Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College?

[Cindy907]

Hello everyone,
I have searched many threads trying to find a solid answer to my question but haven't had much luck so hopefully someone can help me. I have my Associate of Arts degree and would like to pursue a Computer Information Systems degree through TESU or possibly Charter Oaks. I am awarded a little over $3,000 Pell Grant this year and would like to start school in August. I have never tried to test out of a degree but I do well with self study and feel like it is the best approach.
My question is what approach should I take to get the most out of my Pell Grant and still test out of classes, I was considering taking 12 credits with NMJC because the tuition is $648 for 12 credits and would use the rest of the grant for testing. Does anyone have any advice they can offer to help me create a plan to maximize my Pell Grant and pursue my degree?

[cookderosa]

Hello everyone,
I have searched many threads trying to find a solid answer to my question but haven't had much luck so hopefully someone can help me. I have my Associate of Arts degree and would like to pursue a Computer Information Systems degree through TESU or possibly Charter Oaks. I am awarded a little over $3,000 Pell Grant this year and would like to start school in August. I have never tried to test out of a degree but I do well with self study and feel like it is the best approach.
My question is what approach should I take to get the most out of my Pell Grant and still test out of classes, I was considering taking 12 credits with NMJC because the tuition is $648 for 12 credits and would use the rest of the grant for testing. Does anyone have any advice they can offer to help me create a plan to maximize my Pell Grant and pursue my degree?

Yes, let's back up a tiny bit.
The AA degree consists of your 100 and 200 level courses. If you're off to earn a BA, you need to fill the remaining requirements, which will be 300 and 400 level courses. You can do that at TESU or Charter Oak no problem. Both of those schools will need to evaluate your transcript, and I strongly suggest you to it. It's unlikely that your 60 credits will plug in perfectly to either degree at TESU or COSC, so you may have some gaps, and you'll want to know that sooner rather than later.
When you apply at the school(s) for your BA, you may find a reevaluation of Pell and wind up with more money, that $3000 is either for the school you were enrolled in or an estimate- you should get the full amount if you're enrolled full time.

Now, here's the rub. MNJC only offers 100 and 200 level credit- which you have completed. You'll need to source your 300/400 levels from a 4-year school. TESC and COSC are not the cheapest places, and even with a full pell it won't cover all of your tuition. Sadly, Pell gets used first, and only overage comes back to you (that you could then use to fund testing out).

My advice is to take your time choosing your BA school. If you don't mind, would you say what state your AA was earned in? There may be better and more affordable options in your home state.

[yb1]

Look at hodges upower degree, western governors university, and northern Arizona state university(pearsonlized learning).

All three are competency based programs.

Hodges accepts pel and you would be able to test out of a lot of the classes by taking a pre test and post test assessment. It is 6 months and unlimited classes. It'll be the best bang for your buck if you want a CIT degree.

NAU also has a similar option but to me it sounds like a good bit more wok. NAU in my opinion has a better name and a better reputation. It being a Arizona state school. But also hodges classes are 4 credits where most other schools are 3. That being said I personally attend hodges and from what I hear in Florida it is a known school. But it's Florida

WGU has no gpa but you would get industry required certs all included in the tuition. So a+, network +, security +, Ccna etc.

I'm on my phone right now but I can already tell you. They all accept the pel grant and you won't be paying much if anything out of pocket.

I can tell you that hodges accepts straighter line and will likely be more generous with transfer credits. Anyway enough with my ramblings. If you have any more questions feel free to ask away

[dfrecore]

I think if you posted your credits earned here, that would be helpful. That's because with TESU, there are not a lot of UL credits required for the degree, so having a lot of LL (CC courses) will be ok. I think there's a max of 80cr, so you could take another 20 and still be ok. If any of the credits you already have are from a college other than a CC, then you could take more at the CC you're looking at. You could then use the rest of the money for SL, study.com, CLEP, etc.

It's also important to know what credits you already earned are because with the BSBA in CIS at TESU, there is a limited number of space available for non-business courses. So, you will definitely want to post your credits earned - school type (CC or 4-yr), credit type (semester or quarter), course #, course name, number of credits earned, and grade if less than a C).

COSC is a little more generous with the number of non-business credits you can earn, but also requires more UL courses. I don't think they have a BSBA specifically with the CIS major though.

I also think you should look into Hodges, WGU and NAU as suggested. Those are all really good options for finishing up a degree.

[Cindy907]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I will post my credits I have so far in the screenshots, I was considering TESU program for the CIS but I am really looking for a school where I can study and test out of as many classes as possible and still have the option to use my Pell grant for whatever classes I need to fill in. I will look into Hodges and WGU degree tonight! [ATTACH=CONFIG]1820[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1821[/ATTACH]

[KayV]

Your screenshots aren't legible for me, but it is entirely likely that it's just me lol.

[bjcheung77]

Your screenshots aren't legible for me, but it is entirely likely that it's just me lol.

No, I can't see it either.

[Nixi]

Your screenshots aren't legible for me, but it is entirely likely that it's just me lol.

It's not just you, the screenshots are too small.

This is how it looks (full size).

[bluebooger]

maybe he has a really tiny monitor

[Cindy907]

I apologize for the delayed response, internet was out for a bit, not sure why the screenshots didn't show up correctly. I am thinking about just trying to find the fastest way to get a Bachelor degree and it seems like the BSBA is the most straightforward one to test out of, although I'm not sure what doors that degree would open? I am interested in the CIS degree but am not sure how much time I would have to invest. Any advice?
My classes completed with my Associates degree are listed below:

Spring 2010
BIOL A102 *Introductory Biology B 3
BIOL A103 *Introductory Biology Lab B 1
MATH A055 Elementary Algebra C 3
PRPE A108 Intro to College Writing C 3
PSY A111 *General Psychology C 3

Fall 2010
ENGL A111 *Meth of Written Communication C 3
PSY A150 *Lifespan Development B 3

Spring 2011
CHEM A055 Contemporary Chemistry B 3
CHEM A055L Contemporary Chem Lab B 1

Fall 2011
BIOL A111 *Human Anatomy & Physiology I B 4
BIOL A111L Human Anat & Phys I Lab NG 0

Spring 2012
BIOL A112 *Human Anatomy & Physiology II B 4
BIOL A112L Human Anat & Phys II Lab NG 0

Fall 2012
COMM A241 *Public Speaking B 3
DN A203 Nutrition for Health Sciences B 3
ENGL A213 *Writing in Soc & Nat Sciences A 3

Spring 2013
ANTH A202 *Cultural Anthropology B 3
PHIL A101 *Intro to Logic A 3

Summer 2013
BIOL A240 Intro Micro for Health Science B T 4
Transferred from BIOLS240 - Microbiology - University of Alaska SE

Fall 2013
ANTH A200 *Natives of Alaska A 3
ART A160 *Art Appreciation A T 3
Transferred from ARTS160 - Art Appreciation - University of Alaska SE
MA A101 Medical Terminology A 3
MATH A105 Intermediate Algebra C 3

Spring 2014
ANTH A250 *Rise of Civilization A 3
HIST A101 *Western Civilization I A 3
PSY A368 Personality A 3
STAT A252 *Elementary Statistics B 3