Challenge: Cheapest degree 4/25/11

[cookderosa]

Well, I'll let someone else do the math hilarious but at this point, I'm pretty sure that the least expensive has to be Charter Oak by taking several subject GREs, the foreign language CLEPs and the gen ed CLEPs.

can you outline that? Didn't COSC just eliminate their enrollment fee? I don't even know what the GREs are running right now- about $150?

[burbuja0512]

What would that cost you under today's catalog? I know my degree from TESC would be a lot more based on the 200/300 level changes they put into play last year.

Good question. Of the money I paid, $1400 of it was tuition, which would now cost me $440 for the amount of time it took me. However, enrolling at COSC today, I would also have been forced to take a Cornerstone which would have been $800 or so dollars.

The answer is, it would have saved me ~200 bucks. However, it could save more. If you can manage to do your testing before enrollment, you'll only pay one semester of the $220/per semester fee. Also, keep in mind that I didn't want to do the GRE. This is a great way to save and I didn't really want to do it.

The other thing to keep in mind is the TECEP. If you're a non-TESC student, you have to pay a ridiculous fee to take one. If you have TECEPs in your degree plan, you are much much better off going to TESC.

One major benefit of the COSC concentration is that the requirements don't tend to be as strict as a true major and there are only 36 credits in the concentration. For example, to get a BSBA from TESC, the math would be prohibitively difficult for someone like me that can barely add. For COSC's business concentration, I was able to pass with College Math CLEP and the math skills necessary to make it through Principles of Finance and M&B DSSTs. It's also a great way to specialize in a subject that you will be studying in grad school anyway. I hope to get my MBA. Once I have that, no one will care about my undergrad.

The whole major vs. concentration is something you'll need to think about, but it really worked well for me. It won't be the right choice for everyone though.

Hope this helps..

[burbuja0512]

can you outline that? Didn't COSC just eliminate their enrollment fee? I don't even know what the GREs are running right now- about $150?

The COSC tuition is eliminated effective July 1, 2011 and replaced with enrollment fees per semester. It's $220/semester for non-Connecticut students.

So to really save at COSC, you'll want to do as much of your testing as you can first and then enroll. Best case scenario - you will only pay $220 bucks. A heck of a lot less than their previous $1400 tuition/year.

One more thing to keep in mind: COSC does require both a Cornerstone and a Capstone course. They're not tough at all for an experienced student and decent writer. I am just two weeks away from finishing my Capstone and *knock on wood* have a 96% in the class.

Here's the COSC pricing breakdown. http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...costs.html

Not sure what the GRE is running these days. I'm too scared of it to take it!


Edit to add: Jennifer, someone on the boards pointed this out the other day and it may factor into how to make a COSC degree even cheaper. I don't know much about it, but it could be a way to gain bargain credits: Contract Learning | Charter Oak State College

[Levi]

Here is my real-life cost breakdown for my BSBA:

[SIZE="2"]
Levi’s TESC Cost Breakdown[/SIZE]

15 CLEP exams @ $84 = $1,260
14 DSST exams @ $92 = $1,288
4 TECEP exams @ $261 = $1,044
Study Materials = $600 (?)
______________________________________________

Total Spent for Exams = ± $4,192

1 Straighterline course = ± $250

1 TESC guided study course = $540

Annual Enrollment (1 year) = $2,520

Application Fee = $75
CLEP/DSST Transcript Fees = $60
Technology Services Fee = $103
Course Registration Fee = $45
Graduation Fee = $257

GRAND TOTAL FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREE: ± $8,042

[STG]

Lol I don't think there's a bigger loser at this than me...since I went to college- I spent $36,000 (actually 'my parents' is more like it)

[ryoder]

My time at USF back in the day cost $55 per credit hour for all classes. That was such a great deal and I had a 2k per year scholarship so school was free for me. Of course that was in the 94-98 time period but college in Florida is relatively cheap for in-state tuition. If you want to send your kids off to college, definitely think of Florida as an option. They can work to establish residency over the summer after high school and will be considered a Florida resident in 12 months so maybe the first year is a little expensive but the next year will be cheap. They could take CLEPs while living the life in sunny Florida too!

[sanantone]

I think it's possible to get up to 36 credits at Empire State College with the GRE if that helps. They require that 32 credits be taken in residence which can be done online.

[cookderosa]

Here is my real-life cost breakdown for my BSBA:

[SIZE="2"]
Levi’s TESC Cost Breakdown[/SIZE]

15 CLEP exams @ $84 = $1,260
14 DSST exams @ $92 = $1,288
4 TECEP exams @ $261 = $1,044
Study Materials = $600 (?)
______________________________________________

Total Spent for Exams = ± $4,192

1 Straighterline course = ± $250

1 TESC guided study course = $540

Annual Enrollment (1 year) = $2,520

Application Fee = $75
CLEP/DSST Transcript Fees = $60
Technology Services Fee = $103
Course Registration Fee = $45
Graduation Fee = $257

GRAND TOTAL FOR BACHELOR’S DEGREE: ± $8,042

This is great! Thanks!