You can speed up your study time with an accelerated college degree online. If you're tired of being in a dead-end job while young, inexperienced people pass you by simply because they have a piece of paper with the word, "degree" written on it, this is something for you. You're in a professional rut and you probably want out of it.

The thought of going to college or university makes you nauseated, though. In the first place, it cost money; lots of money. You might be able to afford to take one class at a time if you keep on working fulltime, but it would take you forever to get your degree at that rate. It won't work logistically either, since you're at work when most classes are offered, and evening classes conflict with your family obligations. You live too far from a four-year college to make commuting an optionl, and you sure don't want to move your family just to go to school.

I never suspect you for making excuses; these barriers are real enough and most grown ups encounter them when they consider getting a college degree. They feel like they need the college degree, but don't see how it's possible to achieve it.

Online higher learning makes it affordable and possible for working adults to go to school. Accelerated college degree online programs make it possible to get the degree you want before you reach retirement age.

An accelerated college degree online program falls into one of these four basic categories.

1. Pay your fee and you have your degree

These online programs basically have no graduation requirements except that you give them money. They offer any degree in any discipline based on the applicants life experience. For an additional fee, they will backdate your degree and even provide you with a transcript of classes with grades and verify your "education" to your employer. Many people consider getting an accelerated college degree online through one of these programs to be unethical, and it's illegal to use it to get a job in some states.

2. No "residency" required

Most schools or colleges require that you take a minimum number of courses at their school to graduate there. However, there are a few who do not. They offer accelerated college degrees online without requiring that a specific number of credits be earned at their school. You can even transfer in previous college credits, and gain credits through challenging exams, life experience assessments, military service, job training and continuing education. In addition, you can obtain credits by demonstrating college-level competence in many areas. Using the methods described above, you can complete the final requirements for a college or university degree in as little as a few months. These schools are not considered to be degree mills. However, they are suspect and should be evaluated very carefully before you give them money.

3. Accelerated Degree Programs

Many colleges offer adult learners accelerated college degrees on the internet. You can usually get credit for about two years of college or University. You can transfer in any previously earned college credits, take challenging exams, get credit for military service, job training and continuing education and even get credit for your life experience. This cuts the expenses and time to get your degree in half.

4. Work Hard

The final way to get an accelerated college degree online is doing it the hard way; by working and working and working your buns off. Many degree programs allow you to work at your own pace though. You can enter an accelerated degree program and work hard, completing one course after another, and finish the study in less than two years. This is a rugged option, but sometimes it's worth it because your life is disrupted for a short time only and once you have finished you don't have to think about education anymore.

There are plenty of options for you to get a college degree. Maybe your time has come to make a decision to get out of the rut and go back to school. Accelerated college degree online programs may be your answer.