Degree Completion Programs

[Alpha]

I know that some people start fresh at one of the Big 3 with zero credits but many people approach these schools as degree completion programs.  Generally, that's the way I think about them despite the fact that I know that some people don't "transfer in" the way some others do.  In some ways it's a more complicated process than simply enrolling in one of the other types of degree completion programs.  I think the Big 3 should be included in the list below and the fact that they are not illustrates one of the reasons I don't rely on these ranking systems for much of anything
Top 50 Best Value Online Degree Completion Programs (valuecolleges.com)

[ss20ts]

These types of lists always make me laugh. What's the criteria? Clearly the cost of out of state tuition and fees wasn't included in their awesomeness. I only use these lists to look for specific degree programs. Sometimes it's easier than a Google search since every college under the sun comes up. Transferring to a state university isn't always a breeze. Frequently you get screwed on your credits if they're from a community college. Been there done that.

[jsd]

I wonder if an accreditor (looking at you, DEAC) would let someone start a college that is intended as a 100% degree completion school. Or like 99% degree completion. not one that is just very generous with transfer credit like the Big 3, but one whose actual sole purpose is just to turn your credits accumulated elsewhere into a degree.

So the school would have a group of degrees they offer, but it offers zero courses toward those degrees (except maybe some capstone or something, maybe a PLA course, etc). Similar to what we are already so used to doing around here, there would be a degree map of course categories that are accepted toward the school's specific degrees, and you have to transfer them in from various sources because there's no way to take them at the school.

Just a formal way of what we've been doing at the big 3 for years, but now a school completely dedicated to it.

Very little overhead since you're not paying for faculty to run courses constantly, or dealing with financial aid or any of the real larger staff that keeps the lights on at a normal school, other than a registrar department and student advising. Degree plans would need some regular review for relevant changes and such, but that's not a year round effort. You get experts and academics to do that annually or whatever....

just a thought.

anyone want to start a school with me?

[ROYISAGIRL]

I wonder if an accreditor (looking at you, DEAC) would let someone start a college that is intended as a 100% degree completion school. Or like 99% degree completion. not one that is just very generous with transfer credit like the Big 3, but one whose actual sole purpose is just to turn your credits accumulated elsewhere into a degree.

So the school would have a group of degrees they offer, but it offers zero courses toward those degrees (except maybe some capstone or something, maybe a PLA course, etc). Similar to what we are already so used to doing around here, there would be a degree map of course categories that are accepted toward the school's specific degrees, and you have to transfer them in from various sources because there's no way to take them at the school.

Just a formal way of what we've been doing at the big 3 for years, but now a school completely dedicated to it.

Very little overhead since you're not paying for faculty to run courses constantly, or dealing with financial aid or any of the real larger staff that keeps the lights on at a normal school, other than a registrar department and student advising. Degree plans would need some regular review for relevant changes and such, but that's not a year round effort. You get experts and academics to do that annually or whatever....

just a thought.

anyone want to start a school with me?

Let's do it lol

[sanantone]

I wonder if an accreditor (looking at you, DEAC) would let someone start a college that is intended as a 100% degree completion school. Or like 99% degree completion. not one that is just very generous with transfer credit like the Big 3, but one whose actual sole purpose is just to turn your credits accumulated elsewhere into a degree.

So the school would have a group of degrees they offer, but it offers zero courses toward those degrees (except maybe some capstone or something, maybe a PLA course, etc). Similar to  what we are already so used to doing around here, there would be a degree map of course categories that are accepted toward the school's specific degrees, and you have to transfer them in from various sources because there's no way to take them at the school.

Just a formal way of what we've been doing at the big 3 for years, but now a school completely dedicated to it.

Very little overhead since you're not paying for faculty to run courses constantly, or dealing with financial aid or any of the real larger staff that keeps the lights on at a normal school, other than a registrar department and student advising. Degree plans would need some regular review for relevant changes and such, but that's not a year round effort. You get experts and academics to do that annually or whatever....

just a thought.

anyone want to start a school with me?

Excelsior (formerly Regents College) started out this way. They had no courses; they only offered credit-by-exam to fill in degree requirement gaps.

[jsd]

Good to know there's some precedent. I wonder if that setup would still fly with any accreditors today.

[LevelUP]

Most of the schools on that list will take alt credit such as Study.com

Study.com partners
https://study.com/college/school/index.html

Here is a list of almost all the colleges in the U.S by state.
https://mycollegeselection.com/colleges-by-state/

The big 3 + others we recommend on this forum aren't the only available schools. You can do your research and come up with your degree plans.

I wonder if an accreditor (looking at you, DEAC) would let someone start a college that is intended as a 100% degree completion school. Or like 99% degree completion. not one that is just very generous with transfer credit like the Big 3, but one whose actual sole purpose is just to turn your credits accumulated elsewhere into a degree.

Some people could argue that the government should require that all students take a minimum of 30 credits at the college they intend to graduate from in order to preserve the academic integrity of the U.S. college system.

[Tedium]

Some people could argue that the government should require that all students take a minimum of 30 credits at the college they intend to graduate from in order to preserve the academic integrity of the U.S. college system.

That's a bunk argument based on schools trying to get as much money as possible from transfer students. It's understandable in our society, but it has nothing to do with integrity. If the rule was designed to preserve academic integrity, then why does it matter where the credits come from? 30 from here or 30 from there should make no difference. 


Like I said, I get why schools have the requirement, but let's call a spade a spade and not pretend it's anything other than naked profiteering.

[ss20ts]

I wonder if an accreditor (looking at you, DEAC) would let someone start a college that is intended as a 100% degree completion school. Or like 99% degree completion. not one that is just very generous with transfer credit like the Big 3, but one whose actual sole purpose is just to turn your credits accumulated elsewhere into a degree.

So the school would have a group of degrees they offer, but it offers zero courses toward those degrees (except maybe some capstone or something, maybe a PLA course, etc). Similar to  what we are already so used to doing around here, there would be a degree map of course categories that are accepted toward the school's specific degrees, and you have to transfer them in from various sources because there's no way to take them at the school.

Just a formal way of what we've been doing at the big 3 for years, but now a school completely dedicated to it.

Very little overhead since you're not paying for faculty to run courses constantly, or dealing with financial aid or any of the real larger staff that keeps the lights on at a normal school, other than a registrar department and student advising. Degree plans would need some regular review for relevant changes and such, but that's not a year round effort. You get experts and academics to do that annually or whatever....

just a thought.

anyone want to start a school with me?

Time to start a GoFundMe. There's been a bunch colleges up for sale the last few years. Maybe you could snag one real cheap and start this. Basically buy the name. 

You can pretty much do this already with TESU and EC though. You only need the capstone, cornerstone, and info lit courses.

---

Excelsior (formerly Regents College) started out this way. They had no courses; they only offered credit-by-exam to fill in degree requirement gaps.

Then they realized how much $$$$ could be made when they charge $400 per credit for a class instead.

[Vle045]

Isn’t that pretty similar to what Pierpont is doing with Associates degrees? But there should be at least a minimum formula for what those degrees should include…. Basic gen Eds or something.

If you need a Registrar or something like that - I’m in.