There has to be a better way!
Oh, but there is. Direct-entry degrees offer participants who know what career path they want to enter a streamlined way to acquire their credentials. The programs are fast-moving and challenging but will reward participants who can dedicate themselves completely to their studies.
In this article, we take a look at what these programs are, how they work, and why they might be a great choice for you.
What are Direct-Entry Degree Programs?
Direct-entry degree programs are designed to streamline your education. A traditional educational path might look something like this. You go through grade school and high school, acquiring twelve years of education along the way. You then enter college, where you get your undergraduate degree in four years (although an increasingly high number of students are now graduating in 5-6 years).
From there, you decide to get your masters, which traditionally takes another 2-3 years.
All totaled, you’re career-ready at around the age of 25, and while you are well-qualified for whatever line of work you intend to enter, you’re also probably six figures in debt.
Direct entry programs speed things up— typically by combining your undergraduate and graduate degrees into one carefully planned program. Instead of spending 6-8 years in college, you might complete your studies in 4-5 years, saving considerable time and money in the process.
Now you know what a direct-entry degree program is. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits you can expect to experience.
Focus on What You Care About
Direct-entry programs focus very narrowly on the career path they are designed to prepare you for. For example, if you are studying to become a nurse or a nurse practitioner— two very common direct-entry programs— you can avoid tedious gen-eds by enrolling in a curriculum that focuses only on healthcare.
It’s a nice way for people who are already positive that they know what they want to do with their professional lives to receive a high-quality education.
Better Career Opportunities Right Out the Gate
Many people will graduate from college and then seek work while also getting their graduate degree. The idea, of course, is to start making money so they can pay down their loans while also being able to afford their new degree.
That’s a hard way to live, and also not the best way to begin your professional life. Many direct-entry programs leave participants with a graduate degree. This allows you to access more lucrative job opportunities from the day you graduate. People with graduate degrees make around 20% more than people who only have undergraduate degrees on average. Having an advanced degree at a young age can significantly improve your life-long learning potential.
They Are a Great Way to Pivot Into Something New
Let’s say you are thirty-six years old. You worked as an educator for the last fourteen years, and while it’s been real, and it’s been fun it hasn’t been real fun. You were always more attracted to healthcare, and you’re finally ready to give it a try. The problem?
If you pursue a traditional nursing degree, you’ll be forty by the time you get out of school. That’s a deeply unappealing thought. So unappealing, that you’d just as soon stay at your current job than consider it.
Direct-entry programs provide a more palatable option. They are the fastest way to become a nurse, allowing you to get your degree in as little as twelve months. While starting an intensive full-time degree program isn’t always easy for established adults, it is the quickest and often best way to reboot your career.
Are Direct-Entry Programs Reputable?
Direct-entry programs provide the same credentials as their traditional counterparts. You will leave the program with an undergraduate, and (depending on the program) graduate degree, just like anyone else. If anything, your participation will demonstrate to potential employers that you are good at a wide range of important work-related skills. Task management. Competency under pressure. Communication, etc.
Do Direct-Entry Programs Really Save You Money?
We did mention the potential for that in an earlier heading. Of course, college costs do depend on many factors. A direct-entry program at one school might be more expensive than the standard graduate program at another.
It depends on the pricing structure and the overall cost per credit hour. Two money-saving considerations remain consistent almost regardless of where you go.
- Direct entry programs save you money on room and board. At many schools, room and board costs account for nearly half of your overall expenses. To that end, you can save tens of thousands of dollars by completing your degree in 4 to 5 years instead of eight.
- You start working sooner. If you start working at age 22 instead of 25, that’s three extra years of salary in your bank account. For many professionals, that means tens of thousands of more dollars—possibly more.
While direct-entry programs are not typically chosen specifically as a cost-cutting measure, they certainly have potential financial benefits that are worth considering.
Who Should Not Enroll in a Direct-Entry Degree Program?
Let’s be honest—college is very hard for many people. The general rule of thumb is that you get two hours of homework for every hour you spend in the classroom. If you are enrolled in 16 credit hours, that means you are doing schoolwork for approximately 50 hours each week.
Some people won’t have the interest or ability in making things any harder for themselves. That’s fine.
Life can also get in the way. If you’re working a full-time job or trying to raise a family, you may struggle with the vigorous schedule that direct-entry programs require.
When it comes to getting a college degree, it’s important to focus on finding the path that makes the most sense for you.
