Saint Leo University will offer what it calls Florida's first accredited 93-credit bachelor's degree starting in January 2027.

The university estimates the program will cut a year off graduation and reduce costs by roughly 25% compared with a traditional 120-credit degree. The reduced-hour bachelor's degree in business analytics, housed in the university's Tapia College of Business and Technology, received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges in September, according to a university announcement.

Patch first reported the news Tuesday.

What employers say about a shorter degree

For families in the Land O' Lakes area weighing college options, the pitch is straightforward: the same accredited degree in three years at lower cost. The university says it surveyed regional and national employers, who said the shorter credential would not affect a candidate's eligibility for hire.

"What they look for is accreditation, demonstrated competencies and relevant experience, not the total number of credit hours," said Bryan DePoy, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Saint Leo.

The program covers data analytics, finance, economics, marketing analytics and the application of artificial intelligence to business. Saint Leo also offers a traditional 120-credit bachelor's degree in business analytics, introduced this fall.

Both degrees sit inside the Tapia College of Business and Technology, which Saint Leo formed this fall by merging its business and computing schools. Derek Mohammed, dean of the combined college, said in August that the merger reflected employer demand for graduates who understand both business strategy and technology.

Part of a growing national trend

Saint Leo is not alone in trimming credit requirements. A feasibility study released this year counted 119 reduced-credit programs announced nationally as of May, with 50 of those announced this year alone. The Hechinger Report noted in March that nearly 60 institutions were planning or had launched similar programs, especially in business and computer science.

Tuition details still to come

Saint Leo, founded in 1889 in east Pasco County, serves more than 14,000 students across online, education-center and residential programs. Nearly 850 new students enrolled at the residential campus for the 2026-27 academic year, according to the Tampa Bay Beacons.

No specific tuition figure for the new program has been published. Jim Burkee, Saint Leo's president, framed the move as a continuation of the university's early adoption of online education in 1998. Prospective students can find program details on the Saint Leo University website.