Shorter Completion Time for Undergraduate Degree Growing in Appeal

MassLive.com makes the case:

Considering that most students no longer work in the fields tending crops, they are available to take classes during the summer. While most colleges offer summer classes, few, if any, students take a full load of courses to help speed up their expected date of graduation. The majority of students take a class or two to catch up, or repeat a course to get a higher grade.

There are a handful of colleges that have capitalized on the fact that students can save on an extra year of costs by offering a bachelor's degree in three years. It's not entirely a novel idea.

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Who says college has to be a four (or more) year experience? The drive for more colleges to offer the three-year degree is rather timely as the increased cost of college, combined with the downturn in the economy, has many prospective students looking at any way to save. This is especially a concern when the average undergraduate student today takes six years seven months to complete his degree.

Before students start flocking to the likes of Bates and Hartwick, there are a few cautions. Taking extra credits - either during the semester or during the summer term - still costs money. Most colleges tack on a surcharge if one exceeds the credit maximum allowed as part of the standard charge. Summer classes are also not free and, depending on where the classes are taken, can mean extra housing costs.

Most of the savings from avoiding a fourth year of college will likely come in room and board costs. Additionally, to be done with school one full calendar year sooner, would be mean that graduates can start earning a regular paycheck sooner.