Many colleges across the United States have started to offer three-year bachelor’s degrees, as a way to better serve students and reduce college costs. According to an article from USA TODAY, Arcadia University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Holy Family University have all introduced formal three-year bachelor’s programs that will begin in the fall of 2010. Within the last year or so, University of Houston-Victoria, the University of Washington, Lipscomb University, and a few others have already introduced three-year degrees to their students.

Although there seems to be more and more three year programs, some people are against them arguing that students won’t be able to handle the coursework and finish their degree programs in three years. Some colleges have provided opportunities already for students to graduate in less than four years. For example, Bates College and Judson College had provided heavier course loads, summer classes, or advanced placement credits so their students can earn their bachelor’s degree early - although few students usually take advantage of this option.

Some people are concerned that the heavier course load will make students give up other extracurricular programs and sports, since they may not have time to balance both academics and activities. Students’ social lives and time spent hanging out with roommates and friends may also become limited. Colleges and universities also offer study abroad programs, and many students may not take advantage of these life-changing opportunities if they have too much schoolwork to handle.

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, the former U.S. secretary of education from 1991 to 1993, supports three-year degrees. At the February 2009 meeting of the American Council on Education, he compared shorter degrees as a fuel-efficient car, to a “gas guzzling four-year course”. Basically if a three-year degree can provide the same experience and education that would normally take four-years to complete, then strive to complete it in three years. You will save an entire year of tuition, room, board, textbooks, and other college expenses.

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