The article ‘Graduating Early from College’ gives an overview of college degree programs which allow you to graduate ahead of the normal completion time. It also highlights the importance and the benefits of graduating early from college.

1. Graduating Early from College
The value of a college degree is unquestionable; as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,1
bachelor’s degree holders earn on average $520 more a week than a high school graduate. Plus with a
struggling economy, there is greater competition for employment, and employers are spoiled for choice
when it comes to candidates. The stamp of a college degree can give you that extra edge you need to be
chosen over the many applicants vying for the same job as you.
However, many students cannot afford to pursue a traditional college education and hold down a full-time
job simultaneously. Rather than opting out of college altogether, it is better to pick programs and colleges
that will allow you to graduate from college faster, while allowing you to hold a job.
Planning your future early can facilitate the early completion of your college degree; as a high school
student, taking AP courses and receiving high scores in them can help you get college credits that will
speed you to early college graduation. But there are also options for those who are on their way out of
high school and/or don’t have the required AP classes. Several accredited secondary education
institutions offer expedited college programs that allow students to complete their degree in less than the
normal amount of time. While you will need to pack more courses and credits into a single semester, the
amount of time saved may be well worth the effort.
One of the major benefits of graduating early from college is that it can show potential employers that you
are a driven, motivated, competent individual who has the ability to take on challenges and complete what
you begin in less time than the rest of the class. Also, you may have the benefit of beating the
employment rush that takes place every May and June, which is when most college students graduate
and start looking for work. Or, because you’ll be ahead of your peers, you can utilize that extra time
instead. Take a well-deserved break, figure out what you want to do next, or gain extra skills that college
degrees don’t provide but are preferred by employers in your line of work—you’ll still be able to seek
employment or admission to master’s degree programs at the same time as your peers who did not
graduate early.
Graduating early from college can also allow you to apply your education to your profession much sooner,
which means you’ll be able to start saving money and paying off debts earlier, helping to secure your
financial future. All in all, as long as you are willing to put in a little extra hard work, graduating early can
be a very wise course of action.
1
bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf