A bachelor's degree typically takes four to five of post-high school education years to complete; this degree is also known as an undergraduate degree. You will generally earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA). A Ph.D, or doctorate, is the qualification often received after obtaining a master's degree. A Ph.D takes four to seven years of school in addition to the bachelor's degree.
Generally, bachelor's degrees do not require a major research paper, but a Ph.D requires that you write a doctoral dissertation. This is a document submitted in support of candidacy for a degree or professional qualification that presents the author's research in a topic of their choice.
In a bachelor's degree program you obtain training that specializes in the field that you study. Many people who possess a Ph.D opt to pursue careers that deal with teaching and research; in fact, the research put into a doctorate degree is often the beginning of a career.
Median salaries vary depending on the degree held. For an example, compare the differences between earnings of people holding a bachelor's degree with those that have a Ph.D. These statistics are drawn from "Salaries of Scientists, Engineers and Technicians: A Summary of Salary Surveys."
Bachelor's Degree: Men: $65,000 Women :$49,000
Ph.D: Men: $96,000 Women: $83,500
The money you make tends to increase with the amount of education, but there are also secondary things to consider when deciding what academic program would be best for you. More education requires more money, more time and you may need to relocate to another city or state to pursue your studies.