Brick and mortar school to finish associates

[Brian12]

I was studying for a Bachelors degree over a decade ago which I did not finish. I'd like to get an Associates, which I've basically already earned. I've looked over several schools requirements and at most I think I will need to take English composition 2, Speech and maybe a couple of other classes.

I would prefer to earn my degree at a brick and mortar school. I intend on going back to University to finish my Bachelors and I don't want the school to raise any red flags while I'm trying to get admitted.

I was recently accepted to a college which told me I needed to take four classes to earn my associates. Unfortunately I was not able to find a place to stay nearby so I could attend. I think online classes are most likely the best option for me.

A few schools I've looked at:

Coastline community college - doesn't have the best reviews from its online students

Central Texas college - same as above, some real horror stories

RODP and the Tennessee community college system - Can't get anyone to answer the phone. A few of the schools want outrageous tuition

Empire state college - website is not all that clear

[rebel100]

I will point out that TESC and COSC are both regionally accredited and unlikely to "raise any flags", they would be the easiest especially with using credit by exam in lieu of classes (cheapest too probably).

If your heart is set on a traditional B&M school you might consider New Mexico Junior College. Its cheap, accredited, and has a traditional physical presence New Mexico Junior College - Distance Learning ...of course, if your not in NM someone may figure out you didn't attend in person.

What state are you in? Did you look at online in state offerings?

[Brian12]

I live in Alabama unfortunately. I'm not native to the area and I have had some bad experiences here so I prefer not to go to school here again. As far as testing out of classes I don't really care all that much. It's just a few classes and I'm not looking for an easy way out. In fact, I think I would probably prefer proctored classes. What I am looking for is a hassle free experience. And by hassle free I mean a competent Administration and competent and caring Professors.

I've never really heard of New Mexico Junior College but I use to live in Socorro, New Mexico. It's too bad we moved because I had New Mexico Tech right next door.

Is it possible to test out of Speech? That might be the only class I'm interested in testing out of.

I will point out that TESC and COSC are both regionally accredited and unlikely to "raise any flags", they would be the easiest especially with using credit by exam in lieu of classes (cheapest too probably).

If your heart is set on a traditional B&M school you might consider New Mexico Junior College. Its cheap, accredited, and has a traditional physical presence New Mexico Junior College - Distance Learning ...of course, if your not in NM someone may figure out you didn't attend in person.

What state are you in? Did you look at online in state offerings?

[Prloko]

If the school you decide to attend accepts DSST exams, you can test out of speech using the DSST exams.

But seriously these days (as long as its not a for profit), no one really gives a rat's behind if the school is B&M. As long as you have experience, the degree checks a box. I do real well for myself with my online degree, and have recently been accepted into a quality B&M MBA school. But if B&M is your choice, then more power to you. Good luck.

[rebel100]

NMJC offers speech online. They run around $100/credit, accept CLEP but I don't think DSST.

Administratively competent is sort of a moving target, NMJC is better than most in my opinion, but not the very best.

[cookderosa]

I was studying for a Bachelors degree over a decade ago which I did not finish. I'd like to get an Associates, which I've basically already earned. I've looked over several schools requirements and at most I think I will need to take English composition 2, Speech and maybe a couple of other classes.

I would prefer to earn my degree at a brick and mortar school. I intend on going back to University to finish my Bachelors and I don't want the school to raise any red flags while I'm trying to get admitted.

I was recently accepted to a college which told me I needed to take four classes to earn my associates. Unfortunately I was not able to find a place to stay nearby so I could attend. I think online classes are most likely the best option for me.

A few schools I've looked at:

Coastline community college - doesn't have the best reviews from its online students

Central Texas college - same as above, some real horror stories

RODP and the Tennessee community college system - Can't get anyone to answer the phone. A few of the schools want outrageous tuition

Empire state college - website is not all that clear

There are a lot of reasons for attending a B&M over a DL school, but right off the top, you have to start with a real issue which is accreditation. If you attend an unaccredited B&M college, "red flags" won't matter because none of your classes will transfer. So, first things first, you need the school to be regionally accredited. (there are instances when nationally accredited colleges will work, but since you already said you want to transfer, I'd say that's not an option for you). Secondly, "red flags" for many people come from for profit colleges, so ahead of B&M vs DL, you may want to consider choosing a non-profit college.

Now, finding a non-profit RA college is easy. Finding a B&M college that offers DL options is also easy. There are a few reasons people will get the AA on the way to the BA (meeting immediate job requirements, keeping their momentum going, they're still in high school, to use in transfer) but the real advantages come to the students who are locking in articulation agreements. There is a strong possibility that your state's community college system allows completion of AA degrees online- in fact, I'd bet on it. You wouldn't "have" to use your local CC, but that would be the cheapest. These AA degrees usually have a small residency requirement, meaning you have to take 15 or so credits through them in order to earn your degree. Most schools have that, but not all. If you earn your AA through your local CC, there is a good chance that you'll have a smooth transfer into a BA program. (or AS into BS whichever the case may be). What are your goals for your bachelors? That might help generate ideas for the AA.

[Brian12]

Do you know how many hours have to be completed in residence to earn a degree at NMJC?

NMJC offers speech online. They run around $100/credit, accept CLEP but I don't think DSST.

Administratively competent is sort of a moving target, NMJC is better than most in my opinion, but not the very best.

I don't really care one way or another. I just fear that if I apply to some place like FSU and they see that I graduated from an online college they won't take me seriously. In the real world if you have some experience the degree doesn't mean all that much. In the academic world it's a different story. Online schools have earned a bad reputation because of for profits.

I'm mainly concerned with returning to a four year school to earn a degree in Mathematics. I've spoken to a couple of Universities and was told by both that I needed to take some classes at a community college to show where I am at. The one school, FSU, told me I would need to take Calculus 1 and 2 along with Physics over again because it's been so long since I've had them. I will most likely try and test out of those because I have no interest in paying to take them over again.

If the school you decide to attend accepts DSST exams, you can test out of speech using the DSST exams.

But seriously these days (as long as its not a for profit), no one really gives a rat's behind if the school is B&M. As long as you have experience, the degree checks a box. I do real well for myself with my online degree, and have recently been accepted into a quality B&M MBA school. But if B&M is your choice, then more power to you. Good luck.

Has anyone had any experience with the schools I've posted below? Or if you attended another school and had a positive experience please feel free to share.

[rebel100]

Typically you will be required to earn 25% of the credits for a degree "in residence" from a given school. So i suspect 15 credits for an AA/AS, though I'm not 100% sure. Part of what makes COSC and TESC so appealing is that they do not have this requirement.

FSU itself has courses and degrees they offer online. I think , like Jennifer mentioned, you may be focused on the wrong thing. If an AA/AS is what you want find a regionally accredited school and go get it done. I suspect FSU itself would provisionally enroll you for classes. Testing out may not help with the Calculas and Physics. If they require a grade credit by exam won't provide that.

[clep3705]

The two largest community colleges in Texas (Lone Star College and Houston Community College) require 18 hours in residence for an associate's degree. In residence doesn't mean physical attendance. It means that you took the course from the school, paid tuition, and earned the credits. You could take 18 hours of online courses and transfer or test out of the rest. Other states could require more or fewer hours in residence.

[sanantone]

Texas requires 18 hours in residence for an associate's degree. In residence doesn't mean physical attendance. It means that you took the course from the school, paid tuition, and earned the credits. You could take 18 hours of online courses and transfer or test out of the rest. Other states could require more or fewer hours in residence.

Regionally accredited schools in Texas are accredited by SACS. SACS requires that 25% of credits be taken in residence at minimum. Central Texas College does require less than 18 credits for its associate's degrees depending on how many credits are required for the entire program because it's based off of the 25% requirement. The number of residency credits could be higher if more overall credits are required for the degree. The Alamo Community Colleges are the same way. Most community college systems in Texas probably operate in this way.