In U.S. English, graduate can be a verb, noun, or adjective. The verb means finish a program, while the noun means someone who did. As an adjective, it often describes study after a bachelor's degree. Undergraduate covers associate and bachelor's study, while Americans usually call later study graduate school.
The three uses of “graduate”
As a verb, graduate means complete a school or degree program:
"I graduated in 2022."
"She graduated from college with a degree in physics."
In common U.S. use, graduate from can name the school. Americans also say graduate college without from. Some speakers may view that form as less standard.
As a noun, a graduate is someone who completed a program:
"The firm recruits recent graduates."
As an adjective, graduate often refers to study after a bachelor's degree:
"graduate student"
"graduate degree"
"graduate school"
The ending sounds different based on the word's role. The verb usually ends like -ate, while the noun and adjective end like -it.
What is graduation?
Graduation can mean finishing a program, the milestone, or its celebration.
"Her graduation is in May."
This may mean the event, the finish date, or both. The formal event may be called commencement.
Courses may end before the school awards the degree or holds the event. For a job check, ask when the school awarded the degree.
What is an undergraduate?
An undergraduate generally studies for an associate or bachelor's degree. The informal form is undergrad.
"I studied abroad as an undergrad."
"The role is open to undergraduate students."
Undergraduate degree usually means an associate or bachelor's degree. EducationUSA lists these as the two main U.S. types.
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Start a session →Graduate versus postgraduate
Many countries use postgraduate for study after a first degree. In the United States, graduate school is more common for master's and doctoral programs.
Postgraduate may cover the same later study, but its scope varies by country and field. This difference can confuse a global team.
If you mean a master's degree, say so:
"I completed a master's degree in finance."
If you mean postdoctoral research:
"I completed a postdoctoral fellowship after my PhD."
These descriptions are clearer than postgraduate studies alone.
What might you hear at work?
"We are hiring new grads for the rotational program."
New grads or recent grads means people who finished a program recently, while context identifies which kind.
"She is in graduate school part time."
The colleague is enrolled in graduate-level study part time. The exact program or credential is not stated.
"The benefit covers undergraduate and graduate tuition."
This is a broad benefit group. Certificates, professional degrees, and non-degree study may have separate rules.
"He graduates this spring."
The speaker expects him to finish a program without naming the degree.
"We need proof of graduation before the start date."
The employer may ask for a transcript, degree check, or school record because an event photo does not prove the award.
What can you say naturally?
On a résumé:
"Master of Science in Information Systems, awarded May 2024"
In small talk:
"I went to graduate school after working for three years."
In benefits communication:
"Does the policy cover graduate certificates, or only master's and doctoral degrees?"
For clarification:
"When you say postgraduate, do you mean a master's program or study after a graduate degree?"
That question is useful when people know different school systems.
Common non-native misunderstandings
Graduate student means a student in later study, usually after a bachelor's degree. It does not mean someone who finished the current program.
College graduate usually means someone who finished college, not someone with a graduate degree.
Graduated in economics identifies the field in some varieties of English. Americans more commonly say:
"I graduated with a degree in economics."
or:
"I majored in economics."
Avoid status assumptions
Graduate study may matter for a role, but it does not prove skill or rank. People may delay or avoid it for many personal reasons.
In networking, a broad question leaves room for different paths:
"What brought you into this field?"
For degree structure, see major, minor, and degree meaning. For ceremony vocabulary, see commencement, graduation, and alumni meaning.