Fast Online Degree-Completion Programs

Online degree-completion programs specifically cater to students who started but did not finish a four-year degree. The schools hosting these programs typically accept most or all of students’ previous credits, accelerating their path to graduation and reducing costs.

Find out why you may want to consider an online degree-completion program and how to choose one. Explore five majors popular with degree-completion students and discover answers to common questions about these unique programs.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Education experts widely consider business management one of the best college majors a student can pursue. According to the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University, business management majors could earn up to $3.4 million more in lifetime earnings than working professionals with low-paying degrees.

Business management degrees can open doors to appealing career paths, many offering above-average pay rates. They’re also highly versatile, with excellent cross-industry transferability.

Business management degree-holders may also find it easier to land jobs than other graduates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects more than 1 million annual openings in business management from 2023-2033.

Political science careers offer the opportunity to make a positive social impact while earning a high annual salary. A degree in the field can allow graduates to work in government, which accounted for more than 22.6 million jobs throughout the United States in 2023, according to BLS data.

A bachelor’s in political science also makes an excellent starting point if you aspire to become an attorney: Ohio Northeastern University ranks it the number one pre-law major. The BLS projects jobs for lawyers to grow by 5% between 2023-2033. These professionals earned a median annual salary of $145,760 as of May 2023.

A bachelor’s degree in accounting can open doors to multiple stable and lucrative roles with excellent growth projections, such as actuary and certified public accountant (CPA). The BLS projects 22% job growth for actuaries from 2023-2033. And, according to Payscale data from May 2024, CPAs earn an average of $98,000 per year.

Finance is another strong major choice. A four-year degree in finance can lead to multiple high-paying positions that require applicants to possess a bachelor’s degree. Examples include financial analyst, budget analyst, and personal financial advisor.

In 2022, Kiplinger published a data-driven analysis of the 25 top-paying college majors. Computer engineering and computer science occupied the top two spots, with computer-related occupations representing five of the remaining 23 slots.

Of the five majors profiled in this list, computer occupations have the highest average annual salary. Computer science graduates earn an average of $94,000 per year, according to Payscale data from May 2024. Other popular computer-related majors, like information technology and computer information systems, earned annual average salaries of $82,000 and $88,000, respectively. For peak versatility, consider a generalist degree in computer science. You can also opt for a high-demand specialization, such as information technology or information systems security.

Computer science-related majors also align well with multiple factors that students consider when choosing a college, including positive outcomes and high return on investment.

Many schools offer online degree-completion programs in communications, a field with strong relevance in a media-rich world. Communications majors may qualify for careers in advertising, journalism, marketing, public relations, media design, and many other dynamic, creativity-driven fields.

According to BLS data, media and communications professionals earn a median annual wage of $53,850 in May 2023.

Our ranking of online degree-completion programs was determined using a weighted average of five factors students say they care about when choosing a college. According to a 2023 BestColleges report, students care about median annual student budget minus aid except loans, tuition and fees paid, in-person requirements, projected openings each year, and average annual salary. Twelve fields of study were scored.

Sources include the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Data Lab, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and Payscale. The median annual cost minus aid except loans was taken from the NCES Data Lab. Projected openings each year were sourced from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Payscale provided the average annual salaries.

Some data points were applied to more than one major because of how government data sources like the BLS and NCES categorize their data.

In-person requirements were determined using the programmatic accreditation standards for each subject. Majors that require students to complete in-person practical experience as a graduation requirement from an accredited program were considered to have in-person requirements. Students in other majors may still find programs that offer hybrid programs with some in-person requirements.

Many accredited schools offer online degree-completion programs, and choosing the right option can be challenging. First, consider whether this learning path is right for you. If you proceed, consider these high-value factors to help guide your school choice:

When choosing a degree-completion program, ensure you meet the school’s admissions requirements so you don’t waste time completing the application and money on a nonrefundable application fee. Choosing a relevant, marketable major can help you maximize the time and money you spend completing your degree.

Finally, consider the transferability of your existing credits. Some schools have more inclusive transfer credit policies than others. Making the most of your existing coursework can speed up your graduation timeline while reducing your schooling costs.