Bachelor Degree Completion | Online Program | Merrimack College (2024)

FAQs

What is bachelor completion program? ›

What Is a Degree Completion Program? A degree completion program allows students with an associate's degree, unfinished bachelor's degree, or transferable college credits to earn a bachelor's degree.

While it's possible to advance your career without a college education, a bachelor's degree accelerates your ascension. So much so that 47 percent of Americans claim a higher education is crucial to getting ahead in life, while 66 percent who didn't graduate from college wished they had.

What's the typical number of credit hours needed for a bachelor's degree? Throughout your undergraduate studies, you'll likely need to complete a minimum of 120 credits to earn a bachelor's degree, although degree requirements may vary by institution.

Even if an entry-level job does not require a bachelor's degree, more advanced roles at the associate or senior level will likely expect a college degree. For example, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree to be a sales manager, financial manager, or marketing manager, according to the BLS.

The average of just over four years to complete a bachelor's degree isn't surprising. After all, bachelor's degrees are frequently called “four-year” degrees and institutions offering them are often called “four-year” colleges. It's important to keep in mind, however, that this result is simply an average.

At many schools, it takes about four years to earn a bachelor's degree. However, this is by no means the only timeframe. Depending on the program you choose, it can take anywhere from three to six years for someone to earn their degree.

Engineering majors such as nuclear and energy engineering are considered among the hardest, with GPA averages typically between 3.20 and 3.40. Applied mathematics, astrophysics, and chemistry are also highly challenging, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Today's entry-level jobs often require more technical skills than 20-40 years ago. Traditional undergraduate programs don't teach plug-and-play “task” skills made for entry-level jobs. You can't network into a job when your entire network is competing with you.

An associate degree is a two-year degree typically offered at community colleges, technical colleges, and career colleges. However, some four-year universities offer them as well. Examples of some associate degrees include Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).

How fast can you finish a bachelor's degree? ›

One of the quickest ways to get a bachelor's degree is to enroll in an accelerated program. These programs are designed to take three years or less to complete.

The speed of your education is up to you. Most students want to know how long a bachelor's degree will take. If you are taking a full load of classes online, a bachelor's degree will take about eight semesters, whether you're pursuing a business degree or a psychology degree.

In many career fields, a bachelor's degree is considered an entry-level degree. In fact, some careers and employers do not care whether or not you have a degree in their particular field, as long as you have a bachelor's degree.

In college, GPA is important because you need to pass your classes in order to graduate and earn your degree. So yes, while you're in college, GPA certainly matters.

College graduates still enjoy higher earnings than the average U.S. worker. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2022, bachelor's degree holders took home a median wage of $1,432 per week, while workers with just a high school diploma earned only $853. That's a difference of 68%.

A bachelor's degree is typically a four-year program of university study that is comprehensive in nature and grants exposure to general study topics while in the pursuit of documented competency in a specific content area of study. The timeline for completion can vary, although four years is the common program length.

Degree completion programs are typically structured to allow persons who previously completed a substantial portion of the requirements for an undergraduate degree, but who have been separated from the university setting for a period of time, to complete the credit requirements needed to earn a bachelor's degree (B.A.) ...

The BDCP is a collegiate program that provides a financial incentive to college students to complete their baccalaureate degree and earn a commission as an unrestricted line officer (URL) upon successful completion of Officer Candidate School (OCS).

Each type of credential offers a different experience. For example, Pena said that a degree, by design, is “a much more expansive educational experience.” In contrast, a certificate is “more targeted and more specific to a particular domain or field of expertise.”