8 Week College Courses Online [2024 Guide: Online College Courses]

Want to earn your college degree quickly with 8 week college courses online? Here are 20 college majors that allow you to get your degree at a faster pace.

If you’re a working adult, then you’d probably jump at the chance to further your education without years of schooling.

Universities with accelerated online classes may be the best fit for your busy life. Their 8 week courses can help you fast-track your way to becoming a college graduate. You’ll receive the same education in 8 weeks as you would in a full semester.

List of Universities Offering 8 Week Courses Online

Rankings Methodology

We chose these schools because of their accreditation status with a reputable body and their online 8 week courses.

Brenau University

Georgia’s Brenau University offers a student-faculty ratio of 11:1 for its nearly 4,000 students. The university began as a women’s school in 1878 and started offering coed opportunities in 1972. Even still, about one-quarter of students choose to enroll in The Women’s College of Brenau for a single-gender university experience.

• Eight week college course schedule

Brenau is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Cameron University

Founded as the Cameron State School of Agriculture, Cameron University has been educating students since 1909. Now, the university has almost 50 degree programs for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and online classes allow the school to reach students far beyond its local Oklahoma community.

• Eight week college course schedule

Cameron is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

Capella University

Online classes at the undergraduate and graduate level are the main focus of Capella University in Minnesota. More than 80,000 people have graduated from this school, and nearly 40,000 students enroll each year. The school’s FlexPath class structure gives students a self-paced college experience, and the GuidedPath option is designed for greater structure.

Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Central Texas College

Founded in the 1960s, Central Texas College is a community college that issues certificates and associate degrees. Students can take classes in the areas of healthcare, the humanities, business, trades, STEM, and public service. The school began offering distance learning in 1970, and its first online class was held in 1998.

CTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Charter Oaks State College

Adult learners can earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from Charter Oak State College, an online school that’s based in Connecticut. More than 2,000 students take classes from this college each year, and the school has over 16,000 graduates. On average, Charter Oak students are 39 years old.

COSC is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

College of DuPage

Illinois’ College of DuPage is a community college that’s been educating learners since 1967. The school offers programs that are specifically for adult learners who are at least 19 years old. These include online classes, accelerated formats, and credit for professional experience. More than 150 areas of study are available.

COD is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

College of Southern Nevada

Of the more than 180 degree and certificate programs at the College of Southern Nevada, at least 24 of them can be fully earned through online coursework. Areas of study include education, business, health sciences, and public safety. Almost 70,000 students take classes from CSN each year, and the school’s student-faculty ratio is 23:1.

CSN is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Colorado State University

Between online and on-campus programs, Colorado State University offers over 70 areas of study. The university began in 1870 as part of an initiative to make educational opportunities more widely available. Today, the school’s distance learning programs continue that tradition by welcoming a diverse group of students into online classes.

Colorado State is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Columbia College

Educating students since 1851, Columbia College now reaches nearly 20,000 students each year. Based in Missouri, the school also has campuses around the United States and in Cuba, and it offers an online learning platform. Online students have 800 classes and 29 degree programs from which to choose.

Columbia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Davenport University

More than 7,000 students take classes from Davenport University each year. This Michigan-based university was founded in 1866 and today has multiple campuses and 24/7 online options. The school offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs related to business, technology, health sciences, and education.

Davenport is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Excelsior College

More than 170,000 students have earned degrees from Excelsior College in New York. Approximately 38% of current students are adult learners in their 30s. In fact, educating nontraditional students is the founding mission of this school, which first opened in 1971. Nursing and liberal studies are among the college’s most popular programs.

Excelsior is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

Fisher College

U.S. News and World Report has named Fisher College one of the best schools in its area of the country. This Massachusetts university, which began in 1903, boasts a student-faculty ratio of 14:1, and approximately three-quarters of the faculty hold doctoral degrees.

Online academic programs include psychology, human resources, information technology, and criminal justice.

Fisher is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Indiana Institute of Technology

Each year, over 10,000 students study with Indiana Tech. More than 8,000 of them take classes in a non-traditional format, such as online studies. The school’s undergrad programs feature a student-faculty ratio of 17:1.

Engineering and business are some of the university’s most popular departments, and there are strong criminal justice and computer science degree programs as well.

Indiana Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Indiana Wesleyan University

Since the school’s beginnings in 1920, Indiana Wesleyan University has graduated more than 84,000 students. Approximately 4,000 students take online classes from IWU each year. Affiliated with The Wesleyan Church, this school seeks to equip learners to put their faith into practice through professional excellence.

IWU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

LeTourneau University

Approximately 3,100 students take classes from LeTourneau University in Texas each year. With more than 140 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the school appeals to learners who are interested in theology, aviation, nursing, business, education, and other disciplines. LeTourneau is a Christian university, and classes incorporate a biblical worldview.

LeTourneau is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Liberty University

Since 1971, Liberty University in Virginia has been providing higher education with a Christian focus. Over 100,000 students enroll in Liberty’s classes each year, thanks in large part to a strong online program with a student-faculty ratio of 17:1. Of the school’s more than 600 degree programs, about 400 are available online.

Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Lynn University

Florida’s Lynn University has a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. This university opened in the early 1960s as a 2-year school but now issues degrees ranging from associate to doctoral. Students can choose from over 45 undergraduate majors and 29 graduate programs. Many of the school’s 3,000 students serve internships each year.

Lynn is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

National University

National University is a network of nonprofit educational institutions headquartered in San Diego, CA. Established in 1971, it has over 30,000 enrolled students and more than 220,000 alumni from around the world.

NU offers many different online degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

National University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

North Carolina Wesleyan College

A student-faculty ratio of 15:1 means that students at North Carolina Wesleyan College receive individualized attention. The school, which is affiliated with The United Methodist Church, was founded in 1956. Programs designed especially for adult learners began in the 1970s and today reach about 1,200 students each year.

NCWC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Park University

Although Park University’s main campus is in Missouri, the school has more than 40 different campus locations and also offers a full slate of online courses. The university was founded in 1857 and has grown to an annual enrollment of over 16,000 students. Altogether, the school offers more than 60 degree programs.

Park is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Peirce College

Adult learners are right at home at Pennsylvania’s Peirce College. This school, which dates back to 1865, exists to help nontraditional students and working professionals meet their educational goals. Around 2,000 people enroll at this college each year. On average, Peirce students are 35 years old.

Peirce is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Post University

U.S. News & World Report often recognizes Post University for its academic programs, particularly in the categories of Graduate Education and Graduate Business. The university began in 1890 and now has both a campus in Connecticut and a robust online program. Undergraduate and graduate programs are available.

Post is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Purdue University Global

The online division of Indiana’s Purdue University is known as Purdue University Global. The classes are structured to be flexible and accommodate working adults’ busy schedules. Over half of Purdue Global’s students are older than 30, and more than two-thirds have children at home. Nearly 30,000 students take the school’s online courses each year.

Purdue University Global is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Regent University

Since 1978, Regent University in Virginia has been providing college students with a Christian-based education. The school offers over 100 different programs and awards nearly 2,000 degrees each year. Approximately half of the degrees awarded are at the master level, but the university also offers associate, bachelor, and doctoral degrees.

Regent is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Regis University

Approximately 10,000 students take classes from Colorado’s Regis University each year, and they enjoy a student-faculty ratio of 13:1. Students can choose from more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This Jesuit Catholic university was founded in 1877 to promote positive change in the world.

Regis is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Saint Leo University

Students of all faiths make up the student body of Saint Leo University, a Catholic school in Florida. Volunteer service is an important value at Saint Leo, and both students and faculty invest many hours in helping individuals and organizations. Over 13,000 learners take classes from this university each year.

Saint Leo is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU was founded as a business school in 1932. From the very beginning, the school’s classes were structured in a way that accommodated working adults. Extensive online programs allow the university to continue this innovative approach to adult education today. SNHU has more than 200 programs available for online students.

SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc.

Thomas Edison State University

A pioneer in adult higher education, Thomas Edison State University exists to help working professionals gain more education or complete their degrees. This New Jersey school opened in 1972. There are more than 100 degree options available, and many of them are available as fully online programs.

TESU is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

University of Houston – Downtown

UHD opened in 1974 as part of the University of Houston system. Over 30% of the school’s 14,000 students take classes fully online, and an additional 15% take a combination of online and on-campus classes. Psychology and criminal justice are some of the school’s most popular online degree programs.

UHD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Maryland University College

The University of Maryland University College, also known as the University of Maryland Global Campus, is a fully online school. In addition to taking classes through the computer, students also use electronic textbooks and resources for an entirely digital experience. On average, the school’s enrollees are about 30 years old, and most hold full-time jobs.

UMUC is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

University of Massachusetts – Global

The educational model at the University of Massachusetts Global is focused on meeting the needs of adult learners. The school began in 1958 as a higher-education option for military members and today serves adult students of all backgrounds. Since 2012, the school has offered online courses in addition to classes on its California campus.

The University of Massachusetts Global is accredited by the WSCUC Senior College and University Commission.

University of Mount Olive

The University of Mount Olive is a Baptist educational institution committed to justice, respect, honesty, and responsibility. It was founded in 1951 and became a university in 2014. The school, which offers programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s levels, has received a Best Regional Colleges award from U.S. News and World Report.

Mount Olive is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University

At Walden University in Minneapolis, fully online degree programs are the norm. The school offers programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students, and certificate programs are available as well. Many of the university’s 80 degree programs offer an assortment of concentration options.

Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Online Degree Programs with 8 Week Classes

Your general education classes are perfect for an 8 week time frame as you can often knock them out of the way between semesters or before you start taking classes in your field of study.

But beyond the basics, you can also find plenty of options for taking accelerated classes for these majors:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Communications
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• English
• Finance and Investments
• Healthcare Administration
• History
• Journalism
• Legal Studies
• Liberal Arts
• Marketing
• Nursing
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Religion
• Sociology
• Social Work

You can take some or all of your courses in these fields online in an 8 week format.

Accounting

A degree in Accounting offers a practical and straightforward career path that is permanently in high demand. Beyond the basic and obvious math prerequisites, a career in this field is great for organized and goal-oriented people who want to be predict their incomes and “rush periods” consistently.

Many opportunities in this field go beyond typical tax returns. From the ability to make a difference to up-and-coming family-owned businesses to the power that follows a position in a powerful corporation, skills in accounting find their way into almost every field.

Business Administration

Business Administration is as much a career path as it is a lifestyle. This is probably why it’s a degree that will never go out of style, no matter if you have independent aspirations or not.

While a degree in anything is not strictly necessary for starting a new venture, the truth is that it doesn’t hurt. In fact, learning the nitty-gritty of paperwork, resource optimization, productivity, and leadership will increase your chances of success.

Even if you are not ready to jump straight into flying solo, a degree in Business Administration is highly sought-after by private companies in all fields.

Communications

Communications is a flexible and fast-paced field that can easily build its own niche in a variety of companies.

The advent of new technologies and forms of media has expanded the reach for this degree. Now, it encompasses both rank-and-file extroverts who are chasing information on the street, as much as the masterminds that quietly direct the public’s attention from the shadows.

A degree in Communications requires just as much ease with language as technological expertise, so its most successful students are those who are equally fascinating by both.

Computer and Information Sciences

Computers are now so ubiquitous that it’s hard to remember the people who hide behind the user-friendly interfaces. And yet, those in charge of creating and improving the objects that we use every day hold an immense degree of power in their hands.

This is only half the reason why Computer and Information Sciences are so quick to fascinate those who lie outside the technological ecosystem. Students with a solid background in mathematics and logic, who preserve the ability to both analyze and innovate, are the best suited for this field.

Criminal Justice

Degrees in Criminal Justice are sometimes overlooked as a simple “entry step” into the much more coveted Law field. However, they constitute a major stepping stone in the highly competitive litigation field.

They also offer a superb advantage for those who are seeking to enroll in Law Enforcement, which will open countless opportunities for promotions beyond the sergeant level.

Thorough knowledge in Criminal Justice can just as easily be placed at the service of private clients or the public good, and it offers significant rewards on either career path.

Education

At first glance, the scope of an Education degree seems pretty straightforward. While it indeed offers a great opportunity for anyone who is committed to nurturing new generations, the job opportunities it offers go far beyond the classroom.

Educators are people who possess both knowledge and the ability to generate behavioral changes based on such knowledge. This is a skill that can find a comfortable home at corporate training facilities, the military, or in youth-oriented product development.

English

Effective and accurate use of the English language may appear to be an easy topic to master. In reality, acquiring true mastery of it is actually remarkably difficult, but it will easily impact on every aspect of life.

It should not be surprising then that English graduates often find themselves spread across all types of companies and fields. A good English program goes beyond the language and also offers a solid foundation on the great works of literature that have defined our civilization.

This is the perfect starting point for anyone who wants to take up the art of persuasion.

Finance and Investments

A degree in Finance is ideal for anyone who likes to think in terms of investment, returns, and earnings – which by itself, is both an art and a science that goes beyond simple number compiling.

This is the most technical of all Business and Management degrees, but it also offers some of the greatest average rewards. During this program, you’ll receive a thorough understanding of the financial instruments and mechanisms that shake today’s world.

This knowledge creates opportunities for wealth generation and management alike.

Healthcare Administration

Healthcare is the fastest growing sector in the modern American economy. Scientific advances, high expectations, and long lifespans have made it tremendously important and capable of mobilizing large amounts of money.

Such an economically delicate industry deserves specialized administrators who are capable of making the best of the human resources and technology available.

Healthcare administration specialists can find opportunities managing healthcare facilities. There is also the possibility of designing the public policy skeleton that guides them.

History

Despite its elusive reputation, History graduates enjoy varied and numerous (even if not obvious) career opportunities beyond academia or state-sponsored research.

A great deal of this flexibility stems from the skills that are nurtured during historical analysis and study. The lessons extracted from past events and the solid cultural baggage acquired while pursuing a degree in History are often financially rewarding in many seemingly unrelated fields.

You can open further doors for yourself with a specialization in Geography, which is highly coveted in the oil and mining industry, or in research analysis.

Journalism

Old school ink-based newspapers may be less predominant nowadays, but this has not seen an end in the demand for journalists across the country. If anything, the rapidly changing nature of this field has created new opportunities for those with a solid academic background.

The profession has now largely abandoned its bohemian, self-made roots. Instead, it now requires moderate knowledge in technological management, knowledge dissemination, and marketing skills.

This should all be combined with an analytical outlook on life, as well as ease in communicating with or persuading others.

Legal Studies

A degree in Legal Studies provides a great starting point to negotiate your entrance into a prestigious Law School. And, if you are not quite ready to think about graduate school at the undergraduate level, you can also find numerous opportunities for immediate employment following graduation.

In many states, a degree in Legal Studies will allow you to access varied government positions, such as being an administrative judge, mediator, or social worker.

If you are seeking licensing as a paralegal, probation officer, or real estate agent, this degree will also help.

Liberal Arts

A degree in Liberal Arts may not immediately tell you what its corresponding career will be, but it opens doors and diverse paths nonetheless.

A Liberal Arts program is a great choice for multidisciplinarians and generalists who want to ensure they have a well-rounded education. In turn, this can teach the skills necessary to thrive in very diverse settings.

Holders of such qualifications are often found in the fashion industry, technology start-ups, legal aid departments, and even on many boards of directors.

Marketing

No company or private venture in the modern world can function without marketing efforts. This discipline lies at the crossroads between a persuasive skill and subtle psychological manipulation – and as such, it’s essential for anybody who is seeking to market a new product.

Marketing studies also teach you how to operate the different media production tools needed to carry your message to large audiences. Naturally, the study of human purchasing behaviors can also help any young professional sell their own skills to potential employers across any discipline.

Nursing

Nursing encompasses a large span of health-centered disciplines that are meant to preserve, improve, and maximize physical and mental wellness for people of all ages. In the fast-growing field of healthcare, nurses constitute the foot soldiers that hold the system in place across all levels.

Because of the high employability of nurses, there are numerous opportunities for professional advancement. These involve manager-level positions in healthcare settings as well as researchers, health educators, and public health or prevention specialists.

Psychology

Psychology is the study of the human mind and its behaviors. If this sounds all-encompassing and daunting, then it should hint at the wide scope offered to those who successfully complete a Psychology program.

From all healthcare disciplines, this is the field that has a more solid foundation in the humanities. In addition to counselling and therapy, Psychology graduates often find employment in social work, government organizations, and human resource departments.

Public Administration

Whereas business administrators are taught to maximize profits, public administrators are meant to master the art of doing more with less. This is why a Public Administration degree combines a background in political science, sociology, and education with the managerial skills that keep any large organization moving.

This field is probably the to-go career for anyone who is seeking to change society and shape a country’s future. Its study halls also provide a great opportunity to meet like-minded altruists.

Religion

Religion and theology majors are devoted to the study of something higher and much more abstract than the average person. Career opportunities in this field, however, are rooted very firmly in the physical world.

This is a very useful qualification to have for anyone who seeks to nurture the spirits of their fellow human beings, administrate a confessional non-profit or charity, or seek to enter the clergy.

The program of studies itself shares many approaches and courses with philosophy, and therefore also provides a great opportunity to develop persuasive skills and empathy.

Sociology

Humans are first and foremost social animals, and our tendency to form self-sustaining societies and to divide roles quickly drips into any level of organization. This makes the sociology field grow increasingly wide and very quick to change.

Sociology offers a solid background on people, their relationships, motivations, and hierarchies. This knowledge can be used to pursue jobs in human resources, media, public relations, market research, and academia.

Social Work

A degree in Social Work is ideal for people who seek to help people. It is often the most sought-after entry-level requirement in the human services industry.

In the private sector, social workers often find quick positions as human resource managers or as liaisons for their community outreach programs.

In government-owned entities, Social Work graduates often work as counselors, case managers, public service administrators, and rehabilitators.

The law enforcement industry has a permanent need for qualified personnel to supervise their wardens, probation officers, or to design strategies to prevent juvenile delinquents from falling into a “revolving door” life pattern.

How Do 8 Week Online Courses Work?

In an 8 week college course, you’ll have the same responsibilities as you would for a traditional-semester course.

These may include:

• Checking the weekly assignment schedule
• Reading textbooks
• Participating in online discussions
• Writing papers and completing other assignments
• Taking exams
• Communicating with the professor

The difference between 8 week classes and longer ones is that you’ll complete the workload in a shorter period. That does mean that you’ll probably have to invest more time in each class from week to week. That’s okay, though, because you’re likely to take fewer classes at one time.

Many students find the 8 week structure to suit them better than a traditional semester schedule.

Benefits include:

• The ability to focus on just a few classes at a time
• Flexible start dates
• Reduced time to degree completion

If you want to fit more classes into a shorter time frame, compact courses are the way to go.

Accreditation

Taking fast classes sounds great, but don’t enroll in any college before you check their accreditation. Reputable universities voluntarily ask third-party agencies to verify the quality of their educational programs. The Council for Higher Education (CHEA) then ensures that these third-parties are adequately inspecting the programs.

Before you apply to a university or college, make sure that it’s accredited by one of these independent agencies:

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

If a school is not accredited by one of these bodies, credits you earn there probably won’t transfer to other colleges, and employers may look on the value of your degree as doubtful.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Don’t worry; you don’t need to know anything special when it comes to paying for 8 week college classes. Faster courses are treated the same as regular college classes. You typically pay by the credit hour, and you may qualify for financial aid to help alleviate the tuition costs.

Financial aid may come from the federal government, your state government, independent organizations, or your university. This tuition help may come in the form of:

• Grants
• Loans
• Scholarships
• Payment plans

Some financial aid is granted based on need; your income level determines whether you qualify. Other types are given to students based on merit; you have to earn those benefits.

Federal grants and loans are some of the most common types of college financial aid. To determine what sort of federal tuition help you can receive, start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How Fast Can You Get a College Degree Online?

If you enroll in 8 week online classes, test out of one year of college with CLEP exams, and get at least 15 credit hours of life experience credit, you can get your bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years.

This assumes that you earn 30 credit hours per year in your online courses and are able to use credit for prior learning and CLEP exams to earn around 45 college credits. The time it takes you to complete your degree will depend largely on your university’s college credit policies and your ability to maintain a full-time course load.

Are Fast-Track College Courses More Difficult?

It takes the same amount of work to earn an accelerated college degree as it does to earn a traditional one. From start to finish, you’ll complete a similar amount of reading, write as many papers, take as many exams, and put forth as much effort.

But for each course, you’ll complete that workload in a shorter amount of time. Just two months after beginning an 8 week class, you’ll have read all the assigned passages and taken all the required tests. It will be time to move on to the next course. Before you know it, you’ll have earned your degree!

Many students like the structure of fast-track classes because, although the weekly assignment load for each coure may be heftier, you’re typically only taking one or two classes at a time. Focusing all of your academic attention on just a few subjects can make it easier to put forth your best effort.

What Are 8 Week College Courses?

Traditionally, universities have planned their academic calendars around two 16-week semesters. Schools that rely on a quick schedule divide the year into several smaller chunks.

That structure allows you to finish an entire course in just eight weeks. Every few months, you’ll start a new set of classes and make significant progress toward completing your degree. At most universities, course offerings are available in a wide-range of subjects and fields.

What Is Considered Full-Time for 8 Week Courses?

Full-time fast-track students usually take two 8 week courses at a time. You’ll complete 30 credit hours in one year if you carry that load during:

• Two fall sessions
• Two spring sessions
• One summer session

By the end of the year, you’ll have earned the same number of credits as traditional students who take five fall classes and five spring ones.

Are 8 Week Classes Hard?

Eight-week classes cover the same content as regular classes; they just do it in a quicker time frame. If you’re a self-motivated go-getter, you’ll probably thrive on a fast schedule.

Plus, unlike a traditional student, you won’t be dividing your attention between five different classes at one time. For that reason, you may find an accelerated schedule easier.

The fast pace can be deeply satisfying as well. With each quick class that you complete, you’ll be several credits closer to graduation.

Best of all, 8 week online classes work well for busy adults. Their flexible structure allows you to quickly finish your degree without putting your life on hold.

What Are Accelerated Classes in College?

College classes typically last for a full semester, which is 16 weeks long. Fast-track courses are only half as long. In fact, some are even shorter; a university’s accelerated classes may last anywhere from four to eight weeks.

Although it varies by university, most colleges offering eight week course schedules have a wide range of majors and course subjects available.

What is a Minimester in College?

Some schools refer to their accelerated course sessions as “minimesters.” These may last four weeks, eight weeks, or a bit longer. A university’s calendar may include five or more minimesters each year. Online classes are often arranged in minimesters that you can complete quickly.

How Fast Can You Finish an Online Course?

Universities commonly use an accelerated format for their online courses, so you can complete an online class in less time than it takes to finish an on-campus one.

The online semester length can vary, but 8 week sessions are typical. Some schools hold sessions that are as short as four weeks each.

How Many Classes Is 30 Credit Hours?

Most college classes are worth three credit hours. By taking 10 classes, you can earn 30 credit hours toward your college degree.

How Long Are Online College Courses?

Semester schedules vary among universities. Many schools offer courses that are eight weeks long, but some schools have 4 week, 5 week, or 6 week online courses.

Are There Any 8 Week Summer Classes?

Universities commonly offer 8 week classes in the summer and year-round. Some universities start new sessions weekly, and there are online colleges that start every month, so you can jump in any time of year.

What Will You Do with Your Next Eight Weeks?

You could knock out one or two classes and be that much closer to graduating. Here are some steps to take before you get there.

1. Review each university’s online curriculum.
2. Ensure the school is accredited and that each class will count toward your degree.
3. Apply to 3-5 online programs.
4. Investigate financial aid options.

It’s best to take more than one class from a university so that you can reduce your time spent on these steps.