Best Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees Online of 2025

Earning a college degree can be costly, with students turning to loans to cover the expense: According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of 2024, U.S. student loan debt totaled $1.62 trillion. Fortunately, a variety of program options can help you graduate faster — and with less debt.

One way to optimize savings and start your career sooner is by pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s degree online. You can earn college credits on your own terms from anywhere in the world and at a faster pace than a traditional four-year program.

Our rankings below cover some of the best online accelerated bachelor’s degrees.

An accelerated bachelor’s degree program is an educational pathway that allows you to graduate faster than the traditional four-year timeline. These degrees require heavier course loads and more rigorous study.

Students in these programs learn the same material as other enrollees, but usually in a shorter timespan — without transfer credits, some learners complete their degree in 2.5-3 years instead of four years of full-time study. For students with previous credits or an associate degree, some schools offer degree completion programs that learners can finish in six months or a year.

Some colleges also offer accelerated combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs — also known as dual degree programs — which award graduates both credentials in 4-5 years.

Bachelor’s degrees traditionally require four years of full-time study, but some schools offer alternative pathways that reduce program length. These include faster-paced accelerated options and degree completion programs for students with transfer credits from other accredited institutions.

So, just how fast can you get a bachelor’s degree? Below, we’ll cover the four most common bachelor’s degree completion timelines.

The following degrees are some of the most common majors available in an accelerated format. Work with your school’s academic and career advisors to see what accelerated degrees they offer, and choose the program that best meets your needs.

Did you know that a business degree can help prepare you for over 25 different business careers? An accelerated business program can fast-track you into one of these professions. You can work in marketing, finance, human resources, or another field with a bachelor’s in business administration.

Business and finance careers also earn higher-than-average wages, with a median annual salary of $80,920 (BLS, May 2024) for workers in this field.

Tech is a developing sector, with many computer and IT occupations projected to grow faster than average from 2023 to 2033. An accelerated computer science degree can help you join the job market faster. After earning your degree, you can qualify for in-demand tech subfields like software development.

In addition to strong demand, software developers earn a higher-than-average median annual salary of $133,080 (BLS, May 2024).

You can become a teacher with an accelerated bachelor’s degree in education. You can also work in early childhood education or pursue other education-related careers. Elementary school teachers earn a median annual salary of $62,310 (BLS, May 2024). You can boost your earning potential by moving into administrative roles.

An online accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree program can help you fast-track your nursing career. Look for online BSN programs to earn credit for work experience or previous credentials, such as licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN).

If you’re an RN, you can complete an accelerated nursing program in as little as one year. If you’re an RN looking to obtain an MSN, consider an accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s program.

After graduating from an accelerated BSN program, you can qualify for specialized nursing careers in acute care, pediatrics, and primary care. RNs make a median annual wage of $93,600 (BLS, May 2024).

Dive into the human psyche as a psychology major. You’ll study human development, behaviors, and personality disorders during your accelerated psychology degree program.

With this degree, you can qualify for careers for psych majors in social services, the nonprofit sector, and analytical fields. You can also continue your education to become a psychologist, a role that earns a $94,310 median annual wage (BLS, May 2024).

Accelerated bachelor’s programs are uncommon and can be tricky to find. Be aware of alternative names, such as fast-track or direct-entry programs, and add these terms to your search queries. Note that schools sometimes use branded language for their accelerated formats: For example, Purdue Global calls them “ExcelTrack” programs.

To get started, check out the list above: It explores top-ranked bachelor’s degree pathways with compact completion timelines. Also, it can be worth contacting prospective colleges and universities to ask if they offer any acceleration options not covered in their standard program descriptions.

Finally, check with the biggest accredited online colleges. Because these larger, more popular online schools often cater to students with diverse needs, they’re more likely to offer accelerated programs and other nontraditional formats that appeal to students with unique learning preferences.

If your goal is to enter the workforce quickly or enroll in a dual bachelor’s-master’s program, an accelerated degree is one of the best ways you can reach your goals sooner. However, these options require drive and determination since you’re condensing the workload into a shorter timespan.

You’re most likely to succeed in an online accelerated bachelor’s degree program if you’re self-motivated and possess strong time management skills, especially in online environments with less rigidly structured asynchronous coursework.

Consequently, getting an accelerated bachelor’s degree online isn’t for everyone. If you’re not looking for a faster program or you require more support and structure to succeed, an online accelerated degree may not be a good fit.