Best Online/CBE Community College

[JohnnyHeck]

The girlfriend of a friend is getting worried that his dogged pursuit of his bachelor's at TESC might put her at an educational disadvantage regarding their relationship. She would like to keep close by getting at least an AA/AS for now in no particular field. She is currently trying out Insta-Cert for US History and likes the CBE approach for both focus and speed. But she does want a junior degree title before going on further at some indeterminate future date. She thought using Straighterline would suit nicely for her Composition reqs or perhaps 8 week online terms at a CC. Cost is not a super-critcai factor. She resides in the Los Angelos area.

[sanantone]

I have no experience with the New Mexico Colleges, but I heard they're pretty good at accepting non-traditional credits. The best CC I've found for accepting non-traditional credits is Central Texas College. CTC's target group is the military. They will consider ACE credits including Straighterline and ALEKS. They accept DSST, CLEP, and ECE. There is no limit to the number of CBEs that can be used, but 25% of the degree has to be earned at CTC whether online or on campus. They've already given me the thumbs up for a couple of ALEKS courses and one Straighterline course. They're in the process of evaluating Straighterline's science courses.

CTC is not the cheapest for non-residents, but they do have many 8-week terms as well as 12-week and 16-week terms. Almost all of their IT courses and about half of their social science courses are offered in the self-paced format. You still have to work within the terms, but all of the assignments aren't due until the last day of class.

[clep3705]

Central Texas College is very generous on CBE as sanantone said.

[JohnnyHeck]

So I don't drive myself batty and I better understand the overall Texas VCT template, would you confirm that Central Texas policies can be and are different from other Texas CCs?

[sanantone]

As far as I know, CTC is not a participant in the Virtual College of Texas. VCT just allows students of participating colleges to take online courses at other particpating colleges at the in-district rate. You still have to go by your home school's policies. Every Texas CC or CC system has its own set of policies.

[clep3705]

I'm very skeptical of the Virtual College of Texas. I've contacted three schools who told me that they don't actually participate. They did, but so few students participated that they stopped. Just because the VCT website lists a school doesn't mean that the school still participates.

I'm not sure I understand the question about confirming Central Texas College policies. You should go to their website and read the policies and reach your own conclusion. Please don't take my word for it.

[UptonSinclair]

Give Cerro Coso a check. They are a California Community College in Kern County California. It would be silly for her to take CC colleges outside the state since California is so affordable. I took a couple of classes with them several years ago that were excellent.

Cerro Coso Community College || CC Online

[rebel100]

You could do it at cosc for less than $2000, all but one class via cbe. The rough plan is here: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...post148618
One could do it as an AA by adding 12-15 liberal arts credits.

[sanantone]

I just saw that CTC has an articulation agreement with Excelsior and you also get discounted tuition and fee rates. However, some of these discounts only apply if you take at least 12 credit hours at Excelsior.

[JohnnyHeck]

Thanks to all for some ideas. I had no idea that CCs within the same state could have very divergent requirements. Here in NC all the CCs use common course numbering and all the degree requirements are the same.

The CTC option could be the one if the girlfriend has a major that she would like that is offered at CTC. Only 16hrs (25%) in residence at CTC with rest CBE or SL.

The COSC option surprised me because I did not realize before the low cost enrollment structure. This remains a very valid option for a no major AA requiring only a 3hr online Cornerstone course with the rest being CBE or perhaps SL. What's really kind of surprise to me is the COSC AA option does not absoluitly require a completion of all the Gen=Ed req.s, but to me you'd be crazy if you didn't finish them at this level particularly as a General Studies AA. A number of Online senior schools, ASU and VCSU for two, will waive all thieir particular Gen-Ed req.s if your AA has at least 39-42+ Liberal Arts req.s I'll have to check that since the AA at COSC does not guarantee you have completed all Gen-Ed, but your transcript would surely show it that this suffices for this critical waiver.

The point about the absolutely rock bottom costs for Californira CC must be respected. I'll keep searching for one with the greatest quantity of online 8wk term courses, While most that I've seen so far will only take 30 CBE credits there is some variation here. Mount San Antonio states it as 24hrs in residence implying 36hr for CLEP and Dantes but nothing else. Most of the schools will take only the AP English Comp but not the CLEP.

I'll check out the New Mexico thing next. Thanks again to all to get me started.