FREMONT, Calif. — Reducing the time and cost of a bachelor’s degree, San Francisco Bay University is rolling out an accredited undergraduate degree in psychology that requires just 90 credits — 30 fewer than a conventional degree.
SFBU is unveiling the program this spring alongside streamlined versions of its existing undergraduate programs — in business administration and computer science — and welcoming applicants for enrollment in the fall 2026 semester. The business administration and computer science degrees will be available as 90-credit and more traditional 120-credit programs.
Recently accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), the new offerings position SFBU among the first in California to introduce bachelor’s degrees that students can complete in three instead of four years. The psychology program will help address a shortage of therapists in California and nationally and prepare graduates for advanced degree programs, SFBU President Nick Ladany said.
“Strong demand for psychology professionals will continue even as artificial intelligence upends the employment outlook for other fields,” said Ladany, who is a licensed psychologist. “By streamlining psychology education and all our undergraduate options, we’re making good on SFBU’s core promise: to flatten barriers to higher education. And we’re doing this all with the same rigor and excellence that underpin everything we do.”
In development for more than two years, the 90-credit programs shave 25% from the time and expense of earning a bachelor’s degree while letting graduates enter the workforce a year sooner. The approach will enable holders of associate’s degrees to finish a bachelor’s in as little as one year instead of two, said SFBU Provost Brad Fuster.
Other prime candidates for 90-credit programs include transfer students and those with some prior college experience, he said. The programs are ideal for focused, career-ready students while SFBU’s four-year options accommodate those looking for broader exploration.
The total three-year costs for each of the new programs is estimated around $33,000, about $11,000 less than the SFBU four-year rates in business administration and computer science.
“The 120-credit standard, historically, was more about faculty teaching loads than what students needed to know,” Fuster explained. “As the average age of college students increases, it’s very difficult to tell a 35-year-old to stay in college for an additional year after they’ve completed the essential requirements for their major and general education.”
Fuster noted three-year bachelor’s degrees are already commonplace in Europe. SFBU is part of the College-in-3 Exchange, a collective of U.S. schools exploring redesigns of undergraduate degree options.
At the forefront of that movement, the SFBU 90-credit programs “trim the fat” from conventional degree models to emphasize general education and major requirements, Fuster said. The new programs will initially operate in person and be available to U.S. students.
Enrollees in the 90-credit programs will follow academic standards identical to those in the 120-credit variations, graduating fully prepared for roles in high-demand fields. New programs will exclude expanded electives that are part of other programs, allowing students to finish coursework without overburdening schedules or compressing studies.
Accreditation under WASC enables SFBU to offer these and future 90-credit programs in hybrid and remote models as well. Most SFBU students come from a roughly 80-mile area around the university’s Fremont campus.
Ladany and Fuster described the 90-credit programs as essential pieces of SFBU’s effort to bolster affordability and transparency in higher education — pillars of the university mission.
“We are proud to offer top-tier, groundbreaking opportunities within reach for families who too often have been left out of traditional models of higher education,” Fuster said. “Our community welcomes and encourages first-generation college students from underrepresented communities. This is the work we’re built for — and we’re going to keep opening those doors.”
About San Francisco Bay University
San Francisco Bay University creates accessible learning opportunities that prepare diverse undergraduates and graduate students for lifelong personal and professional success. Through high-quality, career-focused programs in psychology, business, computer science, and engineering, SFBU is building an international model for higher education in service of the common good.
The SFBU campus in Fremont, Calif., captures the entrepreneurial and technology-forward spirit of Silicon Valley. By integrating cutting-edge technology, real-world learning experiences, and personalized support, SFBU equips students for leadership. Its affordable tuition, range of scholarships, and streamlined application process dismantle traditional barriers and welcome new generations of learners.
As part of SFBU’s holistic commitment to excellence, its Center for Empowerment and Pedagogical Innovation trains faculty in best pedagogical practices while generative artificial intelligence spans the curricula. The university is a member of the College-in-3 Exchange and developed an initial trio of three-year bachelor’s programs introduced in 2026.
SFBU students graduate with a cultivated set of industry-aligned competencies, identified and refined in collaboration with the Silicon Valley community. The student-centric core curriculum, known as the Agility Praxis Pathway, is the foundation for the university’s redefined undergraduate teaching and learning practices. SFBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
For media inquiries, email pr@sfbu.edu.
