Three-Year College Degrees Gain Traction in U.S. as Solution to Affordability Crisis
Three-year bachelor's degree programs are gaining popularity across the U.S., with 26 states now hosting at least one college offering reduced-credit options. These programs allow students to complete their degrees with as few as 90 credit hours, shaving a year off the traditional 120-hour bachelor's degree. This acceleration is seen as a direct response to the escalating costs of higher education, with tuition and fees averaging $11,950 for in-state public schools and $45,000 for private nonprofits. The shift is partly enabled by a change in accreditation standards, with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities being the first to approve reduced-credit programs in 2023, followed by other accreditors. While common in other countries, this model is a significant departure for the U.S. higher education system, which largely adopted the four-year format in the 19th century. 
