Top Fastest Online Degrees and Accredited Programs

A college degree can lead you to higher earnings and better career prospects — but earning one takes time.

If you can’t afford to spend four years in school, there are still plenty of faster ways for you to pursue a college degree. Many fully accredited programs offer accelerated online degrees that you can finish in half the time.

You can complete an accelerated online bachelor’s degree in just 2-3 years — and other accelerated degree types in even less time. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about accelerated degree programs.

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

An accelerated degree program is a condensed version of the program that lets you complete degree requirements in less time.

Many programs include more terms per year, which means you may have to study during the summer as well as during the spring and fall semesters. Some programs also have a higher course load, meaning you’ll be enrolled in more classes than a typical student and have more work at any given time.

It’s important to choose an accredited program when looking for an accelerated degree. Shady diploma mill scams may promise a degree that only takes weeks, but even accelerated programs still take time and effort to earn a degree.

Some schools also offer dual degree programs, allowing you to earn two degrees in a shortened amount of time. A number of schools offer 4+1 programs, allowing students to take graduate-level coursework and earn a master’s degree in just one year following their bachelor’s program.

Colleges offer accelerated degree programs at every level. Whether you’re looking to quickly earn an associate degree and head into the job market or get a master’s degree to boost your current career, there are accelerated degrees available.

Earning college credits outside of traditional education can help you earn your degree faster. Here are some fast ways to get additional credits toward your degree.

Several national testing programs offer affordable options to skip introductory college-level courses at some colleges. The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) both allow you to test out of intro courses and head right to advanced courses in your degree.

Each test is subject to institution-level policies, so make sure your school will accept the results and apply them to your degree.

Many schools take work or other previous experience into consideration to adjust your course load.

Military experience, in particular, can lead to accelerated options to finish your degree. If you’re a veteran or active-duty service member, the American Council on Education looks at your military record and applies relevant experience toward credits on your Joint Services Transcript (JST).

High school advanced placement courses prepare you for AP exams. A passing score on an AP exam can give you credits to apply toward lower-level college courses. A passing score for an AP exam ranges between 3-5, depending on the college.

Professional certifications and licenses can also count toward your degree, depending on the school you go to. State agencies, colleges and universities, vocational schools, and professional organizations offer certificates in a number of fields.

Some colleges also offer credit for working professionals who submit a professional portfolio. For schools that offer this kind of credit, job training and expertise are evaluated and applied to a degree program.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed May 3, 2024.