Best Accelerated Online Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts 2025

Earning a bachelor's degree is an academic accomplishment that can set students up for career advancement and opportunities they wouldn't have without it. One of the ways to streamline the process is to look for an accelerated bachelor's degree online.

Keep reading to see how students in Massachusetts can pursue accelerated degrees online.

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

A typical bachelor's degree takes four years, but choosing an accelerated program is often the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree. Some accelerated degrees can take as little as 12 months, though most take approximately two years.

Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Massachusetts

The following universities offer some of the best accredited online bachelor's degrees. Keep reading to learn more about degree length, tuition costs, and student aid that these programs may offer for Massachusetts students.

1. UMass Lowell

The University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell offers a wide variety of online degree programs, including a Bachelor of Science in business administration with eight different concentration areas for students to choose from. Concentration areas include entrepreneurship, finance, and management.

Students can transfer in up to 90 credits, which amounts to 75% of their degree. The generous transfer credit policy is further supported by robust financial aid opportunities in the form of scholarships and grants.

Average in-state tuition: $385 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $385 per credit

Time to completion: As little as 12 to 18 months.

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

2. Boston University

Boston University offers an online bachelor's degree completion program for students seeking a liberal arts degree who already have some college credits. Enrollees will study various subjects, including humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and more. Their completed degree would be considered a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies.

Average in-state tuition: $550 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $550 per credit

Time to completion: 15 to 36 months

Accreditation: NECHE

3. UMass Global

UMass Global offers numerous online programs that students can pursue at their own pace through the MyPath program. The Bachelor of Science in information technology is one such degree, with three concentrations for students to choose from to hone their skills.

MyPath degrees allow students to study at their own pace, taking as many credits as they want in a six-month billing period. Students could finish this 120-credit degree in as little as three years.

Average in-state tuition: $3,360 per 6-month period

Average out-of-state tuition: $3,360 per 6-month period

Time to completion: Three to four years

Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

4. Northeastern University

Northeastern University offers a hybrid accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN). Full-time students can complete the program in as little as 16 months. The program offers a mix of online coursework and in-person clinical rotations to prepare students to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam upon graduation.

Successful applicants will either have a non-nursing bachelor's degree or 62 non-nursing credits from an accredited institution.

Average in-state tuition: $1,307 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $1,307 per credit

Time to completion: As little as 16 months

Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

5. Merrimack College

Merrimack College, a leading school of online learning, offers a bachelor's degree completion program designed for working adults. Programs of study include business administration, health sciences, strategic communications, and more.

Merrimack College accepts up to 90 transfer credits and may also grant credits for previous work experience, certificate programs, and professional development training.

Average in-state tuition: $325 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $325 per credit

Time to completion: Two to four years

Accreditation: NECHE

6. UMass Boston

UMass Boston offers an accelerated BSN program for those with an undergraduate degree who want to pivot to nursing. This hybrid program takes 12 months, with a mix of online courses and on-campus clinical simulations.

Due to the rigor of the program, it is recommended that students not work while enrolled. However, the short program is fairly short in length and provides ample financial aid opportunities while students work towards their healthcare career advancement.

Average in-state tuition: $650 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $650 per credit

Time to completion: 12 months

Accreditation: NECHE

7. Bay Path University

Bay Path University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education that fulfills the licensure requirements to become a preK-2 teacher in Massachusetts. It accepts up to 90 transfer credits, making this program friendly to undergraduate students who already have some credits.

Students will also be prepared to earn a master's degree in education, including graduate programs in literacy, organizational leadership in education, and more.

Average in-state tuition: $410 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $410 per credit

Time to completion: One to three years

Accreditation: NECHE

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

These high-quality college degrees are offered at universities outside of Massachusetts. However, Massachusetts residents can apply and study from their home state.

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with various concentrations, including corrections, homeland security and counterterrorism, and security management.

SNHU offers flexible scheduling with eight-week courses and will accept up to 90 transfer credits out of the 120-credit requirement. Students who do not transfer any credits can expect to complete this degree in four years; students who take advantage of the transfer credit policy can finish in as little as 12 months.

Average in-state tuition: $330 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $330 per credit

Time to completion: One to four years

Accreditation: NECHE

Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) offers competency-based programs, with tuition fees per term instead of per credit hour. Students are free to take as many courses as they can within a six-month period.

It offers a combined bachelor's and master's degree in information technology in which students learn about information systems, data management, business, and more. This is an ideal program for students who want their graduate degree without having to spend extra time in school to get it, as both degrees can be obtained in as little as four years.

Average in-state tuition: $3,835 per six-month period of undergrad; $4,040 per six-month period of graduate degree

Average out-of-state tuition: $3,835 per six-month period of undergrad; $4,040 per six-month period of graduate degree

Time to completion: Four years

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) offers an online Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity technology that emphasizes real-world skill-building to prepare students for their careers. Students may transfer in up to 90 credits, allowing them to complete their degree in as little as one year.

Average in-state tuition: $330 per credit

Average out-of-state tuition: $499 per credit

Time to completion: One to four years

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

How We Rank Schools

Learn.org has a meticulous set of criteria with which we rank schools. The following criteria have been met by all of the schools listed above to ensure their quality and legitimacy.

• Accreditation: Learn.org only features schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. They earn this recognition by being accredited by either a regional or national accrediting body, such as the CCNE or NECHE.
• Program length: We feature schools with a shorter program length. Committing to a four-year degree can be a huge undertaking, so we look for schools with shorter programs, generous transfer credit policies, and accelerated courses to help learners finish their degree faster.
• Program reputation and quality: Employers look for graduates from quality programs, which is why we only feature schools with a good reputation and high-quality degrees. We examine enrollment, graduation rates, and employment rates after graduation to determine a school's quality.
• Tuition cost: According to the U.S. News & World Report, tuition costs are on the rise for both private and public universities. We do our best to feature schools with reduced tuition or ample financial aid opportunities to keep the total cost of attendance down.

FAQs About the Fastest Bachelor's Degrees in Massachusetts

Navigating college admissions and degree requirements can be tricky. These are some of the most frequently asked questions about accelerated online bachelor's degree programs.

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

There are several accelerated online bachelor's degree programs in Massachusetts with very quick completion times. The fastest programs include those at UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, and Bay Path University.

The quickest way to get a bachelor's degree is to choose an accelerated program, study hard, and commit to being a full-time student.

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

There is a single one-year bachelor's degree online: the accelerated BSN at UMass Boston. This program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and would like to pivot to nursing.

Other programs can be completed in just over one year, including those at UMass Lowell, Boston University, Northeastern University, and Bay Path University.

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

The cheapest online bachelor's degree in Massachusetts, by credit, is at Merrimack College. Each credit in the bachelor's degree completion program is only $325, and with up to 90 transfer credits available, the program could cost less than $10,000.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

It's important to choose the right online bachelor's degree for you, no matter what state it's based in. Explore more online degree programs here on Learn.org.