Any schools that offer certs like WGU?

[inferno14]

Hey all, I'm new here but have been lurking for a bit. I had some difficult times with WGU, even signing up, and the process of getting transcripts and whatnot. I was supposed to start 3 months ago, but that hasn't worked out for me (long story). I have seen a lot of complaints about their proctored exams. I've watched YouTube videos and taken extra courses on Sophia specific to what I wanted to do and everything (sighs). I was just wondering if there are any schools that offer the certs as part of a degree plan like WGU? I know SNHU does not but do they offer vouchers? I am sure this may be asked a lot, but I can't seem to find too much. I am getting back to school after over 7 years so I want to make the right choice. So far, I have my eye on SNHU (the only downside is that it doesn't include certifications). Do you have any suggestions?  

Cost is also something for me. I was approved the full amount of the Pell Grant, so breaking down per term, I owed maybe 337$ it would've been. So I'm also keeping that in mind. I know that SNHU is a bit more.
I am currently a full-time truck driver, looking to switch career paths. a year ago, originally, I was looking into cyber security. But I saw how broad that was after my research; with WGU, I was looking at the Network Engineering and Security program (I just wanted a foundation on how networking worked and eventually get my certs in the cloud and whatnot) but was frustrated with them. Most of the stuff I find online is either computer science or information technology. (Any recommendations on that as well?)

[bjcheung77]

Welcome to the board, great intro post with some basic details, but it's missing the important requested info from the addendum and template. Info such as your age, budget, commitments, previous credits, state you reside in, study habits, etc, are missing. Without this full overview or picture of your scenario, my recommendation and suggestion for the last little while have been the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience... There are various ways to get the balanced trifecta, WGU is one option, but there are others. Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[inferno14]

Welcome to the board, great intro post with some basic details, but it's missing the important requested info from the addendum and template. Info such as your age, budget, commitments, previous credits, state you reside in, study habits, etc, are missing.  Without this full overview or picture of your scenario, my recommendation and suggestion for the last little while have been the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience... There are various ways to get the balanced trifecta, WGU is one option, but there are others.  Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

Sure! So I am currently 34 years old. I am looking to switch my career from truck driving to tech. (Im thinking between cybersecurity or information tech). I am in Texas. Budget is a thing for me but I am getting financial aid so I have the full amount offered (20,148.00) so I was planning on trying to just stick with finanancial aid. I have some credits that would transfer just gen ed stuff was going to do some more via studycom or sophia.

[bjcheung77]

thanks for the response in my thread, any updates?

Yes, the addendum and template really is necessary. Your previous credits are missing, if your trucking company is part of Guild or Bright Horizons, you've got your tuition reimbursed and paid for. Your study habits, commitments, anything more you can add will give extra pieces of the puzzle. I usually like to have an almost full snapshot of your situation before I provide any further recommendations. You might also want to take a look at previous posts, threads, WIKI for info and degree plans.

[inferno14]

Your Location: Texas
Your Age: 34
What kind of degree do you want?: Network Engineer/Cyber Security
Current Regional Accredited Credits: English Composition I
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
Any certifications or military experience?: No
Budget:
Commitments: fully committed willing to work online for school everyday I can commit 4 hours at the very least a day.
Timeline: 
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Pell Grant
Budget:  I'd like to go the cheapest route possible, but will consider spending more for easy and fast. I do have pell grant award (full amount)
Commitments: No kids, just myself and my girlfriend so I have plenty of time on my hands outside of work.
Dedicated time to study: I can study as much as is needed during the night or weekends as long as my schedule is free. I estimate at least 3 hours every week night and on the weekends, maybe 6 hours, total would be roughly 15+12=27 hours or slightly more.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal.  I would like to finish within 1-1.5 years (12-18 months)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: my work place does not have tuition reimbursement. 
Trying to find something similar to WGU where certs are included within the program, im open to some schools that do not have certs included if I must take them on my own but would rather it included. below are some current classes I completed and intend on taking more before starting depending what is recommended 

[bjcheung77]

Everyone will be different, from my previous response, it's best to do the balanced trifecta of certs, degree, experience, I would still suggest WGU accelerated BSIT/MSIT option, we have a plan on the WIKI for that, work on all the Sophia.org first, then Study.com, etc, finish at WGU. Another option is, ETAMU (previously known as TAMUC), you can do their BAAS with a concentration of your liking (not CS/IT related), you can supplement this with Coursera/EdX certs/training, you don't really need the industry certifications that WGU tells you to get or have included in their tuition, most of them are entry level anyways.

If ETAMU isn't really what you're looking for, UMPI also has BBA with concentrations as well, go for that, such as the PM & IS, along with the CS/IT/PM related professional certs I mentioned from Coursera/EdX, etc. A balanced certs, degree, experience option is what you want, others will look at things differently, do it your way by mixing it up to your style... What matters is you keep laddering that certs, degree, experience to hit all the missing requirements.

Last but not least, with that much of a budget, I would go crazy, get a double major or a double degree, here's a kicker, get graduate credit for the price of undergraduate tuition, there are several schools out there that allow for this with their Bachelors to Masters option. If you want to use these credits for a Masters later on, easy - don't put these into the degree for completion, put it in the other classes field you've completed, use ACE/NCCRS credits to take the place of these.

Here's an example, you do UMPI AALS, BBA PM & IS, take the 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL, then finish the MAOL. Another option is, TESU Associates & Bachelors combo of your liking, take 4 Masters classes towards your Bachelors, if you're doing a double degree, you can take another set of 4 graduate classes towards that Bachelors. Use ACE/NCCRS classes for transfer into your bachelors instead of these 4 classes, you can transfer these 4 classes into another Masters later on.