Mississippi State University has become the first educational institution in the state to offer undergraduate programs that can be completed in three years. This will help around 20,000 students to speed up their graduation process.
The University is also planning to amend its scholarships to suit this kind of a program.
However, they are not planning to reduce the number of credit hours required to obtain a degree. Instead, they will be asked to study during the summer to complete their graduation.
The tuition is estimated to be $6,264 for a two-semester year for in-state undergraduate students. Through this three-year undergraduate program they can save up to $5,000 a year in living expenses.
Among the 23 three-year proposed programs, three courses each are dedicated to agriculture, arts and sciences and business, among others.
Daniel Hurley of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities said in 2011 that these kinds of programs are applicable to students from wealthy households who can afford to study an entire year without applying for an internship or part-time jobs during summer.
In order to finish a degree within three years, a student will be required to take 15 hours each semester and each summer and more classes during one or two semesters to reach an overall total of 124 hours.
Around 30 percent of Mississippi state students finish a degree in four years with an average of 14.3 credit hours a semester.
Other private colleges have decreased the number of credit hours to 90 hours, which facilitates students to complete their degree in three years and still take summers off.
