Online Business Degrees: Fast Bachelor's Programs

We have done the research for fast online business degrees for bachelor's programs. Fast online degrees are also known as accelerated degrees, which provides opportunities for students to earn a bachelor’s in business administration in a shortened timeframe, such as three years instead of the traditional four years.

For example, students can finish an accelerated online business program in as little as 18 months - such as at Southern New Hampshire University's online programs. Their online degrees are just as valid and prestigious as on campus programs.

There are currently efforts for a three year timeframe to get a bachelor's degree in higher education, according to InsideHigherEd. Online colleges and universities are moving towards offering more bachelor's degrees in this accelerated timeframe.

Accelerated online business programs can provide a quick, versatile, and flexible way to earn a bachelor’s degree, potentially leading to various professional opportunities.

We use a proprietary ranking system that factors in the influence that faculty and alumni have (and the colleges by extension) in various subjects. An important way to determine this is to look at the H-Index scores of the faculty and/or alumni and the H-Index scores of colleges and universities collectively, and rank accordingly.

For more information see our articles College Calculator: Objective, Data-Driven College Rankings, and H-Index: How Academic Influence is Determined.

Online Business Degrees - Fast Bachelor's Programs

Online Business Degrees - Fast Bachelor's Programs
Rank	School	Location
1	Southern New Hampshire University	Manchester, New Hampshire
2	Arizona State University	Scottsdale, Arizona
3	Purdue University Global	West Lafayette, Indiana
4	Grand Canyon University	Phoenix, Arizona
5	Capella University	Minneapolis, Minnesota

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a non-profit university, with one of the largest online student bodies in the U.S. SNHU offers many online bachelor's which can be completed in two years. They also have one of the lowest tuitions in the nation, which has been the same since 2012.

What makes SNHU our number one choice, is the combination of the low tuition rate, along with the many concentration options available for online business degrees, and that the bachelor's program can be completed in two years.

Students can earn their online bachelor's in business administration as its own degree, or select from 14 concentration options.

The online bachelor's in business administration concentrations are:

Accounting
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Healthcare Administration
Human Resource management
Industrial Organizational Psychology
International Business
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Nonprofit Management
Organizational Leadership
Project management
Public Administration
Sport Management

SNHU works with the Sophia Learning program, which allows students to take as many general education courses as they can finish within certain time frames, and for flat rates.

For example, for $99, students can finish one or two courses within one month. This longest option is $599 to complete online courses within one year. These are pass/fail online classes which grant college credit towards SNHU's undergraduate degree programs.

SNHU accepts transfer credits. Transfer students should check with SNHU to see how many credits can be transferred into their business program from their transferring school(s).

Their generous credit transfer policy allows for up to 75% of the degree in transfer credits. Transfer students should check with SNHU to see which credits can be accepted.

Arizona State University

W. P. Carey School of Business

Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona State University offers many accelerated bachelor's online that can be completed in three years. They offer the Bachelor's in Business (Communication), and the Bachelor's in Business Analytics. Each can be completed in three years.

The Bachelor of Arts in Business with a concentration in Communication online teaches effective communication skills and techniques along with business principles. Graduates should be able to communicate complex business processes and ideas.

Courses include:

Introduction to Human Communication
Macroeconomic Principles
Literacy and Critical Inquiry
Business Writing

The Bachelor of Science in Business Data Analytics teaches students how to harness big data to make it meaningful to inform business processes.

Courses include:

Small Group Communication
Public Speaking
Business Statistics
Business and Society

Arizona State University suggests that interested students should contact an academic advisor for more details on how to finish in three years.

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue Global offers many online programs in many subjects, and is a leader in online education. Purdue Global offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration online, which can be taken through their ExcelTrack option. ExcelTrack is a multifaceted way to accelerate getting a bachelor's.

Students will take an assessment test to see what they already know, which can allow for skipping classes. This can be a way of getting college credit for already having work experience. It also lets students take as many 1 credit courses as they want within a semester.

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona

Grand Canyon University is a private Christian university that offers bachelor's through doctorates online and on-campus.

Grand Canyon University's online Bachelor's in Business Administration can be completed in three years. Students can take classes all year, including summer.

Topics of study:

Labor Markets
Finance
Socially Responsible Business Practices
Conscious Capitalism

Students have flexibility to pay per course, per month, or per year.

Capella University

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Capella University offers the FlexPath program for their online Bachelor of Science in Business.

There are eight specialization options within their online BS in Business:

Accounting
Business administration
Management and Leadership
Finance
Health Care Management
Human resource Management
Marketing
Project Management

Flexpath allows students to finish a class and move on to the next online course without waiting for a new term or semester. This program allows students to work through classes at their own pace without needing to adhere to a predetermined schedule.

More resources for fast online degrees:

Choosing A College - Factors To Consider

There are some important factors to consider when selecting an online program, such as the duration of time, cost, flexibility, and the school's accreditation.

Research accreditation, course offerings and curriculum to be informed of the program particulars. Also look into financial aid & scholarships offered in order potentially make getting a fast degree more affordable.

To select the best accelerated online business program, it’s essential to research the school’s reputation, accreditation status, and faculty credentials. AACSB accreditation is a highly respected recognition for business colleges, ensuring that programs meet specific quality criteria in business education, and by extension is acknowledged by employers and other institutions.

In addition to accreditation, assessing the course offerings and curriculum is crucial to ensure that the program aligns with your career goals. For example, if you’re interested in social media marketing, look for a program that offers courses in social media, communication, digital marketing, and data analysis, for example.

Using these criteria, students can become informed of the best fast business degree program options online. There are also online business certificate programs available, but that is not the subject of this article.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a respected accrediting body for schools of business, showing that their programs meet quality standards in a business education in particular.

Accredited undergrad programs are recognized by graduate programs at colleges and universities, and by companies, governments and non-profits.

This accreditation illustrates a school's commitment to excellence. By selecting an accredited program, especially a regionally accredited program, can be confident in the quality of education.

Accreditation

When searching for an accelerated degree program, consider its accreditation. Regional accreditation is the highest form of accreditation. Accreditation guarantees the quality of the programs, which shows that courses such as business law, financial management, and business operations meet specific standards.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a highly-regarded accrediting body for business schools. Employers and other institutions recognize regionally accredited degrees, making them potentially valuable for career prospects.

Courses

Besides accreditation, also look at the course offerings and curricula to make sure that it's a subject that you would like to study. There are courses such as international business, global markets, digital marketing, and financial management which can be relevant to a student's career ambitions.

Understanding the differences between a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Arts (BA) with liberal arts courses, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) can help determine the relevant programs that a student may want to learn.

Concentrations

An accelerated program, such as an accelerated business management program, can offer various concentrations, allowing students to specialize in areas like Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Finance, and Human Resources. For those who want to learn management skills, a business management degree would be the prudent choice.

Pursuing a concentration in an area of interest can allow students gain valuable skills and knowledge to apply to the relevant career, potentially leading to more professional options.

Accelerated business management programs may also offer concentrations, allowing students to specialize in areas like Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or International Business.

Pursuing a concentration in an area of interest can allow students to gain specialized instruction most relevant to their career ambitions.

For example, Arizona State University offers fast business degree programs in Communication and in Data Analytics. Given that these are two very different fields of study, it's worth looking in detail at which accelerated program offers what the student wants to learn. These two programs can lead to very different career paths.

Another example is Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). SNHU offers an online bachelor's in business administration degree program by itself, or with 14 different concentrations from which to choose. If a student's ambition is to be in management, finding bachelor's degree programs with management courses or concentrations would perhaps be appropriate.

Tips for Succeeding in an Accelerated Online Degree in Business

While taking an accelerated business degree program, it's prudent to use effective time management techniques, and take advantage of transfer credits and networking opportunities. Some schools allow transfer credits up to 75% of the degree.

By focusing on a chosen concentration and developing a strong foundation in essential business skills, online students will be better prepared to pursue high-demand business careers for positions that require a minimum of a bachelor's in business administration or related degrees.

By creating a schedule, and taking advantage of online resources, students can obtain their education quicker than a traditional four year timeframe.

Taking the maximum number of classes helps students gain more credits in a shorter period, including over summer. By choosing the relevant concentration that students want to study and developing business fundamentals, students can potentially be better suited to pursue careers in business after graduation.

Transfer Credits and Degree Completion Programs

Making the most of transfer credits earned from previous college courses is a way to save time and money towards earning a bachelor's in business administration. Research transfer policies, credit equivalencies, and take advantage of credit for experience opportunities where available. These steps can help students maximize their credits and get a business degree online faster than otherwise.

Leveraging experience to earn college credit can be a great way to accelerate getting degree completion programs. Submitting a portfolio or taking advantage of ACE recommended credits are two methods to earn credit for prior work. By maximizing transfer credits and getting credit for work or life experience, students can complete their business degree online fast by skipping classes that they don't need to take.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students pursuing accelerated online bachelor's degree programs are just as available as traditional programs.

Grants, loans, private or university scholarships, work-study programs, and tuition assistance programs offered by employers can help make a fast online education possible.

You can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out which funding you qualify for. This is an essential step in securing financial aid for college.

Additionally, researching awards and recognition received by universities can help you find scholarships specifically for students enrolled in accelerated online degrees in business.

There are several types of financial aid available to help students. Grants, scholarships, and deferred-payment loans are great options to explore when financing your education. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams can also help you save money on earning credits.

Other funding opportunities could include work-study programs, which give students the chance to gain valuable work experience while earning money to pay for their education. By taking advantage of these financial aid options, students can better minimize the cost of education.

See our article Financial Aid Guide for Online College Students

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest business degree to get?

Earning a degree in business can be one of the most rewarding investments. The easiest degree in business to get is usually the one that teaches a subject that a student is genuinely interested in learning.

Studies show that students who study what they're genuinely interested in learning score better and have higher GPAs. With student services and academic advisor resources, students can achieve success in their education.

What is the quickest degree to get?

Earning a bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to take years of your life. Southern New Hampshire University offers the Sophia Learning program, which allows students to take as many general education classes as they want to take within certain time frames for flat rates.

These are pass/fail classes that translate to college credit. This can mean that a bachelor's degree can take only one and a half years to complete.

Programs like these can help online and traditional on-campus students get a degree in a fraction of the time it would take to complete a traditional four-year program.

Is getting a degree in business online worth it?

Getting an online degree in business can potentially create new job opportunities. With the right preparation and dedication, this degree can be a great investment in a future career given its potentially high return on investment.

Graduates with an accelerated business degree bachelor's earn an average of $2 million dollars more over their lifetime than those with only a high school diploma.

What is the duration of an accelerated online degree in business?

You can earn an accelerated online degree in business in as little as 18 months. It can be a quick and efficient way to expedite college education.

Many colleges offer online bachelor's that can be completed in three years.

What are some popular concentrations within accelerated online degree programs in business?

An accelerated business degree online offers popular concentrations such as Management, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Business Law, Finance, Human Resources, and International Business, providing students with diverse options to pursue their career aspirations.

These concentrations provide students with the opportunity to specialize in a particular area of business, developing business administration skills, for example, and other relevant skills.

With the flexibility of online platform learning, students can complete their degree at their own pace, while still having access to the same quality of education.