Why is it people get so fucking defensive of their 4-year program?
The first year at any university is bullshit humanities, science, foreign language, math, English, etc courses. They have zero to do with design. The second year is fundamentals. The last two years are where the real education begins.
Any university requiring more than 4 years is scamming you out of money.
There are many programs that offer a 3-year design masters. And since those people are serious about it, I’d put their portfolio up against any 4-year design bachelors.
Get over it already. And again, the same is true in areas other than design. Got a design bachelors and want a chemistry degree? Get a masters.