You might be surprised to hear that you can complete a Bachelor’s Degree program in as little as 12-months!
Generally speaking, most college students earn their bachelor’s degree in 4-5 years. While some students can graduate in as few as three years, this is not the norm and takes a considerable amount of time, dedication, and hard work.
So, if this timeline doesn’t work for you, and you want to finish your bachelor’s degree fast, you should consider an online school.
Some online schools offer accredited and accelerated programs for students to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in as little as 12-months.
Take Advantage of Core Competency Exams
Many schools offer competency exams that allow students to test out of classes for an exam fee, which is significantly lower than tuition costs. For students that test high enough, they receive full credit for the class. Essentially, you could test out of a course and enroll in another class to maximize your credit-earning potential for a semester.
Speak to your school’s registration office and ask if they offer these exams. If it’s a fast degree that you are looking for, passing as many of these exams as possible will get you there quickly.
Explore Credit for Life Experience
Some online schools offer college credits for life experiences such as employment history or even volunteer work. For example, if you’re interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice and have completed training at a law enforcement academy, this could count as credit towards your degree.
With proof of your completed training, some online criminal justice schools will give you as many as 36 credits towards a degree for that training alone. That’s almost three full semesters (or a year and a half) of classes you don’t have to take.
Find Schools with Flexible Class Schedules
While flexible schedules are not available at all online schools, many offer this as an option for students. A flexible online schedule essentially means that students receive all of their assignments and projects when the class begins.
If you’re comfortable with a heavy workload and can complete assignments ahead of schedule, this gives you the ability to complete classes fast while continuing to enroll in new classes. This model has afforded some students the ability to complete their bachelor’s degree in as little as 12 months.
Make sure when you look into these schools that their programs are nationally and/or regionally accredited, you don’t want to fall victim to a scam school that does not benefit you in the job hunt.
Don’t compromise your grades for speed. While completing your bachelor’s online degree fast might sound like a dream come true – this option isn’t for everyone. Before deciding to enroll, sit down with a college counselor or advisor to talk through your options and career goals.
