Cheapest/fastest Asocciate level Degree, Completely test out.

[Grasshopper]

Hi guys, been reading degreeinfo and this website for months and finally decided to post.. I just want to get started already but need a plan.


Time frame for me would be 3- 6 months. So that may not be very fast compared to some of the time frames I see people post here. Of course least amount of Money would be best but I'm prepared to spend what I have to.


All I want is a degree to show a Law Enforcement Agency, to show that I've done something other then just take care of my family, I'm 23, Married, Own my own home, have a little family, and been working the same job since I was 18. I don't want to apply with just this life experience and a HS diploma want to show a bit more then just being responsible and mature for my age.

I first wanted to get a Bachelors in psychology because I enjoy that subject not because of what job it offers, and then apply to law enforcement but I want to get started 2013 with applying and just want an associates degree to show something.

What plan should I follow, I don't care which big 3 school I join, just that I can completely test out of it.

Being able to continue after associates for a Psychology/Sociology would be great but I want a degree fast so I can have motivation to continue to a bachelors..... but that fastest degree is what I'm looking for.

thanks for any help.

[rebel100]

Thomas Edison State College: Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies

Good Fast and Cheap....you actually get all three. 32 credits can come from free FEMA courses and the rest are gen eds easily tested out of (or straighterline if you dare).

It may not be the absolute cheapest because of the high fees at TESC (but we aren't talking huge money here)....but it makes up for it with ease of completion, legitimacy, and speed.

[IrishJohn]

Rebel100's idea for the AAS in Environmental, Safety and Security Technologies is definitely the cheapest and quickest way to get an Associate's degree. Most of it is comprised of FREE courses through FEMA! However, given that you are going to pay the same amount for tuition (approx. $3,000) at TESC regardless I'd recommend one of the following:

1. Associate in Arts at TESC. Since you mention possibly wanting a degree in psychology, this would satisfy many of the lower level requirements for completing a BA in Psychology one day in the future more than the AAS. You can easily finish this in 3-6 months.

2. BS in Business Administration at TESC. You could still test out of just about everything and it would give you a bachelor's degree that may benefit you even more than an Associate's would. Some jobs will give you a higher postion and possibly pay more for you having a bachelor's instead of just an associate's. The tuition cost at TESC is the same, since they charge an annual fee regardless of which degree you go for but it would cost you more time and money out-of-pocket for the CLEP/DSST/TECEP exams. If you dedicated enough time to it you could finish this in 6 months. It's not psychology, but you could go back and use many of these course in a BA in Psychology later if you want or just skip to a master's in say criminal justice or whatever you prefer.

[sanantone]

Remember that 30 credits from CLEP/DSST can cost upwards of $1,000. That is about how much you'll be saving by taking FEMAs.