If you want to get your degree, but you’re worried about time and money, consider accelerated degree programs online. These types of programs offer a number of benefits for those who aren’t sure they can meet the time and financial requirements of traditional degree programs.
On top of being able to do your studies from home, these accelerated online programs often cost less than what you’d pay for a classroom learning experience.
Get college credit without taking the class!
And as an added bonus, a number of accredited universities will even allow you to earn college credit for what you already know, without taking the class. For example, I was able to receive 18 credit hours towards my degree, the equivalent of 6 classes. This type of accelerated learning is covered later in this article.
Types of Accelerated Degree Programs Online
Obviously, no two accelerated degree programs online are going to be the same. They will vary based on each school. In some instances, a degree program may be completed entirely through accelerated classes. In other instances, a college will offer an accelerated degree through a program meant to get you from a certain educational standing (such as having your bachelor’s degree already) to another (such as earning your master’s degree).
Accelerated classes
Why spend 16 weeks in a class when you can finish in just 8 weeks?
Accelerated courses offer a number of advantages for busy adult students. Accelerated classes are usually completed within an eight week period, although some may cover a span of just five to six weeks. What this means for students is that you won’t be required to attend a traditional campus class for a 16 week span. Instead, you can complete the class from home in half the time.
Accredited universities offering accelerated 8-week classes online:
Post University
Liberty University
Walden University
Accelerated classes offered in this manner allow students to take on a full course load with just two classes completed within the relatively short window of eight weeks. With many colleges offering six semesters per year, it equates to 36 credit hours of classes overall. Having only to take two at a time, however, makes it easier for you to work toward your degree without having to worry about commuting or sacrificing time away from your family or your job.
Accelerated degrees
Some universities have accelerated degree programs online in place that are intended to get you from where you already stand to your final goal in as short amount of time as possible. For example, if you are already a registered nurse (RN) and you’re interested in earning your Bachelor’s of Science in nursing, some schools offer an accelerated RN to BSN program. This particular type of accelerated degree will permit you to learn at either a part-time or full-time pace, without having to sacrifice time off from work or away from your family.
Programs like the accelerated RN to BSN focus on helping people with an associate’s degree earn their bachelor’s degree in a far shorter amount of time. Generally, these types of accelerated degree programs online will span a one-year period. With the RN to BSN online accelerated program, for example, one year to earn a degree is less than half the time it would take going the traditional campus route.
Degree Completion Programs
Degree completion programs are accelerated programs which require you to already have existing credit hours. Some degree completion programs require you to have 30 credit hours, others 60 credit hours, while some require you to have attained your associate’s degree, but this is the exception, not the rule.
Like most other accelerated degree programs online, degree completion programs offer structured and concentrated courses that allow you to progress far more quickly through your classes than you would in a traditional campus setting. With some degree completion programs, for example, you can earn your undergraduate degree in only two years without ever stepping foot on campus. Courses offered in accelerated degree completion programs generally span an eight-week period with five academic semesters a year.
Earning College Credit Without Taking Classes
There are several ways that students can earn college credit without actually participating in a class. These methods of earning credit are very beneficial when combined with accelerated degree programs online. Many students may not even be aware that they qualify for this type of academic credit, which is why it’s so important to do your homework before you decide to enroll.
College Credit for Prior Learning – Also known as “credit for work experience” or “credit for life experience”
Credit for prior learning: if you’ve already completed some education, training, or work experience, you may qualify for out-of-classroom credit hours. Each university awards this credit differently depending on a set list of qualifications needed for credit. Some of these qualifications may include:
Credit for work experience
You may qualify for credit hours depending on what you do or have done for a living.
Some examples of work experience that can grant credit include:
RN and LPN Certifications: if you have either your LPN or RN certification, you may qualify for a certain amount of credit hours. A copy of your transcripts and your license will be required in order to validate this.
Military training and service: many colleges award credit based on military training and service. In order to ascertain how many credit hours you qualify for, you will be required to submit an official military transcript so that military credit can be evaluated. Military credit can be granted regardless of the branch you served in.
Real estate license: credit is granted to students with a real estate license or a broker’s license. The license must be state-issued and current. With most schools, a photocopy of the license will be sufficient for credit evaluation.
EMT (emergency medical technician): If you’re an EMT, you may be eligible to receive credit. Credit hours awarded will vary on the number of hours stated on your certificate.
Credit for life experience
Earning credit for life experience varies widely when comparing colleges offering accelerated degree programs online.
Examples of life experience may include things like learning another language, time spent abroad, having spent extensive time within a certain field or a particular business environment.
You may not wish to spend time in a classroom learning what you already know. Volunteer and community involvement, hobbies and careers should all be explored as possible ways to earn credit hours. In some circumstances, a student may have to “challenge” a course to prove that they already possess an above satisfactory understanding of the material.
Areas that may grant you life experience credit include:
Pilot’s license: some post-secondary institutions may regard having a valid pilot’s license as a form of life experience and will grant you a certain amount of credit hours.
International baccalaureate: many schools will take credit from international baccalaureate coursework that has been completed successfully. The amount of credit granted will vary depending on whether you’ve completed the standard or higher course levels.
StraighterLine: StraighterLine offers courses in the field of general education that are usually covered within the first two years of a university degree plan. These courses are recognized as being the equivalent to college credit at a large number of post-secondary institutions.
Earning college credit by examination
Ever wonder how to earn college credit by just taking an exam? You’re not alone. The good news is, nearly all accredited colleges and universities allow you to test out of certain classes.
When I was earning my Bachelor’s in Business Administration, I was able to earn 18 credit hours by testing out of the classes. I earned 6 hours of science credit by sitting for one 90-minute CLEP examination. This satisfied the entire science requirement for my degree! I also was able to earn credit for an introductory computer requirement, two American Literature classes and a public speaking class (yes, I was able to test out of speech!).
Each university has its own testing requirements, but the most widely known and accepted are CLEP exams, DANTES / DSST exams, and institutional exams (institution-specific exams offered by your university for a specific class).
CLEP
The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is one of the most trusted and used national testing programs in North America and is accepted by nearly 3,000 universities.
There currently 33 CLEP exams available to new students, returning students, members of the military, and students already attending college in a broad range of subjects such as history, literature, science, business, economics, foreign languages, composition, and so on.
DANTES / DSST
DANTES is a national testing program meant to assist both members and veterans of the military expand their educational horizons. That being said, here’s a little known fact: anyone can take a DANTES exam, not just vets!
Like CLEP exams, DANTES exams cover a wide-range of topics and allow for college credit to be earned for a number of core classes at most universities.
Comparing Accelerated Degree Programs Online
If you’re seriously considering enrolling in an online degree program, you’re going to want to receive the highest quality of education from an accredited institute. For this reason, it’s important to take the time to do your research and compare the benefits offered and the possible disadvantages.
Some factors to consider include:
Financial aid: post-secondary education is not cheap. For this reason, many students struggle with the cost. If you’re uncertain about whether or not you can afford tuition fees, it’s advisable to see if the university offers financial aid. The majority of accredited college and universities, including online programs, offer both Federal financial aid programs and institutional scholarships for those who qualify.
Program length: students choose to enroll in accelerated online degree programs because it allows them to reach their goal more quickly than traditional programs do. However, that amount of time may vary depending on the school and the field of study. The exact duration of the program is important to know beforehand so you can plan accordingly.
Course elements: while most online accelerated degree programs are entirely online, others are not. You may be required to participate in some classroom elements throughout the course. If commuting is an issue for you, you’ll want to be aware of any elements that dictate you be on campus.
Admission and transfer requirements: earning credit hours is key to earning your degree quickly, so you’ll want to be aware of any transfer requirements that may net you extra credit. Any courses or exams you’ve taken may qualify you for credit, so make a point of finding out if you qualify. Additionally, admission into accelerated online degree programs may have some requirements concerning prior learning or work experience.
Recognizing the Best Online Schools
It can be tough to figure out which schools offering online degree programs are legitimate and which are not. The most obvious thing to check is the school’s accreditation. The best degree programs should always be accredited from regional or national accrediting institutions. In turn, the U.S. Department of Education must recognize these institutions. Factors that you should consider when choosing a university include:
The history: the older a post-secondary institution is, the more established it will be. Older schools often possess several accreditations and may even have more than one campus.
The credentials of the faculty: a school with faculty members that have an impressive array of credentials is a school that will provide you with the best and most comprehensive tutelage.
Resources: even if you’ll be taking one of the accelerated online degree programs offered, it’s important to choose a school with a plethora of student resources. For example, you may need to do independent study at some point, in which case, a good campus library will be hugely beneficial.
Understanding Accreditation
Accreditation is enormously important, which is why it’s crucial you understand how it applies to any online degree program that you are considering taking.
The two most important factors to note about accreditation include:
Legitimacy of accelerated online degree programs: it’s common to wonder whether or not the online course you’re taking is considered to be legitimate. You need to ensure that both the program and the school are accredited. Taking an accredited program from a school that has no respectable accreditation means that employers may regard your degree and education as less valid. In turn, you may be regarded as being under-qualified even if you do have a degree.
The facts about accreditation: Accreditation gives a school or program the status of being nationally or regionally recognized as educationally suitable and delivering the highest quality education to students. Once given, accreditation is not permanent. Schools remain accredited for a number of years before they are required to undergo rigorous appraisal and evaluation by accrediting institutions to determine they still are up to standard.
Regional and National Accreditation
There are two types of accreditation: regional and national. Schools that are regionally accredited tend to have a strong focus on academia and are generally non-profit. Schools that are nationally accredited often tend to focus more on career, vocational, and technical programs.
The six regional accreditors in the U.S. include:
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Middles States Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Schools
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
There are far more national accreditors than there are regional. Some national accreditors are even recognized worldwide.
Some national accreditors include:
American Bar Association
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association for Biblical Higher Education
American Dental Association
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
Distance Education and Training Council
Making the Right College Choice
Ultimately, the only person who can decide if enrolling in an accelerated online degree program is the right thing to do is you. Carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages. If you’ve already got a job and are raising a family, an online accelerated program can allow you to learn from home and still have time to devote to your priorities. Pursuing your degree doesn’t mean you have to step away from all the other important obligations in your life.
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