Although bachelor’s programs are usually advertised as four-year degrees, only one-third of campus undergrads finish the 120-credit behemoth curriculum on time. According to Coursera, the average bachelor’s length is currently four to five academic years. That’s partly why nontraditional learners are turning to online education to accelerate their learning.
Online colleges are increasingly shortening the traditional 16-week semester to fit more virtual coursework into students’ schedules. Accelerated students work year-round without extended breaks to jump into their dream careers faster.
Not only will you potentially save thousands on tuition, but you’ll quickly enter a workforce where bachelor’s grads snag a median annual salary of $58,862. Therefore, we set out to outline 15 of the Best Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs that take two to three years or even less.
What are the benefits of an accelerated bachelor’s degree?
There’s no easy way to higher education, but accelerated bachelor’s degree programs are at least convenient. Full-time study in online classes is more flexible than on campus. You can earn college credits from work experience or transfer credit hours from a lower-level undergraduate degree like an associate or certificate program. If your general education requirements are out of the way, your accelerated online degree can take just a year and require no internships!
Adult learners pay lower tuition rates for online courses as well. Areas like Human Resource Management, Social Work, Healthcare Management, and Social Sciences have excellent job market value. You may even move on to online master’s degree programs from your bachelor of arts degree!
Methodology
To complete this ranking:
- We consulted with the U.S. News and World Report’s online bachelor’s rankings to access the quality of and record tuition data for each fast-track program.
- We never overlook accreditation, so every bachelor’s needed regional approval from CHEA-recognized bodies.
- We gave preference to nonprofit colleges with traditional campuses over big-name online universities like Capella and Strayer which everyone knows.
- We also preferred accelerated degrees where life experience, prior learning, and CLEP credits were easily transferred.
- Other factors included online technology, course length, major flexibility, cohort size, graduation rate, and support services.
Here are our selections for 15 Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs:
1. The University of Oklahoma
Beginning in 2003, the University of Oklahoma’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies began serving its undergrads with a 100 percent online option!
The PACS Extended Campus offers eight-week courses on Canvas for transfers to complete six bachelor’s degrees, including a B.A. in World Cultural Studies, a B.S. in Aviation, and a B.A. in Lifespan Care Administration, in just 18 months.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Graduation Rate: 68%
Learn more about the University of Oklahoma’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
2. Arizona State University
Arizona State University welcomes undergrad Sun Devils with up to 90 transfer credits into its HLC-accredited virtual classroom.
Funds like the Starbucks College Achievement Plan help afford 7.5-week, accelerated courses in 71 ASU Online baccalaureate programs, such as the Operations Management BAS, Integrative Health BS, and Food Industry Management BA.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Graduation Rate: 66%
Learn more about Arizona State University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
3. California University of Pennsylvania
Belonging to the 14-school PASSHE system, California University of Pennsylvania enrolls online undergrads into 12 bachelor’s degrees.
CalU Online admits associate-level transfers into asynchronous, accelerated courses for finishing the B.A. in Land Management, B.S. in Global Business, B.A. in Arabic Language, and others in four semesters.
What is the PASSHE system? Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Accreditation: American Association of State Colleges and Universities
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Graduation Rate: 50%
4. West Texas A&M University
Taught by terminally qualified faculty, West Texas A&M University’s Distance Education Office serves undergrads in 10 fully online bachelor’s degrees.
Accredited by the SACS, Education on Demand courses condense the 16-week semester into six weeks to accelerate through online credentials like the BBA in Economics, B.S. in Criminal Justice, or B.S. in Health Sciences.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Graduation Rate: 44%
Learn more about West Texas A & M University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
5. California Baptist University
Utilizing Blackboard 9.1, California Baptist University delivers one of America’s best online bachelor’s programs that attract undergrads during rolling admission.
Since 2012, CBU Online has developed 22 WASC-accredited baccalaureate degrees, including the Accounting B.S., Public Health B.S., and Kinesiology B.S., that associate grads can complete in 12 to 18 months with two eight-week sessions per semester.
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Graduation Rate: 62%
Learn more about California Baptist University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
6. New England Institute of Technology
Accredited by the NEASC, the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich expanded its operation in 2011 to teach many undergrads online.
The Flex Program lets transfers with 60+ credits enter 10-week online sessions starting quarterly to finish the Automotive Service Management B.S., Criminal Justice B.S., or Rehabilitation Science B.S. in 18 months.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 77%
Graduation Rate: 71%
7. CSU Global
Directed by president Becky Takeda-Tinker since 2010, Colorado State University-Global enrolls working adults in its HLC-accredited online bachelor’s programs.
Free application codes help undergrads transfer up to 90 credits into 13 CSU-Global degrees, such as the B.S. in Communication, B.S. in Human Services, or B.S. in Marketing, with accelerated, eight-week terms starting monthly.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Graduation Rate: 36%
Learn more about Colorado State University – Global’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
8. Daytona State College
Offering 100 percent admission, Daytona State College is a SACS-accredited FCS member ranked nationally for asynchronous online bachelor’s courses.
Transfer model, Daytona Online accelerates the completion time for the B.A.S. in Supervision and Management, B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology, and B.S. in Information Technology to 24 months.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 46%
Learn more about Daytona State College’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
9. Charleston Southern University
Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, Charleston Southern University started SACS-accredited online education in 2009.
Accelerated, seven-week semesters allow CSU Online students to tackle six bachelor’s like a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism, a B.S. in Project Management, or a B.S. in Healthcare Administration fast with CLEP credit acceptance.
What does CLEP stand for? College Level Examination Program
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Graduation Rate: 41%
Learn more about Charleston Southern University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
10. Siena Heights University
Reporting a whopping 98 percent student satisfaction, Siena Heights University is an HLC-accredited Catholic school in southern Michigan.
The Adult Degree Completion Program provides speedy, eight-week terms for 18 upper-division, 60-credit majors, such as the B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, B.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy, and B.B.A. in Entrepreneurship.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Graduation Rate: 68%
Learn more about Siena Heights University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
11. University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Open for admission until April 15th yearly, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst’s University Without Walls (UWW) has accelerated, student-tailored online degrees.
The school offers 40+ NEASC-accredited bachelor’s degrees, including the B.A. in Journalism Studies, B.A. in Children’s Learning, and B.S. in Sustainability, six-week online sessions, and accepts up to 100 credits.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 82%
12. Palm Beach Atlantic University
Recognized for America’s 28th best online bachelor’s learning, Palm Beach Atlantic University “Enriches Souls” by admitting small cohorts for $475 per credit into instructor-led, faith-based courses with SACS approval.
The Office of Online Learning has 73 enrolled undergrads taking accelerated, eight-week terms for transfer-friendly B.A. Ministry, B.S. Psychology, B.S. Organizational Management, and RN-BSN Nursing programs.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Graduation Rate: 56%
Learn more about Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
13. Northeastern University
Located in Boston as the 40th best college nationwide, Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies launched in 1960 has developed online education for thousands of nontraditional students.
Accredited by the NEASC, Northeastern has three Fast-Track programs for transfers to finish the B.S. in Finance and Accounting, B.S. in Leadership, or B.S. in Management 100 percent online in 18 months.
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 7%
Graduation Rate: 89%
Learn more about Northeastern University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
14. City University of Seattle
Graded “A-” by Fast Company, City University of Seattle is a nonprofit, NWCCU-accredited distance institution.
Using a competency-based model, CityU offers 14 online bachelor’s transfer options like the B.S. Cybersecurity, B.A. Education, and B.S. Information Systems that can be finished fast in just two years with 10-week courses.
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 39%
Learn more about City University of Seattle’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
15. Westfield State University
Opened by Horace Mann in 1839, Westfield State University now educates online undergrads in America’s 45th best online bachelor’s education with NEASC accreditation.
Accepting applications until March 1st, the Westfield Graduate & Continuing Education Office uses the MassTransfer system to provide six 2+2 accelerated online completion programs, such as History (B.A.), Business Management (B.S.), and Sociology (B.A.).
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Graduation Rate: 60%
Learn more about Westfield State University’s Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs.
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