15 Best Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs [2024 Ultimate Guide]
By Joy Miller
Updated on September 24, 2024
Earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the same time is a convenient and cost-effective way to get ahead in your field. Accelerated college degree programs online offer these dual degrees in a variety of subject areas.
Some job positions like management roles now require or at least prefer applicants with a master’s degree.
Instead of having to first earn your bachelor’s degree and then start all over again in a graduate-level program, these dual degree bachelor’s to master’s programs allow you to knock out both degrees at the same time. This quick guide lays out the basics of how these programs work online.
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Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer combined bachelors and masters degree programs
Sometimes known simply as “American” or “AU,” American University is a private university based in Washington, D.C. They were founded in 1893 by a Methodist congregation, and they continue being affiliated with them.
They keep a strong focus on STEM research and possess a space grant. Their urban-suburban campus encompasses 84 acres, and they currently have approximately 14,000 students.
AU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Boston University is a private and non-sectarian university, although they were originally founded by a United Methodist Congregation. They were established in Boston’s South End in 1839, and their main campus is still located in that historic neighborhood.
They have approximately 34,000 students, evenly divided between undergraduates and postgraduates. Their alumni list includes 8 Nobel Laureates and 23 Pulitzer Prize winners.
BU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Not located in the state of California but the city of California, Pennsylvania, this school has been in operation since 1852. There are now over 7,000 students enrolled in programs at CUP. You can root the school on under the moniker the Vulcans.
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Capella University is a publicly traded company that operates out of Capella Tower, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Capella University is a primarily online university, and as such, it does not operate a campus like traditional universities do.
It does, however, have learning sites in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia. This online university was founded in 1993 with the name “The Graduate School of America.” Current enrollment figures have the student population at just a little under 40,000.
Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Founded as Decatur Bible College, DBU has been around since 1898. Its teaching program is highly rated and so is its pre-med programs. The school participates in a variety of sports as the Patriots. Besides the Dallas campus, there are also learning centers in Plano and Hurst, Texas.
Dallas Baptist University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Located in the city of Albany, New York, Excelsior College is a private institution that dates back to 1971. They were originally named “Regents College.”
They focus strongly on adult education and offer a variety of professional part-time and long-distance programs. This is why a large amount of their 30,000 students are working or already have professional experience.
Excelsior is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Grand Valley State University is based in the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan. They are a public university that dates back to 1960 when they were founded as “Grand Valley State College. They now cater to 24,000 students across their two main campuses: the urban one in Grand Rapids, and a suburban one in Allendale.
They are a major football college, and they compete in 20 varsity sports.
GVSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Formerly known as Nassau College, Hofstra University is a private institution based in Hempstead, New York State. They were established in 1935 and have since become the largest private University in Long Island.
Thanks to their suburban location that is still close to the heart of things, they are often the main venue for presidential debates and conferences. They currently have approximately 10,000 students and employ over 3,300 faculty members.
Hofstra is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Kent State University is one of the largest members of the University System of Ohio. They are a public institution based in the city of Kent, but they also have seven satellite campuses across the state of Ohio, in addition to a New York City Studio for their Fashion program.
They serve nearly 40,000 students, who can also access international exchange programs in Shanghai and Florence.
Kent State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Lesley University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a vibrant college town that lives and breathes academics. This private university was founded in 1909 as a School of Practical Art. While their program portfolio has been expanded, they remain strongly focused on offering artistic and educational degrees.
After becoming a coeducational facility in 2005, they built a completely new residence hall and expanded their admissions capacity. They now serve 7,500 students, including both undergraduates and postgraduates.
Lesley is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
One of the highest-ranked private universities in the Western United States by U.S. News & World Report, Northwestern University is based in Evanston, Illinois. They were founded in 1851 by a group of Methodist leaders, although they are now fully non-sectarian.
With over 21,000 students, this institution offers access to campuses in Chicago, Doha, and Miami, as well as the fellowship of an alumni list that includes 19 Nobel Prize Laureates. In addition, they are part of the Big Ten Football Conference.
Northwestern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Stockton University is a public institution based in Galloway, New Jersey. They were founded in 1969 to serve in-state students from the southern part of the state. They have approximately 10,000 students in their suburban campus, which encompasses 2,000 acres of facilities, fields, and a wide variety of student housing options.
Stockton is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Commonly nicknamed “UChicago,” the University of Chicago is a private “Ivy Plus” university that dates back to 1890. They serve 16,500 students on their urban campus, which is located in the heart of the city.
Their students can also access the nearby Yerkes Observatory, which is run by the university, and the University of Chicago Medical Center, which also serves to provide practice opportunities for their Medical Students.
Since 1913, UChicago has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of Florida was founded more than 160 years ago with the pursuit of high-quality education through research and innovation.
At UF, students utilize more than 200 research, service and education centers with the most future-focused facilities led by people who are experts in their fields. This led to the university’s consistent ranking as one of the top universities in the county by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Florida launched UF Online in 2014 in accordance with the state law requiring the establishment of the Preeminent State University to offer fully online baccalaureate degrees at an affordable cost to students from the state and others.
UF is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Located in Coral Gables, Florida, the University of Miami is a private institution located less than 20 minutes away from the bustle of the city of Miami. Thanks to their proximity to marine reserves and the Space Center, the university offers a strong focus on STEM fields and research.
They serve over 17,000 students, who also have the opportunity to participate in NCAA Division I football, a highly ranked baseball program, and over 15 different varsity teams.
UM is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
It’s best to have your plan in mind before you enroll because many bachelor’s to master’s accelerated college degree programs require that you apply to their dual degree programs before you even start your bachelor’s degree.
Declaring that you’ll be complete both degrees at the same time is the fastest strategy because you’ll be able to follow a straightforward plan from the very beginning of your enrollment all the way through to graduation with a master’s degree.
You can complete both of your degrees in about 4-5 years, which is significantly shorter than the average time it takes to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree separately (about 6-7 years).
Once you’re enrolled in an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program, you will most likely follow a course of study the school has set up for you to ensure that you graduate with both degrees in an accelerated time frame.
Just as with masters PhD combined programs, because these dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees are combined into one program, you’ll likely take fewer credit hours total than you would if you were to pursue your degrees separately.
Some programs allow you to complete both degrees in 120 credit hours, which is typically how many hours it takes to complete just a bachelor’s degree.
These types of programs are becoming increasingly popular, so you can find accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs online in a wide selection of majors.
Some of the most popular programs include:
Other than the BSN to MSN programs that require you to already be a practicing RN to apply, the other programs allow you to start from the beginning with no previous college experience.
Besides saving time and money, there are other advantages and benefits to enrolling in a bachelor’s to master’s program. Master’s programs can be competitive, so if you don’t perform very well at the undergraduate level, you may lessen your chances of entering a master’s degree program.
With these programs, though, as long as you maintain a certain GPA, you’re guaranteed that you’ll receive a master’s degree by the end if you follow the course plan set for you.
Applying for a master’s program can be a daunting prospect for many. These dual degree programs allow you to bypass that stressful process. You’ll be exempt from taking the GRE for your masters program, an extra application fee, and the responsibility of collecting recommendations and writing samples. This process often turns off people from the idea of graduate school, and they never end up pursuing the graduate degree they really want.
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