Degree courses after 12th | Career Options & Colleges

Degree Courses After 12th choosing the right degree for the students is a very complicated thing. Students who want to pursue a degree after 12th will depend on their skills & career goals. Those students who completed their 12th from science stream can pursue these courses such as Engineering (B.Tech/B.E.), Medicine (MBBS), Pharmacy (B.Pharm) & B.Sc. in Nursing. For Arts students, these courses are the best options such as Bachelor of Arts (BA), Law (BA LLB), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), and Fashion Designing. Commerce students can pursue courses like Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Chartered Accountancy (CA), BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) & Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM). Admissions for the session 2025-26 started in March month 2025 and ended in June month 2025. To be eligible for these degree courses students need to complete their 12th with a minimum aggregate often around 50-60% from a recognized board. Some specific subjects are required to pursue a degree depending on the course. Top university options for pursuing degree courses such as IIsc, JMI, JNU, and DU. Degree courses after the 12th usually take 3-4 years to complete. Fees of these degree courses range from INR 60,000 to INR 60 Lakh.

Degree Courses After 12th Admission 2025

The admission of session 2025-26 for degree courses after the 12th is started in March 2025 and ends in June month 2025. Students who completed their 12th grade recently from these streams science, arts & commerce can pursue these courses such as B.Tech/B.E., MBBS, B.Pharm, BA, BA LLB, BBA, B.Com, CA & BHM. Before getting admitted, students should know the eligibility criteria for these courses. Students must pass their 12th from a recognized board, also have a minimum aggregate of around 50-60% & some specific subjects required to pursue some degree courses. For admission, these universities are top options such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), The University of Delhi (DU), & Banaras Hindu University. Those students who want to pursue a degree course from any of these universities can fill out an application form from their official portals. The fees of the application form start from INR 100 to INR 1500 or more.

Degree Courses After 12th for Science Students 

There are many degree courses after 12th for science students who can pursue and build their future. These are some best options after the 12th for science students such as:

B.Tech/B.E. (Bachelor of Technology/Bachelor of Engineering): This is an undergraduate degree course that equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to become engineers and technologists. This course takes 4 years to complete. To be eligible for this course, students must complete their 12th grade with science and also have (PCM) as core subjects. Minimum marks needed 50-60%. After completing this course, students can do jobs in sectors like software engineering, data science, AI, & cybersecurity. The average fees for a B.Tech course can range from INR 5 lakh to INR 22 lakh or even higher, depending on University type (government or private), location, and specialization.

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery): MBBS is an undergraduate medical degree that stands for Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. It is a 5.5-year course that includes coursework and clinical training. Eligibility criteria for this course are students need to complete their 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as core subjects and have a minimum score around 50-60%. Before getting admitted, students will take the entrance exam of NEET. It is mandatory for an MBBS course. After completing an MBBS, students can pursue various career paths, including general practitioner, specializing in a medical field like surgery or internal medicine, or exploring non-clinical options like hospital administration or medical writing. This course charges INR 6,000 to INR 1 crore.

B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy): This is a 4-year undergraduate degree course that focuses on the science of drugs and medicines, preparing students for careers in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare. To be eligible for this course, students generally need to have passed their class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics, securing a minimum of 50-60% aggregate marks. After completion of the course, students can continue their career in sectors such as Pharmacist, Medical Representative, Clinical Research Associate, and Quality Assurance Specialist. B.Pharma course fees usually range from INR 40,000 to INR 1 lakh per annum.

Degree Courses After 12th for Arts Students 

Some of the best degree courses after 12th for Arts students include:

BA (Bachelor of Arts): It is a bachelor's degree generally offered in humanities and social sciences. This course duration is around 3 years. A Bachelor of Arts degree opens doors to various careers, including journalism, content writing, digital marketing, human resources, and more. To pursue this degree, students need to complete their 12th with a minimum score of around 50-60%. The average fees for this degree range from INR 10,000 to INR 25,000.

BA LLB (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Legislative Law): A five-year integrated undergraduate law course that combines legal studies with arts subjects, offering a broad foundation in law and related disciplines. Students need to have completed their 12th education, securing a minimum percentage of around 45-55%, and potentially clear a law entrance exam like CLAT, LSAT, or AILET. With a BA LLB degree, students can pursue various legal careers such as lawyer (litigation or corporate), legal consultant, legal officer, or even a company secretary. The average BA LLB course fee in top law universities in India ranges from INR 1.5 to 2.8 lakh per year.

BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration): A common undergraduate degree focusing on business management and administration principles, equipping students with foundational skills for careers in various business sectors, such as bank branch manager, commercial lender, financial analyst, and financial planner. The duration of this course is around 3 years. To be eligible for a BBA course, students generally need to have completed their 12th grade from a recognized board and achieve a minimum aggregate score of around 50%. The fees for this course are INR 1 lakh to INR 2.5 lakhs.

Degree Courses After 12th for Commerce Students 

These are the best degree options after 12th for commerce students:

B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce): A three-year undergraduate degree focusing on commerce, accounting, and business administration, providing a foundation for careers in finance, business, and related fields. To be eligible for a B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) course, students generally need to have completed their 12th examination with a minimum of 50% marks. The average fees for a B.Com course usually range from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000 per year.

CA (Chartered Accountant): A professional qualification in accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial management, offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). It's a highly respected designation that opens up diverse career opportunities in various sectors such as corporate finance, financial management, investment banking, entrepreneurship, or academia. This course duration is around 3 years. To become a CA, students must complete their 12th from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate of around 55%. To get admitted to a CA degree course, students need to clear the entrance exam of the CA Foundation exam. This course costs INR 70,000 to INR 1,50,000.

BHM (Bachelor of Hotel Management): A 3-4 years undergraduate degree program that prepares students for careers in the hospitality industry, covering areas like hotel operations, event management, food and beverage, and tourism. To be eligible for a BHM course, students generally need to have passed their Class 12th examination from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate of 45-50%. The fees for this course are around INR 3 to 10 lakhs per year.

Degree Courses After 12th Eligibility Criteria 

This eligibility criteria will depend on the course that students choose to pursue. To pursue a degree after the 12th, students need to have passed their 12th grade from a recognized board in their specific stream, with a minimum aggregate of 50% for the general category and 45% for SC/ST for most universities. Some subjects are required for some specific courses. Many universities, especially for popular courses like engineering and medicine, require entrance exams such as CUET, JEE Main, NEET, etc.

Degree Courses After 12th Top Universities 

There are many top universities for pursuing a degree course after 12th. Here are some best universities: Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the University of Delhi (DU), & Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Students also should know the fees of these universities. Students can check out the fee structure of these universities given below:

Degree Courses After 12th Fee Structure of Universities