Advanced vs. Accelerated Degrees: A Cost-Benefit Breakdown for Modern Students

Postgraduate education isn’t the path for everyone, but it pays off. Many careers in nursing, education, science, and engineering require advanced degrees. However, such employers don’t typically care about how long it takes to get your degree.

For example, you can pursue a 2-6 year advanced career or complete an accelerated program in 1-3 years. You learn the same information but in a significantly different timeline. The difference between advanced and accelerated degrees has left many future postgraduate students confused. Follow along as we explore how advanced and accelerated degrees differ.

What is the Difference Between Advanced and Accelerated Classes?

Advanced degrees dive deeply into subjects and take longer to complete than accelerated classes. Getting an advanced degree versus an accelerated degree is not necessarily better or more prestigious. You earn a degree either way, but you get to enter the workforce much faster with an accelerated degree.

This appeals to many people who can’t justify missing work opportunities because of ongoing education. Both degrees are impressive in the eyes of employers and educational institutions.

Time Commitment

Both advanced and accelerated degrees require a commitment to be worthwhile. However, accelerated programs often appeal to people who simply cannot dedicate time to education for too long. This is naturally understandable in a world where many people balance work, school, and family life.

Granted, the dense workload of accelerated courses requires lots of work and dedication. Even still, you won’t have to dedicate nearly as much time to an accelerated course as an advanced course. The shorter time commitment that accelerated degrees require understandably appeals to people with limited time to spare.

Financial Investment

The large financial investment that education requires often discourages people from pursuing degrees. It’s no secret that advanced degrees are more expensive than accelerated degrees. That’s because they can take years longer to earn than an accelerated degree.

You can save several thousands of dollars with an accelerated degree versus an advanced degree. This includes the cost of tuition and even living expenses if you move away to school. You can also get a return on investment sooner with an accelerated degree by getting a job in your field quickly.

Career Opportunities

There is ultimately no difference between advanced and accelerated degrees when it comes to career opportunities. You don’t get access to different types of jobs whether your degree is advanced or accelerated. For example, any type of postgraduate education degree is worth it because it opens the door to great job openings.

Pros and Cons of Accelerated Degrees

Pros

• Flexibility to take care of work, family, and social responsibilities due to the shorter time commitment.

• You can quickly get a job in your desired field when you graduate with an accelerated degree.

• Accelerated degree programs help save money because there are fewer semesters to pay for. Living expenses are also much more affordable because you don’t have to pay for room and board for nearly as long.

Cons

• The short timeframe makes the workload much denser as you must still learn the same information in less time. This can be stressful when balancing education with personal commitments.

• There is less time to engage your peers, which can be both personally and academically challenging.

• The pressure of quickly learning information and completing the program can lead to burnout. That’s especially true if you also work and have a family.

Pros and Cons of Advanced Degrees

Pros

• You have plenty of time to learn and retain information without having to crunch as much. This makes it easier to grasp information without being stretched too thin.

• Advanced programs are more forgiving for those who struggle with information overload. The information is stretched over several semesters. This makes it easier to get help to understand the information before moving on to another subject.

• You have plenty of time to network with people who plan to work in the same industry. This is a great way to nurture lifelong relationships both socially and professionally.

Cons

• Advanced degrees sometimes require a large financial investment because of the long timeframe. Both the cost of tuition and boarding may require loans, which can be a burden.

• You must typically wait several years until you graduate to work in the industry you’re pursuing. This can be stressful, especially if you keep up with job market trends during turbulent times.

• Many people balance side jobs with advanced degree studies to help pay tuition, which can be difficult. Work and school may take up all your time, at least until you graduate.

Pursue Education at Your Pace

The timeframe of your postgraduate degree has nothing to do with how legitimate it is. Your future employer is unlikely to care about how quickly you earned your degree. Instead, they will recognize that you have the drive and ambition to continue your education and enter the industry. Don’t hesitate to pursue further education whether you work toward an advanced or accelerated degree.