Online Degree Completion Programs Guide
Key Takeaways
- Online degree-completion programs let students with prior credits finish their bachelor’s in about two years or less.
- These programs offer flexible formats and lower costs, ideal for adults balancing work, parenting, or a career change.
- Graduates can qualify for in-demand jobs in business, tech, healthcare, and more, with salaries often above $80K.
It’s never too late to finish your degree. If you went to college but didn’t complete your program, plenty of online options can get you across the finish line.
Online degree completion programs are designed for adults who went to college but didn’t finish their associate or bachelor’s degrees. They’re built around flexibility to help you balance work, family, and school, with most offering asynchronous courses that you can complete on your own time.
“Many students return to school to earn a bachelor’s degree after earning their associate degree, which could lead to promotions. For example, this investment might help an assistant manager become a manager,” said Norma Feriz-Gordon, a state-certified professional school counselor who has helped thousands of students navigate higher education.
What Is an Online Degree Completion Program?
If you want to complete your degree after some time away from college, an online degree completion program might be the best option.
A traditional bachelor’s degree takes about four years to complete. However, degree completion programs let you transfer in your credits from previous college courses — cutting the time and number of courses needed to graduate.
To see how many credits you’ve earned, request an official transcript from your previous college(s). Your prospective college will tell you how many credits it will accept. Most degree completion programs typically accept up to 90 credits, or about three years’ worth.
10 Colleges Offering Online Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs
Fayetteville State University
In-state tuition: $42 per credit hour
Out-of-state tuition: $104 per credit hour
Fayetteville State offers 15 online degree completion programs in high-demand fields like computer science, nursing, criminal justice, and psychology.
If you’re over 21, you need to have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher on courses already attempted and be eligible to return to the last institution you attended. If you’re under 21 and don’t have an associate degree, you must meet those same requirements and have at least 24 credits.
East Carolina University
Flight Path Program Tuition: $398 per credit hour
ECU’s Flight Path Programs provide students one-on-one coaching and a 24/7 tech support line. The four degree completion programs in psychology, security studies, information technology (IT) and cybersecurity, and criminal justice are designed to maximize your transfer credits so that you can graduate as soon as possible.
ECU also offers other degree completion programs outside of Flight Path programs in eight fields.
Georgia State University
In-state tuition: $306 per credit hour
Out-of-state tuition: $694 per credit hour
Georgia State offers seven online degree completion programs in subjects like finance, management, marketing, political science, and psychology. To qualify, you must have an associate degree or 60 credit hours (half of a bachelor’s degree).
Northeastern University
Tuition: $560 per credit hour
Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies offers 10 online bachelor’s degree completion programs in fields such as manufacturing, analytics, healthcare, IT, management, psychology, and more.
The College of Professional Studies and Lowell Institute also offer three need- and merit-based scholarships for students transferring credits into Northeastern programs.
California State University System
Tuition: Varies by institution
The CSU system lists online degree completion programs across its system schools. These schools may have different requirements and tuition for degree completion, so choose the program and school that best fits your needs.
Some examples are San Jose State University’s economics degree, California State University, Chico’s religious studies and social science programs, California State University, Fullerton’s humanities and social sciences, and California State University, Monterey Bay’s computer science degree.
Boston University
Tuition: Projected $15,720 (varies by credits transferred)
Boston University offers a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies to get you over the finish line with a broad understanding of liberal arts, humanities, computer science, and natural sciences.
You must come in with 40-80 credits and have work or life experience indicating “maturity and appropriate motivation.”
University of Virginia
Tuition: $499 per credit hour
UVA’s two degree completion programs are ideal for those wanting to grow in their career by holding a bachelor’s degree through the interdisciplinary studies program and for those looking to grow in healthcare leadership through the professional studies in health sciences management program.
You can transfer up to 60 credits to your program.
University of Oklahoma
Tuition: $515 per credit hour
The university’s degree completion programs span business, management, criminal justice, and education. Some programs require you to transfer just 24 credit hours, while others are designed for students who have at least 60 credits and are over 25 years old or five years out of high school or a GED program.
Students can bring up to 90 credit hours into the programs and need to commit about 10-20 hours a week to their studies.
University of Kentucky
Tuition: $654 per credit hour
At the University of Kentucky, you won’t have to attend class at a particular time — you can complete courses for your online degree completion program at any point during the day. You’ll also have access to support and coaching services.
There is no threshold for the number of credits you must earn before qualifying for the four programs in agriculture, general business, liberal studies, and U.S. culture and business practices.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
In-state tuition: $159 per credit hour
Out-of-state tuition: $318 per credit hour
UNC Charlotte has nine online bachelor’s degree completion programs ranging from 30-120 credits. If you decide to do the registered nurse-to-bachelor of science in nursing (RN-BSN) program, you can join Sigma Theta Tau International, the nursing honor society.
How Long Do Degree Completion Programs Take?
Typical # of Credits
30-90 credits
Typical Program Length
2 years
Degree completion programs typically range from 30 credits to 90 credits. A bachelor’s degree typically requires 120 credit hours, and a degree completion program fills in the remaining credits you need to graduate after what you’ve already earned.
So, how long a degree completion program will take depends on your past credits and the instruction method. Most programs allow you to work asynchronously, giving you the flexibility to complete homework and watch lectures on your own time and at your own pace. However, not all programs are the same, so ask an advisor or search the college’s website.
Feriz-Gordon recommends communicating with your employer, family, and friends about your goals.
“You might need a more flexible schedule or support with childcare, transportation, or other family responsibilities.”
How Much Do Online Degree Completion Programs Cost?
An online degree program’s cost varies depending on how many transfer credits you bring into the program. Based on this list, most programs will charge you per credit, typically between $100 and $600, with some programs costing more or less.
However, the sticker price you see isn’t often what you pay. Financial aid can lower your costs if you qualify. You’ll also need to factor in other course materials.
“Don’t forget to apply for financial aid and budget for books, tech, and other materials,” Feriz-Gordon said.
To see how much assistance you can get, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). From there, your school will send you a financial aid package with grants and scholarships, which you don’t have to pay back, as well as federal student loans, which will need to be paid back.
Find Financial Aid for Your Degree Completion Program
Is an Online Degree Completion Program Worth It?
Getting your bachelor’s degree may help you achieve higher growth potential in your career and salary.
“Employers may consider raises based on education and specific degrees,” Feriz-Gordon said. “Some government agencies rank their roles based on education, which is directly tied to predetermined pay scales.”
The National Center for Education Statistics found in 2022 that bachelor’s degree-holders, ages 25-34, made about $17,000 more ($66,600) a year than associate degree-holders ($49,500).
An online degree completion program can help you reach a higher return on investment than a traditional on-campus degree program since you can take it at your own pace, pay per credit, and avoid on-campus fees and costs.
Most online graduates (90%) told BestColleges in our 2025 Online Education Trends Report that their degree has had or will have a positive return on investment. Even more students, grads, and prospective students (98%) would recommend an online education to others.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Degree Completion Programs
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