PPI
identified 32 institutions that were already offering bachelor’s degrees in
three years but claimed all the programs deserved an “F” grade. “That’s
because,” said the study report, “with the exception of a handful of schools
such as Southern Oregon University, most are merely four-year programs squeezed
into a three-year window.”
The
study recommended that three-year programs reduce the number of general and
liberal-arts courses required so that most of a student’s time can be devoted
to in-depth work in one or two subjects. That’s how many European universities
structure their three-year degrees.
To that
end, the study said, students should also be required to declare a major or
concentration as an entering first-year student, although allowed to switch
later if they choose. Students also should be given more credit for completing
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in high school.
The
study also blasted the cost of three-year programs, noting most are just a
little cheaper than four-year degrees, mainly because summer enrollment is usually
necessary. PPI recommended a 25% drop in tuition and fees for three-year
programs and also advocated that Congress reserve all federal financial aid,
such as Pell Grants, solely for three-year students.
