Several institutions offer accelerated 3-year bachelor's degree programs that allow students to graduate more quickly through methods like accepting transfer credits, prior learning assessments, competency-based learning, and compressed course schedules. Data shows high percentages of students at Chamberlain College of Nursing and DeVry University graduate in 3 years or less, with benefits for both students and schools, such as reduced costs, expanded career and graduate study opportunities, and increased access to education.

1. 90%
39%
Nationally, 2.3% of students attending
4-year schools graduate in three years.
of students graduate in
three years or less
of students graduate in
three years or less
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Most Popular Degree Programs:
Students entering DeVry University
with less than 10 transfer credits,
1 in 3 will graduate in three years or less.
HOW IS IT DONE?
Accepting credits from Advanced
Placement and dual enrollment
courses.
Prior Learning:
Integrates courses across the
curriculum, reducing redundancies
and taking into account the level of
a students knowledge and skills.
Competency-Based Learning:
The most widely known method.
Extends the traditional school
calendar to include summer and
inter-term courses.
Compressed Learning:
A traditional 4-year Bachelor’s degree can be earned in as few as
Transfer
Credits Graduating in Three Years or less
Half of new students entering
Chamberlain College of Nursing
will graduate in three years or less.
0
01-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
0
01-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
50%
80%
65%
82%
97%
95%
98%
21%
33%
38%
54%
67%
71%
74%
Transfer
Credits Graduating in Three Years or less
0
01-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
0
01-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
50%
80%
65%
82%
97%
95%
98%
21%
33%
38%
54%
67%
71%
74%
Minority
GRADS 32%
Minority
GRADS 43%
DATA ON THREE YEAR GRADUATES
Female
GRADS 87%
U.S. Department of Education DeVry University
Female
GRADS 32%
Management
97% 83% 73% 70%
Clinical Laboratory
Science
Technical
Management
Multi-Media Design
and Development
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
A 2012 article published in The Chronicle of Higher Education
challenges the viability of earning a bachelor’s degree in three
years as one possible approach to higher education reform.
The article cites minimum levels of participation in existing
accelerated programs and no demand for new programs from
today’s students as reasons not to develop or promote avenues
to decrease the time it takes to earn a post-secondary degree.
At DeVry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing, a
significant portion of students we serve are earning bachelor’s
degrees in three years or less. A clear sign of students desire to
take advantage of a successful compressed education model.
DeVry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing are providing the flexibility for students to graduate in three years or less, a stark
contrast from public and independent sector institutions, and meeting a very real demand for accelerated degree programs.
Sources: Daniel Hurley and Thomas Harnisch, The Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree:
Reform Measure or Red Herring? September 2012. The Los Angeles Times.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Institutional data, 2012. DeVry University
and Chamberlain College of Nursing are subsidiaries of DeVry Inc. © 2013 DeVry
Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved.
University of California’s Commission on the Future estimates that if 5 to 10 percent of undergraduates
finished their degrees one term earlier, the university could educate 2,000 to 4,000 more students annually.
3-years by implementing one or more of the following models:
Registered Nursing is projected to have
the largest job growth by the year 2020
1/3 projected fastest growing occupations are related to health care
712,000 NEW
JOBS
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
among 2011-2012 students who graduated in three years or less
Improved Utilization of
Campus Facilities
By expanding the traditional academic
calendar to include summer and inter-
term courses
Increased Capacity
Expanding access to programs will result
in serving more students
Substantial benefits of accelerated degree
programs exist for both students and schools.
3-YEAR
Bachelor’s
DEGREE
THE REAL NEED FOR A
Benefits for Students:
Reduce Tuition Costs
An accelerated degree can protect
students from increases in tuition costs
Lower Opportunity Costs
Defined as wages foregone while a
student is in school
Expanded Path to
Graduate Programs
Graduate and undergraduate programs
can be combined or students can be on
the path to graduate level studies sooner
Flexible Work or
Internship Opportunities
Changing the traditional academic
calendar can expand opportunities for
year-round internships
Improved Utilization of
High School
Students can take advanced placement
or dual enrollment courses that can
count towards a bachelor’s degree
Clear Path to Completion
Accelerated degrees typically offer
students a predictable and structured
path to graduation
Benefits for the Institution:
Increased Student and
Faculty Productivity
Streamlining degree requirements can
create more robust course offerings