What is the difference between a graduate degree and a postgraduate degree in the United States?

Postgraduate and graduate degrees are often used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference between the two. A graduate degree refers to a program of study that a student can undertake after completing their undergraduate education. A postgraduate degree, on the other hand, refers to any education that a student pursues after their undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate education can be divided into two categories: professional and academic. Professional postgraduate education prepares students for a specific job or career, such as law or medicine, and typically leads to a degree such as a Juris Doctor (JD) or Doctor of Medicine (MD). Academic postgraduate education includes programs like a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), or doctorate (Ph.D.) and focuses on theoretical and research-based training in a field or subject of study.

While the term postgraduate degree may be used to describe both professional and academic programs, it is more commonly associated with academic programs. Graduate degrees, on the other hand, are limited to academic programs and do not include professional education.