* Credits per semester/term: Part-time is generally defined as fewer than 12 credits per semester. If you take 6 credits per semester, it will take longer than if you take 9 credits per semester.
* Number of semesters/terms per year: Most colleges have either two (fall and spring) or three (fall, spring, summer) semesters per academic year. Taking summer classes will significantly reduce the overall time.
* Course availability: Not all courses are offered every semester, so your schedule might be impacted by course availability.
Example Calculations:
* Scenario 1 (Slowest): 6 credits per semester, 2 semesters per year: 39 credits / 6 credits/semester = 6.5 semesters. This would take approximately 3.25 years (6.5 semesters / 2 semesters/year).
* Scenario 2 (Moderate): 9 credits per semester, 2 semesters per year: 39 credits / 9 credits/semester = 4.33 semesters. This would take approximately 2.17 years.
* Scenario 3 (Fastest - including summer): 9 credits per semester, 3 semesters per year: 39 credits / 9 credits/semester = 4.33 semesters. This would take approximately 1.44 years (4.33 semesters / 3 semesters/year).
To get a precise estimate, you need to know how many credits you plan to take per term and how many terms you plan to attend each year at your specific college. Check with your college's registrar or academic advisor for the most accurate timeline based on your chosen courses and the college's academic calendar.