Ashland U. offers three-year degrees

Staff report

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Starting this fall, Ashland University will begin offering a number of three-year degree programs, enabling some students to enter the work force or pursue a graduate degree more quickly than they would with the traditional four-year degree.

Ashland University President Fred Finks said Ashland’s faculty and staff have spent the past year developing this program in response to student and family financial concerns.

“We have listened to people’s concerns about higher education, and we believe this new program will help students earn a quality education in less time and for less money,” Finks said. “With this three-year degree option, students could earn an undergraduate degree in three years or six semesters, instead of four years, and save close to $34,000 — the amount of one year’s tuition and fees.”

The change also complies with an initiative by Ohio Chancellor Jim Petro, requiring Ohio’s public universities to offer three-year degrees.

Ashland Provost Frank Pettigrew explained the benefits of the program, noting that besides graduating in just three years, the student also would be able to use the comprehensive rate payment of fall and spring to cover up to two of the six credit hours taken in the two summer sessions.

“This translates into having the student pay for only eight of the 12 hours taken during the required summer terms,” Pettigrew said. “Additionally, all summer courses must be offered through an online format.”

Pettigrew said it has been estimated that this would save students at the current cost rates approximately $24,000 in tuition and nearly $10,000 in room and board costs.

The three-year programs are based on the 120-credit- hour graduation requirement, which is the prerequisite for three-year degree programs to be viable. The programs will consist of six semesters over three years during the typical fall and spring academic year and two separate years of summer sessions.

For a listing of the specific three-year degree programs, visit the website at www.ashland.edu/degree-in-3.