Is TESU Still The Cheaper Way To Go?

[richlyblessed]

So i plan on finishing my undergraduate degree with TESU. I already had my transcripts evaluated and would have finished last year but Covid-19 struck and everything went down hill. I struggled with personal expenses, rent, e.t.c and tried to stay afloat. Now, i am getting back on my feet and will like to quickly complete my Bachelors, but i had to make a calculation on my expenses if i am to go with TESU and discovered i will be spending a lot. So, i guess my question is, is there a cheaper alternative out there for a Bachelor's degree? This is my breakdown. 

For the fulfilment of a BA in History from TESU ( After the evaluation of my transcript)
Courses needed to complete (27 credits needed)

1) HIS-101 Western Civilization I

2) HIS-102 Western Civilization II

3) HIS-113 American History I

4) HIS-114 American History II 

5) Ethics course ( Business Ethics)

6) Civic Engagement course ( American Government 3)

7) HIS-379 Historical Methods

8) SOS-110: Living in the Information Age

9) LIB-495 Liberal Arts Capstone Course 


So these are the required courses i need to fulfil. Based on my last discussion with a student advisor i will be able to test out numbers 1 to 6 with straighter line to reduce cost. 

Numbers 7, 8, 9 has to be taken with TESU and will cost $1500 each = $4500

Also, i have to pay Residency fee of $2500

This totals to $ 7000

Now i do not know if there are other required fees to be paid later, but based on my discussion with a student advisor last year, this is what it is . So my question still remains, is TESU still a cheaper option, or is there something better out there?
Please, i will like to know. Thanks

[rachel83az]

Actually, there are cheaper ways to fulfill everything except 8 & 9: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

But there is definitely a cheaper option than TESU! UMPI has a History degree: https://online.umpi.edu/programs/ba-hist...ience.aspx If it takes you 3 terms at UMPI, it would cost you $4200. The downside of UMPI is that they require a science with a lab and (for history) require 2 classes of a foreign language (preferably Spanish or French).

Could you post ALL of your credits obtained so we can see how close you are (or not) to a UMPI degree?

[Dorothy44]

Some of your courses could be completed for free if you take CLEP.  Modern States will pay everything using a voucher when you complete their course. https://modernstates.org/  (Some only watch the videos and do the MS practice exams.  Then study the REA books.)  If you need more sources/practice tests, I would suggest searching here for the specific REA books.  LINK REMOVED  (This is the College Algebra book as an example, but the course books offer 3 practice exams.)  CLEP now offers the exams at home, but I do not have any experience with that since it is new. This is the list of all the courses/exams offered by CLEP.  https://clep.collegeboard.org/exams  Do NOT use the 50% off thing to sign up.  MS will pay for the exam for free.

---

CLEP would cover 5 of your history courses for free if you already met all your regional credits.

[dfrecore]

TESU hasn't been the cheapest way to go for some time now. They are sometimes the easiest though.

Straighterline is also not the cheapest or fastest, generally speaking. Sophia is the cheapest for most, Study.com is the one where you can get UL courses.

But if you're looking for cheap, UMPI is THE way to go. If you list all of the courses you've taken by each school/course provider, the course number (if school), the number of credits, and note any UL courses - then we can help you figure out the best bet.

Do this:

School (semester or quarter system)
Course #, full course name, # of credits, grade if less than a C

Course provider
Full course name, # of credits

Repeat for each school or provider.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, I will also vouch for UMPI for a History degree if you have close to or up to 90 credits or more transfer credits, you must take 30 credits through them to finish the degree. If you can complete the requirements quickly, that would be the cheapest, easiest, fastest route as they use a CBE competency based education approach.

I usually gauge how fast someone does their ACE course work and use that as a measure of how fast they may complete a term at UMPI, for example, it takes you 3 months for 90 credits from Sophia.org or StraighterLine, then you should be able to complete the remainder of your requirements at UMPI within the same amount of time.

If it took you 6-9 months to get 90 credits, then it would be 4 or over 4 terms at UMPI, the costs go up the longer you take. With CLEP, ModernStates and Sophia.org dropping their pricing, I haven't recommended StraighterLine since even though they regularly have coupons. It's now CLEP/MS & Sophia.org for Lower Level and Study.com for Upper Level (if you're going to Excelsior or TESU, you can add Coopersmith & Davar into that mix, as they take NCCRS credits).

Last but not least, TESU may be an option for you, if you know it'll take you some time to complete the requirements and CBE may not be fit for you as "life happens" sometimes and if you delay your terms at UMPI, you need to pay more in the long run. For TESU, you can take up to 16 credits to remove the residency waiver fee. There are strategies to get that 16 credits in 1 term, thus eliminating that fee and getting you those 16-18 credits.

It's best to see what credits you have now to formulate an action plan, as both TESU/UMPI require 30 RA credits - TESU, 24 can be transferred in and you just do the cornerstone & capstone, UMPI you complete 30 RA credits at the institution. If you're looking at COSC, they'll be cheaper than TESU and will also require 30 RA credits. In case you go with Excelsior, they will accept 113 credits all through alternative credit.

[LevelUP]

Study.com History 301: Historiography & Historical Methods transfers in HIS-379 Historical Methods according to the Equivalency Guide:
https://study.com/college/school/thomas-...rsity.html

I would stick with TESU, with UMPI you would be doing double the courses to get your degree.

Start at Sophia and get Ethics, American History I & II done.

Follow the History degree plan for rest of credits:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

[ss20ts]

Some of your courses could be completed for free if you take CLEP.  Modern States will pay everything using a voucher when you complete their course. https://modernstates.org/  (Some only watch the videos and do the MS practice exams.  Then study the REA books.)  If you need more sources/practice tests, I would suggest searching here for the specific REA books. LINK REMOVED  (This is the College Algebra book as an example, but the course books offer 3 practice exams.)  CLEP now offers the exams at home, but I do not have any experience with that since it is new. This is the list of all the courses/exams offered by CLEP.  https://clep.collegeboard.org/exams  Do NOT use the 50% off thing to sign up.  MS will pay for the exam for free.

---

CLEP would cover 5 of your history courses for free if you already met all your regional credits.

First one has to find an open CLEP center! Many areas of the country they have been closed since March 2020. Before one preps for the CLEP they really need to find out if they can take the exam locally. Classes on Sophia may be easier as well.

[rachel83az]

You can take the CLEP online if you're in the US. I'm not sure that this is the best option but it's also not the worst option if your biggest priority is saving money.

[Dorothy44]

CLEP tests have been very easy and wonderful for us! A single exam pass/fail. The histories were the very easiest of all. It was worth trying if it is free. If he is a history major, then he should be good at history anyway.

I agree that Sophia was easier to do most of the work though except for the English. CLEP had some things that Sophia did not have too.

[rachel83az]

CLEP tests have been very easy and wonderful for us!  A single exam pass/fail.  The histories were the very easiest of all.  It was worth trying if it is free.  If he is a history major, then he should be good at history anyway.  

I agree that Sophia was easier to do most of the work though except for the English.  CLEP had some things that Sophia did not have too.

The main problem with the at-home CLEP exams is the proctor. https://www.consumerreports.org/digital-...a-at-risk/

But there is also the person who took the exam and CollegeBoard had a button there that shouldn't have been there (at least, not labeled the way it was) so that test results almost weren't sent to the school. If you're aware of these issues, CLEP at home can be a good solution. But it's wise to be aware of the pitfalls you might face to decide whether or not the path is right for you.