Fayetteville State University students walk on Fayetteville State’s campus Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. tlong@newsobserver.com The UNC System is considering letting students earn bachelor’s degrees in three years instead of four. Here’s what the proposal could mean for students across North Carolina’s public universities: Students could finish a bachelor’s degree 25% faster than the standard 120-hour path, with the earliest programs launching in 2027, according to the UNC System.