Some colleges and universities are introducing three-year bachelor’s degree programs. They often promise better employment opportunities after graduation, while allowing students to pay less tuition. Here’s what to know.

Universities are moving away from the traditional 4-year bachelor’s degree

Some institutions have started to offer degrees that can be completed in three years — an alternative to traditional four-year degrees or two-year associate degrees. Although some three-year programs have existed, the difference is that universities are now requiring fewer credits than the usual 120 credits needed to graduate.

In February, Ensign College in Utah announced it would convert all of its bachelor’s degrees into three-year programs. Loma Linda University in California added several options in global health. About 60 universities and colleges are reportedly planning to launch similar programs, according to The Los Angeles Times.

“There are small groups of institutions saying that the old game doesn’t work and has to change,” Bob Zemsky, an emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, told the news outlet.

“We’re trying to be responsive to the needs of employers and, frankly, the desire of students who do want to work their way through school as quickly as possible,” Kevin Black, who chairs North Dakota’s State Board of Higher Education, added.

Although the state allowed universities to test “bachelor of applied science” degrees for fewer than 120 degrees, it also voted to reassess the decision in four years.

Why are universities introducing 3-year degrees?

First, these new degrees are being called “applied” or “career-focused” and are supposed to fast-track students’ employment after graduation. Elective courses that are traditionally required for students to take have been taken out of most three-year programs, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Last semester, Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island introduced three-year degrees in criminal justice, computer science, hospitality management and design.

For students, it allows them to pay for a year less in tuition. It is also improving dropout rates, according to Johnson & Wales University.

Are 3-year programs as good as 4-year programs?

As these degrees are being newly introduced, it is not known if they allow for better or worse employment opportunities for students after graduation. Some experts note that not all disciplines can benefit from a conversion into a three-year degree.

“There are certain career paths where, at least for the foreseeable future, a four-year degree is still going to be a requirement,” Nate Bowditch, the provost at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, said.  “If you want to go to medical school or be a rocket scientist at NASA, you’re going to need a four-year degree.”

Next fall, Plymouth State University will offer three-year degrees in robotics, outdoor adventure leadership and other fields.

Some experts are concerned about these new options potentially creating a tier system in which affluent students complete four-year degrees. Others, like the North Dakota Student Association, contend against three-year programs because they do not teach critical thinking and “how to form and answer questions using a variety of intellectual approaches that different disciplines require.”

Although these degrees are newly being introduced in the United States, they are the norm in several other countries. Most European countries such as France, Italy and Germany, as well as the UK, India, New Zealand and more typically offer three-year bachelor’s degrees for most disciplines.