Help choosing and planning, please!

[basilia]

Hi all. I would love it if some of you can help me, please. I'm currently working towards a plan I made for the BS in Information Technology at WGU, if I follow it, I may be able to finish my degree in 1 to 2 terms and pay around 14,000. I'm thinking of doing the Accelerated BS and MS in IT, it would probably require the same time commitment and the price would be around 18,000. 
I just found out that there are other universities where I could potentially get a BS for way less money and faster than at WGU. I want an IT or cybersecurity degree, any degree in that area like for example, Cloud is good too. 
Can someone please recommend one for me and a degree plan? Thank you! 

Location: United States
Your Age: 30
What kind of degree do you want?: any IT or related degree


Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
-----Sophia--------
Visual Communications
Project Management
Macroeconomics
Introduction to Statistics
Introduction to Information Technology
Introduction to Business
Human Biology Lab
Human Biology
English Composition I
College Algebra
*Currently doing Workplace Writing II and Introduction to Relational Databases*



Any certifications?

---CompTIA---
IT Fundamentals
A+
Security+
Linux+
Cloud+
*Currently studying for Cysa+, employer will pay for it.*

Thank you in advance for your help!

[bjcheung77]

@basilia, Welcome to the board, that's a very good first post but you've missed the addendum, there are some pieces of information that can help us by providing a better, bigger overview of your scenario. Please update us with all the missing info from here, such as your state, budget, commitments, tuition assistance or reimbursement, and anything else missing such as your study habits: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

[rachel83az]

Do you prefer writing or exams? PUG could potentially be cheaper and faster than WGU, but you'd have to do a lot more writing than you'd do at WGU.

[origamishuttle]

I'm currently working towards a plan I made for the BS in Information Technology at WGU, if I follow it, I may be able to finish my degree in 1 to 2 terms and pay around 14,000.

You seem to be doing well with certifications, so you can probably complete the WGU BSIT in a single six-month term. Tuition is just over $4,000, so where is the extra $10k?

I'm thinking of doing the Accelerated BS and MS in IT, it would probably require the same time commitment and the price would be around 18,000. 

I agree that accelerated is the way to go if you want the BSIT anyway, because it gives you the option of continuing on to the MSITM. The accelerated program knocks out two of the MSITM courses, which is a good degree if you're aiming for a management position. However, if you really want to maximize certifications, or if you're planning on a more technical career track, the WGU MSCSIA allows you to transfer just over half the degree with certifications. Network+, Security+, Pentest+, CySA+, CASP+, and CISM are worth 18 of the 34 CUs required for the MSCSIA.

I just found out that there are other universities where I could potentially get a BS for way less money and faster than at WGU. I want an IT or cybersecurity degree, any degree in that area like for example, Cloud is good too. 

For an IT-related degree, WGU is probably your best option. UMPI YouPace would almost certainly be less expensive, but they don't have technical degrees yet, and overall time to completion may be similar to WGU.

---

Do you prefer writing or exams? PUG could potentially be cheaper and faster than WGU, but you'd have to do a lot more writing than you'd do at WGU.

From what I can tell, PUG is a lot more writing, like a WHOLE LOT more writing. And at best, overall cost and time is probably similar to WGU.

[bjcheung77]

@basilia, how long did it take you to do the Sophia.org classes above? We need to gauge how you do things to see which option is better for you. That's the main reason we have the addendum/template is to get the overall picture before we can provide concrete advice. I also recommend the Accelerated BSIT/MSIT from WGU if you're really interested in that option, but you'll have to make sure to max your undergrad transfer before you start at WGU...

[basilia]

Addendum:
Budget: the cheaper the better
Commitments: I work full time and have a lot of downtime, but I care if my two children full time too :/ 
Dedicated time to study: 2 to 3 hours per day
Timeline: trying to stay under 1 year
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: no, but my boss could possibly pay for any certification I want if it’s related to IT. 

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@basilia, how long did it take you to do the Sophia.org classes above? We need to gauge how you do things to see which option is better for you.  That's the main reason we have the addendum/template is to get the overall picture before we can provide concrete advice.  I also recommend the Accelerated BSIT/MSIT from WGU if you're really interested in that option, but you'll have to make sure to max your undergrad transfer before you start at WGU...