Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has become the first Texas higher-ed institution to offer a reduced-hour, three-year bachelor's degree program, the San Antonio school announced Monday.

With a lower overall cost of attendance and a six-semester structure, the new program offers students a fast track to the job market or graduate school, officials at the private Catholic institution said.

While maintaining the same general education, major and minor requirements as traditional four-year programs, Lake Express cuts unnecessary elective courses to streamline the process, OLLU president Abel Chvez said.