Average income after graduation low

[Bm1992]

While I've heard CPA licensure is tough, I highly doubt you need to get a bachelor's and 3 masters. In fact, I don't think any state specifically requires a Master's degree. Also, it will take longer than a year.

The UMPI BBA Accounting should allow you to sit for the CPA exam in most states since it has 24 credits worth of accounting credits (double check if it works in your state). Once you pass the exam, you need to apply for certification. You need 1+ year(s) of work experience in accounting verified by a licensed CPA (number of hours and the type of work required differ per state). You also need to verify the required total number of credits (usually either 120 or 150) and if you need to take an Ethics exam. You also need to check if the state board allows ACE credits.

So before you make any more plans, look up your state's board of accountancy website and read the current requirements and policies. Email them directly about UMPI and if the board accept ACE credits.

Well, I know all of this but I’m the type of person that can’t choose one thing. I also tend to ensure total victory. So, 3 masters degrees should do it. I like going to school anyways, it’s fun.

[origamishuttle]

Honestly, I think my plan is this UMPI Accounting > UMPI MAOL > SNHU or WGU MAcc > SNHU or WGU MBA > CPA. This plan should take me about a year I assume.

Each SNHU degree takes 7-8 months at a bare minimum, although 10+ months is more common, whereas multiple people have completed degrees at WGU and UMPI in two months or less, me included. A few have also completed the MAOL in a single 8-week session, but most take at least two. However, I believe that those who complete their bachelor's at UMPI are forced to wait a session before starting their MAOL. And WGU will make you wait until the end of a six-month term to start another degree. So to complete all the degrees listed, the fastest path could be:

- UMPI BA Accounting completed in Spring session 2 ending May 2, get lucky to have degree conferred within a week
- WGU MS Accounting started June 1, completed by July 6
- UMPI MAOL completed Summer session 2 ending August 29
- PUG ExcelTrack MBA or another CBE MBA ??? starting in September
- CPA prep and/or sit for exam

Please understand that this is technically possible, but you will need to be both lucky with timing and in the top 1% of performers to make anything like this happen. In other words, it's not a very realistic plan.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, lifelong learning is also my goal if it's all within budget, energy, time... My recommendation is to streamline it a little differently though to put more focus on what you need and want to hit all the bases, UMPI BA Accounting and BABA PM & IS > UMPI MAOL > WGU MAcc > CPA > WGU MBA.

[Bm1992]

Honestly, I think my plan is this UMPI Accounting > UMPI MAOL > SNHU or WGU MAcc > SNHU or WGU MBA > CPA. This plan should take me about a year I assume.

Each SNHU degree takes 7-8 months at a bare minimum, although 10+ months is more common, whereas multiple people have completed degrees at WGU and UMPI in two months or less, me included. A few have also completed the MAOL in a single 8-week session, but most take at least two. However, I believe that those who complete their bachelor's at UMPI are forced to wait a session before starting their MAOL. And WGU will make you wait until the end of a six-month term to start another degree. So to complete all the degrees listed, the fastest path could be:

- UMPI BA Accounting completed in Spring session 2 ending May 2, get lucky to have degree conferred within a week
- WGU MS Accounting started June 1, completed by July 6
- UMPI MAOL completed Summer session 2 ending August 29
- PUG ExcelTrack MBA or another CBE MBA ??? starting in September
- CPA prep and/or sit for exam

Please understand that this is technically possible, but you will need to be both lucky with timing and in the top 1% of performers to make anything like this happen. In other words, it's not a very realistic plan.

What makes WGU faster? Also, I don’t fail often. I basically have no responsibilities but to take care of my son while I’m home right now.

[origamishuttle]

What makes WGU faster?

It's the one of the most self-paced options for a college education, so the student (along with their strategy) determines the pace of progress more than any other factor. There are unlimited attempts at papers, and exams can be attempted multiple times, generally up to four. There's also a lot of info available for a lot of courses and degree programs in places like reddit. All of these factors mean that you can optimize for speed, ideally when you already have all the knowledge and skills, but also if you're fast at learning and synthesizing information.

Also, I don’t fail often. I basically have no responsibilities but to take care of my son while I’m home right now.

That will help a lot. Again, it's possible, and it mostly depends on your knowledge/skills/ability, but there is some luck involved if you want to speedrun to the extent I mentioned. There are even ways to complete everything in less overall time, but it would involve faster completion of the work, push luck even harder, and probably require working on two master's degrees concurrently. But that's virtually impossible, both from a personal standpoint and having everything come together in exactly the right way with the right timing, to the point where it's much more likely to be counterproductive.

If you are committed to such a short timeline, then you'll need to apply to UMPI and start working your degree plan immediately to ensure that you can get into Spring 2 with the right transfers and strategies for completing all your courses. Please understand that many things can go wrong with the plan, so I urge you to do a lot of research to understand what you're signing up for. Best of luck!

[Bm1992]

What makes WGU faster?

It's the one of the most self-paced options for a college education, so the student (along with their strategy) determines the pace of progress more than any other factor. There are unlimited attempts at papers, and exams can be attempted multiple times, generally up to four. There's also a lot of info available for a lot of courses and degree programs in places like reddit. All of these factors mean that you can optimize for speed, ideally when you already have all the knowledge and skills, but also if you're fast at learning and synthesizing information.

Also, I don’t fail often. I basically have no responsibilities but to take care of my son while I’m home right now.

That will help a lot. Again, it's possible, and it mostly depends on your knowledge/skills/ability, but there is some luck involved if you want to speedrun to the extent I mentioned. There are even ways to complete everything in less overall time, but it would involve faster completion of the work, push luck even harder, and probably require working on two master's degrees concurrently. But that's virtually impossible, both from a personal standpoint and having everything come together in exactly the right way with the right timing, to the point where it's much more likely to be counterproductive.

If you are committed to such a short timeline, then you'll need to apply to UMPI and start working your degree plan immediately to ensure that you can get into Spring 2 with the right transfers and strategies for completing all your courses. Please understand that many things can go wrong with the plan, so I urge you to do a lot of research to understand what you're signing up for. Best of luck!

I wasn’t aware that WGU was also self paced! I’ve already sent in my application to UMPI along with transcripts and Fafsa. In the meantime I’m completing some classes on study.com so I may be able to work towards two degrees at once with UMPI in one term. What is WGUs policy on transferring grad level credit? Coopersmith has several grad level business courses. 

Thanks!

[Jonathan Whatley]

WGU has never accepted NCCRS, the ACE-like but not ACE agency which recommends credit for Coopersmith courses. So Coopersmith to WGU is out.

As to WGU graduate transfer credit generally, they've only recently opened up to it a little, except that a very few certifications have long transferred in. Check the Transfer Guidelines specific to each degree.

[origamishuttle]

I wasn’t aware that WGU was also self paced!

Again, I urge you to do research and build not only a degree plan for each degree, but also a strategy for each course, order of courses, etc. There are a lot of nuances to speedrunning, and you'll want to be familiar well in advance to avoid any surprises that can set you back. Probably most info about WGU is on reddit, and most info about UMPI is here and on the discord.

In the meantime I’m completing some classes on study.com so I may be able to work towards two degrees at once with UMPI in one term.

Do you have a degree plan yet? We typically recommend Sophia first and then Study.com. Also, I am confused about "two degrees at once" - which degrees??

[Bm1992]

I wasn’t aware that WGU was also self paced!

Again, I urge you to do research and build not only a degree plan for each degree, but also a strategy for each course, order of courses, etc. There are a lot of nuances to speedrunning, and you'll want to be familiar well in advance to avoid any surprises that can set you back. Probably most info about WGU is on reddit, and most info about UMPI is here and on the discord.

In the meantime I’m completing some classes on study.com so I may be able to work towards two degrees at once with UMPI in one term.

Do you have a degree plan yet? We typically recommend Sophia first and then Study.com. Also, I am confused about "two degrees at once" - which degrees??

I’m already done with Sophia. I think I have 108 credits from there. Most of the business classes, I have 4 Saylor courses done, I just finished my first Study course today. 

I don’t have a degree plan from UMPI yet, originally I was  mapping everything to Excelsior, I believe UMPI actually takes more credits from Sophia though so realistically I should be alright.