Editor’s Note: This is the executive summary of a multi-part series on “The New Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree in the U.S.: Redefining Graduate Admissions and International Credential Recognition.” Stay tuned for more installments by a selection of authors with expertise on the subject.
By Jasmin Saidi-Kuehnert, Founder, President, and CEO of Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc., Chair of International Education Standards Council, AACRAO
A growing number of regionally accredited U.S. universities are piloting three-year bachelor’s degrees requiring roughly 90 semester credits, an alternative to the traditional 120-credit model. Designed to reduce costs and accelerate pathways for adult learners, career-changers, and high-achieving students, these programs raise important questions about quality, recognition, and long-term value. While they promise affordability and faster entry into the workforce or graduate study, their acceptance by employers, graduate schools, and licensing bodies remains uncertain.
This paper examines the emergence of three-year bachelor’s degrees, situates them in global and domestic contexts, and considers the implications for students, institutions, and the U.S. higher education system.
Introduction
To reduce college costs and shorten time-to-degree, a growing number of U.S. universities are offering three-year bachelor’s degrees requiring approximately 90 semester credits, a significant departure from the long-standing 120-credit, four-year model. These programs, introduced at regionally accredited institutions, are designed to serve adult learners, career-changers, and high-achieving students eager to enter the workforce or graduate study sooner.
U.S. Universities Offering Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees
As of the publication of this position paper, we have learned that at least 70 institutions are either already offering three-year bachelor’s degree programs or are actively considering them. Several states are strong proponents of the three-year model and are encouraging institutions to expand such offerings. For example, in 2024, Indiana passed legislation requiring its public universities to develop at least one three-year bachelor’s degree program by July 2025. Kansas has also established a task force to explore the possibility of reduced-credit bachelor’s degree pathways. Below is a list of the institutions that spearheaded the movement by launching their three-year, 90-credit bachelor’s degree programs:
Brigham Young University–Idaho & Ensign College (via BYU–Pathway Worldwide)
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), these institutions offer fully online, three-year bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Applied Business Management, Information Technology, Communication, Family & Human Services, and Software Development. Programs generally require 90–94 credits and have gained popularity among non-traditional and international students.Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU)
Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), HPU has announced a three-year, 90-credit Bachelor of Science in Global Business, which is structured to allow students to complete their studies and enter the workforce one year earlier than in the traditional four-year model. The program is scheduled to launch in fall 2026 and is designed to be completed across twelve eight-week terms.Johnson & Wales University (JWU)
Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), JWU has launched both campus-based and online three-year degrees. Beginning in Fall 2025, students can pursue 90–96 credit bachelor’s degree programs in Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Graphic Design, and Hospitality Management. JWU Online also offers accelerated three-year options in Computer Science and Hospitality.Northwood University
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Northwood offers a 90-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity as part of the College in 3 Exchange. Students may choose the three-year track for faster workforce entry or the traditional 120-credit pathway if preparing for graduate study.University of Maine System
Accredited by NECHE, the University of Maine System became the first public university system in the state to approve three-year bachelor’s degrees as of July 14, 2025. Pending NECHE approval, the pilot will include accelerated online programs in Public Administration, Business Management, and Psychology at the Augusta, Fort Kent, Machias, and Presque Isle campuses. These programs are targeted toward adult learners.
Accreditation and Recognition Considerations
All of the institutions listed above hold regional accreditation through recognized accrediting bodies (NECHE, NWCCU, HLC, WSCUC). As such, their three-year degrees are generally accepted for employment purposes. However, graduate admission for holders of the three-year, 90-credit bachelor’s degree is contingent on individual program requirements, which may review course content, elective breadth, or minimum credit loads.
For example:
Northwood University advises students planning graduate study to complete the full 120 credits to ensure prerequisite coverage.
University of Maine System students are encouraged to verify that their accelerated programs include coursework necessary for advanced study.
Professional licensure in certain states may still require a four-year, 120-credit bachelor’s degree.
Global Context and Lessons Learned
The rise of the U.S. three-year, 90-credit bachelor’s degree signals a potentially transformative shift in undergraduate education. This transformation raises pressing questions: Will these shorter programs hold equal weight in graduate admissions? How will they be received by employers and licensing bodies? What lessons can be drawn from international precedents?
This is not the first time the higher education community has confronted the implications of shorter bachelor’s cycles. When three-year degrees became the standard under the Bologna Process in Europe, U.S. institutions initially expressed hesitation, questioning whether Bologna graduates had sufficient academic depth. Over time, perspectives evolved, supported by research and dialogue such as the AACRAO Bologna Symposia (2006 and 2017), which worked to clarify recognition practices and ensure fair treatment of Bologna-compliant graduates in U.S. admissions.
Framing the Debate
The adoption of three-year bachelor’s degrees by U.S. universities complicates long-standing assumptions about graduate admissions. If U.S. institutions begin awarding these credentials, will this prompt a reconsideration of policies that have historically excluded international three-year degree holders? Some U.S. universities are already re-examining their stance, acknowledging the global prevalence of three-year qualifications and their academic rigor.
This paper explores the issue through four lenses:
The European Experience Under Bologna – lessons learned from the implementation of the three-year model.
Evolution of U.S. Admissions Practices – how perspectives toward international three-year degrees have shifted.
Institutional Case Study – the perspective of a U.S. university considering recognition of three-year degrees for graduate admission.
Broader Implications for Graduate Schools – policies for consistency, equity, and academic integrity moving forward.
By situating the debate within both a historical and contemporary framework, this paper assesses the value, challenges, and opportunities of the U.S. three-year bachelor’s degree model for students and institutions alike.
References
“90-Credit Applied Bachelor’s Degree Pilot Program”. University of Maine System. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.maine.edu/students/office-of-the-vice-chancellor-for-academic-affairs/programs-and-initiatives/90creditdegree/
Fischbach, Gregory. “HPU Announces a Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree”. The ‘Ohana (Honolulu, HI), September 15, 2025. https://www.hpu.edu/about-us/the-ohana/article.php?nid=nc09152501
Johnson and Wales University. “Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree”. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.jwu.edu/academics/3-year-degree/index.html
“Northwood University Makes History with One of Nation’s First 3-Year Bachelor’s Degrees”. Northwood University. April 28, 2025. https://www.northwood.edu/news/northwood-university-makes-history-with-one-of-nations-first-3-year-bachelors-degrees/
share