Bachelor's Degree: How Many Years To Get?

Bachelor's Degree: How Many Years To Get? A bachelor's degree is a four-year degree which means it usually requires four years of full-time study to complete your bachelor's degree. In these four years, you will complete 120 semester credits.

The bachelor's degree program is structured so that students who take the full course can complete the degree requirements in four years, although some professional undergraduate degrees in accounting and architecture may add a fifth year of study.

Typical Settlement Time

Students who are thinking of enrolling in a bachelor degree program may want to know about the four year standard completion time as well as alternative scheduling options for the two to five year program and the total credit requirement. Most bachelor's degree programs are designed to complete four years. The National Center for Education Statistics tracks the percentage of students who graduate from a four-year bachelor's degree program within 150% of the expected completion time; That is, within six years of registering. For the first year, full-time students who embark on a bachelor's degree program in 2008, 60% complete within six years. That number is only 58% for state universities, but 65% in non-profit private schools. The six-year graduation rate of the bachelor's degree program is only 27% of private institutions for nonprofit. The remaining students may not have completed the bachelor's degree program they started or they may have taken leave and returned to school years later. Although most bachelor's degree programs require four years of full-time study, there are also several other types of programs that are meant to take different times.

Accelerated Programs

Several bachelor's degree programs are structured so that students can complete the entire program, including general education requirements, in less than four years. This is called an accelerated program, and usually requires a higher course load each semester than a four-year plan. Students may also attend classes throughout the year, adding a third semester in the summer. This reduces the completion time to three calendar years or less. It is important to note that schools often advise students not to do outside work while they are enrolled in this intensive program.

Professional Degree Program

There are several professional bachelor's degree programs that are intended to take a total of five years, not four years, to complete. For example, to earn a Bachelor of Architecture professional, you need to complete five years of full-time training. In this program, students not only meet the general education requirements and follow the main courses, but also follow career-focused classes that can be applied directly to the workplace. A five-year professional program can also lead to a thesis.

Dual Degree Program

Some schools offer double degree programs that produce bachelor's and master's degrees. This program can be completed in five years and six years required to obtain a bachelor's and master's degree separately. In this program, students typically start attending undergraduate courses during their fourth year of study, not just attending middle-level graduate classes. Double degree programs are available on a variety of topics, including accounting and engineering. Prospective students should be aware that in order to enter into a dual degree program, students should generally meet certain academic requirements, such as a minimum GPA.