The path to a bachelor’s degree is getting shorter — and cheaper — at Johnson & Wales University. Starting next fall, the 110-year-old private university will offer one of the nation’s first accredited three-year degree programs.

In October, the New England Commission of Higher Education gave the green light to JWU’s plan, which lets students in four majors — criminal justice, computer science, hospitality management, and graphic design — graduate faster and at a reduced cost.

“We are thrilled to welcome our first class of students to this innovative new program, and we have already received dozens of applications across the four programs,” said Jennifer Galipeau, Ed.D., JWU’s associate provost of academic affairs and dean of the College of Hospitality Management. “This is an exciting opportunity for students to embark on a transformative journey, equipped with the skills and knowledge to shape their future in a rapidly evolving world.”

At a time of increased competition among colleges for student enrollment, Galipeau said it was also an opportunity to rethink JWU’s educational model.

Why It Matters

The three-year degree program comes at a time when higher education is under intense pressure. Rising costs, record-breaking student debt, and questions about the value of a diploma have led to calls for change.

At JWU, a four-year degree costs about $250,000 after all tuition and fees are counted. The new three-year track slashes that by 25%, saving students and families tens of thousands of dollars.

 “This is really an equity driver for us as well. Students should be able to attend an institution and study what they wish and not have cost be a barrier,” said Galipeau.

How It Works

JWU will begin accepting applications for the three-year degree for students enrolling in Fall 2025. A university spokesperson, Rachel Nunes, said students will still be able to pursue a four-year degree in the selected majors: “Our goal is to increase options for students, not limit them.”

The shorter timeline also won’t mean students have to get the same amount of work done in less time. They’ll be completing 90–96 credits over the course of three years on campus, instead of 120 credits in four years.

“What’s different is they’re not taking a bunch of electives,” Galipeau added. Internships will also be scaled down, getting folded into existing curriculum or completed independently over the summer. “Students have a great deal of agency in putting together a program that will align with their career goals and support the degree program that they are pursuing.”

One question is how the reduced requirements will affect quality. Galipeau said not all majors, such as those in the liberal arts, make sense as a three-year degree. She said computer science, hospitality management, graphic design, and criminal justice were chosen carefully. In addition to being majors with proven track records at the university, Galipeau said the work students must learn to do is highly applied. They’re also in high demand among the JWU’s employer network.

Will Employers Buy In?

The big question in all of this is whether a three-year degree will hold the same weight as the traditional four-year version. Galipeau and some regional employers say they aren’t worried.

“There isn’t an event or conference I attend with industry leaders where I don’t hear from them: We need your students. We can’t find enough talent to lead our organizations,” Galipeau said.

A spokesperson for JWU said outside industry partners were surveyed as the program proposals were developed and provided quotes from some of the positive feedback it received. Rick Russo, sector president at Flik Hospitality Group, said lower costs and the ability to enter the workforce sooner was a “win-win for students and employers.”

“College is expensive — let’s give students what they need in less time,” said Rhonda Lapham, a regional president with iHeart Media.

The Bigger Picture

While three-year degrees aren’t a new idea, few colleges have pulled them off.

In recent years, accreditors, the nongovernmental organizations that evaluate the quality of higher education institutions, have warmed to the idea. In March, NEHEC, Johnson & Wales’ accreditor, said it was open to three-year degree programs. In a five-month sprint, academic officials moved swiftly to stand up the first-of-its-kind program. Plymouth State University, a public college in New Hampshire, was also approved by NEHEC to launch a three-year degree program.

Lance Eaton, an instructional designer at College Unbound in Providence, an alternative baccalaureate model that caters to adult learners, praised JWU for shaking up the traditional four-year college model.

“It was just kind of decided a long time ago that four years is the time it takes for college to become the norm,” said Eaton. “It isn’t exactly arbitrary, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Not all learners are the same so why do we think this cookie cutter approach is best?”

Andrew Bramson, CEO of the college prep nonprofit Onward We Learn, which services students who are the first in their family to go to college, said JWU’s program could be a game-changer for some students, but it’s not a panacea.

“This needs to be one tool in the affordability toolbox,” Bramson said. “Reducing the time and cost by 25% will work for a certain population and a certain set of majors.”

Bramson said in the post-pandemic world, postsecondary preparation levels “have taken a real hit.” It was incumbent on Johnson & Wales to ensure the students they accept into the three-year program are poised to succeed.

“There’s very little margin of error for missteps when you’re in a three-year degree program,” Bramson said. “We are seeing, in a post-pandemic world, that a lot of our students don’t possess either the academic experiences, or the social and emotional experience, to make that effective transition from high school to post-secondary in that first semester.”

“I challenge them to be thoughtful and transparent in how they’re evaluating the success of this,” Bramson added.

Editor’s Note: Geoff Decker is an education writer, journalist and college coaching professional. To learn more, contact him at geoff@collegeessayjournalist.com