Graduate in Four Years with 30 to Graduate

Maximize your earnings. Minimize your cost.

30 to Graduate (or 30TG) is a Millersville University initiative to raise awareness of the importance of graduating in 4 years.

30 to graduate means that students should aim to successfully complete 30 credits per academic year to reach the 120-credit requirement in 4 years.  An academic year is completed ideally in the fall and spring semesters, but can also be spread between fall, winter, spring and summer.

30 to Graduate Logo

Why Graduating in 4 Years Matters

Graduating in 4 years is beneficial for you, and the benefits are both financial and non-financial.

Financial Impact of Delaying Graduation

The financial reasons include direct costs and opportunity costs.

When you take longer than 4 years to complete your degree, you incur higher direct costs, such as tuition, housing, food, and fees. This increases your debt if you are taking out loans to pay for it.

There are also opportunity costs.  Opportunity costs are what you give up.  When you take longer than 4 years to graduate, you give up the opportunity to earn a salary, start saving for retirement, and to take advantage of benefits such as health insurance. 

Every extra semester adds costs and delays income.

Even one year of delayed graduation can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in direct and indirect costs. One study done by Nerd Wallet estimates that students taking six years instead of four to graduate could lose as much as $300,000 over time when accounting for extra tuition, delayed workforce entry, lost wages, and delayed retirement savings growth.

This causes your return on investment to decrease the longer you take to graduate.  The Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimates the annual return on investment falls from about 12.5% overall to 9.3% for students taking five years and just over 7% for those taking six years to graduate.

Non-Financial Impacts: Burnout and Well-Being

The non-financial reasons for graduating on time have to do with burn-out and mental health.  Studies show that delayed graduation leads to prolonged academic burnout.  In addition, a survey done by Handshake found that 4 out of 5 college seniors have experienced burnout during their undergraduate experience.  The longer you’re in school, the higher the chance of experiencing burn-out.  This can work against you and potentially be a cause of further delayed graduation.

The goal of college isn’t just about getting through—it’s also about getting out on time.

How To Stay On Track

To graduate in 4 years, aim to successfully complete 30 credits each academic year. As stated earlier, an academic year is completed ideally in the fall and spring semesters, but can also be spread between fall, winter, spring and summer.

Plan carefully so that you are also meeting your academic requirements.  To do so, know your academic requirements, meet with your academic advisor each semester, and utilize campus resources.

Careful planning as well as completing 30 credits per academic year will save you time and money. 

Four-Year Degree Pathways

Each department is developing sample four‑year plans that show the courses you’ll take each semester to help you stay on track to graduate in four years. Explore the departments below by expanding each section. Please note:

  • Students who began at Millersville before Fall 2026 follow the Legacy General Education program.
  • Students starting in Fall 2026 or later will complete the Gateway General Education program

Please note: Students should meet with their advisor to create an individualized plan that ensures they meet their degree requirements. For complete information on degree requirements, please refer to the Course Catalog.

Make sure you know how to register

Review registration steps on the Registrar's Office website.

Please note: While most programs require 120 credits to graduate, credit requirements are subject to change depending on the program.