US colleges roll out 90-credit three-year degrees
American institutions are offering 90-credit bachelor’s programmes in 26 states, cutting a year off study and potentially saving up to $20,000 per student.
American colleges are rolling out 90-credit three-year bachelor's degrees in nearly 120 programmes across 26 states, cutting a year off college and potentially saving students up to $20,000. The Times of India reports that the new programmes allow students to finish a degree with as few as 90 credit hours, compared with the typical 120 hours required for a four-year degree.
Reduced Credit, New Pathways
The shift is not entirely new. U.S. colleges have long offered accelerated routes that let students graduate sooner by taking summer classes or transferring credits. What differs now is the deliberate reduction of the total credit requirement. Instead of 120 hours, students can graduate after 90. This model mirrors common practice in the UK, India, France and Italy, but has been rare in the United States.
Giles Sims, 34, turned to a three-year programme after being laid off as a web developer. He said he could not afford to be out of the workforce for four years. “That just seems like forever, and the three-year made it seem less daunting,” he told the Associated Press.
Accreditation and Expansion
The idea gained traction in 2009 when Robert Zemsky of the University of Pennsylvania argued that three-year degrees could transform higher education. Accreditation rules initially blocked the move, but in 2023 the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities approved reduced-credit programmes at Ensign College and Brigham Young University-Idaho. Other accrediting bodies followed suit.
By May, 119 such programmes had been publicly announced across 26 states. Private nonprofit colleges account for about three-quarters of the reduced-credit programmes, many of which are offered online. Business programmes, especially marketing and management, are the most common, followed by computer and information sciences.
| Degree Type | Credit Hours | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 4-year | 120 | 4 |
| 3-year | 90 | 3 |
Financial Impact
Tuition and fees averaged $11,950 for in-state students at public colleges and $45,000 at private nonprofit colleges during the last school year, according to the College Board. The shorter programmes could therefore save students money by removing a year of tuition and other college expenses. Gabriella Staten, 20, estimates that her reduced-credit digital marketing programme at Mount Mary University will save her at least $20,000.
| Institution Type | Average Tuition |
|---|---|
| Public (in-state) | $11,950 |
| Private Nonprofit | $45,000 |
State-Level Adoption
Ohio is exploring the model. A state law that took effect in June 2025 requires officials to study whether three-year bachelor’s degrees could work in the state. Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati are among the institutions considering 90-credit programmes. Ohio State’s spokesperson Ben Johnson said the university is interested in reducing costs while maintaining academic standards.
Participating Ohio universities aim to offer two 90-credit programmes as early as spring 2028.
Critiques and Concerns
The American Association of University Professors has criticised the approach, saying it could weaken the value of a college credential. Todd Wolfson, the association’s president, said, “This is not innovation. This is just cutting corners.”
RAND researchers noted that the programmes are still too new for standard practices to have developed around graduate-school admissions. Jenna Kramer, a RAND policy researcher, said programmes connected to state licensing are among the biggest concerns.
Some professional careers could create additional problems. Wesley Hardy, 22, studying accounting at Ensign College, likes the idea of entering the workforce sooner but is unsure how the shorter degree would affect his plans to become a certified public accountant. CPA requirements vary by state. Many states require 120 semester hours to sit for the exam and 150 hours to become licensed, meaning some students may need additional coursework. “Would I have to take extra classes?” Hardy asks. “It’s definitely something I have thought of.”
