How Many Years Is a Bachelor’s Degree? 10 Factors That Impact Timing

A bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree that typically takes around four or five years to complete when you attend full-time. It’s the most commonly earned degree in the United States, and while some employers are dropping bachelor's degree requirements for certain roles, it remains a standard credential in many industries [1, 2].

The total time it takes to earn your bachelor’s degree can vary. Learn about the different factors that can impact your completion timeline. Afterward, if you're interested in earning your bachelor's degree and you've already earned some college credit, consider bachelor's programs from esteemed university partners on Coursera.

How many years is a bachelor's degree?

A bachelor's degree was once known as a four-year degree because that was the typical timeframe it took a full-time college student to graduate. In recent decades, though, the length of time it takes to get a bachelor's degree as a full-time student has expanded. Let's review what it looks like for both full-time and part-time students now.

Full-time student timeline

Full-time students take a larger course load every semester, between 12-18 credits, meaning they can move through the typical 120 credits needed to earn their degree at a faster pace. On average, full-time students can complete their bachelor’s degree within four or five years, but completion times have grown longer. Pew Research Center found that 62 percent of students finish their degree within six years [1].

Benefits of being a full-time student:

• Potentially shorter timeline: As a full-time student, you can finish your degree faster than part-time students. If you pursue this track, you might enjoy a quicker entry into your desired career. Full-time studies might also allow you to advance to graduate school more quickly. 

• Ability to focus on your education: Attending full-time doesn't mean you might not have other responsibilities, such as a part-time college job or family matters to take care of, but you should be able to dedicate more of your time to your studies and the focus that comes from that immersion can be rewarding.

Part-time student timeline

Part-time students often take a reduced course load every semester to accommodate any competing responsibilities they may have. No definitive timeline exists for part-time students since it often depends on how many credits they’re able to take each semester. For instance, if a part-time student takes around nine credits per semester, it may take them a little over six years to receive their bachelor’s degree.

Benefits of being a part-time student:

• Flexibility: As a part-time student, you have the flexibility to fit your classes into your schedule. Part-time school makes a lot of sense if you have a job or family obligations. You can study during your free time, such as nights and weekends, without disrupting your daily obligations.

• Steadier income: Giving up a steady income to be a full-time student may not be an option, so part-time classes might be a better fit for you. With part-time studies, you can aim to enhance your knowledge and work toward your degree while remaining in the workforce.

Learn more: Is a Bachelor's Degree Worth It?

10 factors that could impact your timeline

There are a number of factors that impact how many years it takes to earn your bachelor's degree.

1. Student status

As you may have supposed from the timelines above, one of the biggest factors affecting your degree timetable is whether you attend college full-time or part-time. This tends to be a personal decision that you'll make based on your availability, commitments, and financial situation. For example, if you work full-time, you may only have time to take two or three courses per semester.

If you want to potentially finish your degree in four years, you'll likely need to commit to a full-time course of study. However, if you have other responsibilities and cannot dedicate the majority of your time to school, enroll as a part-time student and work with your school's guidance team to identify a reasonable timeline for your goals. How quickly you finish as a part-time student will ultimately depend on the number of courses you can take each semester.

Tip: To earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, you’d typically need to take 15 credits (roughly five courses) a semester. However, if you increase your course load each semester or take summer classes, you could shorten your degree completion time.

2. Summer semester

Speaking of semesters, while it's standard practice to enroll in the fall and spring semesters, the summer is an optional opportunity to keep working through your course requirements. Many colleges and universities offer courses over the summer months. You don't even need to take a full course load to see the benefit of this extra work—one or two courses can speed up the time it takes to finish your degree.

3. Semester course load

Traditionally, full-time students take 12 or more credits per semester, while part-time students take fewer than 12 credits per semester. If you're able to take on more courses every fall and spring, you can accelerate the time it takes to earn your bachelor's.

Conversely, you may need to take fewer classes and space out your educational requirements to balance other responsibilities. This will lengthen your time to graduation while allowing you to tend to your other needs.

Learn more: How Fast Can You Earn Your Bachelor's Degree Online?

4. AP classes

Many high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses for students who want to earn college credit. To have your AP work recognized, you must achieve a certain score on the final AP exam and submit your results to your school for approval. Speak with your school advisor or guidance counselor to learn more about AP courses.

As of December 2024, there were 39 AP classes available to high school students [3]. If you already know what you plan to major in, taking subjects that align with your potential major can reduce the number of credits you'll need to finish in college. For example, if you plan on becoming a pre-med student, you can take AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1 and 2, and AP Calculus. If each of these classes counts for three credits, you could potentially begin college with 15 approved credits, which is about a semester’s worth of higher education.

5. Dual-enrollment

This is another option before beginning college. Some high schools encourage upper-level students to dual-enroll in community college classes that earn them both high school and college credits. Explore the possibility of working through some of your general education requirements, which tend to be the foundational courses all degree programs require before you move into your major.

Entering a bachelor’s degree program with some of these credits could reduce your time to graduation by reducing the overall number you need to complete.

6. CLEP exams

You can also take College Level Examination Programs (CLEP) through the College Board to demonstrate your understanding of introductory college subjects. If you pass an exam, you may be able to earn college credit if your school recognizes your results. Not every college accepts CLEP results, so make sure to check with your guidance team about your options.

7. Finances

In the US, federal financial aid options are usually available to obtain your degree in a timely manner. For example, you may be able to earn a combination of scholarships and federal student loans to attend full-time and graduate more quickly. Alternatively, it may be financially lucrative to budget for your degree by working as you study, but that choice could extend your timeline.

8. Special degree programs

Some universities offer special degree programs, like accelerated bachelor's or dual degrees. An accelerated bachelor's degree allows you to earn your degree in less than four years but requires intensive coursework. A dual degree, on the other hand, makes it possible to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in less time than it would take to earn each one individually.

9. Transferring schools

Many students earn their associate degree at a community college before transferring to a bachelor's degree program at a four-year institution. Other students start at one institution before learning they're more interested in another. In either case, it's important to plan accordingly. Each school has a predetermined course load for its bachelor's degree programs, so be sure your new school recognizes your courses to prevent losing credits.

10. Changing majors

Much like transferring schools, changing majors can influence the progress of your degree completion. The number of bachelor's degree students who change their major continues to rise, according to the US Department of Education [4]. Despite that popularity, changing your major can extend your time in school. Speak with an advisor about what impact, if any, changing your major might have on your timeline and determine if the change is convenient for you.

Interested in a computer science career? Get a preview of earning your bachelor's in computer science from the University of London with this preview:

Explore bachelor's degrees on Coursera

You'll find a range of flexible and self-paced bachelor's degree options available on Coursera—many of which accept previously earned college credit, which can accelerate your time to completion. Request more information about bachelor’s degrees from top universities on Coursera in high-demand fields like business administration, marketing, and computer science to explore whether a degree fits your personal and professional goals.