How to Get a College Degree Faster and Cheaper? A Simple Degree Hacking Strategy!

Getting a bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to take four years or cost a fortune. You can save thousands of dollars and graduate faster by using college credit you already earned, plus low-cost courses you can take online. The trick is knowing which credits your school will accept, where to earn them cheapest, and planning your degree path before you start.

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Top 3 Degree Hacking Tips

1. ‍Use Your Old Credits: Transfer old classes, community college credits, CLEP exams, or workplace training that can still apply to your degree. ‍
2. Earn Cheaper Credits Online: Earn cheap college credits online from ACE-approved sites like Study.com. ‍
3. Plan Before You Enroll: Mapping out your credits first helps you avoid wasting money on courses that won’t transfer.

How Many Credit Hours Do You Need to Earn a Bachelor's Degree? 

Most bachelor’s degrees require 120 credit hours. These typically include:

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• 30–40 credits of general education (math, science, English, social science)
• 30–40 credits in your major field
• 30–60 credits in electives or prerequisites

But here's the key: you don’t have to earn all 120 credits at your college.

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Many schools accept up to 90 transfer credits from past classes, AP or CLEP exams you’ve already taken, affordable online courses from ACE-recommended sites like Study.com, or even military service or workplace training.

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By earning 30–60 credits outside your college, you can save $5,000–$30,000, depending on tuition, and finish your degree much faster.

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Pro tip: If you can start college with 30–60 credits already earned, you’ll cut months, or even years, off your degree.de

But How Does Degree Hacking Work in Practice?

Meet Sherry: Sherry has an opportunity for a promotion if she can earn a bachelor's degree - the quicker the better.

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Her Starting Point: She did a year at community college 10 years ago and earned 18 credits. Luckily all 18 credits transfer as general education requirements for WGU's Business Management degree.

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Her Degree Hacking Strategy: Before enrolling, she completed additional courses through CLEP exams and Study.com in just 4 months - including business core courses like Human Resources Management and Principles of Management. This brought her total transfer credits to 90.

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The Final Sprint: With just 11 out of 36 courses left, she enrolls in WGU and powers through her final business courses in just six months.

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The Result: Sherry earns her bachelor's degree in less than a year for under $4,000.

How to Earn Transferable Credits Before You Enroll

One of the best ways to save money and finish college faster is to earn credits before you officially start. You can do this by using old credits you’ve already earned or by taking new courses that your school will accept. Both strategies can cut thousands off your tuition and shorten your time to graduation

Ways to Earn Credits That Transfer:

• ‍Take Online Courses for College Credit: Look for classes reviewed by ACE (American Council on Education) or NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service), These organizations evaluate online learning for college transfer. ‍
• Use Study.com: A widely used degree-hacking platform and one of the largest providers of ACE-approved courses, with hundreds of general education and upper-level classes accepted at over 2,000 colleges and universities. ‍
• Explore Other Options: Sophia.org and StraighterLine also offer some ACE-approved courses, with varying options depending on subject and school transfer policies. ‍
• Use dual enrollment or early college programs: High school and community college students can earn credits that count toward a future degree. ‍
• Test Out with Exams: CLEP and DSST exams let you earn college credit through testing instead of classes. You can also use AP or IB credits you may have earned in high school. ‍
• Get Credit for Experience: Many schools award credit for military service, workplace training, or professional certifications. ‍
• Check School Policies First: Always confirm your school’s transfer rules so your credits will count.

Pro tip: If you can start college with 30–60 credits already earned, you’ll cut months, or even years, off your degree.

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_{*Check School Policies First – Always confirm your school’s transfer rules so your credits will count.}

What's the Fastest Way to Earn a Bachelor's Degree?

Once you’re enrolled, you can still speed up your degree with smart shortcuts:

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• ‍Take CLEP and DSST Exams: These exams let you skip general education courses by proving what you already know. ‍
• Choose Accelerated Online Programs: Schools like Western Governors University (WGU) or Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offer self-paced degrees or 6–8 week terms.  ‍
• Take Shorter Terms or Year-Round Classes: Enrolling in 8-week sessions or summer terms helps you earn more credits each year than traditional semesters allow. ‍
• Leverage credit-by-portfolio or certifications: Many colleges recognize real-world experiences and award credits for them.  ‍
• Add Extra Online Courses: If your school allows, you can take affordable online classes for transfer credit at the same time you’re enrolled.

Degree Hacking Isn’t a Gimmick - It’s a Smarter Path!

You don’t need to follow the traditional four-year plan or pay full price for every credit. Many accredited colleges let you transfer up to 90 credits, which means you only need to complete about 30 credits at the school to graduate.  

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By combining transfer credits, credit-by-exam, and affordable online courses from flexible programs, you can finish college faster and at a much lower cost.

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The smartest strategy? Start with your graduation goal and work backward—then map out which credits to earn through exams, online platforms, or prior learning so every class moves you closer to your degree.