There are several compelling reasons to finish college early — but also some potential drawbacks. Consider the following factors as you chart your course. Potential Benefits
Graduating early allows you to join the job market more quickly. Even finishing one quarter early could set you on your preferred career path 10 weeks sooner. Once you secure a job, you can get on schedule to repay any student loan debt you've accrued.
Hiring managers may appreciate your hard work. Interviewers want to hear about results you've achieved, and highlighting your discipline and focus can be a compelling narrative. Potential Drawbacks
Finishing college early might not save you money or lower your student debt. To be clear, this depends on the financial policies of your school, so it's crucial to understand how the college charges tuition and fees before you matriculate — see the Financial Considerations section below.
You won't necessarily benefit from early completion if you plan to attend graduate school immediately. Many graduate programs feature only one start date, usually in the fall term, so you'd only be able to take introductory classes at one point in the academic year. This might defeat the purpose of graduating early — for example, if you finish your bachelor's degree in December, you may need to wait until the following August or September to start graduate school.
Spending so much energy on coursework may detract from the traditional college experience. Homework for six classes takes longer to do than homework for four, leaving less time for extracurricular activities and social engagements. But this is typically less of a concern for older students, online learners, and commuters, and it may be possible to find time for activities that are important to you. For example, Saint Leo University graduate Eva Keller was "president of the club for my major, and . . . on the executive board for my sorority and the Panhellenic Council." Financial Considerations Graduating early may require you to take more credit hours per term than the usual 12-18. Some colleges charge you full tuition if your credit hours fall within that typical range, and others charge per credit hour regardless of how many you take each term. Another less common situation is schools that charge up to a certain credit-hour threshold but allow students to take one or two classes beyond this at no extra cost. This is ideal for early graduation because it would ultimately save you on tuition costs. However, many schools now apply excess hour surcharges to students who take courseloads beyond the threshold. Ultimately, you might save money by completing your degree sooner, but it's not guaranteed. You don't necessarily have a financial incentive to graduate early if your college charges for every credit hour or charges an extra fee for taking a heavier courseload.