Degree how long

Step by step: How to get into a US university as an international student. Study International Staff. After years of hard work, graduation finally arrives. Link copied. So, just how long will it take you, from start to finish, to gain your degree? But if they will be for you, you might want to reconsider what you're willing to give up in order to get your degree faster. Getting a bachelor's degree in less time means not only following a strict schedule but also taking only the classes you need to take to get your degree.

Consequently, you'll very likely have fewer opportunities to take electives, that is, classes that are just for fun. Electives can enrich your college experience by allowing you to explore subjects you're interested in but have never had the chance to study in-depth. Without the time in your schedule to take any classes for fun, you might feel as though you've missed the chance to explore other intellectual interests you have outside your major.

Similar to the disadvantage above, if you're taking classes over the summer to get your bachelor's degree in less time, you won't have any time during the summer to focus on other things, such as internships and jobs. This can be a big drawback if you're hoping to get some work experience in your field before you graduate college. The trade-off here is whether you would rather graduate early with little to no work or internship experience or graduate at a normal or slightly slower pace with more professional experience.

Taking extra classes—whether it's during the school year, the summer, or both periods—usually means you'll need to pay more upfront for these classes. Most students in the US earn their bachelor's degrees in about four years of continuous full-time study excluding summers. That being said, many people are able to shorten this time frame to as few as three or even two years by planning ahead and taking advantage of certain opportunities.

Although you'll still need the minimum number of credits required to get your bachelor's degree usually semester credits or quarter credits , it is possible to accumulate this number of credits in a shorter amount of time. Before you get to work figuring out how you can shorten the time it'll take to get your bachelor's degree, take a moment to consider some of the drawbacks to following such a strict schedule.

Here are the four biggest disadvantages you'll want to think about before making any decisions:. Ultimately, whether or not you want to try to get a bachelor's degree in less time is completely up to you. Just make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into!

Not sure what you want to study in college? Get tips on how you can choose the best major for you , and learn about the benefits of double majoring if you're interested in more than one field. How much does college cost these days? Our expert guide goes over how much you can expect to pay for your undergraduate education and offers tips on how you can fork out less money.

You can also check out our guide to the cheapest out-of-state colleges. The majority of college applicants are high school seniors, and most of the college application advice out there is aimed at them. But what do you do if you don't fall into this narrow category? Our eBook on how to prepare for and apply to college as a nontraditional student will walk you through everything you need to know , from the coursework you should have under your belt to how to get letters of recommendation when you're not a high school senior.

She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Ask questions; get answers. How to Get a Perfect , by a Perfect Scorer.

Score on SAT Math. Score on SAT Reading. Score on SAT Writing. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? How to Get a Perfect 4. How to Write an Amazing College Essay. A Comprehensive Guide. Choose Your Test. What Is a Bachelor's Degree? Overview A bachelor's degree—also known as a baccalaureate—is an undergraduate degree bestowed by colleges and universities on people who have completed an academic program, typically lasting around four years.

Typically, though, you'll need to take the following types of classes to get a bachelor's degree: General Education classes: Normally, all bachelor's degree candidates must take these core classes, regardless of their majors. Exact requirements vary depending on the school. Major classes: These are the classes you must take to fulfill the requirements for your major and minor.

Usually, these may not overlap with the Gen Ed classes you're required to take. At the University of Michigan, for instance, those in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts must earn at least credits in the College but may earn the remaining 20 credits through a different college or department, such as the College of Engineering. Tip 1: Start Earning College Credit in High School One of the easiest ways to reduce the time it takes to get a bachelor's degree is to start in high school by taking AP tests , IB tests , and community college classes.

Tip 2: Choose a Major Early and Stick With It Knowing for sure what you want to major in will help streamline your bachelor's program and could even cut down the time it takes you to get your degree. Tip 4: Enroll in Summer Classes Many students earn their bachelor's degrees in four years of continuous full-time study, but this time frame doesn't include summer courses, which offer you an extra quarter or semester of credits.

Ball State University. Central State University. Grace College. Hartwick College. Newbury College. Regis College. Southern New Hampshire University. If you are looking for an undergraduate degree , you may want to get it done as fast as possible. If you are working while going to school, you can also choose to take more time to finish your degree while you work.

The speed of your education is up to you. Most students want to know how long a bachelor's degree will take. If you are taking a full load of classes online, a bachelor's degree will take about eight semesters, whether you're pursuing a business degree or a psychology degree.

Maybe you'd like to know how to become a nurse and how long that will take. In order to get your BSN , you should set aside at least four semesters, and make sure you have time for the hands-on clinical portion of the degree. Would you rather have a psychologist degree?

These classes will also require a hands-on internship. In fact, most bachelor degrees will require an internship in order to graduate, so you will want to consider that when you are planning for your BSN, business degree, or another type of bachelor degree.

When you're learning how to become a nurse, you will also want to make sure you plan to take licensing exams, such as the NCLEX.