If you’ve previously earned college credits but didn’t graduate, you may consider returning to school online to finish your bachelor’s degree. The good news is that you have options, including degree completion programs and traditional four-year bachelor’s programs.
However, there are a few factors to consider when deciding if completing a bachelor’s degree online is the right step for you. Keep reading to learn more about how transfer credits work, program duration, and the pros and cons of online bachelor’s programs.
Degree Completion Programs vs. Traditional Degree Programs
Degree completion programs are explicitly designed to help students finish their bachelor’s degrees in as little time as possible. Their curriculums are built to maximize the number of credits students can transfer into the program.
Some degree completion programs will accept up to 75% of the credits toward a bachelor’s. Other programs target individuals who already have an associate degree in their area of study, allowing them to complete the remaining 60 credits worth of coursework in two years or less.
Meanwhile, students with only a few college credits may find that a traditional four-year bachelor’s program is the best option. This can mean returning to the program you previously attended or transferring to a new college. A traditional four-year online program allows students to enroll at the level they were at in their previous degree program.
Pros and Cons of an Online Degree Completion Program
Pros
- Faster completion time: Degree completion programs are designed to help students finish their degrees as quickly as possible. While this may mean taking a rigorous full-time course load, it’s an ideal option if you have the required number of credits, want to complete your degree as soon as possible, and are motivated and committed.
- Flexibility: For individuals who work, care for family, or manage other responsibilities, the flexible nature of online bachelor’s programs makes it easier to fit coursework into daily life. When researching programs, note whether classes are synchronous or asynchronous, which can impact how the program fits into your schedule.
- Accessibility: These programs also give more students access to more educational opportunities. Students don’t have to choose between the programs offered at nearby colleges or moving to a new location to get the degree they want. Additionally, virtually attending classes may be easier for students with physical disabilities or different learning styles.
Cons
- Students must meet credit requirements: Most degree completion programs require that students have a minimum number of transferable credits to be eligible. Students who don’t meet these requirements can still complete their bachelor’s online but may have to do so through a traditional four-year program.
- Not compatible with all learning styles: Online learning can present unique challenges to students, especially those who previously attended college in a traditional in-person setting. These include managing time, staying motivated and focused, and connecting with faculty and classmates. Before committing to an online bachelor’s program, assessing your learning style is a good way to ensure this is the right path for you.
- Requires technology skills: Another challenge online students sometimes face is handling the technical aspects of online learning. While most programs offer tech support, students need to be adept at setting up equipment, troubleshooting issues, and communicating via email, video calls, and discussion forums.
How Long Will It Take to Complete My Bachelor’s Degree Online?
Once again, the answer to this question varies by student based on individual experience and needs.
What remains the same in all situations is that a standard bachelor’s degree requires 120 college credits. Most bachelor’s degree programs are designed to be completed in four years of full-time study, with students taking 30 credits each academic year.
However, many factors can impact the specific length of time it takes students to earn their 120 credits, and it’s not uncommon for students to take more than four years to complete their degrees.
Some key factors that will impact how long it takes to finish your bachelor’s include the following.
How many credits you’ve already earned
The more credits you’ve already earned towards your bachelor’s degree, the sooner you’ll be able to complete the rest of the requirements and graduate. That’s why, if you’re applying to a new program, it’s important to submit transcripts from all schools you attended with your application. Even if you only took one or two classes at a community college, you may get credit for them, bringing you that much closer to your bachelor’s.
How many credits your new school accepts
This is only a consideration for students applying to a different college, but it’s important. Each school has its own policy for accepting transfer credits, but schools may deny students credit for courses they failed, aren’t current enough, or don’t apply to the student’s new program of study. This will affect how many classes you need to complete at your new institution.
Pace of the program
Once you enroll in a new program, how quickly you complete classes will impact when you graduate. Full-time students will finish sooner than part-time students. You can expedite the degree completion process by enrolling in an accelerated program, taking the maximum number of credits allowed each term, or enrolling in summer classes.
Will My Credits Transfer to a New School?
For students who are transferring to a different school to finish their bachelor’s degrees, one of the biggest considerations is whether the new college will accept their credits.
As part of the application process, you’ll submit your official college transcripts, which the school will evaluate. With your acceptance, you should receive an official transfer credit evaluation confirming how many transfer credits are being accepted and what courses in the new program you’re receiving credit for.
Review the information available for transfer students on the school’s website to get clarity on these questions. Many schools offer tools to help students estimate how many credits will transfer and if they’re eligible for degree completion programs. You can also contact the school’s admissions office or transfer counselors directly for more information.
Each institution has its own policies and procedures regarding transfer credits. However, there are a few basic factors that influence whether a school will accept credits.
Accreditation status of institution(s) where you previously earned credits
Colleges in the United States typically have either regional or national accreditation. Generally, regionally accredited institutions only accept transfer credits from other regionally accredited schools. Meanwhile, nationally accredited schools will usually accept credits from both types of institutions. This is important to keep in mind if you’re currently looking for a school to transfer to a different institution to finish your degree.
Articulation agreements
Does the school you previously attended have articulation agreements with any four-year institutions? If so, you may want to consider those schools first, as an articulation agreement means the new school will accept all credits you earned in your previous program. Applying to a school without an articulation agreement may impact how many transfer credits are accepted.
Minimum grade requirements
Each school sets its own policies for minimum grade requirements. Generally, you must have at least passed a course to get credit for it from your new school. However, some schools or programs may have minimum letter grades or GPA score requirements to transfer credits. Schools may or may not give credit for pass/fail or audited courses.
When you earned your credits
The length of time that’s passed since you acquired your credits is also a factor. Most schools will only accept credits earned within a specific time frame, typically within the last 5-10 years. This ensures that a student’s knowledge is still relevant and accurate based on new developments in their field of study.
What type of coursework you’ve completed
Another key part of the transfer credit evaluation process is determining how previously earned coursework aligns with your new program of study’s requirements. That’s why general education requirements, like English, math, and humanities courses, are usually the easiest to transfer. The process can be trickier when it comes to specialized coursework, especially if you’re completing your degree in a different major.
If you have questions or concerns about your transfer credit evaluation, discuss them with your admissions counselor. You want to ensure you receive the maximum amount of credit possible from your new bachelor’s program.
Where Should I Complete My Online Bachelor’s Degree?
A key decision students must make is whether to complete their online bachelor’s degree at the same school where they previously studied or to transfer to a new institution.
In some cases, the decision may be made for you. For example, if you previously attended a two-year community college, you’ll have to transfer to a four-year institution to get a bachelor’s degree. Or maybe the school you previously attended doesn’t offer an online program in your area of study, so you have to find an institution that meets your current needs.
If you were previously enrolled in a bachelor’s program and left, you’ll want to consider why. Perhaps tuition was too expensive, or you weren’t satisfied with the quality of your program. In these cases, you might be better off looking for a program at a school that’s a better fit.
However, if you can return to the school where you previously earned credits, this is typically the easiest way to complete your bachelor’s degree. Depending on the school’s policies, you might be able to re-enroll simply by filling out some paperwork and paying a fee.
Academically, you’ll likely pick up right where you left off without needing to apply or go through a transfer credit review process. However, confirming all the requirements for re-enrollment with your institution is best.
Should I Finish My Bachelor’s Degree Online?
There are dozens of reasons students don’t finish their bachelor’s degrees. Perhaps your life circumstances changed, and you needed to address personal health issues, raise children, or take care of family members. Maybe you couldn’t afford the program you were enrolled in, or you didn’t like your chosen field of study. Or perhaps you weren’t mentally or emotionally ready for higher education.
Getting clarity on why you paused your education will help you make a better-informed decision when choosing when and how to return to college. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you weigh your options:
- Do you need a flexible program that can work around personal or work responsibilities?
- What type of financial aid do you need?
- What challenges stopped you from finishing your degree the first time?
- Will finishing my degree help me meet my career goals?
- Does my learning style fit with the online environment?
- How long will it take to complete my degree?
- Will an online program give me the same resources and networking opportunities as on-campus students?
- How many college credits have you already earned, and how many will transfer to a new program?
- What was your level of satisfaction with your previous school and program?
- Are you continuing in the same field or switching majors?
Ultimately, it’s important to take the time to address any concerns or possible obstacles before you start to give yourself the best chance of finishing this time around.
The Best Online Bachelor’s Programs
Learn more about online bachelor’s degree programs with Intelligent.com’s list of the best online bachelor’s degree programs of 2024.
Interested in a degree instead?
Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.