Best Online Degree Completion Programs of 2026
- Best Degree Completion Programs
- What Is a Degree Completion Program?
- Benefits of Completion Programs
- Is a Completion Program Right for You?
- FAQ
More than 43 million Americans have started college, but never finished their degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse. If you’re one of them, a degree completion program can help you pick up where you left off and move forward with new career opportunities, or even graduate school.
Degree completion programs let you apply previous college credits, an associate degree, or relevant experience toward a bachelor’s degree. Designed with adult learners in mind, these online programs often feature flexible, asynchronous formats that let you work on your own schedule while shortening your time to graduation and lowering costs.
Explore the best online degree completion programs, their benefits, how they work, and whether they’re a good fit for you.
5 Best Bachelor’s Completion Programs Online
Bellevue University — Best Degree Completion Programs for Associate-Degree Holders and Military Members
- Bellevue, NE
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: Offers Cohort-Model Completion Programs Across 25+ Majors for Students Who've Earned an Associate Degree or Have Military Experience
Bellevue University offers more than 25 online bachelor’s degree completion programs for associate degree holders and military members. You can transfer your full associate degree, or if you’re a military member or veteran, apply credit from your experience toward your program. Bellevue's completion programs use cohort formats, in which you progress through courses with the same group of peers for added support. New cohorts start every month. Majors include behavioral science, cybersecurity, legal studies, and management.
Why Attend Bellevue Online:
- Transfer-Friendly: Apply a completed associate degree, college credits, or military and professional experience toward your bachelor’s degree.
- Military Savings: Military-affiliated students and veterans pay $250 per credit hour, about half the standard tuition rate.
- Cohort Model: Cohort groups begin every month, with courses offered in six-week, 10-week, and 12-week formats throughout the year.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Tuition is $449 per credit for online students (excluding the military rate).
- To qualify for a degree completion program, you must have an associate degree, prior college credits, or military experience.
97%
$8,136
51%
$8,136
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 14,476
- Institution Type
- Private
Charter Oak State College — Most Affordable School to Complete Your Bachelor's Degree
- New Britain, CT
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: Offers the Lowest Tuition Rates for Online Degree Completion Programs for All Students
Charter Oak State allows students to complete their bachelor's degrees through a variety of options, including past college credits, work experience, and previous coursework. Charter Oak offers 11 online bachelor's degree completion programs at a competitive rate of $348 per credit, and allows you to transfer up to 87 credits. Majors include business administration, criminal justice, and health information management.
Why Attend Charter Oak State Online:
- Prior Learning Credit: Earn credit for past experience, including licenses, training, and military service, to earn your bachelor's degree more quickly.
- Low Cost: Pay a low rate of about $348 per credit hour for all online students, regardless of your state residency.
- Customized Learning: Create independent study experiences tailored to your goals.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- Expect to pay $305 in technology and student services fees per semester.
- Ten of the 11 degree completion programs are BS degrees; the other is a BA in sociology.
N/A
$7,896
100%
$7,896
- Acceptance Rate
- N/A
- Students Enrolled
- 1,766
- Institution Type
- Public
Florida Atlantic University — Best Completion Program for a Versatile, Career-Focused Undergraduate Degree
- Boca Raton, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: Offers a Bachelor of Professional Studies Program Focused on Applied Learning and Real-World Career Skills for Working Professionals
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) offers an online bachelor of professional studies degree completion program with an emphasis on practical, high-demand skills. You can customize your studies with courses that align with your professional goals in areas such as leadership, global studies, and communication. Florida Atlantic University is also transfer-friendly, allowing you to apply your prior college credits so you can earn your bachelor's degree quickly.
Why Attend FAU Online:
- Career-Focused Skills: Build high-demand workforce skills in management, leadership, technology, and communication.
- Customizable Curriculum: Choose courses that align with your professional interests across leadership, global studies, communication, and management.
- Transfer Friendly: Apply prior college credits to earn your degree with as few as 30 additional credits.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You must have prior college credits to qualify for this degree completion program.
- Tuition costs about $203 per credit for Florida residents and about $722 for non-Florida residents.
69%
$ 2,522
84%
$14,374
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Students Enrolled
- 31,607
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Maine at Presque Isle — Best School to Complete Your Degree at Your Own Pace
- Presque Isle, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: Offers a Unique YourPace Program Across 20 Majors That Lets You Finish Your Degree at Your Own Speed
The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) offers 20 online degree programs for working adults seeking a relatively affordable and flexible pathway to complete their bachelor’s degree. Using a competency-based model with flat-rate tuition, you can progress through courses at your own pace. Finishing more courses each session means you pay less overall. Majors include business, psychology, healthcare, and criminal justice.
Why Attend UMPI Online:
- Competency-Based Learning: Earn credit for what you already know through prior work, training, or college experience.
- Self-Paced Courses: Advance as soon as you demonstrate mastery of a topic, with no fixed weekly deadlines.
- Save Money: With self-paced learning, you can pay less overall by moving through your courses more quickly.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You pay a flat rate of $1,800 per session (semester) as an undergraduate student.
- Programs are organized in eight-week sessions, but you can take as much time as you need to complete them.
- Your pace depends on your experience, study time, and the number of courses you complete each session.
68%
$ 7,650
73%
$12,840
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Students Enrolled
- 2,187
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Texas at El Paso — Best School for General and Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Completion Programs
- El Paso, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose It: Offers Three Flexible, Interdisciplinary Degree Completion Paths Designed to Support a Wide Range of Career and Educational Goals
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers three online bachelor’s degree completion programs: a bachelor of applied arts and sciences (BAAS), a bachelor of business administration (BBA) in general business, and a bachelor of multidisciplinary studies (BMS). With programs designed for students who have already earned prior college or technical credits, UTEP stands out for its personalized, career-aligned pathways that let you earn your bachelor’s degree faster and tailored to your professional goals.
Why Attend UTEP Online:
- Customized Learning: Design an individualized study path with multiple concentrations and interdisciplinary themes.
- Multiple Options: Choose from BAAS, BBA in general business, or BMS completion programs, each one designed to equip you with career-ready skills.
- Professional Skill-Building: Earn free Coursera certificates in the BAAS and BMS programs to enhance your credentials.
What to Know Before You Apply:
- You must have an associate in applied arts and science to qualify for admission to the UTEP's online BAAS program.
- Tuition costs between $414 and $540 per credit for in-state and out-of-state students.
47%
$ 7,704
77%
$23,472
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Students Enrolled
- 24,351
- Institution Type
- Public
What Is a Degree Completion Program?
Degree completion programs are designed to help students with college credits finish their bachelor’s degree programs. Most programs require 30-60 credits to apply, and some accept up to 90 credits toward the degree, allowing you to finish a bachelor’s program in 1-2 years.
| Factor | Degree Completion Program | Traditional Degree Program |
|---|---|---|
| Average Length of Time to Complete | 1-3 years, depending on the number of transfer credits you have | Four years |
| Transfer Credits Required for Admission? | Yes | No |
| Number of Transfer Credits Required for Admission | 30-60 (number varies by school and program) | None |
| Total Credits Required to Earn Bachelor’s Degree | 120 | 120 |
| Degree Earned Upon Graduation | Bachelor’s degree | Bachelor’s degree |
Many degree completion programs also offer part-time options or accelerated programs to fit your schedule and professional goals. Depending on the program, you may pursue a specific major like English, economics, or psychology. Some programs offer broader options, such as a general studies degree.
How Does a Degree Completion Program Work?
Degree completion programs admit students with prior college experience. You’ll receive transfer credit for previous courses you finished at other schools. You’ll then take the courses required to earn a bachelor’s degree.
While many online colleges offer degree completion programs, you can also earn your degree with any bachelor’s program that accepts transfer credits. You’ll submit transcripts for a transfer credit evaluation to determine how many credits you’ll need to graduate.
Benefits of Online Degree Completion Programs
A bachelor’s degree can help you advance your career and increase your earning potential. Many career paths require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, and 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics marks a difference of over $27,000 a year between the annual salary of a person with a bachelor’s degree and a person who has some college but no degree.
Earning a bachelor’s degree is an investment, and finishing it online can be a more flexible way to reach that payoff.
5 Reasons You Should Complete Your Bachelor’s Degree Online:
- Complete the degree on your schedule.
- Reduce the total costs of your bachelor’s degree by earning your degree faster.
- Use previously earned credits to advance your career.
- Learn from anywhere on a flexible schedule.
- Increase your earning potential after graduation.
Removing Barriers to Earn a Degree
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that as of 2024, 61% of undergraduate students earned their bachelor’s degree within six years, meaning 39% did not complete their bachelor’s program. Some students leave college because of work or family obligations, while others face financial barriers. A degree completion program can help these students use prior college credits to earn their degrees.
Is an Online Degree Completion Program Right for You?
If you have credits from a previously unfinished degree or you have an associate degree, an online bachelor’s degree completion program may be a great fit for you. Many online degree completion programs let you complete coursework and classes on your own schedule, making them especially appealing if you have work and family obligations.
Online degree completion programs can also help you save money. By pursuing a bachelor’s degree online, you can compare schools nationwide to find the most affordable option. Just make sure the degree completion program is fully accredited so you can qualify for federal financial aid opportunities.
Are You a Good Fit for a Degree Completion Program?
Yes, If You…
- Have earned an associate degree and wish to pursue a four-year degree
- Started a bachelor’s degree but did not finish it
- Have years of career and life experience that can be converted into credits
- Are a veteran or service member wanting to convert your experience into credits
If you fall into any of these categories, a completion program may be a great fit for you.
No, If You…
- Have few or no prior college credits (or very little work experience)
- Have college credits from an unaccredited school (these credits are non-transferable)
- Have previous college credits, but prefer a normal pace and a structured learning environment
- Have previous college credits, but your desired degree (and career path) requires specialized prerequisites or training
If you fall into any of these categories, a completion program may not be a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Degree Completion Programs
Accelerated degree programs allow you to graduate sooner by taking a higher course load or taking courses year-round. Unlike degree completion programs, accelerated programs typically do not require you to hold and transfer previously earned credits.
Some accelerated degree programs also combine a bachelor’s and master’s degree, allowing you to earn both credentials in around five years. In contrast, a degree completion program allows you to transfer previously earned college credits or to utilize an associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree faster.
