Best Accelerated Online Bachelor’s Degrees of 2025

A degree could be one of the most significant investments of your life. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as of 2024, U.S. student loan debt totaled $1.62 trillion. Fortunately, a range of program formats can help you graduate faster — and with less debt.

One way to optimize savings and start your career sooner is by pursuing an accelerated bachelor’s degree online. You can earn college credits on your own terms from anywhere in the world and at a faster pace than a traditional four-year program.

Our rankings below cover some of the best online accelerated bachelor’s degrees.

An accelerated bachelor’s degree program is a pathway that allows you to graduate faster than the traditional four-year timeline. You’ll learn the same material as you would in a four-year bachelor’s degree program but in far less time — as little as two or three years. These degrees require heavier course loads and more rigorous study.

Some colleges also offer accelerated combined bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, also known as dual degree programs, to help you further your career even faster.

If you choose to pursue an accelerated bachelor’s degree online, you can complete your degree from the comfort of your home. You may also save on tuition, as many online programs charge lower tuition rates than their on-campus counterparts.

The following degrees are some of the more common majors offered in an accelerated format. Work with your school’s academic and career advisors to see what accelerated degrees they offer, and choose the program that best meets your needs.

Want to launch your accounting career quickly? Enroll in an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in accounting. You’ll sharpen your analytical skills while learning how to create and evaluate financial documents.

After graduation, you can work as an accountant or auditor. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these roles pay a median annual salary of $79,880 as of May 2023.

Did you know that a business degree can prepare you for over 50 different business careers? An accelerated program can fast-track your business education. Work in marketing, finance, human resources, or another field with a bachelor’s in business administration.

Business and finance careers also report above-average earnings, with a median annual salary of $79,050 per year (BLS, May 2023).

Tech is a growing field, with many computer and IT occupations projected to increase faster than average from 2023-2033. An accelerated computer science degree can help you join the job market faster. After earning your degree, you’ll qualify for in-demand tech fields like software development.

In addition to strong demand, software developers report a high median annual salary of $132,270 (BLS, May 2023).

You can become a teacher with an accelerated bachelor’s degree in education. You can also work in early childhood education or pursue other education careers. Elementary school teachers earn a median annual salary of $63,680 (BLS, May 2023). You can boost your earning potential by moving into administrative roles.

Curious about nonclinical careers in healthcare? An accelerated healthcare administration degree might be a good fit. You’ll study healthcare finances and learn how to manage healthcare data.

With a healthcare administration degree, you can work as a health information technician, medical office administrator, or nursing home manager. Medical and health services managers make a median annual salary of $110,680 (BLS, May 2023).

Sharpen your research and analytical skills with an accelerated bachelor’s degree program in marketing. As you prepare for exciting marketing careers, you’ll study competitor analysis, consumer research, and pricing strategy.

As a marketing major, you can qualify for jobs such as public relations specialist or market research analyst. On top of being in high demand, market research analysts earn a median annual salary of $74,680 (BLS, May 2023).

An online accelerated nursing degree program can help you fast-track your nursing career. Look for an online BSN program to earn credit for work experience or previous certifications such as licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN). If you’re an RN, accelerated programs can be completed in as little as one year.

After graduation from a BSN program​, you’ll qualify for specialized nursing careers in acute care, pediatrics, and primary care. RNs report median annual wages of $86,070 per year (BLS, May 2023), making a nursing degree a potentially worthwhile career investment.

Dive into the human psyche as a psychology major. You’ll study human development, behaviors, and personality disorders during your accelerated psychology degree program.

With this degree, you’ll qualify for careers for psych majors in social services, the nonprofit sector, and analytical fields. Alternatively, you can continue your education to become a psychologist.

If your goal is to enter the workforce quickly or enroll in a dual master’s degree program, an accelerated degree program is one of the best ways you can reach your goals sooner. However, it takes drive and determination since you’re condensing the workload into a shorter time.

To succeed in an accelerated online bachelor’s degree program, you’ll need to be self-motivated and possess strong time management skills, especially in an online environment with more asynchronous work.

For those reasons, getting an accelerated bachelor’s degree online isn’t for everyone. If you’re not looking for a faster degree program or you require more support to stay motivated, an accelerated online program may not be a good fit.