Some universities across the country have begun exploring 3-year college degree structures to potentially save students time and money.
In a recent article from Stateline, the editorial arm of the Pew Research Center, colleges in different states have begun exploring ways to adjust courses to get students out the door faster and cheaper. The programs are being tested in both private and public institutions, some actually by legislative mandate. According to the article, more than a dozen private and public universities are part of a pilot looking into the viability of the 3-year option.
From the article:
Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow.
A recent Pew Research Center survey released last week showed that currently 1 in 4 American adults believe it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. And only 22 percent of respondents said the cost was worth it, even with the need for a loan.
