Accelerated college degrees are a great option for most students. They help save time and tuition costs, while avoiding repetitive coursework. By shortening the timeline to graduation, they also prepare students for the job market that much sooner.

So what exactly does an accelerated college degree involve? Accelerated degrees can be structured differently, depending on the school or college you choose. Some “accelerated degrees” are actually two degrees combined into a shorter program (like a bachelor’s degree plus a master’s degree that you would complete all at once, in five years instead of six).

More often, accelerated degrees involve shorter course lengths or shorter semesters. So instead of studying Western Civilization for thirteen weeks, you might complete the whole course in just eight weeks.

One of the most popular accelerated college degree options is one that students can create by themselves: earning credit-by-exam. After passing a computerized exam (dozens of exam topics are offered through CLEP, DSST, and Excelsior), students may then skip the equivalent course at the college they attend—while still receiving regular course credit. When attempting to earn college credit-by-exam, working with a test prep partner is the easiest way to compare different colleges’ policies and achieve passing scores on exams.

How can you tell if your situation and career plans are a good fit for this type of accelerated college degree? Review these five signs. If any of them sound familiar, you’re probably a good candidate.

1. Your Coworkers Are Getting Promoted

Has this ever happened to you? Your company hires a new employee (possibly someone younger and less experienced). Within a few months, your boss announces his promotion. All of a sudden the new guy outranks you… And he’s making more money.

Experiences like this can be totally frustrating. You feel unappreciated, and your work might suffer. Meanwhile, you start to resent all new employees, viewing them as competitors rather than team members.

It’s possible that the new hire was especially motivated and proved himself to be an extremely hard worker. More likely, he came into the organization with something you don’t have: a degree. If you suspect that education is a factor in your company’s promotion policies, ask your boss directly. Accelerated college degrees make it easier to attend classes and keep your day job.

2. You Don’t Meet Industry Qualification Requirements

Have you spent any time looking for a new job, recently? In some fields, the education requirements are obvious. For example, you can’t be a lawyer without a JD.

In other fields, the standard qualifications are sort of vague. You may have to shop around some different job boards (LinkedIn, Monster, CraigsList, etc.) to see what different companies expect. If you find that most of them list “bachelor’s degree” under their Minimum Requirements heading, that’s a good sign you need to advance your education—fast.

3. Things Have Changed Since Your Last College Course

Have you already completed a few college courses—or maybe even your associate’s degree—sometime before the Clinton administration? Lots has changed since then! Basic office computer functions, healthcare technology, best practices in marketing, networking, sales…

Right now is a great time for you to complete a four-year college degree (in less than four years). Your existing college study skills will help you through exam prep, if you choose the credit-by-exam route. And you’ll gain a newer, up-to-do credential to add to your resume.

4. You’re Totally Bored by Subjects Outside Your Major

Accelerated degrees are ideal for students who plan to major in career-focused subjects like business, computer science, nursing, criminal justice, etc. In their careers, these students will never be asked to interpret a passage from Shakespeare (literature). So they don’t need a lengthy, in-class experience for every liberal arts topic. Instead, they just need to prove they have the capacity to understand this material at the college level. Accelerated college degrees help them prove it faster.

On the other hand, students majoring in literature might be totally bored by biology or math. For them, testing out of math/science/computer requirements could be a great way to get through those dull subjects faster, too.

5. Employers Don’t Understand Your Military Record

There are lots of online articles written to help military members “translate” military experience into resume language that civilians (hiring managers, in particular) can understand. And there’s definitely some truth to gain from these recommendations. By adjusting your wording and descriptions, many of the skills you learned and responsibilities you managed can be seen as applicable in mainstream job environments.

But sometimes your military experience needs to be rounded out with more academic proof points. Your record might show, for example, that you’re a capable leader and a dedicated team player. Now you need college credit to verify your communication skills or IT abilities. Accelerated college degrees—especially via DSST exams, which are free for active-duty military and their spouses—are a smart option to explore.

Looking for more advice on accelerated college degrees? Ask our experts! We love answering your questions.

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