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On August 4, 2026, American Public University System combined with Rasmussen University and Hondros College of Nursing to form a single higher education institution. American Public University System (the System) now includes American Public University, American Military University, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI). We are continuing to update our website to reflect our new structure.
Traditionally, Fall has been the ideal time to start college. You've had a nice summer break, maybe taken a vacation or two, and had a carefree couple of months. What do you have to lose, right? Wrong. What most students don't realize is that the cost of a leisurely summer can actually be quite steep.
As you bask in the rays of Summer sunshine, priceless time is lost that could have been spent getting an entire quarter ahead in school. Most colleges offer accelerated summer options as well, so a quarter or semester can be completed in roughly half the time it would normally take. There are numerous reasons to start college in the summer. The top five are:
1) Summer start lets you graduate a quarter sooner.
2) There are fewer students in your classes.
3) With fewer students to manage, instructors are more apt to help you learn.
4) Fewer courses taken usually equals less work.
5) You can study at the beach!
The Summer start lets you graduate earlier so that you may begin your job search earlier. This also helps you to save money by cutting out that three-month delay in earning a salary. Summer sessions have fewer students, since most people do start school in Fall or Spring semesters. With that said, you are more likely to have the opportunity to build a relationship with your instructors that can help you gain extra support, one-on-one attention and more directed guidance.
For most colleges, full-time for the Summer session is 9-12 credits, allowing the student to have more free time due to less work. Lastly, and most importantly, students can still enjoy their summer, since many colleges offer summer classes online. You can still enjoy the beautiful weather—take your laptop and textbooks with you to make the most of your summer. So, why wait until Fall? If you knock out a quarter load of courses in just a few short weeks over the summer, you can be on your way toward earning your degree sooner.
This article was transcribed by the Rasmussen University Blog team. Are you ready to take the plunge into a new, successful future? If so, learn more about our degree programs today.
This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen University part of American Public University System to support its educational programs. Rasmussen University may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/ for a list of programs offered. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. Rasmussen University does not guarantee, approve, control, or specifically endorse the information or products available on websites linked to, and is not endorsed by website owners, authors and/or organizations referenced. American Public University System (the System) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The System is comprised of American Military University (AMU), American Public University (APU), Rasmussen University (RU), and Hondros College of Nursing (HCN).