Help Needed: Deciding Between Two Schools with Similar Credit Transfers!

[rgran53]

I'm having a tough time deciding which school/degree to choose. I’ve applied to several, and I've received credit evaluations from most of them. The schools with the highest number of credits are:

Excelsior: BPS Technology Management - IT AOE (98 credits)
UMPI: BLS/BAS-MIS (87 credits)
TESU: BS Technology Management (84 credits)

Location: Virginia, USA
Age: 36
Degree Goal: Information Technology Management or another STEM (technology-focused) degree
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 40

Central Texas College (3 credits total):
HIST 1301 - US History I: 3 credits

Western Governors University (37 credits total - BS Network Operations and Security):
SCIE C165 - Integrated Physical Sciences: 3 credits
POLS C963 - American Politics/US Constitution: 3 credits
MATH C957 - Applied Algebra: 3 credits
MATH C955 - Applied Probability & Statistics: 3 credits
ITEC C394 - Information Technology Applications: 4 credits
ITEC C393 - Information Technology Foundations: 4 credits
ITEC C182 - Intro to Information Technology: 4 credits
HUMN C961 - Ethics in Technology: 3 credits
ENGL C455 - English Composition I: 3 credits
COMM C464 - Introduction to Communication: 3 credits
BIO C190 - Introduction to Biology: 3 credits

ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits (198 credits total):

Sophia (24 credits total):
Business Ethics 
Intro to Networking
Intro to Nutrition 
Principles of Management
Intro to Relational Databases 
Intro to Information Technology 
Project Management 
Visual Communications

Military JST (174 credits total):
Various courses and certifications from Navy service, including Information Systems Technician and related courses (see attached transfer evaluations for full breakdown)

Any certifications or military experience? 18 years of active-duty Navy service (CWO2/W-2)
CompTIA A+ and Security+ (both recently expired)

Budget: Using Military TA, and willing to pay out-of-pocket for any remaining costs
Commitments: Full-time (active duty), 3 kids (one 19 years old), and a busy “honey-do” list
Study Time: 20-30 hours per week
Timeline: Ideally as soon as possible, but realistically by the end of 2025
Tuition Assistance/reimbursement: Military TA and out-of-pocket for remaining balance

Further information:
Just completed my BOG AAS in Information Technology (minor) from Pierpont, which will confer in December 2024
Currently applied to WGU (BSBA MIS), UW Flex (BAS IST), UMass Global (BS IT), UMPI (BLS-MIS, planning to switch to BAS once AAS confers), Excelsior (BPS Technology Management - IT AOE), TESU (BS Technical Studies), TAMUC/ETAM (BS Technology Management, BS Computer Information Systems), and UMGC (BS MIS)
Leaning toward Excelsior and UMPI because they accepted the most credits.

Questions:
1. What are the pros and cons of the BPS Technology Management - IT AOE (Excelsior) vs. the BLS/BAS-MIS (UMPI)?
2. Which program would allow me to finish the quickest? I only need 22 credits at Excelsior and 33 credits at UMPI.
3. Is there anything I’m overlooking? Any important factors I should consider in making this decision?
4. Does one degree look better than the other? I understand that degrees often come down to "checking boxes," but I want to confirm if there’s a noticeable difference.

I’ve attached the degree plans from both Excelsior and UMPI for reference. Thanks for your help and insights!

[Stonybeach]

I have experience with Excelsior University but not recently. My vote is for Excelsior University formerly Regents College. They were very accepting of all my credits and military training when I attended. They should give you credit for your military training as well. Additionally, I thought the price was right. I have since pursued graduate degrees at other good universities with no issues getting accepted. Thomas Edison State University certainly has better name recognition. Only heard of UMPI on this forum.

For Technical Writing, you should see if EU will accept the DSST exam at http://www.getcollegecredit.com
You may also be able to use DSST for the "any collegiate study" component as well.
Since you asked about the "fastest degree," will EU give you another evaluation for a BS in Liberal Arts? You may be able to graduate in months then use your GI bill to go to graduate school.

[bjcheung77]

Just wondering, why not continue on with the WGU BSIT and ladder that up to the MSIT? You can probably go for the accelerated BS/MS degree offering, there is a plan on the WIKI for that. If not, UMPI should be your best, cheap, easy, fast option for the BAS and you can take 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL, you can then finish the MAOL and call it a day.

[rgran53]

Just wondering, why not continue on with the WGU BSIT and ladder that up to the MSIT?  You can probably go for the accelerated BS/MS degree offering, there is a plan on the WIKI for that.  If not, UMPI should be your best, cheap, easy, fast option for the BAS and you can take 3-4 classes that can go towards the MAOL, you can then finish the MAOL and call it a day.

Great question! I enjoyed my experience at WGU, but I realized I didn’t want or need the certifications they offer. I've been an IT department head for quite some time now. While enrolled, I switched my major from BSNOS to BSIT, but I ran into some challenges. I really disliked their proctoring service, and while I initially had an amazing mentor who later got promoted, my new mentor was disorganized, which made it hard for me to keep up.
Eventually, I lost motivation and sought advice from colleagues and mentors at work. The general consensus was that pursuing a BSIT didn’t align with my career path since I haven’t done hands-on IT work in 12 years—I’ve been in IT management, having worked my way up from the help desk. Additionally, I didn’t mind Performance Assessments (PAs) but struggled with Objective Assessments (OAs), which added to my frustration.
After leaving WGU, I decided to pursue my Pierpont BOG AAS in IT and then reassess my options. Part of my decision was influenced by how WGU handled transfer credits—only accepting 34 of my credits toward the BSBA MIS program and leaving me with around 40 credits for their BSIT program. If I’m already close to maxing out credits at another school, it makes more sense to go that route.
That’s when UMPI caught my attention. I was intrigued by their competency-based model and how it seemed better suited to my situation.

---

I have experience with Excelsior University but not recently. My vote is for Excelsior University formerly Regents College. They were very accepting of all my credits and military training when I attended. They should give you credit for your military training as well. Additionally, I thought the price was right. I have since pursued graduate degrees at other good universities with no issues getting accepted. Thomas Edison State University certainly has better name recognition. Only heard of UMPI on this forum.

For Technical Writing, you should see if EU will accept the DSST exam at http://www.getcollegecredit.com
You may also be able to use DSST for the "any collegiate study" component as well.
Since you asked about the "fastest degree," will EU give you another evaluation for a BS in Liberal Arts? You may be able to graduate in months then use your GI bill to go to graduate school.

Great advice! I'll look at DSST for Technical Writing. I originally applied to EU's BS IT program, but I only had 64 credits in that program. My academic advisor actually told me about the Bachelor Professional Studies Technology Management- IT AOE degree and went ahead and ran a degree evaluation for me. It came back with 98 credits, and it's an IT mgmt degree- right up my alley.

[Stonybeach]

I agree, the BPSTM in IT is a lot more bang for the buck! Good luck!

[origamishuttle]

Have you considered the BABA PM & IS at UMPI?

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan
https://www.umpi.edu/yourpace/academic_p...anagement/

[Ares]

Excelsior's BPS in Technology Management sounds interesting but they require certain courses you cannot transfer in (at least I could not find an equivalent) and must take there:

• TECH 230 Technology and Society
  
• TECH 330 Economic Analysis for Technologies
  
• TECH 340 Intro to Energy Utilization
  
• IT 390 Project Management
  

This is in addition to their mandatory 3 courses (7 credits), meaning you are going to have to take 19 credits there no matter what. That means tuition is going to be almost $10K without fees. You also need 9 UL credits for gen. ed. requirements, 15 UL in the professional component and 6 UL in the electives.

Also the IT Concentration sounds redundant to the degree title so I do not see the point is bothering with it.

My problem with all of this is a "Studies" degree should be the most credit transfer friendly degree and this seems like the exact opposite.

[Stonybeach]

Excelsior's BPS in Technology Management sounds interesting but they require certain courses you cannot transfer in (at least I could not find an equivalent) and must take there:

• TECH 230 Technology and Society
  
• TECH 330 Economic Analysis for Technologies
  
• TECH 340 Intro to Energy Utilization
  
• IT 390 Project Management
  

This is in addition to their mandatory 3 courses (7 credits), meaning you are going to have to take 19 credits there no matter what. That means tuition is going to be almost $10K without fees. You also need 9 UL credits for gen. ed. requirements, 15 UL in the professional component and 6 UL in the electives.

Also the IT Concentration sounds redundant to the degree title so I do not see the point is bothering with it.

My problem with all of this is a "Studies" degree should be the most credit transfer friendly degree and this seems like the exact opposite.

Did your calculation consider the military tuition rate of $250 a credit plus fees at EU? Does UMPI have a military tuition rate as well? After looking at the EU evaluation, it appears they awarded 19 upper-level credits in transfer and completion of military schools. You bring up a good point about a Bachelor of Professional Studies versus a Bachelor of Arts and its utility. I wonder if graduate schools may have issues accepting students with a BPS over a BS or BA? It may not be an issue.

[bjcheung77]

For cost, ease, speed, plus the flexibility of transfer credits, laddering the Pierpont AAS to UMPI BAS is the most optimum route. You can add a minor or two of your liking plus the 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL and finish off with the MAOL. If you need a MSIT, you can complete that at WGU afterwards, I would only go for this if it's advanced technology classes you're looking for, versus extra credits for business or management.

[Ares]

Excelsior's BPS in Technology Management sounds interesting but they require certain courses you cannot transfer in (at least I could not find an equivalent) and must take there:

• TECH 230 Technology and Society
  
• TECH 330 Economic Analysis for Technologies
  
• TECH 340 Intro to Energy Utilization
  
• IT 390 Project Management
  

This is in addition to their mandatory 3 courses (7 credits), meaning you are going to have to take 19 credits there no matter what. That means tuition is going to be almost $10K without fees. You also need 9 UL credits for gen. ed. requirements, 15 UL in the professional component and 6 UL in the electives.

Also the IT Concentration sounds redundant to the degree title so I do not see the point is bothering with it.

My problem with all of this is a "Studies" degree should be the most credit transfer friendly degree and this seems like the exact opposite.

Did your calculation consider the military tuition rate of $250 a credit plus fees at EU? Does UMPI have a military tuition rate as well? After looking at the EU evaluation, it appears they awarded 19 upper-level credits in transfer and completion of military schools. You bring up a good point about a Bachelor of Professional Studies versus a Bachelor of Arts and its utility. I wonder if graduate schools may have issues accepting students with a BPS over a BS or BA? It may not be an issue.

I was not aware Excelsior's military tuition was that cheap and I did mention it is without fees. They did award 19 UL but still require 12 UL for GE (6) and the Professional component (6). My only problem with this BPS is how you cannot easily transfer in 113 credits. I also noticed they would not apply any of their 31 additional military courses to electives which seems like nonsense. These "evals" seem more concerned with forcing people to take more courses at Excelsior than about making every credit count.