90 CREDIT BACHELOR'S DEGREE
A FASTER, AFFORDABLE PATH
CREDIT HOURS Each accelerated bachelor’s degree reduces the traditional structure by approximately 25 percent, saving students both time and tuition.
NEW PROGRAMS by Fall 2026
(pending approval from IWU's accrediting body)
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Every 90-credit program includes hands-on learning through student teaching, internships, or clinical experience, ensuring graduates are ready to make an immediate impact.
For many future teachers, the dream of earning a degree feels out of reach. Rising tuition and mounting debt have closed the door on possibility just as classrooms across the country need more educators. Indiana Wesleyan University is changing that story.
With approval from the Higher Learning Commission, IWU National and Global (N&G) has launched its first accelerated 90-credit bachelor’s degree, reducing the traditional completion time by about 25 percent. The first program, a Bachelor of Education with majors in secondary mathematics, middle school science, and secondary English language arts, marks a new chapter in making higher education more accessible and purpose driven.
Innovation and Opportunity
“This new degree structure is about breaking down barriers,” said Eileen Hulme, Ph.D., chancellor of IWU N&G. “Reducing credit hours makes a teaching degree faster and more affordable without compromising the quality of preparation IWU is known for.”
Amie Anderson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Integrated Learning and Development, helped design the 90-credit structure. “This isn’t about doing less,” she said. “It’s about creating high-impact, engaging degrees that challenge students to think critically, integrate AI, and apply what they learn in the workforce. Every program is rigorous, relevant, and built with outstanding academic support.”
Enrollment is open for the Bachelor of Education, giving future teachers a pathway that lowers costs, shortens time to graduation, and maintains IWU’s academic excellence. Over the next 18 months, pending approval from IWU's accrediting body, IWU will expand its accelerated offerings to include degrees in Applied AI Analytics, Applied Business, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Services, Intelligence and Criminal Analysis, Special Education, and AI Marketing.
“These programs meet students where they are,” Hulme said. “Many are first-generation college students or working adults. By cutting costs and removing barriers, we’re opening doors to education that transforms lives and strengthens communities.”
1 Mission
CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION Every innovation at IWU is rooted in a single purpose: to develop students in character, scholarship, and leadership as they live out God’s calling in the world.
YEARS OF EDUCATION INNOVATION
1985: Distance learning and evening programs for working adults
1998: A pioneer in offering online degrees
2025: Accelerated 90-credit bachelor’s degrees
Workforce Relevance Built in
Each degree is designed to be stackable and workforce aligned, allowing students to earn embedded industry certifications as they progress. This flexible structure helps students demonstrate real-world skills that employers value most. Virtual internships connect students to professional experience across industries, combining online learning with practical application.
She emphasized that the program’s academic and spiritual depth remain unchanged. “This isn’t about doing less,” she said. “It’s about focusing on what truly matters and preparing students to serve with excellence.”
Continuing a Legacy of Innovation
The 90-credit model builds on IWU’s long legacy of access and innovation. In 1985, IWU launched evening programs for working adults. In 1998, it became one of the first universities to offer online degrees. Each step reflects a mission to expand opportunity through Christ-centered education.
For students like Zandra Baker, a working mother of five, the impact is personal. “The program‘s flexible and accelerated format makes it possible to balance my children and full-time job,” she said. “I want to help young, troubled teenagers and be not just a teacher but a role model.”