Bachelor Payout

A bachelor’s degree is a four-year undergraduate degree. Historically, the term “college degree” meant a bachelor’s or traditional four-year degree.

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Methodology for Finding the Best Bachelor Degrees for the Money. The following salaries are based on starting and mid-career median pay, as concluded by PayScale after polling holders of bachelor degrees with 10+ years experience in their field. Petroleum Engineering. Median Mid-Career Salary: $176,900. Chris Soules has reportedly agreed to pay $2.5 million to a farmer’s family after the man died following a car crash involving the reality star. As part of the settlement of a civil lawsuit.

It typically takes four years of full-time study to complete your bachelor’s degree—encompassing 120 semester credits or around 40 college courses. If your college uses a quarter system rather than a semester system, you’ll need to complete a minimum of 180 quarter credits to earn an accredited bachelor’s degree.

A bachelor’s is a post-secondary undergraduate degree. Historically, the term “college degree” meant a bachelor’s or traditional four-year degree. Bachelor degrees are also sometimes called baccalaureate degrees. Regionally accredited liberal arts colleges award most of the bachelor degrees in the United States.

Liberal arts classes are required for all types of bachelor degrees. In most cases, more than half of a bachelor’s degree consists of general education or liberal arts courses in areas such as English, critical thinking, psychology, history and mathematics.

Typically only 30 to 36 credits—10 to 12 courses—will be in your major area of study.

The bachelor’s degree remains the standard for entry into many professional careers. Getting a bachelor’s degree can be the ticket to a more promising career.

In most cases, you cannot attend a professional graduate school in law, medicine, or teacher education unless you hold a bachelor’s degree. That means you will almost always need a bachelor’s before enrolling in a master’s program to open the door to even more career opportunities.

A bachelor’s degree is the first step towards some of today’s hottest professions. It can allow you to work in an occupation while you decide whether to pursue a graduate degree to become qualified for the highest level jobs in that require graduate study.

Interested in pursuing a bachelor degree? These schools offer an excellent variety of options, many of which are affordable, flexible and/or accelerated.

• Western Governors University of Utah is a competency-based university, founded by the governors of 19 western states. You earn college credits by demonstrating your knowledge or “competency” in specific subject areas.

• Capella University was approved by The U.S. Department of Education to offer an innovative “FlexPath” direct-assessment set of programs. Capella’s FlexPath programs offer the potential to significantly reduce the cost of a degree, accelerate the time required for degree completion, and better align learning to the needs of the student.

• Strayer University Online has helped working adults reach their goals. A pioneer in higher education, they offer flexible online classes—so you can pursue your passion without stopping your life.

• Southern New Hampshire University is transfer-friendly, offers accelerated programs and provides a dedicated academic advisor and student services designed for the adult learner.

• Grand Canyon University is a premier Christian university offering over 50 bachelor degree programs.

Quick Facts About Bachelor’s Degrees

Why earn a bachelor’s degree?

On average, more education means higher earnings. Most professional and technical jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the field. There are many schools offering degrees in person or online, full time or part time, and programs for people with prior educational or work experience to accelerate their degree.

How long does it take?

Four years of full time study or about 120 semester credits. Returning or part time students may take longer or shorter times to complete their degrees.

How much does it cost?

Tuition and fees can range from just a couple thousand dollars to about $60,000 per year. Living expenses can vary depending on the student’s circumstances.

Is it worth it?

The median increase in lifetime earnings is close to a million dollars, though not all career paths will make more money with a bachelor’s degree. The majority of good jobs that pay at least $35,000 a year for people aged 25-40, go to people with a bachelor’s degree.

What types of bachelor’s degrees are there?

There are three main titles of bachelor’s degrees: BA, BS, and BFA. There are bachelor’s degree programs in a wide variety of majors, including STEM subjects, social sciences, arts, and all types of specific subjects.

How do I choose the right bachelor’s degree program?

Each circumstance is different, but consider your career goals, your budget, and your preferred schedule for going to school. There are programs to meet almost any criteria, so do your research to find the best one for your situation.

Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree?

For those who want a college degree, a bachelor’s degree is the most common undergraduate degree. For many jobs in today’s economy, a bachelor’s degree is the educational qualification necessary. For jobs where a bachelor’s degree is not required, employers are still likely to prefer those with the degree over those with less education.

There are some professional pathways where people with an associate’s degree will earn more than people with a bachelor’s degree, but there are many more positions where having a bachelor’s degree will lead to higher earning potential than lesser educational qualifications.

Today, there are many programs available to earn a bachelor’s, so it is easier to find a program to fit your schedule and career goals than ever before. Part time or online programs allow students to continue to work or fulfill family commitments while pursuing a degree. Many people who entered the workforce without the bachelor’s degree are now returning to complete their degree and gain access to the higher lifetime earning potential that usually accompanies a degree.

Associate vs. Bachelor Degree

While a bachelor’s degree is a 4 year degree, the associate’s degree takes two years to complete.

A bachelor’s degree program aims to round out a student not only as a potential worker, but as a whole. It equips graduates with skills and knowledge in a particular field that will lead them to professional and middle-management jobs. Courses needed to get a bachelor’s degree include general courses in the liberal arts and specific required courses in a major concentration.

Associate degrees, on the other hand, typically prepare graduates for entry-level work with the basic skills and knowledge needed in a field.

Associate’s degrees can also allow students to complete general education requirements through a two-year program, for later transfer into a four-year degree. Many traditional and online colleges, universities, community colleges, and junior colleges have what are called 2+2 programs. After a student completes the first two years of their four-year bachelor degree, they have earned their associate’s degree. A student can continue their education post-associate at a larger university or college through an articulation agreement. This plan can be an easy and affordable bachelor’s degree journey.

How Long Does it Take?

While a traditional bachelor’s degree at a brick-and-mortar college or university usually takes four years, there are many students who do not attend school straight through. Many people need to work to support themselves and their families, or go into the military before seriously considering getting a degree. Accelerated or degree completion programs can be great ways to get a degree quickly and efficiently.

Accelerated Bachelor Degree Programs

The length of time it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree most likely depends upon the bachelor degree program you choose to enter, and the college in which you enroll. Options vary from full-time, traditional four-year programs to accelerated online bachelor degree programs which can be completed in just two years. Others may pursue their degree part-time, in which case, it would take longer.

If you have previously completed a number of post-secondary courses, these courses may be approved for transfer credit. This would reduce the time it takes to complete a 4 year bachelor degree. If you have an associate’s degree then you may also be eligible to enroll in an accelerated, 90 credit online bachelor’s degree program.

In addition, adult students may have earned prior higher education credits that can be transferred, or have completed workforce trainings and gained professional experience that also qualify for earned credits. Many higher education institutions allow students to test out of courses, through recognized assessments, including the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Credit by Examination.

Finding a distance education program that offers year round courses may offer another alternative, if you have the time commitment and motivation.

Tip: If time is of the essence and you need a bachelor’s degree as fast as possible, then you should consider attending an online school that has flexible enrollment periods. This allows for students to take their courses on their own time instead of within the confines of a traditional semester or quarter.

How Much Does it Cost?

Tuition for a bachelor’s degree varies significantly from school to school. Remember that the published fees are not what most students will actually end up paying. Grants and financial aid will often significantly reduce the actual cost, so a more expensive institution may give enough aid to make the actual cost lower than that of a cheaper school that gives less aid.

The College Board published a report that stated the median tuition for a full-time student in a single year at a private, not-for-profit four-year institution is about $11,000.

Affordability factors can include, but are not limited to: public vs. private institutions, the state in which you enroll, available aid, and your status as an in-state or out-of-state residence.

Online bachelor degree programs have set rates that do not base tuition on in-state and out-of-state status. Still, these rates vary widely from school-to-school, and from program-to-program.

Financial aid tremendously affects the total cost of a bachelor’s degree. For example in the same study, the College Board found that while the average tuition and fees at a public college is about $10,230, the actual net price when factoring in grants and tax credits equaled about $3,740.

Tip:

1. Be proactive in your search for the right degree program, and the right school.
2. Choose your major according to your interests and career goals, then explore cost rankings and look for the best financial options.
3. View GetEducated’s list of the cheapest colleges for an online bachelor's degree and see if they offer your intended major.

Student Loan Tips

Many students borrow money in the form of student loans to help pay for their education. While an education is a great investment in your financial future, as most people will earn more money with a degree than without one, it is still important to borrow money cautiously. If you take out huge loans for your bachelor’s education, you will need to pay them back while you are starting your career. This can affect your financial wellbeing for years to come.

There are two basic categories of student loans: federal student loans, with reasonable, fixed interest rates; and private student loans offered by banks and other institutions like schools or state agencies. Federal student loans are the best choice for most students, as the interest rates are fixed and the government may pay some of your interest for you in some circumstances. Private loans usually require a co-signer and often have variable interest rates, meaning that your monthly payment amounts can change. However, both types of student loans have much lower interest rates than credit cards, so shop around for a loan before you consider putting any of your education on credit cards!

Student loans are often part of the financial aid package that a school will offer to you, but that does not mean you need to take out these loans. The cost of education is such that approximately 70% of students graduate with a significant amount of student loan debt. Students who attended public colleges are the least likely to carry debt, and when they do, it is lower on average than students from other types of schools. Private non-profit colleges come next, but the highest rate of student loan debt is carried by those who attend for-profit colleges, with 88% leaving school with debt loads higher than their public or non-profit school peers.

If you decide to borrow money to fund your education, consider the possible future impacts on your life. If you don’t end up finishing the degree program you enroll in, you will not be able to get the higher-paying jobs that come with the degree, but you will still need to pay back the loans. If you stay on the path to a degree, but continue to borrow every year of your study, keep track of the loan totals and what your payments will look like after you graduate.

Tip:

1. Apply for financial aid by filling out a FAFSA, the free application for federal student aid.
2. If you apply to more than one school, compare the financial aid packages to figure out what you will end up paying and/or borrowing to get your degree.
3. Don’t rule out loans, but do your best to explore all your financial options in paying for school so that you will have a future with the lowest student loan debt weighing you down.

Is It Worth It?

Concerning the academic respect, a BA degree, BFA or BS are all valued equally. Depending on the kind of field into which a person is entering, the cost benefits can vary. BS degree jobs, like in the field of engineering, often pay more than their BA counterparts in Education or the Arts. Some of the highest paying jobs— like physicians and lawyers— require not only a bachelor’s degree, but also additional schooling.

Does a bachelor degree guarantee steady employment? No. But it does help your chances significantly. Even when the unemployment is high, the unemployment for people with bachelor degrees is lower by at least a few percentage points.

On average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, college graduates (those with a bachelor’s) make 64 percent more per week those who have earned only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime of work, between the ages of 20-60, that adds up to an average of almost a million dollars more for those with a bachelor’s degree. The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s is also about half the rate of those with a high school diploma, at 2.2% to 4.1%.

Many of the highest paid occupations for people with a bachelor’s degree are in STEM fields, though there are many other occupations for those in other majors that will also pay well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports salaries for professionals with bachelor’s degrees. The median income for careers which require only a bachelor’s degree for entry include:

• Computer Hardware Engineers– $114,600
• Civil Engineers– $86,640
• Actuaries (mathematics) – $102,880
• Nursing – $73,730
• Finance – $68,350
• Management – $104,240
• Dental Hygiene – $65,800.

To see the highest paying careers that require a bachelor’s degree, Payscale.com has compiled a table that lists these careers in descending order. You can check to see which of the highest paying careers fall within your interests by looking at their data.

Types of Bachelor Degrees

A list of bachelor degrees and the their specific majors and concentrations would be almost infinite.

The three most popular types of bachelor degrees are:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA degree)
• Bachelor of Science (BS degree)
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA degree).

What is a BA Degree?

A BA degree generally requires students to take fewer concentration courses and to focus more on exploring the liberal arts. These students have a little more freedom when it comes to customizing their education to fulfill their career goals and aspirations. The most common majors include English, Art, Theatre, Communications, Modern Languages and Music.

What is a BS Degree?

The BS degree, on the other hand, is less focused on exploration and more targeted to a specific concentration. Bachelor of Science students, more often than not, focus specifically on the field of their major and tend to be more career-focused. Bachelor degrees in the medical field, for example, are more likely to be Bachelor of Science degrees.

Popular majors that make the Bachelor of Science degree list include:

• Computer Science
• Business
• Economics
• Nursing
• Chemical Engineering
• Biology.

What is a BFA?

The BFA is another vocational or professional degree. The goal of a BFA program is for its graduates to go on to become professionals in the creative arts world. This includes dancers, singers, actors, painters, and sculptors, just to name a few. Like the BS degree, the main difference between a BFA and a BA program is the tendency to focus more on their major concentration than on general studies.

TIP: Should you earn a second bachelor’s degree? In most cases, the answer is NO. If you have a bachelor’s in one area—say art history—and are trying to re-tool to work in another area, such as human resources, consider adding a certificate to your resume rather than trying to earn a second bachelor’s degree. By earning a certificate you’ll essentially be adding a new “major” area of study to the general education studies of your original bachelor’s degree.

Popular Online Bachelor Degrees

• William Carey University Bachelor of General Studies
• Grand Canyon University Bachelor of Arts in Communications / Broadcasting & New Media
• Champlain College Bachelor of Science in Accounting
• Regent University Bachelor of Applied Science in Management & Leadership

How to Choose the Right Bachelor’s Degree Program

When to Seek a Bachelor’s Degree

When You …

• Know that a bachelor degree is required for your career
• Have already earned more than 60 semester college credits or hold at least one associate degree.
• Know that a graduate or professional degree will be required for your career

Before applying, answer these important questions.

• Does this particular degree program fulfill criteria for my intended profession?
• Will my profession require licensure? Is this degree program approved for licensure?
• Will this bachelor’s degree transfer into a master’s degree if I decide to further my educational goals in the future?
• How much will it cost to obtain my degree?
• Is financial aid available?
• Is coursework semester-based? Year round? Accelerated?
• Does online mean completely online? Or are there on-campus requirements?
• How much flexibility do I need? Do I prefer asynchronous courses that I complete on my own time, or would I enjoy synchronous classes in which classes meet at set times?

Application requirements vary widely among universities. Most colleges will require that you have a high school diploma or a GED equivalency. You will most likely need to complete an application, and may need to submit additional documentation, such as official transcripts, or assessments.

If a four-year program seems daunting, consider a two-year program that will transfer into a bachelor’s program.

TIP: Some careers may require a very specific type of bachelor degree. For example, if your goal is to become a public school teacher your state Board of Education will require, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in education. That degree will need to include some very specific courses. Check with your state licensing board before enrolling in any bachelor’s degree program in accounting, education, nursing, counseling and engineering, in particular.

Show Me an Online Bachelor’s Degree

Basically, a bachelor’s degree looks like an associate degree doubled.

Below is a sample online bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University so you can see the type of curriculum commonly required. Colleges will vary in their exact degree requirements. Compare colleges carefully on the courses they will require you to take to earn your bachelor’s degree in any one major area.

Western Governors University

Bachelor of Science in Business Management

Full-time undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 competency units (CUs) per term. WGU recognizes prior learning and experience to accelerate your degree program, and for this reason, identifies their courses in CUs; with similarities to that of traditional credit units. Below is a traditional route for individuals that enrolled in WGU with no transfer credits.

Course Description and Competency Units (CUs)
Term one: Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 CUs) English Composition I (3 CUs) Introduction to Geography (3 CUs) Principles of Management (4 CUs)	Term two: English Composition II (3 CUs) Fundamentals of Business Law and Ethics (6 CUs) Intermediate Algebra (3 CUs)
Term three: College Algebra (4 CUs) Integrated Natural Science (4 CUs) Integrated Natural Science Applications (4 CUs)	Term four: Legal Issues for Business Organizations (3 CUs) Elements of Effective Communication (3 CUs) Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3 CUs) Information Systems Management (3 CUs)
Term five: Principles of Accounting (4 CUs) Critical Thinking and Logic (3 CUs) Introduction to Humanities (3 CUs) Microeconomics (3 CUs)	Term six: Ethical Situations in Business (3 CUs) Macroeconomics (3 CUs) Global Business (3 CUs) Quantitative Analysis for Business (6 CUs)
Term seven: Fundamentals of Marketing and Business Communication (6 CUs) Marketing Applications (3 CUs) Managerial Accounting (3 CUs)	Term eight: Project Management (6 CUs) Strategy, Change and Organizational Behavior Concepts (7 CUs)
Term nine: Finance (3 CUs) Quality, Operations and Decision Science Concepts (8 CUs) Business Management Tasks (3 CUs)	Term ten: Business Management Capstone Written Project (4 CUs)

Related Resources

What is an Associate Degree?
What is a Master’s Degree?
Should I Tell My Employer I Earned My Degree Online?

It goes without saying that the men and women on ABC's The Bachelor have their fair share of secrets, but they're not the only ones trying to hide something. The producers of the show have things to hide as well. Here are just some of the things that they don't want viewers to know.

Producers and some contestants have relationships

Season 16 contestant Jamie Otis told Women's Health, 'There are more of these producer/contestant relationships than viewers realize — they're always kept hush-hush.' She bases this on the fact that she bumped into another contestant, who she did not name, with one of the producers. This occurred as Otis was on her way to conduct one of her interviews for the show. According to Otis, the other contestant's face 'turned bright red — total giveaway that something scandalous had gone down!'

Contestants are tested before they can be on the show

According to Dr. Catherine Selden, resident psychologist on The Bachelor, all 50 finalists must complete a lengthy psychological evaluation. She explained, 'We want to make sure that people are going to be OK with coping with the stress involved, and make sure that they are going to be offered the help that they need if it's the case.' So if you think any of the ladies are crazy, know that a psychiatric-health professional has verified that they are not.

Season 16 winner Courtney Robertson revealed in her tell-all book (via NY Post) that she was even given an STD test and was 'asked point-blank if she was on birth-control pills.' After this battery of tests is complete, each girl is then taken for camera tests to see how photogenic she is.

Contestants do play roles — or, at least, they're portrayed in them

Every show needs a hero, a villain, a side-kick, a damsel in distress, and whatever other stock roles are needed in order to make a compelling story. Cosmopolitan reported that The Bachelor is no exception: 'Once on the show, contestants are surrounded by what Bachelor director Ken Fuchs calls his 'army' — teams of cameramen, lighting techs, soundmen, and production assistants — staying vigilant for anything approximating drama.'

Cosmo further revealed that only once the show's editors start combing through months of footage, the season's juiciest storylines become evident. They assess, 'who will capture the heart of the star? Who will go home in tears? Who will be this season's villain?'

The girls are plied with alcohol

Many of us know that alcohol makes people more talkative and emotional. That must be why the producers of The Bachelor make sure that the girls on the hit show have plenty to drink.

Season 17 contestant Leslie Hughes revealed to The Daily Beast, 'When I came in for the producers' weekend, I remember it was like 12 noon, and they were like, 'You want some champagne, wine?' And I was like, 'It's 12 p.m., noon!' And they're like, 'Welcome to the Bachelor family.' We hope they, at least, give the girls good stuff to drink.

The roses are fake

Don't panic — we're only talking about the roses at the front of the mansion. But don't worry, Courtney Robertson from season 16 confirmed to Women's Health that 'the ones they hand out at the rose ceremonies are real.' Phew!

Rose ceremonies are not entirely up to the bachelors

The producers don't stop at just deciding who does and does not appear on The Bachelor. In addition to that, they have a say in how the rose ceremony is presented. Former Bachelor Sean Lowe's new book For the Right Reasons details just how much Bachelor producers meddle. While it's not as much as you might think, Lowe revealed (via Bustle) that the show 'likes to put the most obvious choices first so that drama builds towards the end of the ceremony with the rest of the women who are unsure of their status.'

While the bachelor seems to be the one to ultimately decide who stays and who goes, the producers step in if a girl needs to be sent home for serious infractions — like when season 14's Rozlyn Papa got sent home for her relationship with a staff member.

The rose ceremonies take a long, long time

If it ever seems like some contestants leave while there's still light out and others leave after the sun has gone down during the same episode, that's not your eyes or your mind playing tricks on you. Sometimes, filming those ceremonies takes forever, or at least it seems like it. In one instance, season 17 bachelor Sean Lowe revealed in his book (via Bustle) that one of his rose ceremonies didn't end until six o'clock in the morning. Being awake and having to wait that long, it's no wonder the girls cry when they don't get a rose. It's not all bad though. Lowe revealed that Chris Harrison went the kitchen to make breakfast burritos for everyone.

Bachelor director Ken Fuchs revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that all rose ceremonies (especially those first few) go into the wee hours of the morning. 'There's a lot of women that the bachelor needs to meet,' he explains. 'Forget about doing a TV show, if you were in some situation where you were going to meet 25 women and at the end of the night select a handful to go home, you want to sort of get a sense of who's who and what's what, so that takes time.'

Bachelor In Paradise Payout

He goes on to say, 'It's a long, long night. It's always been quite an accomplishment to get through it, since it's inevitably sunlight by the time you drive home.'

Someone is in charge of the crying

Tears equal drama, and drama equals good television. So it's not that surprising to learn that producers want to make sure tears flow. Former Bachelor producer Sarah Gertrude Shapiro revealed in The New Yorker that her job was to get the contestants to open up to her, and then give them terrible advice, as well as to deprive them of sleep. She said that she sees it now as a 'complicated manipulation through friendship.'

How Much Money Do You Get If You Win The Bachelor

Before the final rose ceremony, Shapiro described how she would raise the hopes of the ultimate loser. 'The night they were going to get dumped, I would go to the hotel room where they were staying and say, 'I'm going to lose my job for telling you this, but he's going to pick you — he's going to propose.'

Shapiro did whatever it took to get a contestant to cry in the limo after being eliminated. 'I'd have arranged with the driver to have the song play just until I got a shot of her crying — then cut the music so I could start the interview,' Shapiro explained. 'They'd often tell us to drive up and down the 405 until the girls cried — and not to come home if we didn't get tears, because we'd be fired.'

Season-five contestant Jessica Holcomb corroborated other parts of Shapiro's New Yorker interview that referred to a 'memory of a lawyer who was rejected.' Holcomb is that lawyer, and her recount of the details in an interview with Cosmopolitan is sickening.

Contestants bring their own clothes

If you ever wonder where one of the girls on The Bachelor gets a certain outfit she has, the best person to ask is her directly, because the girls have to come prepared. Apparently, the ladies are told to bring fancy clothes, athletic wear, and clothes for any other possible occasion, for both warm and cold climates.

Mic reported that the third episode of the 20th season opened with one contestant whispering to another on the patio of the Bachelor Mansion: 'Olivia said she spent, like, $40,000 on clothes. It's insane.' Fashion and television blogger Dana Weiss told Mic that all contestants must provide their own outfits. The only women who get any clothing perks are the two finalists, who each get a dress provided by the network for the finale episode. It's also worth noting that even though a contestant can be sent home after the first night, she must have packed enough clothes to last the entire length of the show. This means investing in a variety of outfits to prepare for various travel destinations and climates — from icy winter gear to tropical beachwear.

Jillian Harris, the former Bachelor contestant turned Bachelorette, confirmed this on her blog, writing 'The girls do have to bring all of their own clothing and of course, they want to be wearing the best clothes EVER to be seen on TV in!!! I had re-mortgaged my house and I spent something like $8,000 on clothing.' She addressed whether she thought a contestant could have possibly spent $40k on clothing, saying, 'now that designer labels are even more important, I can see how someone can spend that ... easily!!!!!'

There's no workout equipment on the set

No one can really fault the ladies on The Bachelor for wanting to look as good as they can all the time. Not only are they vying for the love and affection of the 'man of their dreams,' they have to do so with millions of people watching them every week. So it stands to reason that they'd want to stay fit.

This is a little difficult to do though, since, as Andi Dorfman from season 18 revealed to Women's Health, 'There isn't a workout room or any kind of equipment in the mansion.' Luckily, the girls can be pretty good at improvising. They run throughout the grounds of the mansion and use anything with a little heft as makeshift free weights.

Producers don't allow the contestants to eat

...well, kind of.

When contestants sit down over elegant dinners for some one-on-one time, they're not allowed to touch that food. Sean Lowe, the Bachelor from season 17 revealed in his book (via Bustle) that 'this was just for show. No one looks good eating, and microphones pick up all kinds of chomping.' Who looks good with a mouthful of food in his or her face?

Don't worry though. Contestants do get to eat. Lowe said, 'Before we went on the date[s], the producers sent food to our hotel rooms. We ate in our rooms and then went out for dinner.'

The rings are pricey

In this case, pricey is a bit of an understatement. According to Us Weekly, the ring Jef Holm gave to Emily Maynard cost $68k. Sean Lowe revealed in his tell-all book (via Bustle) that Catherine's ring cost $75k. The ring Chris Soules gave to Whitney Bischoff, the one with the 3.6 carat diamond, cost in the neighborhood of $92k, according to Us Weekly.

Bustle reports, 'the exact details of the ring have always been shrouded in mystery. It's not known for sure whether Neil Lane 'donates' the rings in exchange for the promotion, or if ABC foots the bill, but one thing is for sure: the contestants definitely don't have to put any money down.' If Neil Lane forgoes the cost in exchange for product placement, that meant The Bachelor is essentially a prolonged commercial for the jeweler... which wouldn't be all the surprising.

There have been allegations of racism against The Bachelor

In an interview with The Daily Beast, season 17 contestant Leslie Hughes observed, 'From watching it from day one, there wasn't a lot of diversity, [contestants] were always Caucasian, blonde, blue eyes.' And the numbers back that observation up. According to Splinter, no previous season featured more than two African-American women, multiple seasons had no non-white contestants at all, and the majority of African-American contestants left the show in the first two weeks.

Season 17 broke new ground by casting four black women as contestants, but that didn't happen entirely without prompting. The previous year, two black men named Nathaniel Claybrooks and Christopher Johnson filed a lawsuit against the show, alleging that its creator 'knowingly, intentionally, and as a matter of corporate policy refused to cast people of color in the role of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette.'

Bachelor Payout

The lawsuit has since been dismissed, but it's a claim that's not without merit. Though Rachel Lindsay made history in 2017 when she was cast as the show's first black Bachelorette, there has yet to be a black Bachelor. In 2018, rumors began swirling that Wills Reid, a contestant from Becca Kufrin's season of The Bachelorette, would be chosen for the role. However, former football player Colton Underwood was ultimately cast as the Bachelor for the 23rd season. Hopefully the franchise will diversify itself sooner rather than later.

The host thinks some of the bachelors made the wrong choice

When asked in an interview with Us Weekly if he ever thought any of the bachelors made the wrong decision, Bachelor and Bachelorette host Chris Harrison said, 'You bet.' In elaboration, he cited season 10 Bachelorette Andi Dorfman, who split from fiancé Josh Murray just five months after the world watched them get engaged. Harrison said, 'She was happy for a while, but obviously I think she ended up probably with the wrong guy.'

Another match that was certainly not made in heaven was season 14's Bachelor Jake Pavelka and his now-ex-fiancee Vienna Girardi — they had a famously tumultuous split. 'I'm trying to think who was number two that season — I already forgot. But obviously they were a little bit like oil and water,' Harrison said. 'They did not get along very well together.'

According to Ali Fedotowsky of season 14, 'You spend so little time with the person you choose before the final rose ceremony. I would say you probably spend about 72 hours tops with the person you wind up choosing, and 12 of that is spent 'sleeping' in the fantasy suite. You can't really get to know a person in that time frame.' We have to say that we agree.

The mansion is someone's actual home

Lest you think that the mansion where the Bachelor and Bachelorette receive their suitors was a set created by ABC, you were wrong. It turns out that the palatial house outside Los Angeles belongs to an actual family who rents their home to the producers twice a year, when they move everything out so the show can turn in it a singles' paradise. The family, whose last name we don't know, stays in a hotel during taping.

According to Good Morning America, fans occasionally show up at the mansion hoping to catch a glimpse of the cast. Marshall, the husband and father who owns the house, is a contractor who designed the house along with his wife. He has even been known to let fans take a swim in the family's pool.

In November 2018, it was thought that the mansion might burn down as the Woolsey Fire devastated Southern California, as celebs like Miley Cyrus and Gerard Butler lost their homes in the area. But fortunately, the mansion managed to make it through, as reported by ABC News, and fans thankfully didn't have to say goodbye to the famous Bachelor pad.

No, you can't keep the ring

What happens to that enormous Neil Lane diamond ring if you decide the person you picked isn't the one for you? According to Entertainment Tonight, if you break up before the two-year mark of your engagement, the ring goes back to production.

'I make rings hoping that people stay together forever, but after they get the ring, I don't have a say in it, and what happens after that, I don't know,' Lane, who designs six rings a year for the franchise, told StyleCaster. 'Where the ring goes, I have to say, I don't really know. I just say it goes to ring heaven.'

Successfully paired couples, such as Trista Rehn and Ryan Sutter, whose season didn't feature Lane rings, reportedly asked the designer to create anniversary bands for them. 'They want to be part of a club when they go to these reunions, ' said Lane.

Never, ever use the word 'process'

If there was one word that Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants were forbidden to use, what do you think it would be? The answer might surprise you. It's 'process.' Bachelor Sean Lowe told Glamour in 2015, 'Any time you call it a process, they will make you re-tape it and say journey.' The reason for hating the word so much isn't clear, but 'journey' does have a more romantic connotation, as opposed to 'process,' which sounds like something that might involve math.

Safe sex is encouraged... probably

Fans of the Bachelorette went bananas in 2015 when Kaitlyn Bristowe admitted to sleeping with then-contestant Nick Viall (as if she were the only contestant ever to do that), and questions arose about the show's attitude towards sex. What do we know about the nature of the sex being had in the Fantasy Suite? Is it safe?

The answer is: probably. A 2016 Buzzfeed piece declared that there were 'no condoms in the Fantasy Suite,' a statement made by Bachelor alum Courtney Robertson. 'Everyone gets tested before the show and I was on the pill,' said Robertson. 'Maybe we were a little bit too in the moment. If I had known I was the last one [to get a fantasy suite date], I would have definitely thought about it more.'

Times seem to have changed, though. The show's host, Chris Harrison, told the Huffington Post in 2015 that, 'It's always safe, yes. Anything you need to have safe sex, we definitely promote that.'

Ali Fedotowsky, the sixth Bachelorette, said to Entertainment Tonight in 2017, 'I think maybe they give [condoms] to the guys, which is crazy. They should give [protection] to the girls, too, but I think they just [give condoms to the guys] to make it not awkward.' In the same conversation, Chris Soules told the network that 'the condoms are in the room already,' along with 'stuff like [lube] probably, stuff that some people use.'

There is so much downtime

One season of the show takes around three months to film, according to Leslie Hughes, a contestant on The Bachelor during Sean Lowe's season. The cast is cut off from all forms of media, social and otherwise, and also aren't able to have books, cellphones, computers, or music. Hughes: 'The only things I was allowed to keep were my journal and my Bible.' In other words, your only entertainment in Bachelorland is you, your castmates, and lots of alcohol.

'We were so bored all day,' Olivia Caridi, a contestant on Season 20 of The Bachelor, told Allure. 'There was so much downtime. We were always doing beauty routines because that was literally all we had time to do.'

What else do the contestants do to pass the time? Daniel MacGuire (from Season 12 of The Bachelorette starring JoJo Fletcher, and Season 3 of Bachelor in Paradise) told The Verge that on The Bachelorette, 'three or four guys brought guitars... but [the producers] often didn't want them to do that... they want everyone to engage with each other, they want everyone to be talking.... They want dialogue and talking and discussion and that kind of stuff, they don't want people to go off and listen to music.' There's no gym in the mansion, but, according to Molly Mesnick (TheBachelor Season 13), 'there's a hill in the back that girls would run up to exercise.' Brian Osbourne, from The Bachelorette Season 10, told Wet Paint that contestants played games, like Cards Against Humanity, checkers, and chess.