Accelerated Online Bachelor's Programs in Virginia 2026

Accelerated online bachelor's degree programs can make your life easier by helping you pursue career advancement or new opportunities sooner. Perhaps you're wondering if any schools in your home state of Virginia offer these types of programs.

If this sounds like you, keep reading. In this article, we'll explore schools that offer accelerated bachelor's degree online, both in Virginia and in other states. We'll also spend some time answering common questions you may have.

How Long Does It Take To Earn an Online Bachelor's Degree in Virginia?

All bachelor's degrees require at least 120 semester hours of college credit, though the exact degree length can vary by school and program. Generally speaking, it usually takes full-time students about four years to complete enough credits to earn a bachelor's degree.

That said, there are ways to accelerate the process, and enrolling in an online degree program is a good place to start. The fastest way to get a bachelor's degree involves taking courses year-round and committing to heavy courseloads. The flexibility of online programs makes both of these options possible.

Many online schools have generous transfer credit policies, helping those with previous college or applicable work experience graduate even faster. It's possible to get an accelerated bachelor's degree in as little as one to two years.

Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Virginia

A variety of schools in Virginia offer online learning opportunities. Let's look at some of the top schools in your state offering accredited online bachelor's degrees.

1. University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a prestigious public school located in Charlottesville. It provides an array of online courses and master's degrees, but a few bachelor's degrees are also available. The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers two online bachelor's degrees, one in interdisciplinary studies and one in health sciences management.

Both degrees are designed as completion programs for adults with previous college credit. Courses are flexible, and the transfer policy makes it easy to bring credits from other schools.

Time to completion: one to two years

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

2. Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University is a public school in Norfolk. Students at this school can pursue various online programs ranging from associate degrees to doctoral degrees and certificate programs. Some of the online bachelor's programs include:

• business administration
• criminal justice
• computer science

Students can transfer up to 90 credits from other institutions and take advantage of accelerated eight-week course sessions to graduate quickly. Various yearly start dates and flexible study schedules are also available.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: SACSCOC

3. Liberty University

Liberty University is a large Christian school located in Lynchburg. It offers hundreds of online degrees and certificate programs, with bachelor's degrees including:

• information technology
• creative writing
• sports management

With so many options to choose from, students are sure to find a program that fits their interests and career goals. Students can transfer up to 75% of their total course requirements, and accelerated eight-week courses are highly flexible.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Regent University

Regent University is a Christian college located in Virginia Beach. Many online bachelor's degrees are available, including:

• cybersecurity
• healthcare management
• financial management

Students hoping to accelerate their studies benefit from frequent yearly start dates, a generous transfer policy, and eight-week course sessions. Programs are flexible but provide exceptional support services to help students succeed.

Time to completion: as little as one and a half years

Accreditation: SACSCOC

5. ECPI University

ECPI University is a private, for-profit school located in Virginia Beach. Students looking to start a new career or advance in their current career path can enroll in various bachelor's degree programs, including:

• nursing (RN to BSN)
• business management
• human resources management

The school provides flexible scheduling opportunities and accepts a large number of transfer credits. Students also benefit from accelerated five-week course sessions and frequent yearly start dates that help them speed up their degree timelines.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: SACSCOC

6. Hampton University

Hampton University is a private, historically Black school located in Hampton. It offers a variety of online bachelor's degrees, some of which provide accelerated options. These include:

• criminal justice
• nursing (RN to BSN)
• general studies

Programs offer great flexibility to meet the needs of nontraditional students. Many transfer credits are accepted, and online courses make it easy for students to choose an accelerated study schedule if desired.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Marymount University

Marymount University is a private school in Arlington County. It offers several online degrees, including a primarily online accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing (ABSN).

The program is designed to be completed within 16 months and offers full-time and part-time study options. Though clinical rotations must be completed in person, much of the coursework is available online.

Time to completion: 16 months

Accreditation: SACSCOC

Other Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S.

Online students have the advantage of being able to study from home even if they're enrolled in a school across the country. With that in mind, let's look at some top out-of-state schools offering accelerated online education opportunities. These institutions offer some of the fastest online degrees that pay well.

University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus is a public, primarily online school affiliated with the University System of Maryland. It offers many online bachelor's degrees, including:

• artificial intelligence
• legal studies
• environmental health and safety

The school provides a truly flexible online learning environment where students can study on their own time and are supported along the way. This makes it easy for them to accelerate their studies.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit school with a large online enrollment. Students can choose from many online academic programs, including bachelor's degrees such as:

• accounting
• data analytics
• health sciences

All courses are offered in eight-week sessions, making accelerated study easy. Multiple start dates and a generous transfer policy are also in place to cater to the needs of nontraditional students.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

Western Governors University

Western Governors University is an online college headquartered in Utah. Students can pursue numerous career-focused degree programs like:

• special education
• marketing
• computer science

Thanks to a competency-based learning model, students complete courses at their own pace, progressing as soon as they've mastered the material. Tuition is charged per term, so students who accelerate their studies can actually save a lot of money on their degree program.

Time to completion: as little as one year

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

How We Rank Schools

We strive to choose the best online colleges when creating our school rank lists. Let's look at the selection criteria we used when choosing the schools and programs above:

• Accreditation: All schools listed are accredited by nationally recognized accrediting bodies such as the SACSCOC.
• Program length: Each school offers accelerated online bachelor's degree programs that can be completed in under four years.
• Program reputation and quality: All of the schools are known for providing high-quality on-campus and online learning opportunities.
• Tuition cost: Tuition information comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and varies widely from school to school. We've featured the colleges and universities offering more affordable rates for their accelerated degrees.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

How To Accelerate Your Bachelor’s Degree in Virginia

There are plenty of ways to quickly earn a bachelor’s degree in Virginia. One of them is to take online courses instead of going the traditional route. Taking your classes online makes it easier to take on a heavier course load and earn more than 15 credits per semester. Moreover, many online course providers, such as Study.com, have partnered with other universities, so you can easily transfer your credits to any school of your choice.

Additionally, here are other ways for you to accelerate your bachelor’s degree in this state:

• Take CLEP exams: You can bypass general education requirements by passing the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. These standardized tests allow you to earn credits that you can transfer to your chosen university.
• Sign up for dual enrollment programs: You can earn high school and college credits at the same time through dual enrollment programs. This will not just lessen the number of courses you have to take in university, but it will also give you a head start over your peers.
• Get an AAS degree: You can finish an associate degree in applied arts and science in as little as one year. Once you are equipped with the necessary technical and academic knowledge, you can easily get a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and science in just two years.

FAQs About the Fastest Bachelor's Degrees in Virginia

If you're still wondering about pursuing enrollment in an accelerated bachelor's degree program, you're not alone. Below, we'll answer some frequently asked questions.

What Is the Quickest Way To Get a Bachelor's Degree in Virginia?

Taking online courses makes it possible to take heavy courseloads of more than 15 credit hours per semester and to study year-round. These are both essential components of getting a bachelor's degree fast. To graduate even sooner, check if your school accepts any transfer credits you may have, whether they be from previous college courses you've taken, work experience you've gained, or credit-by-exam tests you've completed.

Are There Any One-Year Online Bachelor's Degrees in Virginia?

Yes, it's possible to complete a bachelor's degree in as little as one year in Virginia. One-year bachelor's degrees online accept up to 90 transfer credits and allow students to set their own study pace, making it possible for them to complete the necessary credits to earn a bachelor's degree as soon as 12 months after enrolling.

What Is the Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree in Virginia?

In terms of per-credit-hour costs, Hampton University provides some of the lowest tuition rates in the state for online learners at just $300 per credit hour. Though the NCES lists Liberty University, Regent University, and Old Dominion University as having lower average annual tuition rates, the per-credit-hour cost at each of these schools is higher at $390, $395, and $408, respectively.

Is an Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree Harder Than a Traditional Program?

In an accelerated bachelor’s degree program, the demand to master the necessary skill set and course content is higher. And, because your coursework is compressed into a shorter timeline, your schedule will be packed. This will leave little room for other extracurricular activities. For these reasons, an accelerated program may be considered more difficult than a traditional program.

Do Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees Cost Less Than Traditional Programs?

The cost per credit between an accelerated bachelor’s degree and a traditional program may not differ, depending on the school. However, because an accelerated program is usually much shorter, the overall cost of getting a degree through this means is usually less compared to taking a four-year course.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

If you're ready to start taking online coursework, explore the colleges and universities featured on Learn.org. Contact any of the schools today to learn more about their accelerated study options and to choose the right program for you.