Finish fast. Start ahead.
Maximum Impact Degrees
Complete a bachelor’s degree in three years, or earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in four years.
Lead in Three: Ambition Has a New Timeline
Lynchburg’s 96-hour applied bachelor’s degrees offer a selective, high-performance track for students ready to launch their careers immediately. As the first institution approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in this format, Lynchburg is setting the standard for undergraduate education.
You get the same transformative outcome as a four-year degree but with a year of momentum. You’ll jump into the job market or graduate school a full year ahead, giving you a competitive edge. You’re not just graduating faster, you’re leading the pack.
Programs Offered:
- Bachelor of Applied Public Health (BAPH)
- Bachelor of Applied Educational Studies (BAES)
What is an Applied Degree?
An applied degree is a strategic redesign of the traditional bachelor’s degree, engineered for high-performing students who want to accelerate their future.
It’s the highest quality education delivered with maximum efficiency, emphasizing:
- 96 total credit hours (instead of 120)
- Career-oriented, competency-focused coursework
- Integrated advanced learning outcomes connected to existing graduate programs
- The full DELL general education curriculum (writing, communication, global perspectives, capstone)
In short, we designed a pathway built for practical skills, financial efficiency, and a clear launch to success.
Why choose a 96-credit Applied Degree?
- Save 25% on tuition: Reducing the credit load from 120 to 96 credit hours lowers educational costs.
- Earn your bachelor’s in just three years: Complete your degree in six semesters instead of eight — no extra summers required.
- Start earning a full year earlier: Our applied degrees allow for students to start earning one year earlier that tradition four-years degrees. That additional income year can often cover the entire course of the of applied program.
- +$133,600 (Public Health)
- +$87,750 (Educational Studies)
- Built-in Graduate Pathways: These programs are intentionally designed to flow into Lynchburg’s master’s degrees:
- Students may complete a bachelor’s + master’s degree (and, for BAES students, teacher licensure) in as little as four years.
- A program model recognized nationally: Lynchburg is one of 72 member institutions of the College-in-3 Exchange, a national movement improving affordability and time-to-degree.
Programs
How the Three-Year Applied Pathway Works
Focused 96-Credit Curriculum
Every course meets defined outcomes.
Full General Education (DELL) Included
Students complete both components of the DELL curriculum: the Lynchburg Experience and the Areas of Study.
Advanced Coursework Integrated Early
Upper-level classes incorporate outcomes from graduate programs, giving students early exposure to master’s-level expectations.
Selective Admission Requirements
What you need to apply: 3.0 GPA, statement of intent, and a Letter of Recommendation.
Individualized Advising Support
All students meet with an advisor and sign a disclosure that explains the program details, expectations, and degree format.
Transparent Degree Labeling
Transcripts, catalog entries, and public materials clearly distinguish applied degrees from traditional 120-credit programs.
Who should apply?
These programs are ideal for students who are:
- Motivated and academically prepared
- Seeking lower cost + faster completion
- Interested in early entry into the workforce or graduate school
- Goal-oriented and comfortable with a structured academic pathway
