A bachelor’s degree requires about 120 semester hours of credit. Some a little more some a little less but let’s work with 120 hours.

A typical full-time student load of courses is 15 hours per semester for two semesters per year. That’s 30 hours per year.

120 semester hours (required) / 30 hours per year = 4 years to complete.

We can change several of those variables though. First, the max load at most colleges is 18-21 hours per semester and not 15. Taking 21 hours per semester (very very difficult to manage) over the same 2 semesters per year would give us 42 semester hours per year. 120 hours (required) / 42 per year = 2.85 years (3).

We can also change the number of semesters. Most schools offer at least one summer session. If we did a 15 hour load over 3 semesters per year we’d be at 45 hours per year. 120/45 = 2.66 years (3)

And, we can reduce the actual class requirement of the 120 hours by using standardized or departmental testing (AP, CLEP, DANTES, etc.) often by as much as 30 hours so that we need only 90 hours to complete the degree.

If we combine these three methods: let’s take 18 hours per semester over 3 semesters per year completing 90 hours. 54 semester hours per year. 90/54 = 1.66 (2) years to degree completion on a bachelor’s.

So, yes it can be done. What becomes important is can the typical student handle that sort of academic schedule – generally no. But it can technically be done.

there is one possibility. some schools offer “life experience” credits toward degrees, but the degree is very specific-like “liberal arts”

you can become a registered nurse in two years, but it’s not a BS, that still takes 4 years.