Accelerated Degree Plan For New Career

[new_start2025+]

Hey, everyone. I am a 27 year old who wants to build a career in another area and help my parents live well by helping pay off the mortgage faster. I would like to get a career in accounting or a similar area that is well paying in order to fulfill my goal.

Your Location: New Jersey, United States.

Your Age: 27

What kind of degree do you want?:  I am considering Accounting or something stable and well paying .

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 120 from Bachelors
* I apologize, I am working on getting the transcripts from undergrad institution...now* 

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None

Any certifications or military experience?] Intuit Bookkeeper Certificate

Budget: 1 - 4k (I'm aiming for the lower end)

Commitments: Beside my current job, no not really. I am a homebody looking to make more money and cover myself in comfy-er blankets and softer pillows.

Dedicated time to study: 5pm - 12 (midnight) *I'm an insomniac*

Timeline: <= 6 months (Flexible especially for a very good suggestion)

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Varies (I haven't finished fafsa b/c I am still looking for schools to best accomplish my goal)

[azmusic]

UMPI YourPace BA Accounting seems about right

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

You shouldn’t need any Gen Ed or Free Electives is my understanding with your previous Bachelor’s

There’s 63 remaining major credits you will need. All but 31 of which you can take inexpensively via Sophia Learning and Study.com. Then you should have budget for at least 1 and perhaps 2 terms at UMPI to finish out the degree

[new_start2025+]

UMPI YourPace BA Accounting seems about right

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

You shouldn’t need any Gen Ed or Free Electives is my understanding with your previous Bachelor’s

There’s 63 remaining major credits you will need. All but 31 of which you can take inexpensively via Sophia Learning and Study.com. Then you should have budget for at least 1 and perhaps 2 terms at UMPI to finish out the degree

I see...

UMPI has general ed exemption rule for previous bachelor degree holders (read here). That's good to know.

I am curious how do you know about the transferability from sophia learning? I am looking for courses that I can take at Sophia Learning to transfer into UMPI programs. Study.com has the courses laid out explicitly which is super helpful (read here).

**UPDATE**
I see, you've already provided the resource to strategically plan how to utilize sophia.org and study.com for UMPI's bachelor program within the wiki (read here).

[jg_nuy]

You should not need any electives given that you already have a bachelor's. If you do need them, they can be anything that you want from this list: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/So...lency_List

[new_start2025+]

Thank you, jg_nuy and azmusic. I really can't thank you both enough ??!

[LevelUP]

Thank you, jg_nuy and azmusic. I really can't thank you both enough ??!

If you want to become a CPA, check the licensing requirements for the states where you want to be licensed.

Then, make a plan: Complete the alternative credits, transfer them to UMPI, and complete the rest of your degree at UMPI.

[zonny61]

Hey, everyone. I am a 27 year old who wants to build a career in another area and help my parents live well by helping pay off the mortgage faster. I would like to get a career in accounting or a similar area that is well paying in order to fulfill my goal.

Your Location: New Jersey, United States.

Your Age: 27

What kind of degree do you want?:  I am considering Accounting or something stable and well paying .

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 120 from Bachelors
* I apologize, I am working on getting the transcripts from undergrad institution...now* 

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None

Any certifications or military experience?] Intuit Bookkeeper Certificate

Budget: 1 - 4k (I'm aiming for the lower end)

Commitments: Beside my current job, no not really. I am a homebody looking to make more money and cover myself in comfy-er blankets and softer pillows.

Dedicated time to study: 5pm - 12 (midnight) *I'm an insomniac*

Timeline: <= 6 months (Flexible especially for a very good suggestion)

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Varies (I haven't finished fafsa b/c I am still looking for schools to best accomplish my goal)

Hey! In case you plan to make a career change into accounting or a related career, you will be glad to note that you already Intuit Bookkeeper Certificate. Now with 120 credits you need a CPA or CMA certification which if approached in the correct way is a ‘game changer’!

If time and financial constraints are the issues then, online courses or certifications could be suitable. Have a look at ones provided by schools of your choices such as the University of Phoenix or your local community college, which offer viable solutions that do not cost a lot of money. You may also consider seeking a financial aid or scholarship especially for the expenses of the process. I wish you the very best of luck in your career change and the best of wishes for your parent’s new house too.

[bjcheung77]

Welcome to the board, great intro post with the basic addendum and template, it's a good start to get the ball rolling. You really need to be more specific, did you have a Bachelors and also exactly at 120 credits? What was the Bachelors in previously? Did you use up your Fin Aid for that previous degree and you're looking to apply again for Fin Aid? What institutions have you looked at? Did you research anything? Do you have a short list of programs and institutions? There are a whole slew of other questions I have already in regards to the "lower end" of your budget...

[new_start2025+]

Welcome to the board, great intro post with the basic addendum and template, it's a good start to get the ball rolling.  You really need to be more specific, did you have a Bachelors and also exactly at 120 credits?  What was the Bachelors in previously?  Did you use up your Fin Aid for that previous degree and you're looking to apply again for Fin Aid?  What institutions have you looked at?  Did you research anything?  Do you have a short list of programs and institutions? There are a whole slew of other questions I have already in regards to the "lower end" of your budget...

I see. I apologize for the lack of information. I'll do my best to fill in the blanks.

Prior Education Brief:

I have 2 degrees at the moment: An Associates (Liberal Arts - 60 Credits) and Bachelors (Dietetics - 120 Credits)  

My credits may be a bit above 180 since I did a short stint (1 - 2 semesters) in another college in PA (10 - 15 credits). 

My financial aid was mainly used for my undergraduate degree (Bachelors) but I am looking to apply for financial aid to ease the financial burden a bit if possible. 

Self Research (Pre-posting):

* Montclair State University  * Western Governor University - Masters in Accounting
* Essex County College        * DeVry University 
* Berkeley College               

Research:

I have contacted the NJ coordinator of the CPA exam about how third party providers would affect my eligibility to sit for the exam. Here is the conversation log:

Me:

1. I am contacting you today to ask what colleges or universities allow you to get eligible business and accounting credits to sit for the CPA exam.  I am considering online universities like DeVry university, WGU, and University of Phoenix at the moment. 

2. Would online programs like Sophia, Straightliner, and study.com be online programs eligible for general college credits to sit for the CPA exam?

NJ Coordinator:

Yes, to both questions they will be accepted.

 
Thank you,
 
Examination Coordinator, State Board Liaison
Licensing Administrator

Budget:

I know that I stated my budget from 1 - 4K. This is due to the money I have squirreled away so far. I have additional funds from another account upward of 3K. The budget that I stated is from my own cash without utilizing any additional financial aid. For a new career path and my family, I am willing to take on unsecured loans to finance my education.

[bjcheung77]

OP, I updated your post and removed your name from the quotes... Skip Devry and UofPhoenix, from that list, WGU is your best bet... Since Sophia.org and Study.com classes are accepted, you're good to go, skip StraighterLine altogether (anyways, I wonder where StraightLiner comes from, I see that all the time, just like Sophia.com and all...)

You have two main options, since you're in NJ, did you get any 'free education'? If you're under a certain amount each year, you may be eligible for free tuition from college to university. Having said that, it should have been for your first associates and bachelors degree. I don't think it is applicable to second degrees... My suggestion is TESU BSBA with the Accounting & Finance double AOS or the UMPI BA Accounting, if you want, the BABA Accounting may work for you as well.

The second option is to go for the WGU MS Accounting, if you have all the required prerequisites to get into the degree...