Financial aid for ACE credits ---> TESU?

[CourtneyBrooke]

What are the options for a single mom with low income when planning a degree using CLEP/ACE etc credits, eventually transferring to TESU? My daughter and I have degrees from TESU but didn't use any financial aid. However, my sister asked me last night if I would help her earn a degree there using the same non-traditional methods. 
She's a single mom, makes very little money, and is hoping to do this quickly. I understand there are options such as Pell Grants for a more traditional path (community college, etc), but is there anything that can be used to bring down the prices of Sophia/Straighterline/DSST etc etc? And could the Pell Grant then be used for the TESU graduation costs (waiver, etc)?
Thanks.

[rachel83az]

There isn't really any financial aid for alternative credits. The closest is ModernStates for CLEP exams. But Sophia can actually be cheaper than the "free" CLEP exams - at least, if it turns out that you have to take time off work to take the CLEP exams.

What degree is she wanting?

No, the Pell Grant can't be used for TESU graduation costs. But, if she gets the full amount, she can use it to take ~18 credits at TESU and avoid the waiver.

But a UMPI degree might be a better option for her, at least if she's comfortable with writing papers.

[dfrecore]

I'm going to suggest a cheaper school - 1) UMPI or 2) EC.

Her best bet for cheap credits:
1) CLEP (free through ModernStates)
2) Saylor (not saying I love this option, but it's $5 for each final exam)
3) TEEX Cybersecurity courses if they get renewed (free)
4) ALEKS ($20/mo)
5) OnlineDegree ($9/course) - NCCRS so don't use if you go to UMPI
6) InstantCert $20 + $15 per course
7) Sophia if she can do multiple courses in a month, it's $79/mo
8) Study.com for UL and whatever you can't get from above

If money is the thing holding her back, then she really just needs to go with the cheapest options.

[Ideas]

Yeah unfortunately Study.com, Straighterline, Davar, Coopersmith, etc can really add up.

Sophia is so cheap per-credit if she takes many classes rapidly.

ModernStates will cover the CLEP fee and they can be done through online proctoring.

OnlineDegree.com is good for the schools which take NCCRS.

Saylor has some courses. (UL computer courses tend to have errors and outdated info.)

TEEX has about 10 free credits.

[origamishuttle]

Your question makes me think of this thread, outlining a plan to complete a bachelor's degree very quickly and inexpensively:

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...n-5-months

...
I started on July second with CLEP and on July eleventh with Sophia. I finished my last class at UMPI on November first.
...
Total out-of-pocket cost - $994 That is correct. I earned a bachelor’s degree, plus I ended up with $994 in my pocket after paying all my expenses.

[bjcheung77]

There are several options for her, it depends if she's interested in something competency based or something that's alternative credit by exam/written assignment based. My suggestion is to follow up with her and provide her these options. BTW, does she already have an associates degree? Also, ask her for a "budget" and what her time commitments are. Does she know any other languages other than English? Does she already have some college credits?

1) Basically, If she's really interested in TESU, BALS with a Humanities, Social Science concentration, or without a concentration may work for her.
2) Alternative option, UMPI BLS with any minor that interests her. This is more of my recommendation for her if she's into competency based degrees.
You should get her to provide us more details by following this template: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[ss20ts]

Your question makes me think of this thread, outlining a plan to complete a bachelor's degree very quickly and inexpensively:

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...n-5-months

...
I started on July second with CLEP and on July eleventh with Sophia. I finished my last class at UMPI on November first.
...
Total out-of-pocket cost - $994 That is correct. I earned a bachelor’s degree, plus I ended up with $994 in my pocket after paying all my expenses.

Keep in mind that he received grants for his tuition at UMPI. There were one time Covid grants at some schools. UMPI was one of them.

[dfrecore]

If you qualify for Pell Grants, I still think EC or UMPI is a better option than TESU. I think either of those schools will end up being paid for, while TESU you may still need to come out-of-pocket for some fees.

[Ideas]

Does she have IT knowledge? Does she have a bunch of knowledge in one or more areas for possible PLA?

[davewill]

Some people have used their Pell grants at a cheap community college and had enough aid left over to pay for alternative credits. That's a strategy that can be used whether you're headed for TESU or another school that accepts alt credit.