Bachelors for job pay raise

[Edriveless]

I know this sounds unprofessional. I am happy with my job and have some certifications to back it up but no degree. The position company recently opened will require one but the job description fits my experience and certification already. HR said I’m qualified but the degree is something that needs to be checked off the box. Is there an alternative to CLEP, SL, SDC, Life Assessments? Any self pace that’s cheap which can be earned in less than 5-6 months? I saw another thread that had a foreign accredited degree for $300 on Groupon. I know sounds too good to be true but someone like me who has 4 kids to feed and provide for, I surely could use that the pay raise!
 I’m desperate for something quick because I really wouldn’t want it for anything else than just the pay raise. Yes I know about diploma mills but I still want to learn and  at this point I can’t afford what’s out there even the big 3 seems too hard to attain for me.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

Hi, and welcome. Can you provide some more background information?

1. What is your current position?
2. What would the new position be?
3. ANY type of BA/BS would do fine?
4. Just to check, do you have any other college credits already?

[Not_a_robot_101]

First off, we don't endorse diploma mills here in anyway. Credit by examination is an alternate source of credit that is used to test previous knowledge. Five to six months for a degree is unlikely unless you already have a sizable amount of credits. Case in point, I was assessed by TESU in November of last year with 50ish credits depending on my degree path. I selected a BSBA because I have worked in that field for the last 13 years and I felt that I already had a good understanding of the knowledge. It is now April and my last academic evaluation placed me at 99 credits. I set a goal of one year to earn 70 credits and graduate. I felt I have moved at a good pace, dedicating 4-5 hours 6 days a week to study and homework. What you are asking for means double the work and I don't know if that is doable.

What I would suggest is this: start on your degree now. Other positions will open up. Having a degree from a regionally accredited institution will only help you in the future. Instead of being behind the ball for the next job opening, you will already have this hurdle behind you.

[HogwartsSchool]

I know this sounds unprofessional. I am happy with my job and have some certifications to back it up but no degree. The position company recently opened will require one but the job description fits my experience and certification already. HR said I’m qualified but the degree is something that needs to be checked off the box. Is there an alternative to CLEP, SL, SDC, Life Assessments? Any self pace that’s cheap which can be earned in less than 5-6 months? I saw another thread that had a foreign accredited degree for $300 on Groupon. I know sounds too good to be true but someone like me who has 4 kids to feed and provide for, I surely could use that the pay raise!
 I’m desperate for something quick because I really wouldn’t want it for anything else than just the pay raise. Yes I know about diploma mills but I still want to learn and  at this point I can’t afford what’s out there even the big 3 seems too hard to attain for me.

1. There is no getting a degree is 5-6 months.
2. Diploma mill should not be an option and that is against everything this community stands for.
3. Have you looked into obtaining Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? You can use the funds to obtain the credits.
4. The Groupon is not a option, its for a MBA/Master's and people are still waiting for USA accreditation proof from WES.
5. Even going super fast pace with alt credit sources like SL, SDC, etc, (114 credits) then taking required courses cornerstone and capstone (6 credits) from the big 3, you are looking at 12 months minimum before a degree can be conferred.

[indigoshuffle]

I know this sounds unprofessional. I am happy with my job and have some certifications to back it up but no degree. The position company recently opened will require one but the job description fits my experience and certification already. HR said I’m qualified but the degree is something that needs to be checked off the box. Is there an alternative to CLEP, SL, SDC, Life Assessments? Any self pace that’s cheap which can be earned in less than 5-6 months? I saw another thread that had a foreign accredited degree for $300 on Groupon. I know sounds too good to be true but someone like me who has 4 kids to feed and provide for, I surely could use that the pay raise!
 I’m desperate for something quick because I really wouldn’t want it for anything else than just the pay raise. Yes I know about diploma mills but I still want to learn and  at this point I can’t afford what’s out there even the big 3 seems too hard to attain for me.

You don't sound unprofessional. You don't need to go through a diploma mill. The people on this forum are very knowledgeable. Take things step by step and you can do it. The biggest barrier might be money and personal energy. Because of this forum I've helped a few dozen people obtain degrees. Just take things step by step. There is a "beginners guide to getting fast/cheap college credit" under the general education section. Thats a good place to start.

[LongRoad]

I know this sounds unprofessional. I am happy with my job and have some certifications to back it up but no degree. The position company recently opened will require one but the job description fits my experience and certification already. HR said I’m qualified but the degree is something that needs to be checked off the box. Is there an alternative to CLEP, SL, SDC, Life Assessments? Any self pace that’s cheap which can be earned in less than 5-6 months? I saw another thread that had a foreign accredited degree for $300 on Groupon. I know sounds too good to be true but someone like me who has 4 kids to feed and provide for, I surely could use that the pay raise!
 I’m desperate for something quick because I really wouldn’t want it for anything else than just the pay raise. Yes I know about diploma mills but I still want to learn and  at this point I can’t afford what’s out there even the big 3 seems too hard to attain for me.

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Does it have to be a Bachelor's degree? What about an Associate's degree? Also, my employer allows you to list a degree if you'll get it within a year. Does yours?

[natshar]

well wgu I've heard people doing the whole degree in 6 months from scratch without transferring credits but that would take a lot of dedication and time. That is the fastest bachelors and cheapest bachelors I can think of but probably not doable unless you really know the material. if you work in business or it could be an option.

Do you have any college credits at all?

[SteveFoerster]

Yes I know about diploma mills

It's a good thing that diploma mills don't interest you, since they're a time bomb on your resume. Sooner or later someone will actually check it out, and then...

[Edriveless]

Thank you for all the helpful tips. I don’t even consider a diploma mill path to be worth it. So that’s totally against my thinking. I just brought it out out of transparency. To me that’s just not acceptable  but I do have stress about finding faster ways to earn a degree. I’m in the healthcare field already and have certifications for this specific role but I never thought of earning a degree before could ladder me up to a higher position. I have actually been in that role it’s just not formalized because I do not have a bachelors degree which is just a part of their internal checklist. I already manage people as well and help train them. I also didn’t have the financial means to pay for schooling before and went for certification that landed me the job on the spot as I am the source of income for my entire family. I don’t have any type of credits but I know most all of the options given around this forum. But during this pandemic I can’t even consider clep. I wish there were free classes I could somehow earn credit for? I saw here about the cyber security courses and the aleks math,  csm etc. I even saw sohpia.org offering free courses. But all of that won’t be enough to get me a degree to transfer to one of the big 3. Does anyone have more free ones that I can do at home that free or quick to complete. Does straighterline and saylor offer free classes?

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I know this sounds unprofessional. I am happy with my job and have some certifications to back it up but no degree. The position company recently opened will require one but the job description fits my experience and certification already. HR said I’m qualified but the degree is something that needs to be checked off the box. Is there an alternative to CLEP, SL, SDC, Life Assessments? Any self pace that’s cheap which can be earned in less than 5-6 months? I saw another thread that had a foreign accredited degree for $300 on Groupon. I know sounds too good to be true but someone like me who has 4 kids to feed and provide for, I surely could use that the pay raise!
 I’m desperate for something quick because I really wouldn’t want it for anything else than just the pay raise. Yes I know about diploma mills but I still want to learn and  at this point I can’t afford what’s out there even the big 3 seems too hard to attain for me.

1. There is no getting a degree is 5-6 months.
- yes I see that now. Thanks 
2. Diploma mill should not be an option and that is against everything this community stands for.
- I look down on it obviously just stressing about my options now being financially obligated to provide for everyone.
3. Have you looked into obtaining Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)? You can use the funds to obtain the credits.
Yes but college online is time consuming If I do per semester full time to get the funds if I’m not mistaken 
4. The Groupon is not a option, its for a MBA/Master's and people are still waiting for USA accreditation proof from WES.
- I see
5. Even going super fast pace with alt credit sources like SL, SDC, etc, (114 credits) then taking required courses cornerstone and capstone (6 credits) from the big 3, you are looking at 12 months minimum before a degree can be conferred.
- yes I see now thanks 

[natshar]

Sophia has about 70 credits for free (plus a few more if go to excelsior)
TEEX has 10 free credits
ALEKS has 9 credits but 3 would duplicate Sophia college algebra so 6
Insurance ethics-free course is 3 credits

So assuming you did all of them 70+10+6+3 that would be 89 free credits which is 75% of a degree for free. This would be a good amount to get started at any of the big 3 or WGU or even Capella or University of Phoenix or SNHU or any of the sophia partner schools really.

If you to the big 3 you have an associate's degree done (besides cornerstone) and have a good start for a bachelors. For WGU, you would probably be in a good place to finish your degree in one 6 month term. Idk about the other schools but I imagine you'd have a sizable chunk done.

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saylor is $25 each but they difficult. but give one a try if you want, if you fail you are only out $25.

WGU has a healthcare information management degree and also a healthcare services coordination degree. and a health information management business degree. transfer in the gen eds for free and then finish in one 6 month term. might be a good option for a relevant degree.