Growing Three-Year Degree Trend Expands to St. John's University

St. John’s University is the latest nonprofit private college to announce a new three-year undergraduate degree program for 2011-12. A recent editorial in the Staten Island Advance praises the initiative, saying that the university "deserves major credit for proposing a bold new plan calculated to save students and their families a whopping $29,000."

The recent economic downturn and growing consumer concerns about the cost of higher education have prompted new efforts by nonprofit private colleges to enhance their affordability.

Since 2009-10, the number of institutions offering three-year options has increased significantly. Other independent institutions introducing three-year degrees in 2010 include Baldwin-Wallace College (OH), Lesley University (MA) and Grace College (IN).

The idea of three-year degree programs is popular among policymakers, who like the cost-savings they associate with them. It's a common model in Europe. Last year, Rhode Island mandated that Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island develop three-year degree programs. Pennsylvania lawmakers are also considering the idea. At the 2009 annual meeting of the American Council on Education, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) encouraged institutions of higher education to commit to the concept.

Historically, educators and students in the U.S. have been less enamored of three-year degree programs. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education, only 4.2 percent of U.S. BA/BS graduates earned their degree within three years, 57.3 graduated within four years, and 38.5 percent took more than four years to graduate. (Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996/01 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:96/01))

However, the economic downturn could very well encourage more students, and their parents, to look twice at the three-year option. For academically well-prepared and highly focused, motivated students, three-year programs could be very appealing.

Colleges that are adding and promoting new accelerated degrees will be watched closely by other institutions as well as policymakers. Several other colleges are currently studying the feasibility of offering three-year degrees. The number of institutions offering the three-year option will continue to grow.

Below is a list of nonprofit private colleges which plan to introduce three-year degrees, or already have them in place. These are the ones NAICU is aware of. There are likely to be others in existence.

Being introduced in 2011-12

- St. Johns (NY)

- Baldwin-Wallace College (OH)

- Grace College (IN) (Note: three -year degrees will be available in "50-plus major areas of study”)

- Lesley University (MA)


Introduced in 2010-11

- Nichols College (MA)

- Sterling College (VT) (Caveat: Sterling launched a year-round enrollment option in 2010-11 that allows undergraduates to graduate in less than four years. However, despite the quicker route to graduation, the college is not calling it a three-year program. Sterling also will freeze tuition for students who choose this option, as long as they remain continuously enrolled throughout the year.)

- Ursuline College (OH)

- University of Akron (OH)


Introduced in 2009-10

- Chatham University (PA)

- Hartwick College (NY)

- Lake Forest College (IL)

- Lipscomb University (TN)


Introduced prior to 2009-10

- Bates College (ME)

- Hiram College (MD)

- Judson College (AL)

- Manchester College (IN)

- Mt. Saint Mary's College (NY)

- Seattle University (WA)

- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)

- Upper Iowa University (IA)