40 Best Dual Degree Programs [2024 Ultimate Guide]
By Joy Miller
Edited by Briana Sukert
Updated on September 24, 2024
A Dual Degree, sometimes called a Double Degree or Joint Degree, allows a student to work toward two degrees simultaneously.
This could result in two complementary bachelor’s degrees, a combined bachelor’s and a master’s degree, or two master’s degrees.
The primary advantage to earning two degrees simultaneously is saving time. Rather than spending six years earning a bachelor’s and then a master’s, for example, a Dual Degree Program may allow you to earn both degrees in as little as four years.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer dual or combined degree programs.
ASU has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1931.
In 2013, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaffirmed its accreditation of AuburnU.
Benedictine is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
CWSL is officially accredited and/or recognized by the American Bar Association.
Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Colorado Christian University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Columbia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Cornell has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921 and was most recently reaffirmed in 2016.
DBU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Drexel is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
FSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
Gardner-Webb is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Grand Canyon is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
IU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Johns Hopkins is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Kennesaw State is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Kent State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
Liberty is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Marymount is accredited by the Southern Associations of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Northeastern is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
PennWest is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Purdue has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA) since 1913.
RMU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
TWU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Trident is the only fully online university regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
UAH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Since 1913, UChicago has been continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UIS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UMary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UMich is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The University of New Mexico is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UND as a whole is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
UNT is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
OU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
UT Austin is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Walden has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1990.
Webster is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Wilmington is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Xavier is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Yale is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
When you work on a Dual Degree, you’re working on two degrees from two different departments or schools simultaneously.
The departments or schools work together to make the process more convenient than if the degrees were earned independently. For example, some courses may count toward both degrees, or some may be waived entirely so that the student can complete the Dual Degree Program in a shorter time.
It’s easy to confuse Dual Degree Programs with Double Majoring, but they are different.
If you begin college knowing what career you plan to pursue, a Dual Degree may be an excellent option for you. It can help you earn complementary degrees or a more advanced degree in a shorter time. Either option can impress employers, showing them that you are a highly motivated and well-educated candidate.
If you are less sure of your career plans, however, a Double Major is an option you can choose later in your education. This will also allow you to pursue multiple paths.
Some common Double Major combinations include:
Since you will be juggling two college majors at a time, it may be helpful to check out our article discussing the easiest college majors!
Dual Master’s Degree Programs allow students to earn two advanced degrees at the same time. Sometimes the Dual Master’s Degrees are already established, with courses and expectations clearly outlined. Other times you may propose a program and help determine the requirements.
| Dual Master’s Degree Program | Potential Career Paths |
| Master of Business Administration & Master of Public Health (MBA/MPH) |
Medical and Health Services Manager, Hospital Administrator, Pharmaceutical Project Manager, Healthcare Consultant |
| Master of Social Work & Juris Doctorate(MSW/JD) |
Public Welfare, Criminal Justice or Corrections, Political Policy or Planning, Non-Profit Organization Management |
| Master of Science in Criminal Justice & Master of Public Administration (CJ/MPA) |
U.S. Marshal, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Chief of Police, Customs Agent, Juvenile Court Counselor, Victims Services Specialist, Private Investigator |
| Master of Science in Nursing & Master of Business Administration (MSN/MBA) |
Medical and Health Services Manager, Clinic Manager, Nursing Home Manager, Nurse Practitioner, Director of Nursing |
| Masters in Management Information Systems & Master in Business Administration (MIS/MBA) | Information Technology Director, Business Systems Analyst, Chief Information Officer, Computer Network Architect, Technology Consultant, Project Manager |
When it comes to dual masters degree programs online, a Master in Business Administration is an especially common choice. An advanced degree in business can complement almost any other degree of choice.
Yes, Dual Degrees are typically worth it for many students. If you can keep up with the academic rigor, there are many advantages to choosing a Dual Degree Program.
When it comes to your career success, having earned Dual Degrees can be very beneficial.
Dual degree programs are programs offered by universities that allow you to earn two degrees simultaneously. For example, an MBA and a Juris Doctor (law degree) may be earned at the same time. The benefit of enrolling in a dual degree program is that you can save some time and earn your two degrees faster than if you enrolled in each degree program separately.
That being said, there are a number of fast online degrees that are not dual degree programs.
Let’s take a look at a few of your other options now.
Although dual degree programs do serve their purpose, it is also possible to get a fast bachelors degree with 5 week online college courses, or via an online bachelor’s degree completion program.
And if your goal is to earn both an accelerated bachelor’s and an accelerated master’s degree, you can likely design your own dual degree program if you simply pick a university that offers 6-week online classes.
This would be achieved by finishing your bachelor’s degree at blazing fast speeds and then as soon as you complete that program, finish your master’s degree online in just one year.
For those looking to advance even further in their academic journey, some universities offer combined master’s and PhD programs online. These integrated programs allow students to transition seamlessly from master’s-level coursework to doctoral studies, often reducing the overall time needed to complete both degrees.
If you are certain of your future career path, dual degree programs can allow you to customize your education in a way that can help set you apart from other graduates.
You can work toward two complementary bachelor’s degrees, a bachelor’s and a master’s, or two master’s degrees at the same time – accelerating your education while developing valuable skills to help you succeed in your career.
Curious about your options? Click “Find My Program” to discover what’s right for you.
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