A growing number of Americans are completing their college education in weeks, not years. They use online platforms, credit transfers and competency-based programs to do this. This trend is known as “Hacking Degrees”, “College Speed Runs” or “Hyper-Accelerated Degrees”. It has passionate supporters and serious critics in equal measure.
Christie Williams is one of the most talked about examples. A human resources manager in North Carolina completed his bachelor’s degree in just three months in 2024.
First, after work, she spent two months earning credits through online tutorials. She then took 11 classes in four weeks at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She later earned her master’s degree in just five weeks.
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The two titles together cost her just over $4,000. Since then, she has trained about a thousand students to do the same. “Why wouldn’t you? It’s kind of pointless when you know about it,” Williams told The Washington Post.
The University of Maine at Presque Isle runs a program called YourPace. It currently has over 3,000 online students enrolled. The program charges $1,800 for an eight-week session for undergraduates. Graduate degrees cost $2,450 per session.
This puts strong financial pressure on students to graduate as quickly as possible. Of the nearly 300 students who graduated in fall 2024, more than one in four completed in a single eight-week session.
Campus President Raymond Rice said the program targets working adults age 20 and older. They need credentials for a raise or promotion, not campus experience. “They literally just need a certificate,” Rice told The Post.
These programs are based on competency-based education. Students must demonstrate that they have learned the material through assignments or tests.
Why wouldn’t you? It’s kind of a no brainer if you know about it.
There are no class meetings, group discussions, or weekly deadlines. Students can also transfer credits from past courses or workplace learning.
Online platforms such as Study.com and StraighterLine also count. Some students cover up to three quarters of their credits this way.
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But for Atlanta’s Serenity James, the fast track really changed her life. She completed her bachelor’s degree and MBA in less than a year. The total cost was under $9,000, covered largely by scholarships and grants.
Shortly after graduation, she was promoted to a higher paying job. No employer ever questioned how quickly she graduated or where she studied.
“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, honestly,” she told the publication.
Growing criticism
Not everyone believes that speed and real learning can go together. Marjorie Hass leads the Council of Independent Colleges, which represents more than 600 liberal arts colleges. She spoke directly about her concern.
“We want degrees that mean something,” she told the publication. “I’d prefer some of these degrees to be called something other than bachelor’s.”
The head of the New England Commission of Higher Education also expressed concerns. The commission oversees accreditation for the University of Maine system.
He told The Post that he had never heard of titles completed in a matter of months. He indicated that the matter may require investigation.
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“If students receive their bachelor’s degrees in a few months, the board could certainly ask, ‘Is the degree to be awarded an honor?'” said board chairman Larry Schall.
There were also concerns about cheating. In January, Purdue Global limited the number of hours students can take per semester. The school cited concerns about academic integrity and the value of degrees.
Some Western Governors University students took to Reddit to urge fellow students to stop bragging about their speed. They warned it was damaging the school’s reputation for everyone.
The debate about these degrees is getting louder. A household of YouTube coaches and influencers are now teaching others how.
Some charge as little as $5 per tutorial. Others charge up to $1,500 for one-on-one coaching.
