The University of Northern Iowa is working to break the stereotype that it takes four or five years to get a bachelor’s degree, by launching a new series of pathways to motivate students to get that degree in three. Pete Moris, UNI’s director of university relations, says the accelerated program allow students to complete a traditional four-year program in three years by following a structured plan of study starting in their first semester.
The program focuses on high-demand fields, and Moris says as of the fall of 2025, one in seven students on the Cedar Falls campus already graduates in three years.
Finishing college in three years means thousands of dollars in savings on tuition, books, food and housing, but Moris says the motivations go well beyond the financial benefits.
He says the three-year effort reflects UNI’s commitment to expanding flexible, student-centered academic options that help students achieve their educational and career goals efficiently. Find out more at www.degrees.uni.edu/three-year-pathways.
