10 Fastest 1-Year Bachelor's Degrees Online in 2026

The fastest one-year online bachelor's degree programs offer accelerated coursework, generous transfer credit policies, flexible learning options, and more.

A bachelor's degree opens doors to higher pay in the workforce. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data revealed in 2023 that bachelor's degree holders earned hundreds more per week than workers with high school diplomas.

Access to bigger salaries used to require years of study, but accelerated online degree programs for working adults have sped the process. Flexible scheduling, easy credit transfers, and self-paced learning help some learners earn a 1 year bachelor's degree.

Do you want to complete your studies in less time? Earning online degrees in less than a year can be possible with self-paced options if you're willing to work hard; however, one-year programs are more common. Below, we'll highlight where to find the best accelerated bachelor's degrees online.

How Fast Can You Get a Bachelor's Degree?

When earning a traditional bachelor's degree, you can expect to complete an average of 120 credit hours over eight semesters or four years. However, schools offering quick online degrees have changed the timeframe needed to finish a bachelor's program. Instead of waiting to enter the workforce, students can earn online degrees in about a year.

Are you looking for the fastest way to get a bachelor's degree? Here are some tips to consider:

Pick an accelerated bachelor's degree program with shorter course terms.
Take self-paced classes that let students complete coursework on their schedule.
Enroll in a competency-based program using self-paced assessments to measure progress instead of traditional assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Consider schools with multiple start dates that let students begin their programs anytime.
Find colleges accepting numerous transfer credits or offer college credits for work experience, military training, and other prior learning.
Look for degree completion programs for students with an associate degree.
Choose a combined bachelor's and master's degree program with accelerated coursework.

Earning the shortest bachelor's degree at a college or university isn't easy. Students must have strong time-management skills and self-discipline to succeed. If you're concerned about your ability to stay on track, consider enrolling at a school with academic advising, success coaching, tutoring, and other online support services.

Fastest Bachelor's Degrees Online

Are you wondering how to get a bachelor's degree fast? Explore the programs below to discover schools offering accredited online accelerated bachelor degree programs.

1. Business Administration

A business administration degree is designed to prepare students for organizational leadership positions. Programs explore business disciplines like marketing, finance, economics, and business management and zero in on concepts like social and personal responsibility in business and the impact of information technology on organizational decision-making. Many schools offer self-paced programs for business degrees. Some include:

University of Wisconsin-Parkside: The online Bachelor of Science degree in business administration (BSBA) is a competency-based program using the UW Flexible Option. Students can begin their studies any month, complete assignments any time, and earn their degrees whenever they choose.
University of Oklahoma: The 100% online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in interdisciplinary studies with a major in business administration is designed for completion in 12 months. Students transfer 60 college credits, earn prior learning credits, and take short eight-week courses to accelerate completion.
Louisiana State University: The BSBA is a 100% online program with flexible schedules for working professionals. Enrollees can transfer up to 75% of their degree requirements and earn prior learning credits through Amazon Web Services certifications to graduate fast.

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2. Healthcare Administration

Healthcare administration programs teach students the skills to serve in leadership roles in medical practices, healthcare systems, and hospitals. Coursework commonly explores healthcare economics, human resource management, healthcare management, and the legal aspects of healthcare. The following schools offer accelerated online coursework with or without separate in-person internships:

Mercy College of Health Sciences: The 100% online BS in healthcare administration program helps students earn a degree in one year. Transferring up to 90 semester hours and earning prior learning credits from AP and CLEP exams are a few ways to graduate sooner.
American Military University: The BS in healthcare administration offers eight-week online courses and monthly class start dates to accommodate busy learners. Students can transfer up to 90 of the 120 credits required for completion.
Southern New Hampshire University: This online BS in healthcare administration features eight-week terms and multiple start dates. Students can transfer up to 90 credits and earn prior learning credits for faster completion.

3. Information Technology

Students pursuing information technology degrees learn programming, software development, computer networks, and information security fundamentals. Programs also focus on concepts like information systems and web design and offer specializations in computer forensics, data science, and more. The following schools provide self-paced and competency-based IT programs to help learners earn the fastest bachelor's degree online:

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee: The BS in information science and technology is online and competency-based for students who want to learn on their schedules. In this UW Flexible Option program, learners can start any month and benefit from no log-on times or deadlines.
Liberty University: In this BS in information technology program, students take 100% online courses in eight-week terms with no login times. Liberty offers eight start dates each year and allows enrollees to transfer up to 75% of their degree total.
University of Massachusetts Global: The 100% online BS in information technology is a MyPath competency-based program enabling students to complete courses at their chosen speed. Prospective students benefit from continuous start dates and can earn college credits for prior learning.

4. Criminal Justice

In criminal justice bachelor's programs, learners can prepare for careers in corrections technology, law enforcement, forensic science, parole, and beyond. They explore coursework in criminology, constitutional law, courtroom rhetoric, public policy, and nonprofit management. If enrolled in the following programs, students can expedite degree completion with flexible learning and easy credit transfer options:

Ohio University: The online BS in criminal justice prioritizes flexible learning for working students. Enrollees can earn credits for transfer and other prior learning to graduate in a fraction of the time.
University of Oklahoma: The BA in interdisciplinary studies with a major in criminal justice leadership program offers online coursework with short eight-week courses. Rolling admissions and a generous transfer credit policy help students graduate in one year.
Drexel University: Students in the fully online BS in criminology and justice studies program complete courses at their desired pace. Ten-week quarters and the option to transfer up to 135 quarter credits (equal to 90 semester credits) speed up program completion.

5. Psychology

Bachelor's degrees in psychology help students prepare for counseling, human services, and therapist roles while serving as a stepping stone to graduate degree programs (i.e., master's and doctoral degrees) leading to psychology licensure. Courses often focus on social, cognitive, behavioral, and child psychology and incorporate real-world field experiences. In the following programs, students benefit from flexible courses and generous transfer policies:

Eastern University: The BA in psychology is a 100% online program delivered through the LifeFlex modality that offers seven-week self-paced courses at affordable rates. Students can graduate faster with flexible learning and credit transfers.
Capella University: Students pursuing the BS in psychology can follow the 100% online, competency-based FlexPath format to graduate in less than 1.5 years. Enrollees can also accelerate this program with credits for transfer and prior learning.
Drexel University: In this online BS in psychology program, students can take more courses in a shorter timeframe with four quarters per year, each just 10 weeks long. The ability to transfer up to 135 quarter credits helps enrollees graduate faster.

6. Education

Online education bachelor's degrees are career-focused with coursework that explores teaching methods, child development, classroom management, and beyond. Students interested in licensure often complete field learning experiences in K-12 classroom settings. A fast-track bachelor's degree offers shorter courses and accepts transfer credits for quick completion. Some programs include:

Texas Tech University: The BS in education is a fast-track teacher certification program that prepares students for Texas classroom instruction. Enrollees combine online learning with intense clinical experience to earn teacher certification in one year.
University of Phoenix: In this online BS in education/elementary education licensure program, students take five- and six-week courses in a flexible learning environment and enjoy year-round enrollment. The school shaves five weeks off the degree for every three prior learning credits earned.
Western Governors University: The online BS in secondary mathematics education accepts transfer credits for students with associate degrees. All WGU bachelor's degrees are competency-based and require no schedules or class times for maximum flexibility.

7. Computer Science

Bachelor's programs in computer science prepare students for career paths in software development, computer programming, e-commerce development, and beyond. As with on-campus programs, online undergraduate degrees focus on networking fundamentals, computer systems, data structures, and programming languages. In the following programs, students can use self-paced learning and other accelerated paths to finish their studies sooner:

Rasmussen University: In this online bachelor's of computer science program, students can use self-directed assessments and the school's Empowered Learning format, which lets learners study at their desired speed, to complete their studies in about 18 months.
University of Maryland Global Campus: The online BS in computer science has a generous transfer policy helping students bring in up to 90 credits. Prospective enrollees can choose from multiple start dates and earn college credits for what they already know.
Southern New Hampshire University: Students interested in this online BS in computer science program benefit from several start dates and short eight-week courses. At SNHU, learners can earn credits for transfer, CLEP exams, certificates, military training, and more.

8. Accounting

Accounting bachelor's programs teach skills students need for careers as accountants, budget analysts, budget coordinators, auditors, and more. Students grow their knowledge of cost accounting, federal taxation, auditing, corporate finance, and business strategy. In online programs like the following, learners take flexible online courses with self-paced options:

Penn State World Campus: The 100% online BS in accounting, with accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), lets students choose their course loads. Enrollees can take up to six courses per semester to finish this program quickly.
University of Phoenix: The online BS in accounting offers year-round enrollment and five- to six-week courses students can take one at a time. Credits for transfer and prior learning experiences help enrollees finish their studies sooner.
Louisiana State University: Students enrolled in the 120-credit online BS in accounting program can transfer up to 75% of their degree requirements. Earning additional prior learning credits might be possible for this degree.

9. Marketing

Online bachelor's degrees in marketing teach market research data analysis, socially responsible marketing principles, strategic marketing planning, and more. After graduating, students will be ready for careers as digital marketing strategists, market research analysts, and communications specialists. If you're looking for ways to secure online degrees in less than a year, the following programs offer options to shorten completion time:

University of Arizona Global Campus: When enrolled in the online BA in marketing program, students take five-week accelerated courses with flexible schedules. UAGC offers credits for transferring from a community college or university and other life experiences.
Western Governors University: The online BS in marketing is a competency-based program enabling students to move through courses as quickly as they demonstrate mastery. Flexible schedules and a generous transfer policy make early completion possible.
University of Massachusetts Global: The BBA in marketing is an online MyPath program that lets students binge classes or take one at a time. Students interested in speeding up degree completion can benefit from continuous start dates and credits for transfer, military, and certifications.

10. Cybersecurity

In a cybersecurity bachelor's program, students learn fundamental computer science and information technology concepts. They explore ethical hacking, network security, cryptography, and monitoring strategies. Some programs offer industry certifications while preparing learners for solutions architect, cybersecurity engineer, and information security analyst roles. In fast-track programs like the following, students enjoy self-paced learning and generous transfer policies:

Capella University: Students pursuing the online BS in information assurance and cybersecurity can use FlexPath to finish their studies in less than two years. Capella lets enrollees transfer 135 of the total required 180 quarter credits.
University of Maryland Global Campus: The online BS in cybersecurity technology program lets students transfer up to 90 credits for speedy completion. UMGC offers multiple enrollment start dates and college credits for prior learning experiences.
Liberty University: The BS in computer science - cybersecurity degree offers 100% online courses with fast eight-week terms. To make early completion easier, Liberty allows students to transfer up to 75% of their degree total.

Find an Accelerated Online Bachelor's Degree

Start an exciting journey in higher education by exploring the degree programs offered on Learn.org. Contact a school today to discover how an online bachelor's degree can help you achieve your career goals.