How To Finish Your Bachelor's Degree Online If You Have Some College Credit

You're Not Starting Over — You're Picking Up Where You Left Off

Many of those credits you earned years ago still count toward a bachelor's degree. Colleges will review all the college-level classes you took already to figure out how they fit into your new program, so you're picking up closer to where you left off than you might think.

Millions of Americans start college but never finish an undergraduate degree. Specifically, 43 million Americans have some college but no credential as of the 2023-24 academic year, and 37 million of those are working-age adults. 

That's a lot of people in the same boat as you. The good news is: That's exactly why there are so many online schools looking to help people in this situation. They hire re-enrollment advisors specifically to help them understand what you need. 

Whether you're going back to college after a few years or a few decades, there are programs and people dedicated to getting you to the finish line.

But Is Going Back to College Worth It?

At the risk of sounding too opinionated, the answer is an emphatic YES! You should go back to college. There are lots of reasons why it's a good idea to finish your degree, but let's start with the data. 

Here's what the facts say, straight from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): 

The numbers show you are likely to earn a lot more and stay employed longer with a bachelor's degree in hand. Making over $500/week more than someone with no degree adds up over time — $26,052 more per year, in fact. Over the course of your career, you can imagine how an extra 26k per year adds up to more cushion, support, retirement, etc. 

The BLS also reports that as of 2024, households led by someone with at least a bachelor's degree earned a median salary of $132,700. Compare that with households led by a high school graduate without any higher education, earning a median of $58,410! That means a single bachelor's degree more than doubles a household's income. 

What about job stability? Unemployment data agrees that you'll be better off finishing your degree:

The bottom line is that by nearly every measure, it's 100% worth it to go back to college. That doesn't mean, however, that you'll need to commute or live in a dorm to complete your degree. If taking classes on-campus doesn't fit your lifestyle or schedule, an online program can help you turn your credits into a degree.

Is Online College the Best Way to Finish Your Degree?

For many people, online colleges offer the best options for finishing a degree. If you're in the situation where you have some credits but no credential, there's a good chance you've already started "adult life". Whether you're working full-time, raising a family, or have other scheduling constraints, the flexibility of most online college programs makes completing your degree more realistic.

Online programs are also likely to be more affordable than in-person classes and eliminate transportation, housing, and on-campus fees. When you factor in options for faster completion times, accelerated courses, and the accessibility of attending reputable institutions regardless of location, it seems like a no-brainer to finish your degree online.

All that said, let's not sugarcoat the reality: the rise of online education has correlated with a rise in drop-out rates. About one-third of college students drop out before they reach the prize of a degree. Going to college online has its challenges:

• Self-discipline: Online courses require you to motivate and regulate yourself to stay on schedule.
• Isolation: If you thrive on personal interaction, college classes can feel isolating.
• Reduced networking: It's harder to establish lifelong networking contacts with your professors and peers when you never meet them in person.

It's possible that an online college won't be the right fit for you. If so, most of the steps we outline below will still apply, you'll just need to do some local research to find an institution that fits your needs.

If finishing your degree online feels like the right move but you're worried about the potential downsides, look for an online college with strong support services. The right support can help you feel more connected and minimize the challenges associated with online courses.

What Are Degree Completion Programs?

A quick definition: 

The goal of degree completion programs is simply to help students avoid repeating courses. As such, they have the following features: 

• Transfer credit evaluations
• Flexible start dates
• Accelerated terms (such as 8-week courses)
• Prior learning assessments
• Support from advisors who specialize in returning college students

You actually don't need an associate degree to benefit from this option. Even if you only finished a semester or two of college, degree completion pathways are just there to help make sure you don't repeat yourself. An advisor will look at what you've done in order to plan where you're going next.

Some schools also offer formal "re-enrollment" or "return to finish" pathways for students who left with an outstanding balance. Since policies are unique to each school, be sure to contact the financial aid office for specifics. Don't rule a school out before you ask.

Step-by-Step Guide To Finishing Your Bachelor's Degree Online

Below is a step-by-step guide on how returning students typically finish their degree using previously earned credits. However, it's helpful to figure out what program you want to pursue first. Credits will apply differently depending on what you major in. 

The process itself begins with getting an evaluation of the credits you've already earned and how they will translate to your degree program. This evaluation determines if the courses you've completed are equivalent to credits in the new school’s curriculum and therefore eligible for credit.

How Do You Set up a Credit Evaluation With an Advisor?

There are two main routes to getting a credit evaluation: the official way, and the unofficial way (which is faster and free). The best path for you likely depends on whether you've chosen a degree path to follow. It may turn out that your best option includes both pathways – an unofficial review to help you decide which degree to pursue and an official review to help you decide which school to attend based on how many credits they'll give you.

Preliminary Credit Review (Unofficial)

Many online-friendly schools expect students to compare options before applying, especially because the whole point for a lot of students is to finish a bachelor's online quickly. So even if you just have unofficial transcripts, it's still worth asking if you can speak to an admissions advisor to see how many credits transfer and how long a degree you're considering will take to finish. 

This is what colleges call a "preliminary credit review" or an "unofficial transfer estimate." Importantly, it's not binding. When you're still comparing options to find the best fit, it's very helpful. 

If you want to go this route: 

• Step 1: Gather unofficial transcripts (you can usually download them from your college portal for free, instantly).

• Step 2: Reach out to an admissions advisor or transfer specialist (online schools will have dedicated staff for just this purpose).

• Step 3: E-mail or upload your transcripts and wait to hear back to get the scoop.

• Step 4: Receive an estimate of transferable credits and be sure to ask the right questions (see below).

In this scenario, the final number of accepted credits is not guaranteed, but it will at least give you a general idea of what you can expect moving forward. Plus, you can do all of these steps relatively quickly. 

At this stage, you can also ask some of the most pressing questions on your mind. Good questions to ask include:

Every school has unique policies around credit transfers. Some schools accept up to 60 credits from another school, while others accept over 90 credits. These are general policies that you can ask about upfront. 

Credit Evaluation (Official)

If you know with certainty where you want to go and what degree you want to get, then go ahead and do it the right way- the official way:

• Step 1: Ordering official transcripts takes time. Give yourself up to two weeks to receive those from your previous college(s). Also, keep any deadlines in mind. Schools need transcripts by an official date.

• Step 2: Some colleges won't do a full official credit evaluation until you've actually applied. They need both your college transcripts and your college application before you get a straight answer. 

• Step 3: As part of your application process, you would also send along any potential alternate credit you could claim, like military credit, licensure, work training, etc.

• Step 4: An official credit evaluation takes anywhere from a couple weeks to a full month. If you want to get the most bang for your buck, make sure the advisor has access to multiple majors you're curious about to see how your credits apply differently.

Application fees range from totally free to $50 a pop. Ordering transcripts costs money, too — usually around $20.

Typical Timelines for Credit Transfers:

• 90 credits transferred → 12-18 months left
• 60 credits transferred → ~2 years left
• Fewer credits → longer timeline, depends largely on your enrollment pace

How Can I Finish My Bachelor’s Degree Fast?

Many online degree programs are designed to be finished quickly. Here's what to look for:

Consider Prior Learning Assessments (PLA)

Prior learning assessments are one of the most underused tools for students who want to complete a bachelor's degree online faster and for less money. PLAs allows you to earn credit for work experience, military service, industry certifications, or standardized exams like CLEP, DSST, Sophia, and StraighterLine.

Some of these do come with a cost — CLEP and DSST exams typically run $90–$200 total — but one exam can translate to 3 college credits, which often makes it the faster and cheaper option.

FAQs About Finishing Your Bachelor's Degree Online