The pressing need for employment and employability is forcing adult students to get qualified and trained faster. Many students look for quicker alternatives to a traditional bachelor’s degree program completed in four years. Can you earn a degree in three years or less?
Thanks to online colleges that provide accelerated degree programs for working adults. Students now have a way to earn a bachelor’s degree sooner and get work in their beloved field much faster. Moreover, accelerated degrees allow adults to become more financially secure in their working life.
This article elaborates on factors working adults must consider when contemplating an accelerated online bachelor’s degree program. By reading till the end, you will be in a better position to decide if you should enroll in an accelerated online degree program.
What Is An Accelerated Degree Program?
In a nutshell, an accelerated degree program allows you to earn a degree by studying faster. Instead of the typical four years, you could graduate with a bachelor’s degree in three years or sometimes less. And yes, you read it right – study faster!
The number of courses, credits, tests, exams, coursework, and projects you take all remains like a traditional degree program. In other words, you will not be cutting corners. These criteria make accelerated degrees of equal standard to regular degrees.
Accelerated degree programs are fast-paced. For instance, classes cover more lessons, tests and coursework are closer to each other, all to enable you to graduate faster.
Both online colleges, as well as traditional colleges, offer accelerated degree programs. Working adults would be better off opting for accredited online colleges as they could keep their job while studying.
Pros of Online Accelerated Degree Programs
Students who have successfully attained a bachelor’s degree through an accelerated program cite the following as significant benefits:
- Stay laser-focused on their degree to graduate faster.
- Adults get to accomplish their academic goals and quickly catch up with their younger peers.
- Able to switch careers earlier and keep up with the trend.
- Online colleges allow better class scheduling and pacing – avoid schedule conflicts.
- Option to keep studying during term breaks and summers.
Cons of Online Accelerated Degree Programs
While the thought of graduating sooner is enticing, accelerated degree programs do have drawbacks for working adults. Among the critical ones are:
- Some courses take more time to learn and practice. Not all subjects are the same for everyone. For example, many students take a longer time to master subjects like math, calculus, and computer skills.
- Interaction and learning with fellow students become limited as you are hard-pressed for time.
- More challenging to make new friends and collaborate with fellow students.
- Fast-paced learning can be stressful, leading to a higher dropout rate.
- You spend less time with family, friends, co-workers, and business acquaintances.
Now that you understand the pros and cons of accelerated degree programs, you may notice that it may not be for everybody. The lure of faster graduation does come with sacrifices and challenges.
Finally, are accelerated degree programs for you? The following questions will help your decision making:
- Do you have any transferable credits that can save you time?
- What exactly motivates you to sacrifice much time and energy towards getting a degree?
- Are there any life-events happening soon – getting married, a new baby, moving to another city, or starting a new job soon?
- What is homework and coursework requirement? How many times in a semester?
- How does the online college provide support for students – availability of professors for one-on-one discussions, technical support, and communication channels.
- Will you be able to cope with fewer social activities with family and friends?
Related Article: How Online College Works
