Best Accelerated Online Bachelor's Programs in Illinois 2026

The key to completing college quicker is to enroll in accelerated online bachelor's degree programs and finish college in less than four years. This allows Illinois students to earn important credentials in a shorter time, and often with lower expenses. It also works great if you want to earn a bachelor's degree and master's degree simultaneously.

We'll show you how to find the right accelerated bachelor's degree online. Consider this your chance to learn much more efficient ways to finish college and jumpstart a high-paying career sooner.

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

The completion time for an online degree depends on the institution you select and whether you enroll in a fast-track program. The best accelerated online bachelor's degree programs can make a four-year degree take no more than a year or two at an accredited university.

You can also speed up your education by leveraging transfer credits from a community college or another institution. Accelerated online courses and transfer credits grant you the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree in Illinois.

Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Illinois

Here's a list of accredited Illinois colleges that offer fast-track, self-paced, or accelerated bachelor's degrees. These degrees are affordable and can be completed faster than traditional degrees.

1. Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University offers some of its bachelor's degrees through online and hybrid formats, including opportunities for faster degree completion. One option is a Bachelor of Science (BS) in law enforcement and justice administration. This program lets you take coursework to finish faster and even obtain an additional master's degree within about five years.

Time to completion: Three (bachelor’s degree) to five (bachelor’s + master’s) years

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville provides accelerated undergraduate degrees in several academic areas. This includes accelerated tracks for business administration, education, and public health.

For the business administration track, students can transfer up to 90 credit hours from other schools to account for the 120 credit hours for degree completion.

Time to completion: Three years

Accreditation: HLC

3. University of Illinois - Springfield

The University of Illinois - Springfield is one of at least three schools from the University of Illinois system to facilitate faster degree completion. This affordable public university lets you get a quicker degree thanks to eight-week sessions and its ''Dynamic Course Schedule.'' The unique course scheduler includes over 1,000 online courses in fields as diverse as accounting, healthcare management, management information systems, human resource management, and other rewarding subjects.

Time to completion: Varies by program

Accreditation: HLC

4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign grants many diverse fast-track degrees, including joint degrees and opportunities to enter law school sooner. Its ''3+3 Accelerated Law Program'' lets you shave a year off of undergraduate work before law school, or you could enter the public health field with both a bachelor's and master's degree within five years.

Time to completion: Five or six years (bachelor’s + master’s)

Accreditation: HLC

5. University of Illinois - Chicago

The University of Illinois - Chicago also offers a six-year law degree program. You can also enroll here to earn accelerated degrees in business administration, health information management, RN to nursing, and other terrific fields.

This could be a bargain option as well if you major in nursing. The accelerated path for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) costs just $330 per credit hour.

Time to completion: 12 to 24 months

Accreditation: HLC

6. Illinois State University

Illinois State University has accelerated learning for five degrees in its Family and Consumer Sciences department. The concentration in food, nutrition, and dietetics prepares students for professional roles such as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) after completing a BS degree in the field along with an online master's degree. Students can complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees within five years altogether.

Time to completion: 15 months (undergraduate degree) to five years (bachelor’s + master’s)

Accreditation: HLC

7. Concordia University Chicago

Concordia University Chicago offers accelerated degree completion programs in six fields:

• accounting
• kinesiology
• healthcare administration
• human resource management
• organizational management
• sports management

It also furnishes separate dual-degree opportunities and ''3+1'' programs to obtain a bachelor's and master's degree together. According to its website, 100% of undergraduates receive institutional aid.

Time to completion: 16 months

Accreditation: HLC

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

You can also explore many other accelerated bachelor's degree programs anywhere in the United States. The following schools serve online students with many online fast-track options and degree completion programs.

Capella University

Capella offers accelerated programs and convenient online courses for several academic fields. The online university's FlexPath system gives motivated students the chance to finish a bachelor's degree within 19 months or a master's degree within 15 months. It even allows students to customize their own ''Self-Designed MBA'' with 100% online coursework.

Time to completion: As few as 19 months

Accreditation: HLC

Liberty University

Liberty University offers several self-paced, fully online degree programs at every level of higher education. This includes multiple ''3+1'' accelerated degrees, designed to award the recipient with two degrees involving the same time commitment as traditional students earning one degree. Liberty offers competitive online tuition rates along with solid discounts for military veterans.

Time to completion: Two to three years

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

Western Governors University

Western Governors University allows prospective computer programmers and similar professionals to jumpstart their careers faster thanks to its accelerated program in computer science. The university promotes it as ''two degrees, one program, big savings.'' You can save substantially by completing your computer science degree sooner since Western Governors charges by six-month terms rather than per credit � and students can enroll in as many classes as they want.

Time to completion: Four years (bachelor’s + master’s)

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

How We Rank Schools

Our list includes accredited online bachelor's degrees exclusively. These rankings also consider program length, academic reputation, and tuition affordability.

• Accreditation: This list includes schools with official recognition for programs from respected accrediting boards.
• Program length: These programs should be faster to finish than traditional, on-campus degrees.
• Program reputation and quality: These rankings only consider high-quality institutions with dedicated faculty and strong student support services.
• Tuition cost: The best online learning options must be affordable or at least provide financial aid to offset tuition costs.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

How To Accelerate Your Bachelor’s Degree in Illinois

Below, we’ll discuss three ways that you can accelerate your degree. Consider applying these strategies if you want to expedite your studies  in Illinois. 

• Choose a major that can be accelerated: Selecting a field of study that can be accelerated can expedite your degree significantly. Browse the many fast online degree programs we discussed earlier to find the best fit for you.
• Use your previous experience to earn credits: Earn credits by submitting your portfolio or professional certifications for prior learning assessment (PLA). Military transcripts and licenses can also be used to accumulate credits and speed up your degree.‍
• Take your general education requirements online: Use online course providers like Study.com to complete your prerequisites faster. These platforms offer flexible and accessible digital courses that you can customize to fit your needs.

FAQs About the Fastest Bachelor's Degrees in Illinois

Check out the following frequently asked questions about higher education through online delivery in Illinois; these address program speed and affordability.

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

It may be possible to complete a one-year bachelor's degree online, but remember that this usually involves already having some college credit. It's always a great idea to finish general education credits as fast as possible at the lowest tuition rates. You can start this in high school by taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses or by testing out of subjects through the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP).

What Is the Difference Between Accelerated and Traditional Bachelor’s Degrees?

A traditional bachelor’s degree typically takes at least four years to complete. It follows a standard schedule where students take 12 to 15 credits per semester. Usually, traditional degrees offer long breaks, especially around the summer and winter.

On the other hand, you can complete an accelerated bachelor’s degree in one to three years. This type of degree follows a faster timeline, with students taking 18 credits or more per semester. 

Do You Need Previous College Credits to Enroll in an Accelerated Program?

Some accelerated degree programs do not require previous college credits as part of their admission process. Instead, these programs utilize condensed coursework and fast-paced scheduling to help students graduate early.

However, there are some accelerated programs that require prior learning credits. These programs may require that you complete certain coursework prior to enrollment. In some cases, a prior bachelor’s or associate degree may also be required before you can join a program.

What Are the Admission Requirements for Accelerated Bachelor’s Programs?

The admission requirements for an accelerated bachelor’s degree vary depending on the program. In some cases, you will be required to meet a minimum GPA in order to be eligible for enrollment. You may also be asked to submit your previous transcripts and complete your prerequisites in advance.

In addition, you will be required to submit a personal essay and your letters of recommendation. International students may also be required to submit their TOEFL or IELTS scores prior to enrollment.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Learn.org invites you to explore all our other resources related to online bachelor's degrees. We also publish numerous articles on online graduate programs in every academic subject and location in America.