Computer science as an international student for around $6000 (flexible)

[Passa]

Hi everyone! I'll provide some informations:
Location: Italy
Age: 25
Kind of degree: Computer Science mainly, or Cybersecurity
I have no credits. I have to start from scratch.

I'm an international student from Italy who is looking to change his life by pursueing a degree and expat. Currently I have a full time job in Italy. Fortunately I am able to study during work for most of the time.
I have a budget of around 6000$, but I may go in debt or do sacrifices if it is worth it to spend more. 
I am quite interested in SNHU, but its mandatory 30 credits for 300$ each really scares me. Since I have to study from abroad, WGU is not an option.
I am not in a hurry to get a degree, but neither I want it to take 4 years.

[rachel83az]

For around $6000-8000, you can get a Computer Science degree from TESU. You could even throw in a BSBA Computer Information Systems for not much more time/money/effort, if you wanted to.

For a TESU Comp Sci degree, one of the cheapest way to get the required <i>university</i> credits would be through Metropolia University in Finland. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Fi...d_Sciences They have up to 180 ECTS available for 579€. This would equate to up to 60-90 US credits after evaluation.

Depending on your budget and time commitments, you'd need to take somewhere between 6 or 9 credits to 16 credits from TESU; everything else would come from Sophia.org or Study.com. You can start putting together a degree plan and a budget with these pages:

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ience_Plan

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...re_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...z_version)

[nomaduser]

You can try either TESU or University of the People.
UoP have a $5k BS in CS degree program.

[rachel83az]

I wouldn't do UoPeople. Right now, UoPeople is still Nationally Accredited, which isn't "good enough" for a lot of European countries. If you want to leave Italy and go to Germany, for instance, a UoPeople degree could be less than worthless.

If/When UoPeople becomes Regionally Accredited, it might be a good option.

[Passa]

Thank you all for your kind replies, you are helping me a lot
I forgot to mention that it may be better for me to consider only regionally accredited universities, otherwise UoPeople would had been a good choice.
Do you know if degrees from TESU, SNHU are still worthy outside Europe and the US? For example Singapore, Malesia, UAE, Qatar ecc. Even though I think that what matters is the skiil matched with a degree

[allvia]

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Thank you all for your kind replies, you are helping me a lot
I forgot to mention that it may be better for me to consider only regionally accredited universities, otherwise UoPeople would had been a good choice.
Do you know if degrees from TESU, SNHU are still worthy outside Europe and the US? For example Singapore, Malesia, UAE, Qatar ecc. Even though I think that what matters is the skiil matched with a degree

TESU and SNHU are both RA schools.  TESU is a NJ state university, and SNHU is a non-profit private (based in NH)

[bjcheung77]

@Passa, are you planning to go teaching in the Middle East or Asia? SNHU and TESU are sufficient for your request, especially since you're looking at a Computer Science and not Cybersecurity, Data Science, IT or similar degrees. For each of these, you can follow the WIKI and see which courses will hit both SNHU/TESU in regards to general education, free electives, and the AOS (area of study), complete those first as it'll apply to both institutions... you can then apply and see which one suits you more, TESU may be more within your price range and the added BSBA CIS is appealing as well.

[kylan11]

Un altro italiano! Benvenuto.

I am in a similar situation, working full time as a Software Engineer. Since you expressed interest in a CS/IT/Cybersecurity degree, I assume you're working in IT as well. Keep in mind that the natural career path of an engineer is usually management, so unless you plan on coding (although less and less over time) your whole career, you could also consider a Business degree with some elements of IT.

If that's the case, I would suggest UMPI's BA Business Administration: Project Mangement & Management Information Systems. Easy degree for a developer since you're able to transfer in almost every Business/General education requirement and only take IT-related classes at UMPI. It should set you up for a nice promotion as a Project Manager or other Agile related management roles.
It's also the cheaper option ($3800 for 2 terms, which should be enough). You could then pursue a Master's degree in a field more specific to IT as well, if you so desire.

Otherwise, if you're set on becoming a Tech Lead, TESU should be your best option.

Ciao!

[Passa]

@Passa, are you planning to go teaching in the Middle East or Asia?  SNHU and TESU are sufficient for your request, especially since you're looking at a Computer Science and not Cybersecurity, Data Science, IT or similar degrees.  For each of these, you can follow the WIKI and see which courses will hit both SNHU/TESU in regards to general education, free electives, and the AOS (area of study), complete those first as it'll apply to both institutions... you can then apply and see which one suits you more, TESU may be more within your price range and the added BSBA CIS is appealing as well.

Thank you for your reply. I'm not planning to teach as a career. My dream is to emigrate to the US, but my plan B is going somewhere in Middle East or Asia, as long as it's outside the EU.
I really like SNHU as it has concentrations in various field. However at the moment I can't afford 9600$ for the 30 credits from them. Is applying to scholarship an option as an international student?

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Un altro italiano! Benvenuto.

I am in a similar situation, working full time as a Software Engineer. Since you expressed interest in a CS/IT/Cybersecurity degree, I assume you're working in IT as well. Keep in mind that the natural career path of an engineer is usually management, so unless you plan on coding (although less and less over time) your whole career, you could also consider a Business degree with some elements of IT.

If that's the case, I would suggest UMPI's BA Business Administration: Project Mangement & Management Information Systems. Easy degree for a developer since you're able to transfer in almost every Business/General education requirement and only take IT-related classes at UMPI. It should set you up for a nice promotion as a Project Manager or other Agile related management roles.
It's also the cheaper option ($3800 for 2 terms, which should be enough). You could then pursue a Master's degree in a field more specific to IT as well, if you so desire.

Otherwise, if you're set on becoming a Tech Lead, TESU should be your best option.

Ciao!

Ciao caro!
Unfortunately my job is not correlated with computer science. I have to start learning from zero. My goal is not to get a degree for a promotion, but to be competitive once I emigrate. I wish UMPI will announce soon a new bachelor in computer science.
Grazie per la risposta!

[ifomonay]

At $6k, it would be difficult to get a BS in Computer Science. UoPeople is not regionally accredited, and TESU is an Arts degree not a Science degree (BA).