Santiago Mallea
Content Writer At Gradehacker
Table of Contents
Not all students have all the time in the world to earn an undergraduate degree. Non-traditional student’s like you have other responsibilities and a family to take care of, and the faster they finish their college education, the better.
So, many undergraduate students enroll in an accelerated program.
The possibility of studying and graduating in four years or less while still fulfilling all the other obligations is just a perfect choice for busy adult learners who want to pursue a school diploma that opens the door to new career opportunities and improves their life’s quality.
But because there are so many degree programs, choosing or finding the one that best suits your needs and budget is not always easy. So, it would be great to have a list of the best online programs at an accelerated pace.
Well, you’ve found it.
Here at Gradehacker, we are the non-traditional student’s most trusted resource. We understand how important it is for undergraduate students like you to finish their college journey fast and that choosing an online degree is the best way to keep your life balanced.
That’s why we are listing the best accelerated undergraduate programs you can enroll in to earn your degree faster.
Now, in case you are not sure what an accelerated program is or what its benefits are, there is a question we need to address first.
Why Should I Choose An Accelerated Program?
As the name suggests, accelerated programs have a degree plan that includes the same amount of content taught in traditional programs in a shorter time period. While standard classes usually last between 14 and 16 weeks, accelerated courses fit all lessons in 5 to 10 weeks.
Even though this means a heavier workload, accelerated students can reduce their time to graduation by one year, and in some cases, even two.
Plus, as these online courses are meant for non-traditional undergraduate students who have other commitments, most of them don’t have a strict schedule to follow.
In other words, you have more flexibility to study and work on the class in your own time! It’s not necessary to log in at a specific time for class; just be on time with each module’s assignments.
And while it depends on the college you choose, you can also save money on tuition as, on average, tuition costs range from $300 to $600 per college credit.
Having said that, here are the best-accelerated degree programs you can enroll in.
Accelerated Bachelor's in Nursing
With Purdue’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) degree, you can transfer up to 135 credits to save you a lot of time. For instance, if you already have an online associate degree, you can start this program with 90 credits.
If you choose their traditional program, you can earn your degree as soon as 18 months; but they also offer an ExcelTrack, a competency-based program that allows you to work on your RN-to-BSN degree for one flat term.
All of their coursework is 100% online, allowing you to complete the required clinical practices at a time and local facility of your choice.
Tuition cost depends on your student status and the credits you are transferring. You can check how much it would be with their calculator.
If this RN-to-BSN program sounds good, you can learn about Purdue’s admission requirements and curriculum in our blog article.
According to Western Governors University, 77% of their graduates finished their RN-to-BSN online degree within two years.
That’s because it is a competency-based program, meaning you advance through the class as you demonstrate mastery of the learning material. If you already know the concepts, you can prove it from the start and save you a lot of time.
If this learning method sounds good, read our blog about competency-based programs and see which other colleges offer it.
Their program consists of 23 courses, but you can speed up the process by transferring up to 90 credits if you have already graduated from an accredited program.
In WGU, you pay a flat rate of $3,795 per six-month term. So during that time, make sure to take as many courses as possible!
If you want to learn more about their prerequisites and what is included in their curriculum, you can check out our WGU in-depth blog.
Accelerated Bachelor's in Healthcare Administration
The Online Health Services Administration Bachelor’s offered by the University of Central Florida takes 120 credits hours to complete.
UCF has a graduation rate of 72% and ranks no. 7 in U.S. News & World Report’s list of Best Online Undergraduate Programs in the Nation.
Its cost per credit hour is:
- $161.19 for in-state students
- $365.86 for out-of-state students
WGU’s Healthcare Management Bachelor’s, just like its nursing degree, is a competency-based program that consists of 40 courses and one capstone project at the end to prove your mastery of the field.
WGU assures that 73% of their students complete it in 37 months (over three years) and charges $3,575 per six-month term.
Accelerated Bachelor's in Psychology
UMass Lowell’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can be completed in as little as 12 to 36 months. You can do it 100% online, or if you live in New England, you can choose a hybrid methodology to study both from your home and on campus.
Their program ranks as the Best Online Bachelor’s Psychology Program in New England of 2022. To finish it, you need 120 credits.
Its tuition cost is:
- $380 per credit
- $1,140 per 3-credit course
Wilmington’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology is a 100% online program that consists of 40 courses or 120 total credits.
Because they have an open-admissions policy and don’t differentiate between in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students, enrolling at Willmington University is not only super easy but also really affordable. Not for nothing we listed it as one of the best colleges with highest acceptance rate.
You pay $390 per credit hour, but you can save both time and money with transfer credits from a previous associate degree.
Accelerated Bachelor's in Business
The Bachelor’s in Business Administration offered by the Southern New Hampshire University consists of 120 credits and has 14 unique concentrations you can choose to tailor your degree to the business career you plan on entering upon graduating.
To accelerate your program, you can transfer up to 90 undergraduate credits if you have a Business Administration Associate of Arts degree.
They charge $320 per college credit hour, but if you have military experience or are spoused to someone in the force, you get a 30% tuition discount ($225).
Liberty’s online BS in Business Administration consists of 120 credit hours and, on average, takes undergraduate students 3.5 years to complete.
It is a 100% online program with 8-week asynchronous classes, but you can reduce your time by transferring up to 90 credits from a previous certificate.
They have over 20 specializations you can choose from and charge $390 per credit hour. However, they apply discounts to members of the Military, its spouses, and emergency response personnel.
Start An Accelerated Program And Get That Degree Faster!
These are only some of the most searched accelerated courses undergraduate students look for.
If you want to pursue an RN-to-BSN degree or have career aspirations in the business world and would like to spend the least time on it, now you know where to start!
But if your career option is different and wasn’t on this list, don’t stop searching.
The colleges we recommend that have competency-based programs and accelerated courses are:
So if your academic career wasn’t on this list, be sure to check out what programs these universities have!
Regardless of which one you choose, remember: you got this!
Accelerated courses can be challenging because all of the content they include in a shorter time, but it can also be an excellent way to speed up the learning process and graduate way sooner.
But if you already have too many responsibilities on your plate, are uncertain whether you’ll be able to take advantage of this faster pace, or would simply like to save more time and money, you can always count on Gradehacker.
We assist many online students like you with their essays and classes, and we’ll be happy to help you accelerate your degree sooner and make you start your desired life faster.
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