JWU Launches First-in-the-Southeast Three-Year (90 credit) In-Person Bachelor’s Degree

CHARLOTTE, NC — September 9, 2025 — Johnson & Wales University (JWU) today announced the launch of a three-year (90 credit) bachelor’s degree program in Hospitality Management on its Charlotte Campus. With this announcement, JWU becomes the first higher education institution in the Southeast to offer an in-person, three-year bachelor’s degree paired with a full residential experience. The University first announced a three-year (90-96 credit), in person bachelor’s degree option on its Providence Campus in October 2024 with students beginning this fall, the first such program in the nation.    

Designed to meet the needs of students who are eager to enter the workforce quickly and with less financial burden, this new program will provide a rigorous and comprehensive education in three years instead of the traditional four years.  

“At Johnson & Wales, we are committed to providing our students with educational opportunities that are affordable and transformative,” said Johnson & Wales University Chancellor Mim L. Runey, LP.D. “Twenty-one years ago, North Carolina business and government leaders invited JWU, world-renowned for its hospitality and food service degree programs to accelerate growth in these industries by launching a campus in Charlotte. We are proud to continue to answer the call from parents and students by officially launching a three-year bachelor’s degree in hospitality. We are especially excited to be the first university in the Southeast to do so.” 

In June, the North Carolina Board of Governors granted approval to JWU Charlotte to offer the Hospitality Management 90 credit, three-year degree program under the University’s current accreditation. For more than a century, the standard among accrediting bodies for higher education has been that bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours of study.  

“This initiative reflects Johnson & Wales University’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the evolving landscape of higher education,” added JWU Charlotte Campus President Richard Mathieu, Ph.D. “With this innovative new degree program, we're not only meeting the evolving needs of our students but also driving workforce development in tourism and hospitality — dynamic, fast-growing industries that are shaping the economic future of the Southeast.” 

How Will it Work?  

The new Hospitality Management program will require the same core general education foundation credits as the current four-year bachelor’s degree and the same major study classes. Unlike accelerated degrees where students graduate early by taking classes year-round and/or bring in credits from high school, students in the three-year degree programs will carry a regular semester load of classes during the academic year. Students in the three-year bachelor’s programs will count workplace experiences gained during the academic year and summers toward degree requirements and will take fewer or no elective classes, instead focusing on their major course of study.  

“These three-year bachelor’s degree programs are designed to provide students with a comprehensive education that is both intensive and immersive. The degrees chosen for the three-year bachelor’s degree program were selected because they are in industries with current high demand,” said Jennifer Galipeau, Ed.D. Johnson & Wales University’s Dean of College of Hospitality & Business and associate provost. “By integrating experiential learning opportunities across all of our degree programs, we ensure that our graduates are not only academically prepared but also equipped with the practical skills needed to excel in their careers.” 

The three-year Hospitality Management program at JWU Charlotte will expand the three-year programs that were announced last fall at JWU Providence.  Those programs include Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Graphic Design and Hospitality Management. The University will continue to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in more than 80 other majors across both campuses and online. On the Charlotte Campus, 20 majors are offered. Students attending on campus will have access to the full offerings of extracurricular activities, programs and professional opportunities.  

Program Start Date and Application Process  

The new program for JWU Charlotte will begin accepting applications immediately in Fall 2025, with the first class of students starting in the Fall 2026 semester. Prospective students can apply through the JWU website which includes detailed information about the application requirements, deadlines, and the selection process.  

About JWU 

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provides students with personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide.

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