Oregon University Offers Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees That Could Save Students a Year of Costs

Aligning with its goal of becoming an Opportunity University, Oregon’s Pacific University is offering students bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, computer science, and sustainability and adaptation, packed into three instead of four years.

Students Can Eliminate One Year of Tuition Fees and Housing Costs

Starting in Fall 2027, students can save a full year’s worth of tuition, housing, and related fees through this degree opportunity, according to Jaye Cee Whitehead, dean of Pacific’s Division & College of Undergraduate Studies.

Credit Requirements Have Been Cut by 25%

The number of credits required for the three-year bachelor’s degrees has been reduced by 25%, to 96 credits. The move has been approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the region’s accredited body.

The degrees have been designed for highly focused students, offering the potential to reduce student debt while delivering career-ready graduates for the workforce, according to a university statement.

The three-year degree students will take the same classes within their major as their four-year counterparts. They will also have the same access to experiential learning and field experiences.

Three-Year Degrees Translate Into Financial Value

Pacific University says three-year degrees translate into financial value at a time when the cost of higher education continues to rise.

Students enrolling for the three-year bachelor’s degrees will have the same access to financial aid, on-campus housing, and extracurricular activities as their four-year counterparts.

Pacific University’s guaranteed grad school admission program allows prospective students to apply to one of 11 Pacific graduate programs.

The Pacific Priority Program offers a four-year graduation guarantee for most degree programs, and a two-year graduation guarantee for graduates from community colleges in Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii.