What is an Accelerated Education Degree Program?

Schools are becoming aware that many students prefer to start their careers sooner by spending less time in college. Granted, a lot more happens during a student’s time at college than just studying…but that doesn’t change the growing need to make their own money.Many universities are implementing an accelerated degree program to address the needs of these students. These programs allow students to earn the same degree as their four-year counterparts in about three years. The programs are pre-structured to avoid the common need for an extra semester at the end of the curriculum.

Benefits

Of all the reasons to consider an accelerated program, cost is usually first on the list. According to an article posted by Inside Higher Ed, the cost of education can be cut by up to 1/3 by shaving off one year of classroom time for a bachelor’s degree. The thought of saving on tuition and books for an entire year is enough to get many people thinking.

Accelerated education degree programs are great for students who work while going to school, often missing the “typical college experience.” Many are obtaining a degree so they can begin better jobs or receive promotions and are not relishing in the freedom from outside responsibilities that many college students enjoy. Other students prefer accelerated programs because they intend to pursue advanced education that will require additional years of schooling. The sooner a bachelor’s degree is achieved, the sooner these students can pursue the next level of education.

It is important to remember that accelerated programs provide exactly the same degree as traditional programs. Just as some online degrees are the same as those earned inside a classroom, the diploma received through an accelerated program is same as its counterpart.

Drawbacks

All college degrees require dedication and hard work. However, accelerated programs by their very nature require more time and effort each semester to learn four years’ worth of information in just three. For students already working to pay for their educations, finding additional hours to spend on schoolwork and in class may be an insurmountable hurdle.

Some of the classes in these programs appear more difficult simply because students have less time to learn the material and are required to retain large amounts of information at once. Additionally, accelerated programs design the schedule for each cohort of students at the beginning of the first semester. These programs do not allow for the flexibility of changing majors or taking off a semester if needed.

An article by DrWilda explains some of the pros and cons of accelerated programs. There are many advantages to graduating early, but be sure to consider the sacrifices required as well. College should be fun and educational, regardless of the route one takes to obtain a degree.