PSU to have 3-year degrees requiring fewer credits

Plymouth State University has become one of the first colleges in the country to offer an accredited in-person bachelor’s degree in three years, an example of higher education adapting in the face of tightening enrollments and changing public attitudes.

The New England Commission of Higher Education recently approved PSU’s proposal to offer applied bachelor’s degrees in certain programs where students earn 96 credits in three years, rather than 120 credits over four years.

Many universities offer three-year bachelor’s degree programs, but until now they were either online or require earning 120 credits in the shorter period. Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island announced a 96-credit, in-person degree in October, apparently the first school to do so, while education officials in Utah and Indiana are pursuing the idea there.

“This shortened time horizon will offer flexibility for students and accelerate the pipeline for high-demand roles in the market. The programs also offer students the ability to seamlessly extend to a four-year, 120-credit program if they elect to,” PSU said in a press release.

The three-year program, which will launch in fall 2025, will be available for Applied Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Outdoor Adventure Leadership, Police Studies and Robotics. The curriculum will include a mix of credits in the major, general education and electives, and will often be paired with experiential learning and internship opportunities with regional partners.

The programs will be regularly assessed by PSU and the Commission on Higher Education, including analysis of retention, persistence and graduation rates, the school said.