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    Fastest Undergraduate Degrees in 2024

    January 26, 2024 | Admin

    Fastest undergraduate degree programs badge

    You’ve probably heard all the reasons you should earn your bachelor’s degree, including higher earning potential, greater job stability, and more career opportunities. But maybe you can’t fit the traditional four-year program into your busy schedule and need the fastest undergraduate degree option to jumpstart your education.

    Many schools recognize that students need faster alternatives to a typical bachelor’s degree, which is why they offer accelerated options in online courses, hybrid, and on-campus formats. Accelerated degrees are available in almost every major and subject, and they can take anywhere from 12 months to three years to complete, depending on the program you choose and how much time you can dedicate to your studies.

    These programs may also include ways for you to seamlessly transition into master’s degree programs at the same institution, shortening your path to a graduate degree and lowering costs overall.

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, these are the top eight most popular majors for undergraduate students:

    1. Business
    2. Healthcare
    3. Social Sciences and History
    4. Psychology
    5. Biological and Biomedical Studies
    6. Engineering
    7. Communication & Journalism
    8. Visual & Performing Arts

    Accelerated or fast undergraduate degrees are available in every major and subject area, and may include online, on-campus, or hybrid coursework, which is a combination of both in-person and distance learning.

    Where can I earn the fastest undergraduate degree?

    There are thousands of schools with hundreds of undergraduate degree programs available, and the search for the right one can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in Business, Healthcare, Social Science & History, Psychology, or Biological Studies, we’ve narrowed down a list of the fastest undergraduate degree programs categorized by major below.

    Are accelerated degree programs just as good as regular degrees?

    Accelerated degree programs can be of the same quality as regular degree programs. However, they may have more admissions requirements for enrollment, like transfer credits from another institution or an associate’s degree. Also, accelerated courses run on a shorter time frame with very few breaks (if any) between semesters or academic years. While earning an accelerated degree is quicker, it can be more demanding on your time. You’ll need to weigh your options and decide if the pace is right for you.

    Fastest Undergraduate Degree Programs

    Ready to explore some accelerated options for your education? We’ve compiled a list of the top 3 fastest degrees available for the top 5 undergraduate majors. Take a look at the fastest undergraduate degree programs to see which option could be the right fit for your schedule and goals.

    Top Fastest Undergraduate Degree Programs: Business

    1

    Boston University – B.S. in Management Studies – Accelerated

    • Boston, Massachusetts
    • Graduation Rate: 87%

    Boston University offers a B.S. in Management Studies – Accelerated that can be completed in two years. This degree combines a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum with courses in management theory and practice, covering areas like finance, e-commerce, market analysis, and project and operations management.

    Time to completion: 2 years
    Tuition: $2,3689 per credit
    Visit School Website
    2

    Carson-Newman University – B.B.A. – Business Administration

    • Jefferson City, Tennessee
    • Graduation Rate: 50%

    Carson-Newman University offers a B.B.A. – Business that can be earned in as little as 12 months. Designed to accommodate busy working professionals, this fully online degree program emphasizes building skills in communication, leadership, critical thinking, and problem solving. It also provides students with a solid foundation of knowledge of business principles.

    Time to completion: 12 months
    Tuition: $1,175 per credit
    Visit School Website
    3

    Faulkner University – B.S. in Business

    • Montgomery, Alabama
    • Graduation Rate: 57%

    Faulkner University offers a B.S. in Business online that can be completed in just 12 months. Combining a Christian worldview with sound business principles, this 100% online program lets students choose from three elective areas: business management, logistics management and health administration.

    Time to completion: 12 months
    Tuition: $75 per semester hour
    Visit School Website

    Top Fastest Undergraduate Degree Programs: Healthcare

    1

    American College of Education – B.S. in Healthcare Administration

    • Indianapolis, Indiana

    American College of Education offers a B.S. in Healthcare Administration that can be completed in 18 months. This program was created for students who already have earned an associate’s degree or some college credit and want an accelerated route to a bachelor’s degree in healthcare. The well-rounded curriculum tackles several areas that affect healthcare administration, including legal and ethical issues, finance, marketing, human resources, advocacy, and diverse populations.

    Time to completion: 18 months
    Tuition: $645 per credit
    Visit School Website
    2

    Mercy College of Health Sciences – Accelerated B.S. in Nursing (B.S.N.)

    • Des Moines, Iowa
    • Graduation Rate: 79%

    Mercy College of Health Sciences offers an Accelerated (B.S.N.) program that can be completed in 12 months. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this program is close to clinical rotation sites and prepares students for more advanced roles in nursing that require leadership, coordination of care, management, research, and collaboration with other professionals. Year-round start dates and intensive study put students on the fast-track to a BSN and sitting for their licensing exam.

    Time to completion: 12 months
    Tuition: $642 per credit hour
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    3

    George Fox University – Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration

    • Newberg, Oregon
    • Graduation Rate: 91%

    George Fox University offers an accelerated Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration that can be completed in 16 months. Offered as part of the school’s adult degree completion program, this students gain the skills and knowledge they need to become leaders and managers in the growing healthcare industry. The curriculum focuses on three main areas of leadership in healthcare: leading people, professional transformation, and optimizing organizational performance. The program is fully online.

    Time to completion: 16 months
    Tuition: $540 cost per credit hour
    Visit School Website

    Top Fastest Undergraduate Degrees: Social Sciences and History

    1

    Ramapo College – Accelerated B.A. in Social Science

    • Mahwah, New Jersey
    • Graduation Rate: 73%

    Ramapo College offers an accelerated B.A. in Social Science that students can complete in as little as 2 years. This program combines courses in a variety of inter-related subjects, including criminal justice, substance abuse, and human rights. The curriculum, which covers issues that affect society as a whole, prepare students to pursue careers in law enforcement, human resources, paralegal studies, and more.

    Time to completion: 2 years
    Tuition: $623 per credit
    Visit School Website
    2

    Arizona State University – B.A. in History

    • Tempe, Arizona
    • Graduation Rate: 67%

    Arizona State University offers an accelerated B.A. in History that students can earn in as little as 3 years. Geared towards students who want to understand how the past has shaped current society – and may affect our future – this degree could lead to a variety of careers including history teacher, historian, archivist, curator, or political scientist.

    Time to completion: 3 years
    Tuition: $446 per credit
    Visit School Website
    3

    California State University San Marcos – B.A. in Sociology, Accelerated

    • San Marcos, California
    • Graduation Rate: 52%

    California State University San Marcos offers a fully online accelerated B.A. in Sociology that can be completed in 16 months. Students learn about an array of topics impacting society today, and course cover sociological theory, ethnic studies, critical race, inequality, gender in society, and more. The program has three start times per year with eight-week semesters for added flexibility.

    Time to completion: 16 months
    Tuition: $1,928 per credit
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    Top Fastest Undergraduate Degrees: Psychology

    1

    Arizona State University – B.A. in Psychology

    • Tempe, Arizona
    • Graduation Rate: 67%

    Arizona State University offers an accelerated option to their B.A. in Psychology that can be completed in 3 years. This program lets students gain real-world, practical experience through internships and research supervised by faculty. Classes focus on the study of psychology through writing, quantitative research methods, and critical thinking and reasoning.

    Time to completion: 3 years
    Tuition: $446 per credit
    Visit School Website
    2

    Roberts Wesleyan College – B.A. in Psychology

    • Chili, New York
    • Graduation Rate: 74%

    Roberts Wesleyan College offers an accelerated program where students can earn their degree in just 3 years. This program provides students with a comprehensive review of psychology and prepares graduates to work in careers doing basic supportive counseling or behavior medication at pre-professional levels. It also prepares students to transition into a master’s degree program if they want to pursue more advanced psychology jobs.

    Time to completion: 3 years
    Tuition: $1,347.75 per credit
    Visit School Website
    3

    Simpson University – Bachelor in Psychology (ASPIRE Accelerated Program)

    • Redding, California
    • Graduation Rate: 81%

    Simpson University offers an accelerated bachelor’s degree that can be earned in 12 to 16 months through its ASPIRE program. Students learn the fundamentals of modern psychology, including methods, theories, and applications, while building the base of knowledge they need to continue to the graduate level. Classes are available in an on-campus or online format, and both formats are designed to meet the needs of busy, working adults.

    Time to completion: 12-16 months
    Tuition: $1,362 per credit
    Visit School Website

    Top Fastest Undergraduate Degrees: Biological and Biomedical Studies

    1

    Logan University – Bachelor of Science in Human Biology

    • Chesterfield, Missouri
    • Graduation Rate: 59%

    Logan University offers a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology that can be accelerated with its FAST (Flexible Accelerated Science Track) option. This enable students to complete their basic science coursework in one year, minimizing the time it takes to earn a typical four-year B.S. in Human Biology. Students complete two semesters of credit in one 15-week trimester, allowing them to graduate at least one semester earlier. Students prepare for careers in healthcare or science, or to move on to graduate degree programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, chiropractic, and more.

    Time to completion: Less than 4 years
    Tuition: $275 per credit hour
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    2

    South Dakota State University – B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science – Accelerated Program

    • Brookings, South Dakota
    • Graduation Rate: 53%
    Student drawing liquid from vial

    South Dakota State University offers a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science that can be completed in as little as 16 months. This comprehensive program includes online medical lab science classes, on-campus lab courses, and off-campus clinical experience so students can prepare for careers as clinical medical laboratory scientists, clinical researchers, or clinical specialists. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in hematology, urinalysis, phlebotomy, microbiology, clinical chemistry, and more.

    Time to completion: 16 months
    Tuition: $256.55 per credit hour
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    3

    Arizona State University – B.S. in Nutritional Sciences

    • Tempe, Arizona
    • Graduation Rate: 67%

    Arizona State University offers a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences that can be earned in as little as 3 years. Courses cover nutrition, biological sciences, treatment and prevention of health issues, and research methods. Students can prepare for careers in naturopathic medicine or for graduate programs requiring more intensive nutrition research.

    Time to completion: 3 years
    Tuition: $446 per credit
    Visit School Website

    Want to see more undergraduate degree programs? Check out our Degree Finder tool, choose a subject area, and we’ll help you find the school that’s right for you.

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