40+ Looking for Fast Level Up

[ercmxr]

Your Location: NC, USA
Your Age: 40+
What kind of degree do you want?: BM, BA, CS, CIS, IT
Current Regional Accredited Credits: N/A

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: N/A

Any certifications or military experience? N/A

Budget: $5-10k 
Commitments: currently work full time and can work on my studies part time or in the evenings/weekends
Dedicated time to study: 15-20 hours during week, 10-12 hours on weekends
Timeline: I ideally would like the easiest, fastest and cheapest path, in that order
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: no tuition reimbursement at work

After 20 years in a very niche field that has minimal management experience but very specialized skills in the arts, I've realized my only path to more income and job security is to get a degree.

My goals are to get as much education as I can to make up for any lack of school in my early years. I would say I'm pretty intelligent and complex concepts come quickly to me. I have done a few CLEP practice exams and did well.

I was looking at maybe the accelerated BS/MS IT combo degree from WGU, but after some additional research, it seems that maybe TESU might be a better path with more capacity and flexibility to transfer credits.

My current working plan is to start with the College Composition CLEP, as it's 6 CUs and has less essay requirements than other programs I've seen. Then maybe start knocking out some Gen Ed at Sophia.

Thanks for any help and advice. I hope to contribute to others' success as I learn!

[origamishuttle]

Welcome! I would recommend UMPI BABA Project Management and WGU MSML. Ironically, the UMPI/WGU combo can be faster than WGU BSIT/MSITM, given that WGU makes you wait until the end of your six-month bachelor's degree term before you can start your master's degree.

For CLEP, I recommend Modern States to take your exams for free with online proctoring. Maybe try to take a few Saylor credit exams to see if you can pass without studying. Then take whatever you can through Sophia to fill in the gaps. Finally, Study.com if you need a few more courses to maximize your transfers to UMPI.

You'll probably want to apply to UMPI soon to get the process going. Best case you can start at UMPI in Fall Session 2 on October 23 and be done by December!

[bjcheung77]

@LevelUP, where art thou!? You were mentioned in the title! <haha>

@OP - Yes, for those that have an option of up to 6 credits per CLEP and having the option for Modern States to pay for your fee, why not?!
Having said that, you may also look at Sophia.org for the lower level requirements and/or courses that CLEP is not available...

For UMPI - Here are the CLEP exam transfers (a link within this page): https://www.umpi.edu/offices/testing-services/clep/
For TESU - The CLEP exams also show up here: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/curre...lep-exams/
Depending on how you decide... What you can do is try to max the 90+ credits for TESU or UMPI with the same CLEP, Sophia.org or other ACE options.

[rachel83az]

If you go with UMPI, I would not take the CLEP exam. You can, but the program, as a whole, will be easier if you do the English Comp classes at UMPI. Unfortunately, UMPI doesn't currently have any tech degrees. They do have Business degrees, which could be what you want, but they may or may not be the fastest for you. All classes at UMPI are graded based on a single final paper or project. If you want to try to avoid writing academic papers, UMPI may not be the best option for you. If you're good with papers, UMPI will possibly be the fastest/easiest/cheapest for you.

IMO, you've got two really good options: FREE Pierpont BOG AAS to unlock the UMPI BAS option, then go to WGU or you might be interested in a TESU BACS + BSBA CIS combo for not much more time/effort/money than getting just the BACS or just the BSBA CIS, then go to WGU. You could also just do the BABA at UMPI and then go to WGU, as already suggested.

TESU will take slightly longer, and not be as cheap, but may look better on your resume if something happens and you're not able to complete the WGU degree for some reason.

[bjcheung77]

@ercmxr, 'ageism' exists and it really depends on you what you're looking for, there are so many possibilities to get to an end goal to what you're seeking. Here's an answer I provided just 15 or so minutes ago, my suggestion is similar: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid400040

You can take up to 90 credits that may be used across multiple degrees/institutions or at least get closer to the 90 credits for transfer using CLEP/MS, Sophia.org and other recommended providers. You have multiple options, including the ones mentioned above... You can recap those and see which one is better for you, I'll list them here:

1) Pierpont BOG AAS with an emphasis of your choice, 40+ technical credits through Coursera/TADA, UMPI BAS with a minor or two (MIS, PM)
2) UMPI Project Management & Information Systems, then ladder to the MA OL (Organizational Leadership if you plan to get a Masters)
3) WGU Accelerated BSIT/MSITM combo, you get a Bachelors & Masters after you complete the requirements, it's a 'one-and-done' option.
4) TESU BACS/BSBA CIS dual degree, ladder that up to the MBA/MSML at WGU, this is to continue on with the ACBSP business accreditation.
5) PUG, BSIT/MSIT combo, this option will take a little longer, more expensive, and not as easy as the WGU Accelerated BSIT/MSITM

[dfrecore]

For someone with zero credits, and no preference in a degree, I would recommend UMPI; TESU requires 24cr of RA (college) credits, which are more expensive to get, and there's really no reason to go that route if you don't have an actual reason to (if you wanted a BA in CompSci for example, TESU would be a great option, or you wanted an ACBPS-accredited Business degree, TESU would give you that while UMPI would not).

The other option is Excelsior - but honestly, why bother when you've got UMPI? Unless you really just don't want to do a CBE program, in which case Excelsior is your next best option, since they don't require any RA credit, so you can do your entire degree via alt-credit (Sophia, Study.com, Coopersmith, Davar).

There's already a plan laid out for Sophia >> UMPI, and it's an easy one to follow. No need for the English Comp CLEP though, unless you really want it, because UMPI does not accept it for Comp II (they do accept it for Comp I, but you'll still have to take Comp II there). Also, if you were to go the Excelsior route, they don't take that CLEP exam at all.

[allvia]

My recommendation is...

First - Pierpont BOG AAS Information Systems - https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Pierpont_C%26TC
Then - UMPI for the BABA - Project Management (which include MIS)

This combo piggy backs off each other well and gives you the technical wording you're looking to add to your resume, and the BABA-PM is a business degree (always useful) and PM is open to not only technical but all industries.  As far as a master degree hold off, maybe tech isn't going to be your thing - if you don't like it you still have a business degree on your resume/CV. Get through your bachelor, move into a new career path and see where you land - then decide on what your 'master' plan should be.

[davewill]

For someone with zero credits, and no preference in a degree, I would recommend UMPI; TESU requires 24cr of RA (college) credits, which are more expensive to get, and there's really no reason to go that route if you don't have an actual reason to (if you wanted a BA in CompSci for example, TESU would be a great option, or you wanted an ACBPS-accredited Business degree, TESU would give you that while UMPI would not).

The other option is Excelsior - but honestly, why bother when you've got UMPI?  Unless you really just don't want to do a CBE program, in which case Excelsior is your next best option, since they don't require any RA credit, so you can do your entire degree via alt-credit (Sophia, Study.com, Coopersmith, Davar).

There's already a plan laid out for Sophia >> UMPI, and it's an easy one to follow.  No need for the English Comp CLEP though, unless you really want it, because UMPI does not accept it for Comp II (they do accept it for Comp I, but you'll still have to take Comp II there).  Also, if you were to go the Excelsior route, they don't take that CLEP exam at all.

I have to agree with @dfrecore, TESU, only if you want a specific degree you can't get at UMPI.

You didn't really tell us where you want to take your career. Do you want to break in as an IT professional or software engineer or do you just want to move up into management in whatever field you're already working in?

[ercmxr]

Welcome! I would recommend UMPI BABA Project Management and WGU MSML. Ironically, the UMPI/WGU combo can be faster than WGU BSIT/MSITM, given that WGU makes you wait until the end of your six-month bachelor's degree term before you can start your master's degree.

For CLEP, I recommend Modern States to take your exams for free with online proctoring. Maybe try to take a few Saylor credit exams to see if you can pass without studying. Then take whatever you can through Sophia to fill in the gaps. Finally, Study.com if you need a few more courses to maximize your transfers to UMPI.

You'll probably want to apply to UMPI soon to get the process going. Best case you can start at UMPI in Fall Session 2 on October 23 and be done by December!

Would you recommend knocking out transfer credits before enrolling at UMPI?

---

@LevelUP, where art thou!?  You were mentioned in the title! <haha>  

@OP - Yes, for those that have an option of up to 6 credits per CLEP and having the option for Modern States to pay for your fee, why not?!  
Having said that, you may also look at Sophia.org for the lower level requirements and/or courses that CLEP is not available...  

For UMPI - Here are the CLEP exam transfers (a link within this page): https://www.umpi.edu/offices/testing-services/clep/
For TESU - The CLEP exams also show up here: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/en/curre...lep-exams/
Depending on how you decide... What you can do is try to max the 90+ credits for TESU or UMPI with the same CLEP, Sophia.org or other ACE options.

Thank you! This is very helpful.

---

I’m hearing a consensus of UMPI unless I want tech or need an ACBPS-accredited degree. I need to do more research on pluses and minuses of that accreditation.

I think the simplest way to say what I’m looking for is a BA/BS for credentials, with a stronger emphasis on Business, but options for CS. And then an MBA perhaps down the road.

Maybe I should forego any CS focus and just get any relevant certifications as needed or deemed necessary.

---

@ercmxr, 'ageism' exists and it really depends on you what you're looking for, there are so many possibilities to get to an end goal to what you're seeking.  Here's an answer I provided just 15 or so minutes ago, my suggestion is similar: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid400040

You can take up to 90 credits that may be used across multiple degrees/institutions or at least get closer to the 90 credits for transfer using CLEP/MS, Sophia.org and other recommended providers.  You have multiple options, including the ones mentioned above... You can recap those and see which one is better for you, I'll list them here:

1) Pierpont BOG AAS with an emphasis of your choice, 40+ technical credits through Coursera/TADA, UMPI BAS with a minor or two (MIS, PM)
2) UMPI Project Management & Information Systems, then ladder to the MA OL (Organizational Leadership if you plan to get a Masters)
3) WGU Accelerated BSIT/MSITM combo, you get a Bachelors & Masters after you complete the requirements, it's a 'one-and-done' option.
4) TESU BACS/BSBA CIS dual degree, ladder that up to the MBA/MSML at WGU, this is to continue on with the ACBSP business accreditation.
5) PUG, BSIT/MSIT combo, this option will take a little longer, more expensive, and not as easy as the WGU Accelerated BSIT/MSITM

Any master spreadsheets that shows safe CLEP, Sophia, etc. credits that transfer across multiple schools?

[dfrecore]

Regarding CS and Business - my advice is to take CS courses while getting a business degree, and then consider getting your master's in something CS/IT related. OR, get a bachelor's in CS/IT, and then get an MBA later if you want one. I don't really suggest getting a BSBA and then an MBA if you're in the tech side of things, just because you won't really have any credentials at all going that route, and I'm guessing you might want that (or jobs might want that).

I also think that it's better to get that tech-related degree first, so that if you don't end up getting your master's degree (or not for a while), you have the tech credential. I think it's more useful than a business degree in that field.