Key Takeaways
Accelerated online psychology degrees can help you graduate in just one to two years.
Not pursuing an accelerated psychology degree means more semesters, repeating classes you've already taken, and entering the field later.
Maximize the amount of transfer credits you bring in to save money and time finishing your degree.
Accelerated online psychology degrees can get you a four-year bachelor's degree in just one to two years with enough college credit. The most common accelerated degrees, called degree-completion programs, maximize the number of credits you can transfer to help you graduate faster.
You can also leverage your work and military experience as prior-learning credits, which count towards your degree, by taking assessments from your program.
We found 10 fast-track online psychology degrees that can help you graduate in just 1.5-2 years by utilizing your transfer credits.
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Note: The following programs may or may not offer accelerated options for degree-seeking students.
How Fast Can You Earn an Accelerated Online Psychology Degree?
The fastest accelerated online psychology degrees we found will take you around one to two years, but it largely depends on the transfer credits and credits you earn from prior learning, like work and military experience.
By bringing in 60-90 college credits, you can avoid an extra two to three years of study. If you're coming in with no credits, the fastest way to finish your degree is to find an accelerated term or self-paced program, which could potentially cut your time by almost half.
Fast-Track Online Psychology Degrees
These fast-track online degrees accelerate your program by maximizing the amount of transfer credits you can bring in. They're ideal for students looking to finish a bachelor's degree and have at least an associate degree's worth of credits (about 60).
| School | Program Length | Transfer Credits Required | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University, Channel Islands | 2 years | 60 | $525 |
| Eastern Illinois University | 2 years | 42 | $356 |
| Georgia State University | 2 years | 60 | $309 in-state; $1,030 out-of-state |
| Old Dominion University | 1-2+ years | N/A; up to 90 | $443 in-state; $453 out-of-state |
| San Francisco State University | 2 years | 60 | $495 |
| Texas State University | 1-2+ years | N/A; up to 90 | $407 |
| University of Kansas | 2+ years | Unspecified | $495 |
| The University of New Mexico | 2 years | 60-70 | $447 |
| University of Northern Colorado | 2 years | 60 recommended | $485 |
| University of Wisconsin Parkside | 2 years | 45 | $328 |
How Do Accelerated Online Psychology Degree Programs Work?
Accelerated programs can have different structures, allowing you to graduate quickly through transfer credits, condensed scheduling, competency assessments, and dual-degree credit. Each will benefit different students and provide flexible accommodations.
Degree-Completion Programs
Degree-completion programs are for students who have completed some college but didn't earn their degree. You'll likely need to apply to your program already holding an associate degree or having at least some transfer credits. Some, like Texas State's online psychology bachelor's program, will allow you to transfer up to 90 credits (about three-quarters of what you need to finish a bachelor's degree).
By taking a degree-completion program, you'll skip paying for and spending time in classes you've already taken.
Competency-Based Education
Competency-based programs are often designed for working professionals seeking degrees in their field. What you know turns into college credit.
You'll be assessed on what you've learned throughout your career to identify where you demonstrate mastery and skip content that you already know.
A good example is Western Governors University's competency-based online psychology degree, where you can apply college credit and professional certifications toward your degree. The program is also self-paced, so you can accelerate through the material you know and spend time on new subjects.
Accelerated Term Programs
Accelerated term programs don't typically require you to bring in any credits. Instead, they shorten your time to graduation by packing four years' worth of education into 2-3 years.
These can be intense, and some might require a pause from your career or working at least part-time since the workload can be demanding.
Self-Paced Programs
If you're looking to learn at your own pace, self-paced programs are asynchronous, allowing you to go as fast or as slow as you want.
Self-paced programs offer the most freedom to learn on your own schedule. Instead of going by a set term schedule, you'll be able to finish classwork and exams as slowly or quickly as you'd like. You will even be able to skip over sections you're confident in by taking an exam to prove your mastery.
Most programs work under a subscription model, where you'll pay to access classes over a few months, so the more you can finish in that time, the more money you'll save.
Dual-Degree Programs
The most common dual-degree programs pair two degrees that share many of the same credit requirements and work well together. This is different from a double major, which is a single degree; a dual degree results in two separate degrees.
As an undergraduate, you can find dual bachelor's degree programs (e.g., a BA in psychology with a BS in statistics) or a bachelor's-to-master's/professional degree program (e.g., a BS in economics and an MBA).
Dual bachelor's and master's degrees, called a 4+1, allow you to graduate with two degrees in five years instead of the traditional six to seven.
Three-Year Reduced Credit Programs
Three-year degrees, which reduce the traditional 120 credits required to complete a bachelor's to around 90, are becoming more popular nationwide as more accrediting bodies and states recognize their validity.
These degrees don't require transfer credits to enroll, nor do they accelerate the degree by condensing four years of work into three. Instead, they streamline the major and general education requirements into fewer, more career-relevant classes to allow students to graduate sooner.
Of the schools we've found, The Chicago School, George Fox University, and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota all offer online 90-credit bachelor's degrees in psychology.
How Much Do Accelerated Online Psychology Degrees Cost?
The average cost per credit hour for accelerated online psychology degrees on our list is:
$429 for in-state students
$502 for out-of-state students
Only two programs, Georgia State University and Old Dominion University, charged out-of-state tuition.
How much money you save within the program depends on the number of credits you're transferring. If you have most of the credits you need for a bachelor's degree, you'll want to choose a school that lets you bring in the maximum number possible so you don't have to pay for classes you've already taken.
For example, before financial aid, tuition for an in-state student bringing in 90 credits would be $12,868.80 compared to $25,737.60 for someone bringing in just 60 credits. If you were to start a new program outright at one of the colleges on our list, it would be an average of $51,475.20.
After financial aid, your cost could look much cheaper. Apply for financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to see what grants and scholarships you qualify for. Also, see if your employer will help pay tuition by reaching out to your HR representative.
Is an Accelerated Online Psychology Degree Right For You?
It depends on the type of accelerated degree program you take: degree-completion or accelerated term.
Degree-completion programs are very flexible and can fit a working adult's lifestyle. Most programs are asynchronous, so you can complete them after work. Some offer part-time enrollment, which takes longer but gives you a better chance to continue your career and lifestyle largely uninterrupted.
Accelerated-term programs work best for students who can pause their careers or, at most, work part-time. Since you'll be condensing coursework into a shorter timeframe, it will be intense and require your full attention. Some accelerated-term programs also strongly discourage working.
What Can You Do With an Accelerated Online Psychology Degree?
As a psychology bachelor's degree-holder, you're prepared to enter applied psychology and statistics fields like:
Marketing research
Human resources
Clinical research
Health education
But to enter clinical practice in fields like social work, mental health counseling, psychology, and psychiatry, you'll need at least a master's degree or a doctorate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast-Track Online Psychology Degrees
On our list, you can finish your online psychology degree in as little as one year at Old Dominion University and Texas State University.
Rather than condensing classes into shorter time frames, these programs let you transfer up to 90 credits (roughly 3/4 of what you need to finish a bachelor's degree).
