Please help me map out a good degree path and navigate fin aid.

[teerockus]

Hello guys my degress journey just started and this forum has been a daily source of inspiration and hope! Thanks to you all! 



I need help choosing the best path forward for my current situation. My goal is to finish a respectable BA to strengthen my resume. I thought about doing the free AS at pierpont then transfer. Or should I just commit right away to a BA in IT at TESU? I have no income now. Is there a "prestige" difference specifically between umpi vs tesu vs wgu. 

What is the cheapest/fastest way to go about this? If I only have 800usd saved up and no income. Since I live in the region TESU is appealing but can I "speed" through their courses like WGU or is it more of a standard route? Would financial aid apply towards sophia/study.com or only towards TISU classes if I go that route? Am I better served applying my Fafsa towards a more "encompassing" IT or management degree path with umpi or wgu? WGU has the added benefits of certifications that could possibly be covered by financial aid?  

Learning style: I don't mind writing it's one of my strengths. I love installing and planning IT projects but would not enjoy math/programming for instance. 

Your Location: Southern NJ

Your Age: 30

What kind of degree do you want?: IT related. But open to anything that speeds up my BA.

Current Regional Accredited Credits: ~ 27

Intro to Bus 
Psych 101 
Basic Statistics (not sure if will transfer anywhere)
Bus Info Sys and Applications 
Small Bus Operations 
Marketing 101 
Management 101 
Sociology 101 
Business Law I 
Statistics 101

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:  None yet, need a plan first. I will most likely get started with missing gen ed but I have a limited budget. 

Any certifications or military experience? Coursera and Comptia in progress.

Google Data Science - in progress
Google IT Support - in progress
Comptia A+, Network+ and Comptia A+ (In progress pending attending school to potentially get exam voucher discount or going wgu path)


Thanks for any help or giving me new ideas to choose the right path forward.

[bjcheung77]

@teerockus, Welcome to the board. You really want to fill in the missing last post addendum to provide a better overview of your situation, the template is just too basic and doesn't paint the full picture of your unique scenario. While you update the first post, my suggestion remains consistent when I advise on 3 things: certs, degree, experience. With your current budget, I suggest you work on the Pierpont BOG AAS, Coursera/TADA, and cheapies/freebies found on the WIKI to get you up to 90 credits... You don't really need a specific degree to get into the industry you're looking at, having a mix/match of the 3 would open doors to entry into that field or industry.

[dfrecore]

TESU's IT degree is not going to work, it's very expensive - their only option for someone wanting an inexpensive degree is the CompSci degree.

WGU's IT degrees are a much better option, especially for someone without a lot of GE credits coming in, and a bunch of certs.  Or if you want a bunch of certs, then WGU is definitely the way to go.

UMPI does not have an IT degree, and their BLS with MIS minor is not a great option, so I wouldn't do that.

The only other option is the Purdue Global IT degree.  If you want to get a job that pays for it, you could get a job at Papa John's - they pay 100% tuition at that school, up front, so you're not out of pocket a single dollar (although I don't think you can do ExcelTrack, only the "regular" courses, but it's still worth it).  Their ExcelTrack program is the CBE option similar to WGU.  But with a lot more writing and a lot fewer certs.

If I were you, I'd do WGU.  Lots of great options besides just the straight IT degree.  Can be done with Pell Grants.

As for prestige, there is not much of a difference I don't think.  None is "prestigious." None is "infamous" either, which you'd want to avoid.

[teerockus]

TESU's IT degree is not going to work, it's very expensive - their only option for someone wanting an inexpensive degree is the CompSci degree.

WGU's IT degrees are a much better option, especially for someone without a lot of GE credits coming in, and a bunch of certs.  Or if you want a bunch of certs, then WGU is definitely the way to go.

UMPI does not have an IT degree, and their BLS with MIS minor is not a great option, so I wouldn't do that.

The only other option is the Purdue Global IT degree.  If you want to get a job that pays for it, you could get a job at Papa John's - they pay 100% tuition at that school, up front, so you're not out of pocket a single dollar (although I don't think you can do ExcelTrack, only the "regular" courses, but it's still worth it).  Their ExcelTrack program is the CBE option similar to WGU.  But with a lot more writing and a lot fewer certs.

If I were you, I'd do WGU.  Lots of great options besides just the straight IT degree.  Can be done with Pell Grants.

As for prestige, there is not much of a difference I don't think.  None is "prestigious." None is "infamous" either, which you'd want to avoid.

Thanks! Your response cut straight to the meat of what I was asking. 

Regarding TESU: I read on this forum that there was a special program for NJ residents which makes tuition essentially free?

WGU looks like a good option that is tech focused, however, I am still going to need to bring in lots of required classes/electives from other sources just like TESU, right?

And then there is the fact that WGU is test heavy, while TESU is a combo of both or at least seems to have the most flexibility in that regard. 

I am split as to which path to take still and would appreciate any other considerations esp weighing in cost/grants and speed of the degree.

Thanks for the responses so far guys!

[ItsNeverTheLionsYear]

TESU is a participant in the Garden State Guarantee: https://www.tesu.edu/tuition/gsg

It's a relatively new program, and I'm not sure if anyone on this forum has gone through it. Looks like it requires you to:

• Be a New Jersey resident (you are!)
  
• Have an income between $0 and $65k (you do!)
  
• Take a full courseload (4-5 courses, 12-15 credits per semester)
  

It also seems there's a sister grant that called the Community College Opportunity Grant that you get considered for by filing the FAFSA which applies to local community colleges. You can do two years at CC, then two years at any NJ state university for a free degree. Very cool!

The bad news is there's a deadline to file the necessary paperwork for 2023-24, and you've already missed it. It was April 15, 2023.

I don't know of anyone on this forum who's done this successfully. It does sound like you could knock out a bunch of gen eds through Sophia, take a full courseload for 1-2 years, and boom, degree for less than $300.

Like the posters above said, there's tuition reimbursement that some employers (notably Target and Chipotle) offer through a service called Guild that can cover degrees from other schools as well, if you're interested in that option.

[dfrecore]

Regarding TESU: I read on this forum that there was a special program for NJ residents which makes tuition essentially free?

WGU looks like a good option that is tech focused, however, I am still going to need to bring in lots of required classes/electives from other sources just like TESU, right?

And then there is the fact that WGU is test heavy, while TESU is a combo of both or at least seems to have the most flexibility in that regard. 

I am split as to which path to take still and would appreciate any other considerations esp weighing in cost/grants and speed of the degree.

Thanks for the responses so far guys!

I've never heard of a "free degree" at TESU for NJ residents - maybe someone else knows what you're talking about?

Yes, for WGU, you'll want to bring in 90cr if possible, leaving just 30cr to take there (the minimum).

TESU is not test-heavy at all, if all you'll be taking there is the cornerstone and capstone.  Their courses generally aren't test-heavy.  But, as far as an IT degree there, I've not heard how those courses are since nobody gets that degree there due to cost.

TESU's GE for this particular degree are more stringent than some other degrees: they require Chem or Physics I & II w/labs, Stats, College Algebra and Precalc and only have 19cr of Free Electives.

At TESU, here's how your credits will come in:

GE
- Sociology 101 (Diversity)
- Psych 101 (SocSci)
- Bus Info Sys and Applications (NatSci)

AoS
- Statistics 101

Free Electives
- Intro to Bus 
- Small Bus Operations 
- Marketing 101 
- Management 101 
- Business Law I

Chem I & II with Labs can't be done via alt-credit cheaply.  So you'd have to take Physics instead - Physics I w/Lab at Straighterline ($420 for a 1mo membership, both courses, and a lab kit) then Physics II at SDC ($199 for 1mo), and then you'll have to take Physics II Lab at TESU (it's $535 for tuition and then $138 + shipping).

I'd probably spend some time looking at Purdue Global if you really like to write.  You can bring in up to 90cr of ACE, and they have a lot of electives (WGU has none) and an overall easier Gen Ed that is MUCH easier to meet than TESU's for this particular degree.

[bjcheung77]

Here's the info, I pointed a few members/users in NJ to this opportunity: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-Guarantee

[teerockus]

Brilliant! Thanks for the break down guys. But how unfortunate that I missed the deadline for this year!

I am also open to doing a BSBA Computer Information Systems instead at TESU if it's faster or going wgu/purdue global route for IT.

When you recommend Purdue Global, you are referring to their exceltrack degrees right?

Any other considerations to help me choose? In the mean time, I will definitely keep amassing as many free cleps and credits as possible in the next 2 months.

I will definitely consider any job that will sponsor my education. Is there a website or list of companies that will sponsor education? Do I have to be full time worker or simply part time?

[LevelUP]

Companies that pay 100% college tuition are:

• Amazon
  
• Walmart, Sam’s Club
  
• Starbucks
  
• Target
  
• Lowe’s
  
• Papa John’s
  

Companies that pay $5000 or less:
https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/mone...ege-degree

Walmart, target, lowes, and plenty of others are a part of the Guild program that pays for college
https://schools.guildeducation.com/

[dfrecore]

I am also open to doing a  BSBA Computer Information Systems instead at TESU if it's faster or going wgu/purdue global route for IT.

When you recommend Purdue Global, you are referring to their  exceltrack degrees right?

Any other considerations to help me choose? In the mean time, I will definitely keep amassing as many free cleps and credits as possible in the next 2 months.

I will definitely consider any job that will sponsor my education. Is there a website or list of companies that will sponsor education? Do I have to be full time worker or simply part time?

1) This is a business degree with a few courses in CIS, I would not recommend it if you're looking for an IT degree, this definitely won't cut it

2) ExcelTrack if you want to minimize costs

3) Choose based on speed, ease, etc.  Create degree plans for any degrees that look promising, and then look at the cost (CLEP, Sophia, SDC, in addition to tuition); Look at how long it will take to complete the alt-credit, and then the final courses at the school; and look at the degree itself, at the courses you'll be taking, and see which interests you the most

4) usually you can work part time; 
 - Papa John's is the one for Purdue Global, 100% tuition up front, no max on cost although they'll only pay for 2 courses per 10-week term (my daughter is doing this program and she likes it); 
 - the Guild Education ones are all a bit different, some schools are contracted to allow up-front tuition payments through the program while others will only do tuition reimbursement, or have a maximum per year (I think Walmart, Sam's Club, Chipotle, Target all go through Guild)
 - Lowe's I think requires more hours than others
 - Verizon will pay up to $8k/yr last I checked
 - Amazon has it's own program
 - Starbucks has it's own program, only uses ASU