Has the Three-Year Degree’s Time Finally Come?

At least on paper, earning a college diploma in three years instead of four is the obvious move. Because the average bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours, the student in a hurry needs merely to take 18 hours of coursework for six straight semesters, then supplement that learning with six credit hours during both of his summer breaks. Should he be in possession of Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment credits, his road is all the smoother. CLEP tests, too, can clear the path, knocking general-education requirements aside like ducks in a shooting gallery.

So why don’t more students avail themselves of this option? The easiest answer is that it sounds hard, especially to an 18-year-old who believes, increasingly falsely, that college is going to be more difficult than high school. As the National Student Clearinghouse reported in 2022, the average first-time, full-time student attempts fewer than 27 credits and earns fewer than 22 across his entire freshman year. In most instances, this means that our 18-credit-per-semester dynamo will be taking one or even two more classes than his peers at any given time. (A typical college class is three credit hours.) Moreover, he lacks the luxury of occasionally slacking off. Even a single “F” will put our man hopelessly behind schedule.

About the Author

Graham Hillard

Graham Hillard is a former English professor and the TV critic for the Washington Examiner magazine.

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At least on paper, earning a college diploma in three years instead of four is the obvious move. Because the average bachelor’s degree requires 120 credit hours, the student in a hurry needs merely to take 18 hours of coursework for six straight semesters, then supplement that learning with six credit hours during both of his summer breaks. Should he be in possession of Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment credits, his road is all the smoother. CLEP tests, too, can clear the path, knocking general-education requirements aside like ducks in a shooting gallery.

So why don’t more students avail themselves of this option? The easiest answer is that it sounds hard, especially to an 18-year-old who believes, increasingly falsely, that college is going to be more difficult than high school. As the National Student Clearinghouse reported in 2022, the average first-time, full-time student attempts fewer than 27 credits and earns fewer than 22 across his entire freshman year. In most instances, this means that our 18-credit-per-semester dynamo will be taking one or even two more classes than his peers at any given time. (A typical college class is three credit hours.) Moreover, he lacks the luxury of occasionally slacking off. Even a single “F” will put our man hopelessly behind schedule.