Fast Online Bachelor’s Degrees Guide

What are the fastest online degrees? Learn more about popular accelerated programs and the pros and cons of fast online degrees.
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An award-winning historian and writer, Genevieve Carlton, Ph.D., has published multiple scholarly articles and a book with the University of Chicago Press. She currently works as a writer and consultant. She holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern...
Updated on December 21, 2023
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Tyler Epps is an editor for BestColleges. He writes and edits content about higher education, specializing in degree planning and college rankings. He is passionate about helping students prepare for college and navigate their educational journey. He...
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  • Fast online degrees take less time than a traditional bachelor's program.
  • By choosing a quick online degree, you can graduate faster and enter the job market.
  • Popular accelerated programs include majors in business, the liberal arts, healthcare, and education.

Did you know that the fastest online degrees can shave months off your time in college? With an accelerated program, you can graduate sooner.

Instead of spending four or more years on a bachelor's degree, you can enter the workforce and put your degree to work quickly.

Ready to learn more about fast online degrees? We'll cover popular accelerated programs so you can earn your degree online in less time.

Popular Accelerated Online Degree Programs

Want to know how to get an accelerated degree? Before you apply, you'll need to choose a major. Some of the most popular, fastest online degrees include business, healthcare, tech, and education programs.

Continue reading to learn more about popular accelerated online bachelor's degree programs.

It's time to pick your program. So learn more about fast-track bachelor's degrees —and your career options and earning potential after graduation.

Featured Online Bachelor's Degrees

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

1. Accounting

During an accelerated bachelor's in accounting, you'll learn how to create and audit financial documents. With an accounting degree, you'll qualify for jobs as an accountant, auditor, or other specialized accounting careers.

And graduating fast can pay off — accountants reported a median pay of $77,250, according to May 2021 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Featured Online Accounting Programs

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

2. Advertising

Blend business and creative skills with an advertising degree. You'll learn how to design and implement advertising campaigns. Plus, you'll build communication and analytical skills. The degree can lead to careers in advertising sales, digital advertising, and marketing. Or you can work in related fields like public relations or sales.

Featured Online Advertising Programs

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

3. Art and Art History

Explore the fine arts and its history with an accelerated art or art history degree. You'll examine technique, artistic movements, and the business side of art with quick online art degrees.

Then, check out art history careers in museums, art education, and galleries. Or you can work as a fine artist — artists earn a median pay of $49,960 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Art and Art History Programs

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

4. Business Administration (BBA)

Interested in business careers? Then consider a business administration bachelor's degree. You'll take core classes in marketing, accounting, and finance. With a bachelor's degree, you can become a project management specialist, management analyst, or financial analyst. These careers report median annual salaries of over $90,000 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Business Administration Programs

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

5. Business Management

Hone your leadership skills with an accelerated business management degree. You'll study organizational change, strategic decision-making, and entrepreneurship as a business management major. High-paying business management careers can put your degree to work. For example, management analysts earn a median pay of $93,000 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Business Management Programs

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

6. Communication

When it comes to the fastest online degrees, communication is a popular choice. You can expect to learn about interpersonal communications, technical writing, and journalism in a bachelor's in communication program.

The top communication careers include public relations specialist, marketing communications specialist, technical writer, and content writer.

Featured Online Communication Programs

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

7. Computer Science

Tech skills are in demand. You can earn your computer science degree from an accelerated online program to gain programming, analytical, and network administration skills.

You'll qualify for high-paying computer science jobs like software developer and network architect. How much can you earn? Software developers report a median annual pay of $109,020 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Computer Science Programs

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

8. Counseling

Build counseling and interpersonal skills with a bachelor's in counseling. Online accelerated programs cover topics like the human services system, mental health counseling, and child development.

You'll qualify for roles like addiction counselor or behavioral disorder counselor with a bachelor's degree. Many other counseling careers require a graduate degree.

Featured Online Counseling Programs

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

9. Criminal Justice

Prepare for a law enforcement career with a criminal justice degree. You'll study criminology, criminal law, and the corrections system while earning a quick online degree. Then, you can look for jobs as a police officer, detective, or probation officer.

Or you can explore other criminal justice career paths. Keep in mind that a bachelor's degree meets the requirement for federal law enforcement jobs.

Featured Online Criminal Justice Programs

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

10. Cybersecurity

Cyberattacks are on the rise. And a cybersecurity degree can prepare you for high-paying careers in information security. Earn an online fast degree in cybersecurity to learn how to detect and prevent security breaches.

After graduation, you'll qualify for network security jobs like information security analyst. The job title reports a median pay of over $102,000 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Cybersecurity Programs

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

11. Education

You can become a teacher, preschool director, or child development specialist with an accelerated bachelor's in education. You'll learn about instructional approaches, assessment methods, and classroom management.

With this degree, you can become a teacher or work in other education careers. And many online fast degrees in education meet the requirements for a teaching license.

Featured Online Education Programs

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

12. Finance

Want to work in a high-paying field? If you've got strong analytical skills, consider a finance bachelor's degree. An accelerated program will cover topics like asset management, risk analysis, and financial management.

After graduation, you can work in finance jobs like financial analyst, which reports a median annual salary of over $95,000 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Finance Programs

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

13. Graphic Design

Level up your creative skills with a graphic design degree. Fast online degrees in graphic design cover branding, user interface design, and motion graphics. You'll also learn industry-standard software like the Adobe suite.

After graduation, you'll qualify for graphic design careers. Graphic designers make a median salary of over $50,000 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Graphic Design Programs

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

14. Healthcare Administration

Prepare for in-demand roles in the healthcare industry with a healthcare administration degree. In an accelerated program, you'll learn how to manage healthcare departments, create staffing schedules, and oversee day-to-day operations.

You'll qualify for healthcare administration careers like medical billing specialist, hospital administrator, or nursing home administrator.

Featured Online Healthcare Administration Programs

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

15. Healthcare Management

You can apply your management skills in the healthcare field with a degree in healthcare management. You'll learn about healthcare policy, finance in the healthcare industry, and health information management.

Then, you can look for healthcare management jobs like healthcare operations manager and healthcare finance manager. Medical and health services managers report a six-figure median salary of $101,340 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Healthcare Management Programs

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

16. History

Explore the past with an accelerated history degree. You'll build critical thinking, writing, and research skills while learning about U.S. history, international relations, and military history.

After completing a fast online degree in history, you'll qualify for history careers in government, education, the legal field, and business. Or you can use your analytical skills in grad school.

Featured Online History Programs

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

17. Human Resources

Work in recruiting, training, or labor relations with a bachelor's degree in human resources. You'll learn about compensation research, employment law, and workforce development during your degree.

After graduating with a fast online HR degree, you can apply for human resources jobs. For example, human resources specialists earn a median yearly pay of $62,290 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Human Resources Programs

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

18. Human Services

Human services careers require interpersonal skills and compassion. Learn how to help individuals and groups with a human services degree.

You'll learn about public policy while developing advocacy and case management skills. With your degree, you can work in social work or counseling roles. Or you can become a health educator or correctional treatment specialist.

Featured Online Human Services Programs

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

19. Information Technology

Information technology is a popular major that leads to high-paying tech careers. With a bachelor's in information technology, you can work in information security, database management, or network administration.

You'll also learn about the business side of tech during your degree, leading to careers as a systems administrator or systems analyst.

Featured Online Information Technology Programs

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

20. International Business

Take your business degree global with a bachelor's in international business. You'll learn about the global financial system and international business strategy. Many online programs incorporate international internships to gain hands-on skills. You can look for international business jobs like international trade specialist or supply chain manager.

Featured Online International Business Programs

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

21. Liberal Arts

A flexible, interdisciplinary degree, a bachelor's in liberal arts can also be one of the fastest online degrees. Since you can apply transfer credits from almost any discipline toward a liberal arts degree, you can graduate faster.

Then, you can look into liberal arts careers that use your critical thinking and communication skills, like public relations specialist or human resources specialist.

Featured Online Liberal Arts Programs

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

22. Marketing

Sharpen your research and analytical skills with a marketing bachelor's degree. During an accelerated program, you'll learn how to analyze competitors, research new products, and evaluate marketing plans.

You'll qualify for titles like market research analyst and other marketing careers. In addition to a median annual salary of nearly $64,000, market research analysts benefit from a much-faster-than-average projected job growth rate (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Marketing Programs

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

23. Nursing (BSN)

Specialize your nursing skills with a BSN degree. The flexible format of a fast online nursing degree means you can work while in school. With a BSN, you'll qualify for in-demand nursing careers like operating room nurse and RN supervisor. Or you can prepare for MSN programs by completing your BSN in less time.

Featured Online Nursing Programs

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

24. Project Management

Learn how to lead teams and complete projects on time and under budget with a project management degree. You'll strengthen organizational and leadership skills as you study business operations.

And project management careers report above-average salaries. Project management specialists earn a median salary of $94,500 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Project Management Programs

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

25. Psychology

Explore social behavior and mental health disorders with a psychology degree. This popular major covers topics like abnormal psychology, human development, and neuropsychology.

After graduation, you can pursue psychology careers in research, social services, or business fields. Or you can apply to grad school to continue your journey to psychologist jobs.

Featured Online Psychology Programs

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

26. Public Health

Develop health education and research skills with a bachelor's in public health. You'll study epidemiology, public health policy, and community health during your fast online degree. With a public health degree, you can work as a health educator, public health program coordinator, or community health worker.

Featured Online Public Health Programs

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

27. Public Relations

Learn how to craft media strategies and build a positive brand reputation as a public relations major. During an accelerated bachelor's in public relations, you'll strengthen communication and messaging skills.

After graduation, you can apply for public relations jobs like PR specialist. Public relations specialists report a median salary of $62,800 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Public Relations Programs

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

28. Radiology

You'll learn how to operate high-tech equipment to detect diseases as a radiology major. In radiology technology programs, you'll study human anatomy, diagnostic medical image production, and safety procedures.

Healthcare careers in radiology report above-average salaries. Radiology techs earn median salaries of nearly $62,000 per year (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Radiology Programs

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

29. Social Work

Want to advocate for underrepresented communities and assist families seeking social services? Then a bachelor's in social work might be the fastest online degree for you.

You'll strengthen casework, social justice, and advocacy skills as a social work major. Then, you can apply for social work jobs like nonclinical social worker or case manager.

Featured Online Social Work Programs

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

30. Web Development

Build websites and integrate interactive web elements with a bachelor's in web development. You'll learn programming languages like JavaScript while strengthening front-end and back-end development skills.

You can use your degree to apply for web development jobs. Web developers benefit from much-faster-than-average projected job growth and a median salary of over $78,000 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Web Development Programs

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

31. Writing

Always dreamed of becoming a writer? Then consider an accelerated online writing degree. You'll study creative writing, business writing, and editing as a writing major.

With strong writing skills, you can pursue writing careers and work as an editor, content writer, author, or technical writer. Writers and authors make a median annual salary of over $69,000 (BLS, May 2021).

Featured Online Writing Programs

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

Four Ways to Earn a Degree in Less Time

Want to graduate quickly? Here are four ways to speed up your path to graduation day.

  1. Choose accelerated classes that use a 4-8 week term instead of semester-long terms.
  2. Enroll in an accelerated program that offers classes year-round to maximize your credits.
  3. Research transfer credit and credit by exam policies to check off graduation requirements quickly.
  4. Receive credit for work or life experience, including credit for military service.

Accelerated Bachelor's Degree Programs

Accelerated programs fast track your education. Depending on the program, you might take classes on an accelerated term or attend college year-round. Both options mean you'll earn more than the typical 30 credits in a year. That also means you'll be closer to graduation day after one year.

The fastest online bachelor's programs can even cut 1-2 years off the time you'll spend as an undergrad. After graduating quickly, you can focus on your career or grad school goals.

Pros of Accelerated Programs

What are the pros of fast online degrees? In addition to graduating sooner, you'll see other benefits.

Earn Your Degree Faster

BLS statistics from 2021 show that bachelor's degree-holders out-earn those with only associate degrees, those with some college schooling, and those with only a high school diploma (or less). Accelerated programs enable you to enter the workforce and qualify for jobs with higher salaries faster.

Start Your Education Sooner

Many accelerated programs offer compressed terms throughout the year, making it possible to begin studying every few weeks rather than waiting for the start of the fall or spring semester. This alone can help you begin your studies and graduate several months sooner.

Set Your Own Schedule

Most online bachelor's programs offer ample scheduling flexibility, but accelerated structures may provide even more. The most flexible programs enable you to move through course content as quickly as you like.

However, keep in mind that accelerated programs may impose stricter admission requirements than traditional programs.

Experience Less Downtime Between Semesters

Many accelerated programs eliminate downtime between semesters, running on compact terms that continue throughout the calendar year. You typically enroll in classes continuously rather than taking summers off.

This can help you stay in prime learning mode; you won't need to redevelop good study habits after extended breaks.

Save Money

Accelerated degree programs — especially those delivered online — can also offer significant cost savings compared to traditional structures. Since these programs require you to spend less time in school, they may cut your costs accordingly.

According to a 2022 Investopedia analysis, you could save more than $9,500 by reducing your graduation timeline by six months.

Cons of Accelerated Programs

Accelerated programs aren't for everyone. Check out these cons before applying to programs.

You Must Be a Self-Motivated Learner

The intensive structure and schedule of accelerated programs require higher levels of self-motivation to succeed. Courses and assignments move quickly, which can be challenging if you prefer to master material at a slower pace.

Shorter Classes Mean Heavier Workloads

When you earn a degree fast, you do the same amount of work in a much shorter time. By definition, this means you can expect heavier workloads.

If you are planning to balance full-time studies with existing work or family commitments, you may have a hard time resolving scheduling conflicts that could arise.

Courses Are Paced Faster

Everyone learns differently. Some people excel in fast-paced learning environments like these, while others feel more comfortable building familiarity with material and taking breaks between semesters.

Online Courses Provide Less Face-to-Face Interaction

If you choose an online course, you'll still interact with faculty and classmates. But those interactions will take place virtually. Some students prefer face-to-face interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Online Degree Programs

What are accelerated degree programs?

Accelerated degree programs depart from traditional structures that lock you into a few quarters or semesters per calendar year. Instead, they reduce term lengths to as little as four weeks, allowing you to move through material faster and graduate ahead of the normal schedule.

What is the fastest way to earn a degree?

Accelerated degree programs with the fastest completion timelines tend to combine competency-based learning models with fast-paced structures. These programs may allow you to graduate in as little as 18 months.

However, these programs are uncommon. For most programs, covering course material in short bursts over accelerated terms is the fastest option.

What is the difference between accelerated and traditional online programs?

Traditional online programs adhere to a standard quarter- or semester-based structure. Many also use cohort models, which move you through the program at the same pace. Accelerated online programs require you to work at a faster pace and move toward degree completion along rapid timelines.

Are accelerated degree programs more difficult?

The course content, assignments, and learning materials featured in accelerated programs do not generally differ from those in traditional programs. However, you may find the pace more challenging, particularly if you're balancing your studies with jobs, parenting duties, and/or other commitments.

What are the requirements for taking an accelerated program?

While admission requirements vary from one accelerated program to the next, school officials generally prefer candidates with a demonstrated history of strong academic performance and independent learning.

Depending on the program, you may also need a strong academic or professional background in a related subject area.

Additional Accelerated Degrees by Subject

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.

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