4+1 Program

Earn 2 degrees in 5 years

Many of today’s college students need a master’s degree to advance their skills and stand out in the job market. That’s why we offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s in just 5 years. 4+1 students begin working on their MBA, MSOL, MSC, or MSA as an undergraduate senior, and complete their degree with just one additional year of school.

With the 4+1 Program at Nichols, you can…

• Earn your master’s faster. After you earn your bachelor’s, graduate courses are taken in accelerated seven-week sessions in the evenings using our HyFlex format, so you can complete your master’s in as little as one year. You’ll start by taking 6 credits your senior year.
• Learn in our space or yours. Graduate classes are delivered in our flexible HyFlex format. Each week, you get to choose whether you attend class on campus or in real time online. Even if you attend online, you’ll be able to participate actively in class through Zoom.
• Save on tuition. Students in the 4+1 program save time and money by completing their degree faster, taking classes as an undergraduate senior, and entering the job market from a position of strength.
• Earn more over your career. You can earn significantly more early in your career and increase your salary over time by entering the job market with a master’s instead of just a bachelor’s. In fact, NACE salary reports suggest you can earn up to a 200% return on investment on your graduate degree within only 5 years. The Nichols 4+1 Program is designed with return value in mind—and can help you get there faster.

On top of it all, you’ll learn from faculty who’ve “been there” and have deep experience in their field. And you’ll benefit from the same kind of skill building, professional development and leadership studies you experienced as a Nichols undergraduate, all taken to another level.

How to Enroll

You must be a full-time undergraduate day student at Nichols to participate in the 4+1 Program. You must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be accepted, and to remain in the program, you must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during your entire time at Nichols. As a 4+1 student, you would start your graduate coursework in the fall semester of your senior year. You can apply at any time (from first year to senior year). You can take a maximum of 6 graduate credits while you’re enrolled in the Nichols full-time undergraduate day program.

*As long as you don’t exceed 18 credits in the fall or spring of your senior year (including the graduate coursework), you won’t have to pay for the 6 graduate credits.

We want to talk to you!

We’re here to help—so contact us if you have questions about our 4+1 Program.

Please reach out to Jessica Dias for more information at 508-213-2150 or jessica.dias@nichols.edu