Finish a diploma or associate credential and start working, without waiting on a full four-year timeline.
Programs · Stackable Degrees
One pathway. Every credential you'll ever need.
Start with a diploma or associate degree, go straight to work, then come back and stack toward a bachelor's or master's — without repeating a single credit hour.
American National University offers flexible academic pathways designed for career growth at every stage. With stackable degrees, students can progress from associate’s through bachelor’s and master’s programs without starting over — strengthening credentials as their career advances.
Start your journey from any level
You don't have to start at the bottom
Begin with any program, or transfer credits from another institution for a head start.
*Credit hours vary by program and institution
A federally recognized model
The U.S. Department of Labor sees a program as stackable when it is part of “ a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual's qualifications. Typically, stackable credentials help individuals move up a career ladder or along a career pathway to different and potentially higher-paying jobs.”
ANU’s stackable degrees allow students to quickly enter the workforce without dedicating four or five years to a university education. As graduates develop practical experience, they can return to ANU to add the formal education that will help them further their careers.
Pick the program for you and build onto it with ANU’s stackable degrees to grow your career opportunities.
See it in action: a health-careers pathway
One example of how American National University students stack credentials over time.
Step 1
Diploma, Medical Billing & Coding10 months
Enter the workforce
Step 2
Associate, Medical Assisting+8 months
Advance into clinical roles
Step 3
Bachelor, Health Information Mgmt+2 years
Move into management
Ready to start stacking?
Talk with a advisor about which credential fits where you are today.