(written by Val, College Counselor at the Center for College Planning) 

Many of you may have heard of colleges and universities that offer a 3, not 4, year bachenor's degree program, so I thought it might be helpful to write about what one is, some pros and cons of participating in one and colleges that offer it.

Basically a 3 year degree allows a student to obtain a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of the typical four year timeframe.  Know that just because a college offers a 3 year option for some of their academic programs, it does not mean that it is offered for all majors.  Check with the school to see if they offer the option in your major.

So let’s talk about some positive reasons to pursue a 3 year degree.  The requirements for an accelerated degree are the same, but the student completes them in less time.  Also a shorter amount of time in the classroom means that students are ready to head out into the workforce faster.  And then of course there is the financial aspect of paying a lesser amount of tuition - and room and board if living on campus (and let’s face it… your family might find that aspect very appealing!)

Some cons include being a college student for less time, thus perhaps argumentatively missing out on some of the experiences in college more traditional students may get to have.  And, three year students carry a heavier course load burden than some of the other students in their class (meaning that each semester you could be taking an extra class or higher credit courses, which equals more work in a shorter amount of time).

Every college may offer different versions of a 3 year degree.  If you are researching several different programs I recommend that you keep notes about the eligibility, qualifications, if summer or classes during a school break need to be taken in order to complete your degree in three years, as well as any other questions that you may have.

The number of colleges offering 3 year degrees increase every year.  Locally, Southern New Hampshire University offers a competitive 3Year Honors program.  Check them out at www.snhu.edu.

Weighing the options between 3 and 4,  
Val