2025 Fastest Online Degree Completion Programs
By Joy Miller
Edited by Tania Staley & Briana Sukert
Updated on November 22, 2024
One of the fastest ways to get a bachelor’s degree is with an online degree completion program. If you have already completed some college, you may be able to finish your degree faster than you might think!
A bachelor’s degree is a valuable commodity. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bachelor’s degree holders make more than those with no college education. They make, on average, $594 more a week, which is a difference of over $30,000 a year!
They make $501 more a week than those with only some college education, a difference of over $26,000 a year.
The decision to go back to school and complete your degree can be a lucrative decision. With online accelerated bachelor’s degree completion programs available, finishing your degree can be faster and easier than ever.
Methodology: Universities are listed alphabetically. They were chosen based on program flexibility (part-time and full-time options), credit transfer policies, student support services (academic advising, tutoring, career services, etc.), program variety, and affordability.
California Baptist University’s online degree completion programs cater to adult learners by offering flexible admission with multiple start dates throughout the year. These programs accept transfer credits, with over 91% of new students transferring credits.
The school integrates Christian values into its programs and provides 25 online undergraduate programs, ensuring both spiritual and career growth year-round.
California Baptist University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Central Washington University offers degree completion programs tailored for individuals seeking to finish their undergraduate studies. These programs are available in various fields, including business, social sciences, and health.
CWU accommodates transfer credits and provides flexible paths for students to advance their education and career prospects through online and hybrid formats.
Central Washington University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Colorado State University Global offers 15 bachelor’s degree programs in fully online formats for modern learners balancing jobs and family responsibilities.
The university maximizes previous experience by accepting up to 90 transfer credits from qualifying institutions and alternative credit sources. This allows students to complete their degrees swiftly and affordably by leveraging existing knowledge.
Colorado State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
CUNY School of Professional Studies offers online and on-campus undergraduate programs designed for adult learners with 24 or more credits. These programs are recognized for their excellence and designed to meet the needs of modern learners balancing professional and personal commitments.
CUNY School of Professional Studies is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
East Carolina University’s degree completion programs cater to transfer students across diverse fields. Fields of study offered include allied health, business, and education.
These flexible programs are designed to help students efficiently complete their degrees. At least 24 transferable credits and a 2.0 GPA are required to apply. The ECU Credit Connector tool assists in evaluating how prior credits can apply to ECU degrees.
East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Fort Hays State University offers comprehensive degree completion programs for adult learners and transfer students. These programs are intended for those with previous college credits aiming to finish their bachelor’s degree online.
Transfer students must have 24 or more transferable college credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to qualify for admission or meet the freshman admission requirements if fewer credits are held.
Fort Hays State Univeristy is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Indiana Wesleyan University’s degree completion programs facilitate easy credit transfers. This ease of transfer means students can potentially complete their program in just 10 months.
Flexible start dates are offered to ensure a smoother transition and integration into existing commitments. This streamlined approach is a practical solution for adults seeking to complete their undergraduate education.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Kansas State University’s degree completion programs are for students who have already accrued 24 or more college credits. These programs are designed to maximize the transfer of previously earned credits, This setup provides a route for students aiming to complete their degree while managing other commitments.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all transfer coursework is required for admission.
Kansas State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Ohio University offers a variety of online bachelor’s degree completion programs designed for students who have previously earned college credits. These programs maximize credit acceptance from accredited schools to facilitate faster degree completion.
Students must ensure their transfer credits meet a minimum GPA requirement for eligibility.
Ohio University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Old Dominion University offers 40 online degree completion programs. Students who have 60 transferable college credits can apply.
These programs focus on upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses. This approach provides a flexible pathway for students to leverage their existing credits to achieve their educational goals.
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Rasmussen University’s accelerated degree completion programs can be finished in 24 months of full-time study. Rasmussen supports seamless credit transfer to expedite graduation and reduce costs.
Online Empowered Learning® provides flexibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace and access comprehensive campus resources.
Rasmussen University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Southern Illinois University offers a variety of online bachelor’s degree completion programs tailored for students with prior college credits. These programs cover diverse fields, including aviation, business, healthcare, and technology.
They are designed for flexibility to accommodate personal and professional commitments.
Southern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Thomas Edison State University offers over 100 online degree completion programs. The programs are flexible and self-paced.
TESU has generous credit transfer policies. Students can transfer up to 90 credits from community colleges and 120 from four-year institutions. It also awards credits for qualifying prior learning and professional experiences.
Thomas Edison State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The University of Alabama offers online degree completion programs for students with qualifying transfer credits from accredited institutions. Accepted students’ prior coursework is evaluated for transferability, equivalency, and applicability toward degree requirements.
At least 25% of the degree’s requirements must be completed at the University of Alabama, ensuring a significant portion is taken directly from the institution.
The University of Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Florida offers flexible online bachelor’s degree programs that allow students to transfer up to 60 credits from accredited institutions. Their transfer credit evaluation ensures alignment with program requirements, helping students efficiently complete their degrees.
UF Online provides a wide range of majors, delivering quality education tailored to diverse academic and professional goals.
The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Illinois – Springfield offers 21 online bachelor’s degree completion programs.
Transfer students must have 60 semester hours with a C average or better from a regionally accredited institution. Those with an Associate in Arts or Science are admitted as juniors. Military training credits are also accepted.
The University of Illinois – Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Louisiana – Monroe offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs with accelerated classes. These programs can be finished in 2 years. They are intended for adults seeking career advancement or new opportunities.
Transfer students must have completed college-level English and math courses with grades of C or higher.
The University of Louisiana – Monroe is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Massachusetts – Amherst offers a range of online degree completion programs through its University Without Walls (UWW) and University Plus initiatives. These programs cater to adult learners and those with prior college credits, providing flexible, interdisciplinary studies.
Designed to help students achieve educational and professional goals, these programs offer options for customizing coursework.
The University of Massachusetts – Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The University of New Mexico offers flexible online degree completion programs for working adults with at least 24 transferable college credits. Fields of study offered include business, healthcare, and education.
UNM’s transfer-friendly policies help students maximize previously earned credits, enabling efficient degree completion. This approach caters to those balancing education with other commitments.
The University of New Mexico is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers online degree completion programs for transfer and adult students. UNCG supports maximizing transfer credits and academic success, providing a flexible format ideal for working adults to advance their careers.
The University of North Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of South Carolina’s Palmetto College offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs for students with at least 45 college credits. The flexible online format supports working professionals and those with busy schedules, helping them advance their education and careers.
The University of South Carolina is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of South Florida offers degree completion programs tailored for adults with previous college credits.
The Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) is designed for students with varied college credits looking to complete their first bachelor’s degree. The BS in Applied Science (BSAS) is for students who hold an Associate in Science and wish to further their education.
The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Southern Mississippi offers online degree completion programs tailored for transfer students. Southern Miss permits transferring up to 90 credit hours from accredited institutions—up to 75% of your degree.
This significant credit acceptance facilitates a quicker path to graduation for students with prior credits, supporting working professionals with diverse educational backgrounds.
The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
West Texas A&M University offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs designed for those needing to balance their education with personal and professional responsibilities. Fields of study offered include criminal justice, health sciences, and business.
Transfer students (those with 12 or more transferable credit hours post-high school) must meet specific GPA requirements based on their transferred credits to qualify for admission.
West Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Western Carolina University offers online undergraduate degree completion programs in fields such as business administration and nursing.
At least 25% of credits toward a bachelor’s degree must be earned through junior- and senior-level courses at WCU, including a minimum of 12 hours in the major.
Western Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Many students are unable to graduate because of other life commitments. If you find yourself in this situation, an online degree completion program can provide the flexibility and convenience to finish your education.
Degree completion programs can be found in many majors, but some are more prevalent than others. This is a list of several popular majors you could choose from.
Click on one that interests you to jump to that part of the page.
The best program for you will depend on your interests and professional goals. If none of these majors interest you, there are plenty more to choose from.
If you choose to study accounting, you can pursue a career as a bookkeeper, accountant, auditor, or accounting specialist.
You’ll study finance management, advanced mathematics, and company budgeting practices. This major could be a good choice if you possess great mathematical skills and are interested in handling money and funds.
With a business administration degree, you can pursue a job as a financial analyst, financial controller, operations manager, or human resources manager.
Your classes will teach you leadership and problem-solving skills. You’ll also explore the ins and outs of working in corporate settings and developing strategies for companies and organizations.
Earning a degree in business administration can help you develop your own business, manage someone else’s business, or climb the corporate ladder.
With a degree in computer science, you can pursue a career as a programmer analyst, software development engineer, or web developer. Your courses will teach you the fundamentals of technology, one or more coding languages, and computer application creation.
If you are fascinated by technology, computers, and solving technological issues, this is a good major to consider.
If you wish to become a security manager, fraud investigator, detective, police officer, or criminal investigator. a degree in criminal justice can help you achieve this dream.
Your courses will explore how to provide justice ethically, the necessary legal aspects to society, and how to solve issues in a community. Earning this degree can allow you to help people by providing security.
If you wish to be a teacher or work in education, an education degree is the place to start. You could become a college professor, academic advisor, school teacher, or administrative assistant.
Your courses will teach you valuable leadership and communication skills and the fundamentals of teaching children and youth in school settings. You’ll also be able to specialize in types of teaching or subjects and take courses specific to those specializations.
To prepare for teacher certification, you’ll have teaching practicums, certification preparation, and other experiences teaching students as well.
Earning a degree in finance can prepare you for a career as a finance director, business analyst, finance manager, or finance assistant.
Your professors will teach you the necessities of managing an organization’s finances, how to conduct financial planning, and the fundamentals of managing a team of finance professionals.
If you have great leadership skills, an interest in business and finances, and excellent math skills, this could be a great major for you.
With a degree in healthcare administration, you can pursue a career as a public health specialist, senior healthcare assistant, healthcare administrator, medical and health services manager, or pharmacy technician.
You’ll learn procedures for overseeing clinics and healthcare professionals, how to operate healthcare facilities, and medical methods and strategies.
Compassion, adaptability, and quick-thinking skills are important skills in this field. With them and your training for this degree, you could one day manage a doctor’s office or hospital.
A degree in information technology can lead to many career opportunities in IT. You could become a software developer, systems administrator, network administrator, information technology specialist, or information technology manager, to name a few possibilities.
In your classes, you’ll study the newest technology, how to gather and analyze data, how to manage information systems, and the best ways to conduct research.
If you are passionate about working with computers and technology and open to working in a constantly evolving field, you should consider this career.
Liberal arts degrees are very versatile. Because of the flexibility of these programs and the ability to choose a range of classes catered to your interests and goals, your program can prepare you for a variety of careers.
Graduates often become project managers, administrative assistants, marketing directors, executive assistants, or office managers.
You’ll develop valuable skills for the workforce, such as critical thinking, research, and communication skills. A liberal arts degree can be a great option if you don’t know what you want to do after graduating.
Your courses for a degree in management will help you develop the skills needed to oversee and manage company operations. You’ll also explore ways to deal with challenges and learn how to predict important business trends.
With this degree, you could become an operations manager, human resources generalist, office manager, director of sales, corporate paralegal, or director of operations. You could manage a company, store, non-profit organization, law firm, healthcare facility, or government office.
If you have people skills, have the desire and ability to be in charge, and are a natural leader, a career in management could be a good choice.
If your goal is to become a marketing director, coordinator, manager, or executive, a degree in marketing can serve you well.
The study of marketing is centered around creating relationships and ensuring customers are satisfied with products or services. Marketing is also used to attract and bring more customers to businesses, which is an important part of any company’s success.
This degree may be a good choice if you possess excellent leadership skills, enjoy conducting research, and pay close attention to detail.
Online degrees in nursing are usually available to those who have already received their Registered Nurse (RN) licensure. This is because the study of nursing focuses on hands-on training.
A nurse’s schedule is very long and busy, so an online program may be mandatory to continue education.
Your courses will teach you advanced skills and specializations to help you succeed and advance in the nursing field. With this degree, you could become a pediatric nurse, director of nursing, labor and delivery nurse, or charge nurse.
Nursing can be a rewarding career for those who enjoy helping people, desire to provide care and safety to individuals, and are interested in providing direct medical care.
With a degree in psychology, you can pursue a career as a human resources manager, case manager, project manager, executive director, marketing manager, or operations manager.
If you decide to continue your education and complete a graduate degree program, you may become a clinical psychologist, genetics counselor, forensic psychologist, or marriage and family therapist.
The courses in a psychology program are centered around how people think, people’s emotions and feelings, and their behaviors and reactions toward certain issues.
If you like helping people and want to understand them better, this could be a rewarding career field for you.
You’ll need transferable credits from a previous school to enroll in an online bachelor’s degree completion program.
If you have never completed a college course, degree completion programs are not for you. Instead, check out accelerated programs to complete your degree fast.
If any of the following scenarios ring true for you, consider a degree completion program:
Any of the above scenarios can earn you entry into a degree completion program and credits transferred toward your bachelor’s degree.
Many online degree completion programs are affordable, and since you can earn credit in nontraditional ways, you likely won’t have to pay for nearly as many credit hours as you would in other programs.
Bachelor’s degree completion programs online are designed to accept as many credits toward your degree as possible before you get started. You can earn credit from past courses you’ve completed (even in unrelated fields), military or other service training, related work experience, and national exams.
The best job for you to get with your bachelor’s degree will depend on several factors, including the major you chose to study, your career goals, and your interests.
These are some popular careers that can be pursued with a bachelor’s degree:
As you can see, there are many different jobs you can pursue and industries you can work in with a bachelor’s degree, and this is only a small portion of the jobs available.
When deciding on the school to go to, it is crucial to choose a school with regional accreditation. Schools that have regional accreditation have been proven to provide quality education that meets standards.
The following organizations evaluate schools and regionally accredit them:
Degrees from schools with regional accreditation are more recognized and valued by employees. Your credits are also more likely to transfer to other programs or accepted for admission into graduate programs.
It is important to know that online students can receive financial aid just like traditional, on-campus students. You can pursue scholarships, work-study programs, state and federal grants, awards, and student loans.
To begin the financial aid process, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This fast application created by the federal government determines how much financial assistance the government will provide.
There is not one, simple answer to this question. A subject that is easy for one person may be difficult for another. It depends on what you find interesting, what you are passionate about, and what you consider easy.
That said, it is important to remember that the easiest program may not be the best for you. You should ensure your program aligns with your interests and career goals.
There are many degrees you can complete entirely online. As more students search for convenience, flexibility, and the ability to work at their own pace, more colleges and universities answer this request.
Many schools offer online programs that can be completed entirely online from the comfort of one’s home. Online programs can be found in many majors, but some popular ones are psychology, liberal arts, information technology, criminal justice, and computer science.
Yes, you can get your bachelor’s degree online. With the popularity of online degrees increasing, more and more colleges are using online platforms to educate students. Many colleges and universities are now making it convenient to earn your bachelor’s degree fully online if you wish to do so.
Most bachelor’s degrees are completed in 4 years at a traditional college. If you take accelerated classes full-time, you could complete your degree in less time, typically in 1 to 3 years.
Many online programs can be attended part-time. Attending part-time will increase the time it takes to complete your degree, but it can make it easier to fit your education around your work and personal commitments.
Yes, enrolling in an online degree completion program can be worth it. If other responsibilities have gotten in the way of finishing your education in the past, this may be the solution.
You no longer have to let a hectic work schedule, childcare needs, or other obligations get in the way of earning your degree. Many schools offer flexible online programs that can be completed at your own pace, faster than ever.
While completion programs provide a rich opportunity to finish a bachelor’s degree quickly, they aren’t for everyone.
Maybe it’s been years since you took basic courses and you no longer feel confident in your abilities, despite what your transcript says. If this is the case, a degree completion program might not be the right fit for you. Sometimes, starting again from scratch can be beneficial to your growth as a student and employee.
If this sounds like your situation, consider other online options like more traditional BS or BA degree programs, accelerated programs, or dual degree programs. This way, you can relearn that foundational knowledge before launching into your major.
Choosing what is right for you now is often more important and beneficial than going for what looks best and quickest on paper.
To review your options, utilize our “find my program” button below.