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Three Year Bachelor Degrees: Everything You Need to Know
As the cost of college continues to rise, many students are looking for ways to save money on their education. One option that’s beginning to gain popularity is the 3-year degree. These programs allow students to earn their bachelor’s degree and graduate a full year ahead of time. Not only are these programs cost-efficient, but they’re also a great option for students seeking a fast track to graduation. In this guide, we’ll discuss how 3-year degree programs work, which colleges use them, and how they might change in the future.
Also see: Everything you need to know about undergraduate degrees
How do three-year bachelor’s degrees work?
Most 3-year degree programs condense the required 120 credit hours into three years instead of four. This usually means students take an overloaded course schedule every semester, in addition to summer classes. For instance, three-year students at the University of Iowa take 18 credit hours every semester, along with six credit hours during the summer. This amounts to 120 credit hours over the course of three years. You can expect to see some variation of this formula at most colleges that implement three-year programs.
Benefits
The main appeal of three-year programs is that they’re cost-friendlier. By eliminating the fourth year of college, students can reduce their tuition costs by 25%. Plus, students can earn their degree ahead of time and tackle their post-grad plans sooner. For students looking to quickly enter the workforce or apply to grad school, three-year programs are a solid option.
Drawbacks
Three-year programs are very demanding. In most cases, students must complete the same amount of work in less time. This means you’ll take extra courses each semester, and you’ll probably have to sacrifice holiday and summer breaks to get everything done in time. Because of this, you may miss out on other parts of the college experience such as athletics, undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, or socializing.
Current three-year degree programs
The “degree in three” concept isn’t a new idea. It’s been tested in various formats by different colleges over the years, but has yet to gain widespread popularity. According to Progressive Policy Institute (PPI), there’s currently 32 U.S. colleges providing a path for students to earn a degree in three years. We’ve listed a few of the most notable ones below. To view the full list, go to page 7 of this report by PPI.
School |
Program Details |
| Purdue University | The College of Liberal Arts offers a three-year option for several areas of study, including communication, political science, and history. Students take a full academic course load for three years in addition to summer classes. |
| University of Iowa | The Iowa Degree in Three program is available for communications, English, history, international studies, marketing, and theatre arts. Students take the same course load, but at an accelerated pace. |
| University of San Francisco | Three-year programs are available for a wide range of majors, including business, computer science, environmental studies, psychology, and more. Students take 16 credit hours during the fall, spring, and summer. |
| New York University | NYU doesn’t offer an official three-year program, but it provides pathways for students to graduate in less than four years. |
| Hartwick College | Nearly all majors at Hartwick are available in a three-year option. Students take 18 credit hours in the fall and spring, along with four credits during January term. No summer study is required. |
| Manchester University | The Fast Forward program allows students to complete their general education requirements over the summer in order to graduate within three years. |
The “College in 3” project
There are not all too many 3-year bachelor’s degree programs right now, but that could change soon. In 2021, the three-year movement received a new wave of support with the launch of the “College in 3” project. Unlike many current three-year programs, the goal of this project is not to pack 120 credit hours into three years. Rather, the project aims to overhaul the undergraduate curriculum in a way that still allows for summer breaks and holidays. That could potentially mean reducing the number of required credit hours to 90.
The following 13 institutions are currently considering the idea:
- American Public University System
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Merrimack College
- New England College
- University of North Texas
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Northwood University
- Portland State University
- Slippery Rock University
- University of Minnesota at Rochester
- University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
- Utica College
- One school remains unnamed at this time
The project is still in its early stages, so it’s unclear exactly how it will work. Each college seems to be taking a different approach. Merrimack College, for instance, thinks the program might be a good fit for “new economy” degrees like business, finance, engineering, and nursing. Utica College believes that history, English, communications, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology could benefit from the accelerated option.
Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota at Rochester is applying the three-year option to their health sciences degree. Under the new program, courses will likely be bundled into seven-week blocks rather than semesters. That way, students can study a few topics at a time more deeply. The university hopes to welcome its first cohort of students into the program in fall 2022.
While the College in 3 project appears promising, there’s a lot of hurdles to overcome. The main one is securing approval from accrediting agencies, which ensure colleges meet certain academic standards. If the pilot program succeeds, though, students will have a lot more options in charting their educational path.
Other ways to earn a degree in three years
At this point, only time will tell if three-year bachelor’s programs will catch on. But if you’re eager to earn your degree in less time, fortunately there’s other ways you can do so. One of the best ways is to get a head start in high school. By taking AP and IB courses in high school, you can earn college credits before you even get to campus. Another option is dual enrollment, which allows students to take college courses while still in high school.
You can also get on the fast track to graduation by maxing out your credits every semester. Even schools that don’t offer a formal “degree in three” program often allow students to overload credits and graduate ahead of time. To do this, you’d probably need to take 18 credits a semester along with summer classes.
To learn more about your options, check out our complete guide on graduating college early.
