both theory and research related to effective bilingual and dual-language education. After completing this 5-course program, you’ll be better prepared to approach your state’s certification exam in bilingual education (the Bilingual Education Supplemental in Texas).

Data Science Graduate Certificate

This 5-course online graduate certificate program is designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, and it includes fundamental knowledge for those without a programming or data science background. After completing the coursework, certificate holders will be able to solve problems using data analysis and business knowledge in any data science-related fields and in diverse disciplines such as business, engineering, education, defense and security, natural sciences, humanities, health care, social sciences and more.

Digital Communication Graduate Certificate

You’ll gain hands-on experience in multimedia design and content creation using industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Cloud. You’ll go deeper than graphic design alone by exploring audience analysis and media psychology to better understand how people engage with digital content. Whether you’re looking to advance in digital storytelling, visual communication or multimedia design, you’ll be prepared to communicate more effectively in an increasingly digital environment.

Facility Management Graduate Certificate

The graduate certificate in Facility Management is 100% online and designed to educate and equip facility management students with specialized skills to enhance their performance and professional qualifications in 5 courses. A graduate certificate in Facility Management will prepare you to support and advance the facilities management profession, as you’ll gain skills and knowledge in management, operations and leadership to become a fully qualified facility manager. This certificate program is considered stackable, which means all credit hours earned from this program can transfer into the MS in Facility Management program, if you are considering pursuing that degree in the future.

Medical Device Commercialization Graduate Certificate

Students who complete the Medical Device Commercialization graduate certificate will gain skills and knowledge in leadership, commercialization, applied problem-solving and entrepreneurship, and will gain an understanding of processes used in the medical device industry. This program will enhance your training, knowledge and skills that specifically emphasize independent critical thinking, management of biomedical innovations, regulatory affairs, protection of intellectual property and decision-making.

National Security Studies Graduate Certificate

You’ll gain the knowledge and skills to analyze threats, influence policy and lead in high-stakes environments. Through topics like U.S. national security policy and global security environments, the National Security Studies Graduate Certificate helps you stand out with specialized, graduate-level training designed for real-world impact

How to Decide Which Program to Pursue

The most common difference between certificate and degree programs is based on the duration and cost of each, and the requirements of the job you hope to attain.

In order to decide which program to pursue, consider the following:

• Your Time – If you are looking to earn practical skills for a certain job and you would like to complete the program quickly, then a certificate might be the most convenient option for you. If you are looking to obtain higher-level knowledge and are willing to dedicate several years to your education, then a degree would be the best option for you.
• Your Career Goals – A degree will offer you a variety of job options with higher-salary positions than a certificate. However, an undergraduate certificate can be the foundation to fulfill prerequisite courses for a bachelor’s degree, and a graduate certificate can offer further knowledge and specialization beyond your bachelor’s degree, if you already have one.
• Your Next Move – Think about what your ultimate goal is and how far along you are in your journey toward that goal. In addition, consider your skill level and the amount of dedication and effort that each program will require from you. It’s important that you also take into consideration the future career outlook that each program would offer, and how it would impact you as a candidate for a desired job position.