Can I Finish My Degree Online? What to Know Before You Decide

Key Takeaways

• If you have some college credits, an associate’s degree, or relevant work experience and are thinking about going back to school, you can earn your bachelor’s degree through an online degree completion program. 
• Completing your undergraduate degree online can lead to higher earning potential, stronger job security, promotions, and more. 
• Neumann University offers two flexible bachelor’s degree completion programs for busy adults balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. 
• The BS in Public Safety Administration program is for current firefighters, police officers, and emergency responders interested in pursuing administrative or command-level roles. 
• The BS in Business and Organizational Studies program is for working professionals in business, trades, and technical fields looking to transition into administrative or leadership roles.  

Whether you started college and had to hit pause for your job, family, finances, or unexpected circumstances, it’s never too late to go back to school and invest in yourself. With an online degree completion program, you can earn your bachelor’s degree without having to start from scratch. Plus, you won’t have to press pause on your career either. 

In this article, we’ll cover what a degree completion program is, the benefits of going back to school as an adult, and eligibility requirements for an online program.  

What is a Degree Completion Program?

A degree completion program is an accelerated, flexible program that is designed specifically for busy, working adults who may have some college credits, an associate’s degree, or prior work experience that counts as college credit, but who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree. 

With a degree completion program, adult learners can build upon the work they may have already completed, rather than starting from scratch to earn their four-year undergraduate degree. 

Why Finish Your Undergraduate Degree as an Adult? 

Going back to school is a short-term commitment that can unlock long-term benefits:

• Higher salaries: People who have a bachelor’s degree earn about 84% more compared to those who have only completed high school. 

• Increased job security: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who have earned a bachelor’s degree are less likely to be unemployed than those with an associate’s degree.  

• Access to promotions: Whether you’d like to advance in your current field or make a career change, a bachelor’s degree makes you more competitive compared to candidates with only an associate’s degree or a high school diploma. 

Eligibility Requirements: Can I Finish My Bachelor's Online?

While requirements vary across institutions, here are some general criteria for being eligible to finish your bachelor’s degree online:  

• You have earned an associate’s degree or some college credits from an accredited institution.  
• You may have professional experience or documented prior learning that could count as credit.  
• You have the minimum number of transfer credits required, including credits from required courses (e.g., credits from courses equivalent to English Composition I and II, if applicable). 
• You can commit to the program's length while working. Some degree completion programs take weeks to finish, while others may take two years. 
• You maintain the minimum cumulative GPA required by your degree completion program. 
• You have the motivation and discipline to complete asynchronous coursework.  

To streamline the application process, consider gathering all previous transcripts and training records before reaching out to prospective degree completion programs.   

Finish What You Started:  Neumann University’s Online Degree Completion Programs

Going back to school while working can be a big commitment. That’s why at Neumann University, we offer two degree completion programs that are entirely online, allowing you to flexibly complete your bachelor’s degree and advance your career:  

For a deeper dive into the ROI of a bachelor’s degree, financial aid options, and more, download our free resource: What is a Degree Completion Program? A Guide to Getting a Bachelor’s Degree as an Adult.