How Fast Can You Get a Bachelor's Degree Online?

Traditionally, it takes four years of full-time study to earn a bachelor's degree, either in person or online. That's why they're often called "four-year degrees," and colleges and universities are often called "four-year" schools. However, many factors can affect that timeline. For example, if you took advanced placement (AP) courses in high school or have transfer credits from another college, it could take a little less time. If you only attend school part-time, it will likely take longer.

But if four years of postsecondary education—or even longer—isn't ideal for you, you have other options, and the flexibility of online classes can often shorten this timeline. This guide will explain the factors that may impact your timeline, how to speed up your education, and what you need to know about earning a bachelor's degree online rather than in person.

How fast can you get a bachelor's degree online?

Earning a bachelor's degree online or in person typically takes four years or a little longer, but that timeline can look different for everyone. Factors like your age, whether you're a dependent, and the type of school you attend can impact the numbers. 

The type of program you choose can contribute to your timing as well. Many schools offer accelerated bachelor's degree programs, a fast-tracked path toward earning your degree, allowing you to earn your bachelor's in three years or less. The programs may combine or allow you to complete classes independently. You may even take classes during typical school breaks. You might take in-person classes, online, or with an accelerated program. While they're not available for every major, they're most common for computer science, accounting, communications, and marketing majors. 

The time it takes to complete an accelerated bachelor's degree can vary from school to school. For example:

• Purdue University offers students in its College of Liberal Arts the option to earn a bachelor's degree in three years. This "Degree in 3" program is available for majors such as communication, history, political science, sociology, and English. 

• Mercer University offers an accelerated bachelor's degree in nursing, which you can complete in as little as 12 months. However, you must meet certain requirements, including having completed a previous bachelor's degree. 

• Walden University offers students who want to earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood studies the opportunity to study at their own pace to set their own graduation schedule, which could be as few as 15 months. 

• Arizona State University offers several three-year bachelor's degree programs and the opportunity to earn your bachelor's and master's degrees in a combined fast-paced program that takes about five years. 

• Western Governors University offers a wide variety of online bachelor's degrees that you can earn in a shorter amount of time, ranging from six months to four years.

Factors that impact the time it takes to complete a bachelor's degree 

While the time it takes you to complete your bachelor's degree can vary from school to school and program to program, many other factors can impact your journey. These include the number of credits you already have, how many courses you take at once, your major, and even whether you're a high-performing student.

Number of credits 

The typical bachelor's degree requires you to earn 120 credit hours [1]. If you already have some college credits when you start your bachelor's degree program, you may not have to attend school for that long. For example, if you already have some college experience, the courses you took may transfer to your current degree program. 

If you took AP courses in high school, you may receive college credit for those. Some schools also allow you to take a test called a College Level Examination Program (CLEP). If you pass, you may not have to take the course for this subject area. 

Some schools even allow you to turn professional or military experience into college courses. If you've earned an associate degree or another bachelor's degree in the past, some of those credits may transfer to your current institution and speed up the process.  

Number of courses taken at a time 

Balancing your college schedule can also impact how long it takes to earn your bachelor's degree. While some schools differ, most consider 12 credit hours per semester a full-time schedule. Anything less is usually considered a part-time schedule. If you take 12 hours per semester in an attempt to earn a degree that requires you to have 120 credit hours, you'll need to take 10 full-time semesters to graduate. Adding an extra course or two to your schedule each semester can speed that up, while attending school part-time can slow it down.

Type of student you are 

If you were a good student in high school who earned a high GPA, your chances of finishing your bachelor's degree quicker are higher, according to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics, which is part of the United States Department of Education. Students who graduated high school with a 3.5 to 4.0 typically received their bachelor's degree within an average of 47.4 months. Compare that to students with a 2.0 or lower GPA in high school. It took them, on average, 51.3 months to finish their bachelor's degree [2].

Staying with the same major 

Many students either arrive at college undecided on a major or change their majors at some point during their college careers. Suppose you currently find yourself uninterested in your major or its associated classes. In that case, it can make your college experience unpleasant, and changing your major is one way to prevent yourself from feeling discouraged or quitting school completely. Remember that choosing a new major can slow your progress, especially if you've worked towards your degree for a while. 

Ways to earn your bachelor's degree faster 

Researching schools and programs offering accelerated bachelor's degrees is one way to speed up your journey, but you have other options if you want to earn your bachelor's degree faster. Remember that many require you to put in some extra work. These options might include:

• Taking classes during summer sessions   

• Taking online courses that allow you to work at your own pace 

• Taking an extra course or two each semester in addition to your full load 

• Finding out if you qualify for non-traditional credit, like that gained from work 

• Remembering your motivation and reason for completing your degree

• Choosing a major and sticking to it 

• Taking advantage of any testing offered that allows you to skip classes

• Ensuring you transfer any previously earned credits to your new school 

Online vs. in-person bachelor's degrees 

Schools offer numerous bachelor's degree programs, including those that are fully online, those that are fully in-person, and some that combine both options. How do you know if online or in-person is better for you? Take a look at the benefits of each one and see which one best matches your goals.   

Online bachelor's degree

Online degrees are becoming more common than ever. Employers typically see them as proof of how driven a job candidate is and that the person has good time management skills. Other benefits of earning your degree online include:  

• More flexibility in scheduling and opportunities for self-paced learning

• Tuition costs are typically lower

• Access is available to everyone, including those with disabilities  

• People who work full-time or have families can fit it into their lifestyles

• Interacting with people from cultures and geographic locations around the world

• No lost time commuting to and from school 

In-person bachelor's degree

Earning a degree in person may be ideal if you prefer the advantages of physically attending class over online studies. You'll have to stick to a class schedule and see a professor each week, which is best for people who need that extra boost of motivation. Other benefits of earning your degree in person include:

• Fewer distractions than you might have at home 

• Access to more visual and hands-on learning opportunities 

• More access to technology 

• Easier to interact and connect with classmates

• Can typically interact with your professor directly when you need help 

How to choose an online bachelor's degree 

Ultimately, deciding whether to take an online or in-person course and determining how long it will take to finish your bachelor's degree online all come down to the program you choose and your willingness to work to reach your goals. If an online bachelor's degree sounds like the right option for you, use these tips to choose the right program:  

• Do your research and make sure the school is accredited in the United States. 

• Choose a major that aligns with your interests and goals. 

• Make sure the school or program offers your major.  

• Understand admissions requirements and whether or not you can meet them. 

• Find out if you can afford tuition or qualify for any financial aid. 

• Ensure the course schedule is fully online and not a hybrid schedule. 

Getting started with Coursera 

Preparing yourself for college can speed up the time it takes to earn your bachelor's degree and help keep you on track. Consider taking some courses that can help get you ready for your college years and beyond. On Coursera, you'll find many options offered by some of the top colleges and universities in the world. Consider Study Skills for University Success from the University of California, Irvine; Success from the University of Pennsylvania; and Successful Presentation from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as part of their Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation Specialization.