S3E26 | Breaking the 120-Credit Barrier: Madeleine Green on the College-in-3 Movement and the Future of the American Degree
Wed Feb 04 2026
Why does a bachelor’s degree take four years? Is it because that is how long it takes to learn, or is it just a historical accident?
On this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Madeleine Green of the "College in 3 Exchange" to discuss the movement that is challenging the 120-credit hour monopoly. Madeleine explains how the four-year standard was originally created not for students, but for a faculty pension scheme, and why the time is right to redesign the undergraduate experience.
In this episode, we cover:
The surprising history of the "Carnegie Unit" and seat-time requirements.How institutions are redesigning curricula to cut fluff without sacrificing quality.The financial and career benefits for students entering the workforce a year early.The regulatory hurdles at the state level that are slowing down innovation.Why "College in 3" is about rigorous design, not just speed.To learn more about the institutions involved, visit the College in 3 Exchange website.
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Why does a bachelor’s degree take four years? Is it because that is how long it takes to learn, or is it just a historical accident? On this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Madeleine Green of the "College in 3 Exchange" to discuss the movement that is challenging the 120-credit hour monopoly. Madeleine explains how the four-year standard was originally created not for students, but for a faculty pension scheme, and why the time is right to redesign the undergraduate experience. In this episode, we cover: The surprising history of the "Carnegie Unit" and seat-time requirements.How institutions are redesigning curricula to cut fluff without sacrificing quality.The financial and career benefits for students entering the workforce a year early.The regulatory hurdles at the state level that are slowing down innovation.Why "College in 3" is about rigorous design, not just speed.To learn more about the institutions involved, visit the College in 3 Exchange website.