Best Accelerated Online Bachelor's Programs in California 2025

We welcome you to consider jump-starting your college education with one of several accelerated bachelor's degree online. These opportunities allow high-achievers to complete their education faster, earn master's degrees simultaneously, or head into a career field sooner.

This article explores some of the best accelerated online bachelor's degree programs in California. We'll explore some universities that allow online learners to move through programs at their own pace before entering in-demand fields like healthcare administration, business management, criminal justice, and other exciting careers.

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

Accelerated online bachelor's degree programs can make your path to success much shorter. The average time to completion differs by program type and institution, but there are many ways to make progress quicker.

Normal online programs may take four years to complete, but an accelerated program, which is the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree, could shorten that duration by an entire year. Let's go over several accelerated or fast-track programs from accredited institutions in California.

Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in California

This list features only legitimate bachelor's programs, which receive accreditation for accelerated online programs. We include a university description, the average cost of tuition, the time to completion, and whichever accrediting board granted approval.

1. California State University - Dominguez Hills

California State University (CSU) at Dominguez Hills offers various online accelerated degrees, including its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) fast-track program. It's a summer program with coursework from early June through the middle of August. This program allows students (who have an enrollment in a nursing associate program) to accelerate their path to the BSN by taking six additional summer courses at CSU.

Average in-state tuition: $285 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $285 per credit hour

Time to completion: two summers

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WSCUC)

2. Fresno State

Fresno State offers online fast-track education in either business administration or the liberal arts. It allows students to satisfy the requirements for a four-year degree within no more than a year or two. The tuition is $400 per unit, but Fresno State promises this does not include any other additional fees.

Average in-state tuition: $368 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $444 per credit hour

Time to completion: one to two years (eight-week courses)

Accreditation: WSCUC

3. University of La Verne

The University of La Verne has an accelerated bachelor's program in public administration. It tailors the curriculum and online delivery for working students, who can complete the degree within 18 months, requiring 28 semester hours of core credits and 12 semester hours of electives. This program prepares graduates for careers as policy analysts, nonprofit managers, urban planners, community managers, and more.

Average in-state tuition: $665 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $665 per credit hour

Time to completion: 18 months (40 units)

Accreditation: WSCUC

4. Cal State East Bay

Cal State East Bay has six degree completion programs, all available to distance learning students. You can accelerate the degree process in fields like accounting, sociology, Spanish, recreation, anthropology, and hospitality and tourism. Cal State's online options include the opportunity to complete either a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in as little as two years, depending on prior educational attainment.

Average in-state tuition: $315.96 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $420 per credit hour

Time to completion: two years

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

5. California State University - Fullerton

CSU Fullerton allows students with at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) to enroll in one of three degree-completion programs for business administration, sociology, or the humanities and social sciences. These take three years (nine terms) to complete with a combination of fall, spring, and summer coursework online. The business administration path charges $525 per unit, but the other two programs cost only $425 per semester hour.

Average in-state tuition: $425 for $525 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $425 for $525 per credit hour

Time to completion: three years

Accreditation: WSCUC

6. San Jose State University

San Jose State University offers its Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) program for multiple degrees with convenient online courses. This allows talented students to accelerate both the undergraduate and graduate education process simultaneously. This path is open to full-time students who possess at least a 2.5 GPA upon program admission and a 3.0 cumulative GPA upon completion.

Average in-state tuition: $285 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $420 per credit hour

Time to completion: two to three years (bachelor's); plus 12 to 18 months (master's)

Accreditation: WSCUC

7. University of the Pacific

The University of the Pacific has accelerated degree-completion opportunities, some of which overlap with dual-degree programs. Its ''Computer Science Transfer 2+3 Pipeline Program'' helps transfer students use credits earned elsewhere while finishing their education much faster (in three years or fewer).

The University of Pacific also offers this degree structure for engineering and early entry into law school. The university states that its accelerated programs fall into either online, hybrid, synchronous, or asynchronous formats. Program costs are a little higher, but 89% of undergraduates receive financial aid.

Average in-state tuition: $848 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $848 per credit hour

Time to completion: Three years

Accreditation: WSCUC

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

The following out-of-state programs offer online coursework accessibility for a range of degree programs. These three universities focus on offering convenient degree options for working students trying to balance a busy schedule of work and school.

Liberty University

Liberty University offers several online degree completion programs for every level of higher education. There are multiple examples, such as its ''3+1'' for various social science fields (business, public policy, government, etc.). This lets students get a bachelor's degree in three years while working on a master's degree for just one additional year.

Average in-state tuition: $390 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $390 per credit hour

Time to completion: varies depending on program (at least one year less than a traditional four-year degree)

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

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers ways to complete your degree faster by utilizing transfer credits and other fast-track strategies. Online students can earn degrees quickly by participating in summer sessions, especially to fulfill general education requirements.

The school recommends students weigh their options carefully, and not take too many classes at once. However, the University of Phoenix regularly allows distance learners to graduate faster than traditional colleges while paying the same fixed-rate tuition.

Average in-state tuition: $398 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $398 per credit hour

Time to completion: completion rates vary

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Western Governors University

You can enroll in Western Governors University's online fast-track program for many bachelor's and master's degrees, individually or simultaneously. This applies to business administration areas like marketing, finance, or communications.

You can also do this for elementary education, health science, public health, nursing, and several other lucrative fields. Western Governors University charges a flat, six-month tuition rate for all coursework.

Average in-state tuition: $4,150 per six months

Average out-of-state tuition: $4,150 per six months

Time to completion: varies depending on the program

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

How We Rank Schools

Please see the following criteria to better understand the rankings methodology for this list. Schools must have full accreditation for accelerated degrees, the program length must be shorter than traditional degrees, and schools should have a good academic reputation and lower tuition costs.

• Accreditation: Schools in California often receive accreditation from review boards like WSCUC.
• Program length: A school should have either a fast-track degree program or some other self-paced options.
• Program reputation and quality: We select schools with good academic reputations with faculty who offer career guidance and academic advising.
• Tuition cost: It should charge competitive tuition rates, usually at or below about $500 per credit hour, or provide good financial aid resources.

FAQs About the Fastest Bachelor's Degrees in California

Consider these frequently asked questions regarding accelerated bachelor's degrees in California. They address both the coursework pace and the cost of enrollment.

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

The quickest way to get a bachelor's degree in California would be to enroll in a fast-track program either online or in-person. The advantage of online schooling is you can complete courses easier (and, therefore, faster) by doing work at home rather than commuting to campus. You can also make the degree completion process faster by starting college courses in high school.

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

Yes, there are several community colleges that grant an associate degree within one year, and if you leverage transfer credits, it is possible to complete some accelerated programs (like CSU Dominguez Hills) in about one year.

It also helps to enter college with advanced placement (AP) credits, allowing you to get a head-start on your degree. You can also finish courses faster by testing out of courses through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Other degree seekers (who possess significant professional experience) can substitute ''life experience'' for course credit as well.

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

There are several degree options that contend for the title of ''cheapest,'' but perhaps the most affordable degree program comes from CSU Dominguez Hills, which only charges about $5,000 per year. Other schools may offer even cheaper programs if you qualify for scholarships, hardship assistance, veteran discounts, and other financial aid.

If you'd like to learn more about affordable degrees that don't compromise quality, then consider our list of the best bachelor's degrees online. This resource provides further information on how to select good schools, save money, and enjoy high-quality online learning.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Learn.org has everything you need to explore online bachelor's degrees and earn your credentials cheaply and quickly. Please use our materials to learn more about other online learning opportunities for associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral education.