wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. It never hurts to ask. Policies may also vary from one department to another. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2017. © 2021 Rasmussen College, LLC. Depending on your school’s policies, you may need to take an exam or create a prior learning portfolio in order to get prior learning credit. Ask to see if your work or life experience could qualify for credit. When choosing a community … Even if your college does not offer credit for past experience, there may be opportunities to capitalize on internship opportunities. Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees for a list of programs offered. Summer school once represented a student’s worst nightmare. While many employers require bachelor’s degrees, there are plenty of viable career options that you can pursue with an associate’s degree. The remaining 65% of transfer students move four-year to four-year, four-year to two-year or two-year to two-year. Attend an in-state school or community college, so that you can pay lower tuition rates. If you’re already asking yourselfhow to finish college faster, it’s clear you’ve got your goal in sight and the motivation to achieve it. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The school is ranked as one of the more-liberal colleges … Some fast-track programs offer extra guidance and support to make sure students can successfully complete the program in the allotted time. Typically, this degree takes a minimum of two years to complete, thus the new program shaves 50 percent off the standard time commitment for an associate’s. Knowing this, community colleges offer a high number of basic classes that will easily transfer to a four-year … Well, maybe not. If you’re ready to capitalize on your existing knowledge and experience, request more information to get into contact with an admissions advisor. Taking a few classes part-time can also help you feel better prepared for the pressure of going back to school full-time. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Taking advantage of the Summer school term will allow you to knock out another batch of credits, putting you one step closer to finishing your degree. wikiHow's. The true … An online option might not be available for certain hands-on or highly interactive courses, but it can be a godsend for others centered on reading and writing. Callie is the Content Manager at Collegis Education, overseeing blog content on behalf of Rasmussen College. Keep reading to learn about six opportunities you may have to speed up your higher education journey and begin life after college sooner. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018. Author Date within 1 day 3 days 1 week 2 weeks 1 month 2 months 6 months 1 year of Examples: Monday, today, last week, … Then again, I didn’t go to my actual college … Each course is worth a certain number of credits, … Some schools offer support groups for non-traditional students. She is passionate about creating quality resources that empower others to improve their lives through education. By using our site, you agree to our. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. This article has been viewed 17,727 times. College transfer is not one size fits all. If you’re motivated to finish college quickly and dive right into your chosen career, there are some things you can do to help achieve that goal. Here’s some advice to increase the likelihood of your credits transferring out. More info. 1. In these programs, you can earn college credit by taking the same courses as students at a nearby community college. I recall a mention of some sort of “commencement” from community college but I didn’t go and no one I knew did either. This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen College to support its educational programs. This is a way to save some money during the initial years. Additionally, some schools may offer credit to students with military experience or time spent working abroad. Take two summer courses at the CCC then you can apply in November and should be able to easily reach … Summer classes tend to be condensed into a shorter period of time than regular term courses, so be prepared for a more fast-paced, intense learning experience. You’ll progress through your assignments by proving what you know, working as quickly or slowly as needed to master the required concepts. Also, there is more time to … References. While students may choose to return to school at any time, historically, adult re-entry or non-traditional students are generally 25 years or older. While this model is still fairly new to the higher-education scene, competency-based learning is generating increased interest and awareness nationwide. But those negative connotations are quickly changing—particularly if you’re determined to quickly earn a degree. This would equate to 5-8 college courses a semester. You can also get through college faster by limiting your time spent on other commitments. As you think about whether to begin your college career at a two-year institution, consider the following pros and … There is no obligation to enroll. Utilize these tips to get the most bang for your tuition bucks and acquire the practical knowledge and training you need to advance your career. That doesn’t exactly look wonderful. For some, the ship has already sailed for this option. Average Community College … Complete your associate's degree. One such institution, Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana, offers a program that helps students earn an associate's degree in just one year. EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016. What percentage of college students drop out after the first year? Some institutions allow students to test out of general education courses if they prove they have mastered the subject matter. These courses often allow you to work at a more flexible pace and save you the time of commuting to and from class every day. The types of degrees offered is one of the main differences between community colleges and four-year colleges and universities, Shanna Smith Jaggars, assistant vice provost of research and … At Rasmussen College, 67 percent of program requirements may be completed by transfer credits, course waivers or other means—so there’s a lot of ways to potentially save on time in college.2 Not all six of these options will be feasible for everyone, but the right combination may help you find the fastest way to finish college. Thread Can I finish 60 credit hours at a community college in a year and a half? The CCRC states that 81% of community college students intend to transfer to a four-year university upon graduation. Talk to your school counselor or AP Coordinator about applying for a reduced fee. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college. Can my child earn credentials at a community college? To find these programs, search for schools that offer accelerated programs for “adult” or “continuing” learners. There are 27 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. 08.10.2020, Kirsten Slyter | This can have a detrimental effect on your bottom line because, as a general rule of thumb, earnings increase with education level, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1 This is likely one of the reasons you want to finish your degree as swiftly as possible. 09.14.2020, Anjali Stenquist | Securing a college degree takes four years, right? Rasmussen College offers programs with up to 8 start dates per year that allows students to start and keep progressing year-round. 1U.S. Choose a Well-Connected Community College. How to Put College on a Resume If You Didn't Graduate . These course credits often come basically free of charge and don’t take any additional time since you’d be taking them as part of your high school fulfillments. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Finish-College-Fast-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Finish-College-Fast-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/20\/Finish-College-Fast-Step-1.jpg\/aid9545929-v4-728px-Finish-College-Fast-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"