How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online? | St. Catherine University (2024)

Online degree programs offer many benefits that draw students to them. For example, the following advantages make online degree programs especially accessible and worthwhile.

Flexibility

Many people have hectic schedules with irregular work hours or family obligations that often prevent them from attending traditional college classes at set times. The structure of online bachelor’s programs, however, allows for a great deal of flexibility.

Courses for online degrees typically have asynchronous components that give students control over when they listen to a lecture, participate in a discussion, or ask a question. They also allow students to work at their own pace so long as they meet class deadlines. Asynchronous classes typically include prerecorded lectures and message boards for engaging in class discussion.

This structure offers considerable convenience. Not only does it allow students to arrange their classwork around their current life obligations, but it also allows them to study from their home, their place of work, or even a cafe.

Cost

Online bachelor’s degrees usually save students a lot of money. Many of the expenses associated with traditional degree programs don’t apply to online programs. To begin with, online degrees don’t require students to commute to attend class. This eliminates the need to spend money on gas and parking. It also frees up a considerable amount of time, which students can devote to their studies, jobs, or another activity.

Students of online programs don’t have to relocate to a new city or state. A computer and internet connection transport them to exactly where they need to be. Additionally, many online courses use texts available electronically, which are frequently cheaper than regular textbooks.

Location

Online bachelor’s programs allow students to attend universities across the country without the need to uproot their lives and move to a new place. This can be especially helpful to people living in rural areas that may not have colleges or universities. In general, this makes higher education more accessible to a greater number of people.

It also provides students with many more options. For example, if a local school doesn’t offer a degree program, students can still earn their desired degree without the need to locate. With online degree programs, the pool of school options expands considerably.

Career Advancement

Higher levels of education open up many job opportunities. Many companies reserve management positions for those with at least a bachelor’s degree. Advanced education also often leads to much higher salaries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that professionals with a bachelor’s degree earn median weekly salaries of $1,305. Those with only a high school diploma earn $781, about half as much.

With an online bachelor’s degree, professionals can get raises, enter new careers, and apply for more competitive positions. Even before graduating, students can apply their new knowledge and skills to their current jobs and get promotions as a result.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online? | St. Catherine University (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online? | St. Catherine University? ›

Depending on a specific program's requirements and a student's prior education, the answer is anywhere between two and six years. However long it takes, students who choose online programs benefit in numerous ways. Discover the many online bachelor's programs offered at St.

How fast can you complete an online bachelor's degree? ›

How Total Program Credits Influence Online Degree Completion Time
Degree LevelNumber of CreditsTime to Completion
Associate602 years
Bachelor's1204 years
Master's36 to 541 to 3 years
Doctorate36 to 453 to 5 years

How long does it take to get a bachelors degree in education online? ›

Online education bachelor's degrees generally take 120 credits or so to complete, and usually take four years, which is similar to most other online bachelor's degree programs. To be successful in these degree programs, students should have an interest in educational theory and a passion for helping others.

How quickly can you complete a bachelor's degree? ›

While a bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete, that time can vary — especially if you're earning an online bachelor's degree. At Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), students pursuing their bachelor's degree online typically take one or two courses per term.

How long does it take to finish an online college course? ›

Most online undergraduate courses will require about six to eight hours of study apiece each week. Online courses may take anywhere from four to 16 weeks to complete. Now that you know how many hours a week for online college you can make an informed decision about your education.

Can I finish a bachelor degree in 1 year? ›

If there is an university or a college allows students to graduate in a year, then you can, but most of schools have 4 semester-curriculum at least. For my university(8 semester-curriculum), my school lets students graduate in five semesters only if the students have 4.0 GPA out of 4.5.

Can I finish a bachelor degree in 2 years? ›

Online schools often offer accelerated programs designed to help you graduate quickly. These programs condense traditional four-year bachelor's degree curriculums into shorter time frames, allowing you to earn your degree in two to three years.

Is it faster to get a degree online? ›

Schedule Differences. Because online degrees are self-paced, it is certainly possible for someone to finish their degree faster than if they had gone to a traditional college. At a traditional college, you have the usual fall and spring semesters, and limited class offerings over the summer.

Can you finish an online degree early? ›

While it is possible to complete an online degree early, how quickly you can complete it will depend on the specific program and the policies of the online institution offering it.

Can I teach online with just a bachelor's degree? ›

You can pursue a variety of online teaching jobs from home with only a bachelor's degree, even if your degree is not in education. Although many online schools prefer teachers with certification, demand is growing for teachers, tutors, and test scorers without professional licensing.

What is the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree? ›

How to Earn a Bachelor's Degree Fast: 7 Methods to Try
  1. Choose a Major With an Accelerated Degree. ...
  2. Test Out of Courses. ...
  3. Earn Professional Certifications. ...
  4. Earn Credits While in High School. ...
  5. Take Summer Courses. ...
  6. Earn Credits While Working. ...
  7. Take Self-Paced Online College Courses.
Mar 20, 2024

What is the cheapest way to get a bachelor degree? ›

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get a Bachelor's Degree in the U.S.?
  • Community College. ...
  • Scholarships and Grants. ...
  • State Residency Advantages. ...
  • Public Institutions Instead of Private. ...
  • Online Universities. ...
  • Attend Part Time While Working. ...
  • Dual Enrollment Programs in High School. ...
  • Consider Less Expensive Regions.

What's the quickest degree to get? ›

Here are your options.
  1. Business Administration. Business administration programs offer a comprehensive education in diverse aspects of business management. ...
  2. Computer Science. ...
  3. Accounting. ...
  4. Management. ...
  5. Management Information Systems. ...
  6. Social Work. ...
  7. Psychology. ...
  8. Counseling.
7 days ago

Are online college degrees taken seriously? ›

As many as 83% of business leaders see an online degree at a “well-known” institution as having the same value as an on-campus degree. If they are not familiar with a school, however, or the institution isn't known for producing prepared graduates from its programs, your degree may not be seen as having the same value.

How many hours a day does online college take? ›

For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit. In other words, if a student is signed up for two or three courses during a session and each course is worth three credits, that student should plan to spend between 36 to 54 hours a week on course work.

Is it harder to do online college? ›

But in many cases, an online degree is more challenging for students because it requires more self-discipline and motivation to "take an active part in their learning," Mathes says. And, like residential students, online students need to maintain academic integrity when completing assignments and taking exams.

What is the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree online? ›

The quickest way to obtain a bachelor's degree is through an accelerated program that shortens the time needed for completion. They allow students the chance to fast-track their path to a degree, saving both time and money in college costs.

What is the easiest bachelor's degree to get online? ›

Easiest Online Majors
  • Humanities.
  • Liberal Arts.
  • Linguistics.
  • Music.
  • Psychology.
  • Religious Studies.
  • Social Work.
  • Sociology.

Are online bachelor's degrees respected? ›

Online programs aren't necessarily more affordable, but they can be. Just like degrees earned on campus, online degrees are widely respected by employers.

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