Online 2-Year Bachelor’s Degree Guide

Discover the top strategies for earning your bachelor's degree in two years or less, including online programs, transfer credits, and accelerated courses.
By
portrait of Margaret Weinhold
Margaret Weinhold
Read Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Margaret Weinhold is an associate editor for BestColleges, where she focuses on core content. She is passionate about increasing visibility and accessibility around higher education. Margaret holds a BA in English from the University of Virginia....
Updated on April 10, 2024
Edited by
portrait of Raneem Taleb-Agha
Raneem Taleb-Agha
Read Full Bio

Editor

Raneem Taleb-Agha is a copy editor for BestColleges. Previously, she worked as a bilingual educator in both the U.S. and Spain before transitioning to editing and writing. She holds a BA in Spanish and Near Eastern Studies from UC Berkeley....
Learn more about our editorial process

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.


Portions of the following article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by multiple members of our editorial team prior to publishing.


Are you on the hunt for a bachelor's degree you can complete in just two years? Well, technically, schools don't offer that.

But it's not impossible to do, either: Accelerated online programs are the secret to earning your diploma in record time. They offer flexible scheduling, shorter courses, and a super-intensive pace for students like you — students who don't have any time to waste.

But buckle up: The fastest route to your goals may not always be the easiest. Cramming four years of curriculum into just two years isn't for the faint of heart. If you're gonna pull it off, you'll need to be strategic.

Featured Online Bachelor's Degrees

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

How Can You Get a Bachelor's Degree in 2 Years or Less?

As daunting as it may seem, earning your bachelor's degree in two years or less is entirely feasible. It just takes careful planning, a bit of strategic thinking, and a lot of dedication.

You'll need to consider factors like the type of program you enroll in, how you manage your time, and whether you can leverage any existing college credits. But don't worry: We're here to guide you through it all.

Five Ways to Reduce the Time It Takes to Earn Your Degree

  1. Find an Online School That Offers an Accelerated Program
  2. Use Transfer Credits
  3. Complete a BA Degree-Completion Program
  4. Earn College Credit in High School
  5. Choose Accelerated Courses

5 Ways to Earn Your Bachelor's Degree in 2 Years

There are several strategies you can take to earn your bachelor's degree in two years or less. Here are five ways to fast-track your degree:

1. Find an Online School That Offers an Accelerated Program

Online schools often offer accelerated programs designed to help you graduate quickly. These programs condense traditional four-year bachelor's degree curriculums into shorter time frames, allowing you to earn your degree in two to three years.

They are intensive and require a serious time commitment, but the flexibility of online learning allows you to fit your coursework into your existing schedule.

If you want to graduate fast and get a job quickly, make sure to:

  • Pick schools with accredited programs.
  • Find a program with a good reputation for the subject you're interested in.
  • Prioritize schools that have good student outcomes.
  • Choose programs with engaged faculty members who have real-world experience and industry connections.

2. Use Transfer Credits

Another effective way to reduce the time it takes to earn your bachelor's degree is to utilize transfer credits. If you've previously completed college courses, or if you've earned an associate degree, you may be able to transfer these credits toward your bachelor's degree.

This means you can skip classes you've already taken, saving you both time and money. In addition, many online schools have generous credit transfer policies, allowing you to maximize the credits you've already earned.

3. Complete a BA Degree-Completion Program

BA degree-completion programs are designed for students who have already earned some college credits but have not yet completed their bachelor's degree.

These programs allow you to apply the credits you've already earned toward your degree, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to graduate. Plus, many of these programs offer flexible learning options so that you can balance your studies with your other responsibilities.

4. Earn College Credit in High School

Earning college credit in high school can also help you get your bachelor's degree faster. There are two primary ways to do that.

  • Advanced Placement Courses: AP courses allow high school students to experience a rigorous level of coursework and explore academic interest areas more deeply. If you perform well on your AP exams, you can earn college credit and bypass some general education requirements.
  • Dual Enrollment: Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to take college courses from a nearby institution to earn high school and college credit. These programs are a great way to speed up your college degree timeline before you've even graduated high school.

5. Choose Accelerated Courses

Accelerated courses are another excellent way to speed up your path to a bachelor's degree. These courses condense a semester's worth of material into a shorter period, allowing you to earn the same number of credits in less time.

They are intensive and require a significant time commitment, but the payoff is worth it: You can earn your degree faster and start your career sooner.

Courses are condensed into much shorter time frames, including:

Frequently Asked Questions About Two-Year Bachelor's Degrees

Is getting a bachelor's degree in two years hard?

Chevron Down

Getting a degree in just two years will require careful planning, determination, and grit. Many students will find it hard to juggle a heavy course load and accelerated curriculum. But picking a major that feels interesting to you can lighten the burden.

How quickly can you earn your bachelor's degree?

Chevron Down

Typically, accelerated bachelor's programs take three years to complete. But you may be able to reduce it to two years if you use transfer credits, take accelerated courses, or enroll in a degree-completion program.

What is the easiest two-year bachelor's degree you can get?

Chevron Down

Research shows that the easiest college major is usually the one you're most interested in. That is, you find the subject both mentally stimulating and worthy of long-term studying.

Some of the most popular college majors include business, psychology, and communication.

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Compare Your School Options

View the most relevant schools for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to finding your college home.