2-Year Bachelor Degree Programs [2024 Guide]
By Joy Miller
Edited by Tania Staley
Updated on September 18, 2024
Are you searching for a 2-year bachelor’s degree program? Are you wondering if it’s even possible to finish your degree in 2 years?
While the traditional bachelor’s program takes 4 years to complete, we are happy to report that it is possible to finish faster! Here we’ll give you the inside scoop on accelerating your degree.
Want to finish your bachelor’s degree fast? If you already have college credits, you may be able to finish your degree quickly in a bachelor’s degree completion program, which can usually be completed in 2 years or less.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Methodology: Universities are listed alphabetically and chosen based on regional accreditation, offering bachelor programs that can be completed in two years or less, with options for earning the degree online or through a hybrid format.
BSU offers degree completion programs in Nursing (RN to BS), Business Administration, and General Studies. These programs allow students to transfer previously earned credits, enabling them to complete their bachelor’s degrees in approximately two years. Additionally, the “Degree in 3” program offers an accelerated three-year option for select majors.
Ball State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Brescia University offers online degree completion programs in fields such as Business, Psychology, and Theology. Designed for adult learners, these programs allow qualified students to transfer credits and complete their bachelor’s degrees in as little as two years through flexible coursework tailored to fit busy schedules.
Brescia University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees.
California Baptist University offers online bachelor’s programs in various fields, designed to be completed in 16-24 months. This accelerated timeline is based on a full-time course load and the prior completion of general education and elective requirements, making it ideal for students with existing credits seeking a flexible, expedited path to graduation.
California Baptist University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Central Washington University offers online bachelor’s programs in Accounting, Business Administration, and Information Technology and Administrative Management. These programs are designed for students transferring with an Associate in Business – Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degree or any relevant associate degree, allowing them to complete their bachelor’s degrees in 5-6 quarters of full-time study.
Central Washington University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Champlain College offers online bachelor’s programs designed for busy working adults. With up to 90 transfer credits accepted and 7-week terms, students can complete their degrees faster. These flexible, 100% online programs include fields like Business Management, Cybersecurity, and Healthcare Administration, tailored to meet the needs of adult learners.
Champlain College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
CUNY School of Professional Studies offers online and on-campus bachelor’s programs for students with 24 or more transfer credits. Students can transfer up to 105 credits, including credits for prior learning and professional experience, allowing them to complete their degrees faster. Flexible formats cater to adult learners balancing education with work and other responsibilities.
CUNY School of Professional Studies is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Drexel University’s Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Professional Studies is designed for working adults, offering flexibility with online or in-person options. Students can transfer up to 135 of the 180 required credits and earn credits for prior learning. This flexibility typically allows students to complete the degree faster and more affordably than other programs.
Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
George Washington University offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Homeland Security, designed to be completed in two years. These programs are tailored for students with prior college credits, offering evening and weekend classes to accommodate working professionals. This flexible format allows students to advance their careers while completing their degrees efficiently.
George Washington University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Indiana University offers online bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as Business, Informatics, and Public Health. These programs require 120 credits for completion. With a generous transfer credit policy, students can transfer up to 64 credits from a two-year college or 90 credits from a four-year institution, potentially accelerating their path to graduation.
Indiana University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Kansas State University offers bachelor’s degree completion programs in Applied Business and Technology, Food Science, Hospitality Management, and Personal Financial Planning. These programs can be completed in 2-3 years, depending on transferred credits. Designed for flexibility, they accommodate working professionals with options for online and in-person courses, allowing students to advance their education efficiently.
Kansas State University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1916.
Lamar University offers accelerated bachelor’s degree programs for working adults and busy students, including degree completion options, that can be completed in two years. These programs feature eight-week sessions, allowing students to take more courses in a shorter time frame. The flexible online format ensures a quicker path to graduation while maintaining academic rigor.
Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
Loyola University Chicago offers degree completion programs in Applied Studies, Information Technology, Management, Paralegal Studies, and Web Technologies. These programs feature 8-week online courses, providing flexibility for working adults. Students can transfer up to 60 credit hours and apply up to 36 non-traditional credits, facilitating a faster path to degree completion.
Loyola University – Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Missouri State University offers degree completion programs through interactive video and onsite instruction. Programs include General Business, Education, Agriculture, Nursing, and Technology. Students can transfer credits and complete their degrees using flexible delivery methods, including online and weekend classes, making it convenient for working professionals to advance their education efficiently.
Missouri State University has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.
Northern Arizona University’s 90/30 degree completion programs allow students to transfer up to 90 lower-division credits and complete the remaining 30 upper-division credits online or at statewide locations. This flexible, cost-effective path spans various fields, including health sciences, nursing, and interdisciplinary studies, enabling students to efficiently complete their university coursework in one year.
Northern Arizona University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Ohio University offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs designed for students with an associate degree or completed general education requirements. With flexible, asynchronous coursework, students can transfer credits and finish their degrees in as few as four semesters by taking a full course load. These programs fit around personal and professional commitments, enabling efficient degree completion.
Ohio University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Old Dominion University offers accelerated online degree programs in Nursing (RN to BSN) and Leadership Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS). These programs feature 8-week courses and a rigorous curriculum, allowing students to take more courses per term and complete their degrees more quickly. This flexible structure helps achieve professional aspirations efficiently while balancing other commitments.
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees.
Pace University offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs that can be finished in 1-4 years. The duration depends on the specific program, whether students enroll full-time or part-time, and the number of eligible transfer credits. Programs include Nursing (RN-BS), Professional Technology Studies, Professional Communication Studies, Business Studies, and Liberal Studies.
Pace University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
South Dakota State University offers a Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) for adult and returning students, allowing significant credit transfers and flexible online or on-campus options for quick completion. Additionally, the Accelerated B.S.N. program can be completed in just 12 months, providing a fast-track option for aspiring nurses.
South Dakota State University has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916.
Southern Illinois University offers online bachelor’s degree completion programs for students with significant college credits. Programs, including Accounting, Business and Administration, and Nursing (RN to BSN), allow credit transfers and flexible, asynchronous coursework. Some programs can be completed in 18-24 months, enabling students to finish their degrees while managing professional and personal commitments.
Southern Illinois University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business offers seven fully online, self-paced bachelor’s degree programs, including Accounting and Marketing. With accelerated courses and a flexible transfer credit policy, students can expedite their degree completion. These programs provide a convenient and efficient path to a degree while accommodating busy schedules.
The University of Alabama – Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers accelerated online bachelor’s degree programs, including Applied Communication (8-week courses), Nursing (RN to BSN, completed in 12 or 18 months), and Criminal Justice (7-week format). These programs feature flexible schedules and allow for faster degree completion, accommodating the needs of busy students.
The University of Arkansas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Denver’s University College offers an online bachelor’s degree completion program for adults with previous college credits. Students can transfer up to three years of credits and choose from majors like Communication Arts, Global Studies, and Information Technology. With flexible, 10-week terms and a 28% scholarship for most students, the program facilitates efficient degree completion.
The University of Denver is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Florida offers several accelerated and flexible online bachelor’s degree programs. The College of Nursing’s Accelerated BSN is designed for students with a prior bachelor’s degree and can be completed in four consecutive semesters. UF Online provides fully online programs in Business Administration, Fire and Emergency Services, and more, allowing for quicker completion depending on transfer credits and course load.
The University of Florida is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The University of Illinois Chicago offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree completion program. This program covers the final 60 semester hours needed for the degree and features accelerated eight-week courses. Students can transfer credits and complete the program more quickly, gaining critical business skills for leadership roles in a flexible, online format.
The University of Illinois – Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Illinois – Springfield offers flexible online degree completion programs and accelerated eight-week courses. These asynchronous online classes accommodate busy schedules, ideal for working professionals. Fields include accounting, business, computer science, education, finance, management information systems, music, and psychology, taught by the same faculty as on-campus courses.
The University of Illinois – Springfield is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Louisiana Monroe offers accelerated online bachelor’s degrees with abbreviated sessions, allowing completion in as little as two years. Ideal for working adults, programs include Criminal Justice, Political Science, Modern Languages, History, Psychology, Business Administration, General Studies, Elementary Education, Health Studies, Radiologic Technology, and RN to BSN.
The University of Louisiana – Monroe is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
University of Massachusetts Amherst’s UWW Department of Interdisciplinary Studies offers customizable online bachelor’s degrees. Students can design individualized concentrations, earn up to 105 credits for prior learning, and take accelerated 6-week courses. This flexible program supports balancing work, family, and education, making degree completion accessible and efficient.
The University of Massachusetts – Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
University of Minnesota Duluth offers an online Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology for students with an associate degree or Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. The program includes accelerated courses and flexible scheduling. Graduates are prepared for careers in behavioral health, human services, and further graduate study, balancing education with personal and professional commitments.
The University of Minnesota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
University of Missouri offers the Finish Line program and various online bachelor degree completion programs. The Finish Line program helps former students with over 75 credits return and complete their degrees through individualized plans. Online programs allow up to 64 transfer credits, enabling faster completion. Both options provide flexible scheduling to accommodate busy lives.
The University of Missouri has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1915.
The University of New Mexico offers accelerated online bachelor’s degree programs with 8-week courses, allowing students to complete their degrees faster. The flexible format is designed for working professionals, providing asynchronous classes that can be accessed anytime. Programs include Business Administration, Psychology, and more, enabling students to balance their education with personal and professional commitments.
The University of New Mexico has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association since 1922.
There are four primary ways to get a bachelor’s degree faster:
Can you finish your bachelor’s in 2 years? Yes, it’s possible, but it depends on your circumstances.
If you can answer, yes, to any of these questions, you may be able to graduate faster.
Getting a bachelor’s degree in 2 years is a real thing. While a bachelor’s degree typically takes 4 years to complete, you can earn your degree faster, graduate college early.
With the steps outlined below, you can greatly accelerate the time it will take to complete your chosen degree.
You will still complete a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year and all the requirements that come with them. You may just do it in half the time!
Here’s the challenge: No accredited colleges advertise 2-year bachelor’s degrees, but that DOES NOT keep you from finishing in 2 years.
Accredited colleges may offer 2-year degree completion programs, but to enroll in a degree completion program, you must already have college credits. If you have enough, the school will help you finish your degree in 2 years.
But if you don’t have any or enough college credits to qualify for a degree completion program, you’ll need another solution to graduate fast. That’s where these steps come in.
Welcome to square one!
You may have no credits. but you can finish faster with these 3 steps.
Yes, you can earn college credit without attending a class.
All bachelor’s degree programs have a list of general education requirements. Instead of taking these classes, you may take exams to prove you already know the material and get credit for it.
You do not have to ace the exams to get college credit. Most schools require a 50% score to give you credit for the class!
How to test out of up to 1 year of college classes:
If you pass several exams this way, you can cut several classes from your schedule.
Here’s an example list of the general education courses you may need and the matching exams that could be taken through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) to earn credit without going to class.
| General Education Requirements | College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exam |
| Communication – 6 credits | College Composition – 6 credits |
| Mathematics – 3 credits | College Algebra – 3 credits |
| Life and Physical Sciences – 6 credits | Biology – 6 credits |
| Language, Philosophy, and Culture – 3 credits | Western Civilizations I – 3 credits |
| Creative Arts – 3 credits | Humanities – 3 credits |
| American History – 6 credits | History of the United States I/II – 6 credits |
| Government – 3 credits | American Government – 3 credits |
| Social and Behavioral Science – 3 credits | Introductory Psychology – 3 credits |
| Institution option – 6 credits | Principles of Management – 3 credits
Principles of Marketing – 3 credits |
Do you see that?
You can get ALL your general education requirement credits through Credit by Exam. Your whole freshman year and half of your sophomore year could be done before you even take a class.
Over 3,000 universities accept Credit by Exam, but each college has unique policies, such as minimum passing score, which exams they will honor, and the maximum number of college credits that can be earned by exam.
Be sure to check your destination college’s academic catalog so you are up to speed on their policies before you take an exam.
The most widely accepted exams are College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, which are honored by over 3,000 colleges, but these other companies also offer exams:
You can usually get 3 to 6 credits for each exam. Most CLEP exams are multiple-choice and completed in 90 minutes!
What have you been up to the last few years? Have you been working and gaining valuable professional and life experience?
Maybe you were working in law enforcement or healthcare, traveling, or piloting a plane. These experiences can potentially count for college credit.
Skills that can translate into Credit for Prior Learning:
As you can see, many different experiences can count for credit, and this isn’t all of them. Be sure to talk to an admissions counselor to see which experiences may count.
Each school has different requirements and guidelines, but these are the typical steps you’ll need to take:
There is no guarantee you will get credit for each portfolio, but each one that is accepted can cut time from your bachelor’s degree.
If you want to finish your degree faster. Selecting a college with accelerated courses is a great way to do so. Many colleges offer 8-week, 6-week, and even 5-week online courses.
Accelerated classes are offered online. Your assignments will likely be similar, if not exactly the same, as on-campus classes: reading textbooks, watching lectures, writing papers, and participating in discussions via virtual methods.
But, online classes allow you to complete your courses on your schedule. You can log in after work, on your lunch hour, or whenever is convenient, and with accelerated classes, you can take classes even faster.
First, pick a college that offers accelerated classes online.
Many schools will allow you to take three accelerated classes (9 credits) in each 8-week session. This is 18 credits (6 classes) each fall, spring, and summer semester. In 12 months, you could have 54 credits! In a traditional program, you could have 30 credits in a year.
If you think you can handle it and can keep your GPA up, you may be able to get approval to take four accelerated classes each 8-week session. This would be 12 credits each session (24 each semester), which means you could earn up to 72 credits in a year!
So, there are no “official” 2-year bachelor degree programs, but you’re in charge of your education.
You don’t have to follow a traditional plan. Here’s how you can accelerate your degree plan:
Now, take a deep breath. You now have a mapped-out plan to finish your bachelor’s degree quickly and efficiently!
How quickly you can finish your degree does depend on where you start. To help you get your bachelor’s degree in 2 years, we are going to break it down depending on where you are right now.
Whether you are attending college for the first time, coming back to college with a few credits, or have already completed 2 years (60 credits), you can do this.
You are starting at square one. You’ve never taken a college course, but you are going to rock this now!
To earn your degree in 2 years, you need to choose a school that offers 8-week (or less) online classes and allows 9 credit hours each session. Most only allow you to take 6 credit hours per term and that will slow you down considerably.
If you decide to ONLY take online accelerated classes and aren’t going to utilize CLEP exams or Credit for Prior Learning, it will take you 2 years and 8 weeks to complete your degree with this method.
| First-time college student with zero credit hours | ||
| Semester | Semester Length | Number of classes/credit hours |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Summer | 6 classes x 3 credit hours = 18 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Fall 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Summer | 6 classes x 3 credit hours = 18 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 4 classes x 3 credit hours = 12 credit hours |
| Bachelor’s degree completed: 120 credit hours | ||
Fast?
Yep, it sure is.
But you could potentially knock off one more year, which means you could go from zero credits to done with your degree in 1 year and 8 weeks.
Here are 10 introductory-level exams you can take to earn 30 credits.
If your school accepts all of these, it could knock off a year of general education course requirements from your schedule.
You’ve already completed some college classes, but you still need to finish your degree.
If you already have 30 credits tucked away, you could be done in 1 year and 32 weeks just by taking online accelerated classes.
| Returning college student who has earned 30 credit hours already | ||
| Semester | Semester Length | Number of classes/credit hours |
| Transfer credits | 30 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Summer | 6 classes x 3 credit hours = 18 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Fall 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Bachelor’s degree completed: 120 credit hours | ||
That’s a decent pace, but do you want to go faster?
You could potentially knock off 30 credits by testing out of classes and submitting Credit for Prior Learning portfolios.
You probably already have transfer credits for some of your introductory courses, but what about these:
If there is any class that you haven’t already taken that is available through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), go ahead and test out of the class. That is your option to getting college credits fast.
If you take full advantage of accelerated online courses, Credit by Exam, and Credit for Prior Learning, you could start this September and be done by next November (1 year and 8 weeks).
You’ve started, and you are halfway done. Let’s get you through the second half of your degree.
Most likely you have all your freshman and sophomore introductory courses done. Now you are needing the higher level credits. The 300- and 400-level courses.
If you take accelerated classes, you could be done in 1 year and 8 weeks.
| Returning college student who has earned 60 credit hours already | ||
| Semester | Semester Length | Number of classes/credit hours |
| Transfer credits | 60 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 1 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Spring 2 | 8 weeks | 3 classes x 3 credit hours = 9 credit hours |
| Summer | 6 classes x 3 credit hours = 18 credit hours | |
| Fall 1 | 8 weeks | 2 classes x 3 credit hours = 6 credit hours |
| Bachelor’s degree completed: 120 credit hours | ||
If you want to be done even sooner, it can be done.
CLEP exams won’t usually give you those higher-level credits, but there are a few exceptions. Here are 2 CLEP exams that can earn you credits for 300- and 400-level courses:
You may also be able to find other exams that qualify for credit. Just make sure they fit your major and school’s requirements.
As you are getting to the end of your degree, the required courses become more specific, but if there is an option to test out of elective credits at this level, do it. It will help you finish faster.
All colleges have a minimum number of classes you have to take with that school to be granted a degree. Most refer to this as a residency requirement.
If your degree requirements still have some wiggle room to test out of courses and you can complete five 300- or 400-level exams, you could be done in 11 months.
Bachelor’s degree completion programs exist, which is what most colleges mean when they say they have 2-year bachelor’s degree programs. They are just accepting your college credits. Most accredited universities will do that for you.
Bachelor’s degree completion programs are meant to help you finish a degree you already started. A degree completion program could work for you if:
Online bachelor’s degree completion programs allow you to finish a degree by transferring your existing credits. They typically offer online and accelerated classes as well.
How you do this is pretty basic:
Even in a bachelor’s degree completion program, you can still use Credit by Exam and Credit for Prior Learning. Talk to your advisor and make a plan!
So, what do you think? In 2 years, you could go from zero to done.
With 2 years of hard work, using a smart, detailed plan of action, you could have a bachelor’s degree. To research accredited programs that offer accelerated classes and Credit by Exam and Credit for Prior Learning opportunities, check out our program finder below!
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