Think I'm Going For Associate in Arts (general studies) at TESC

[Life Long Learning]

Application Fee = $75
Transfer of previously earned credit = 60 credits
Annual Enrollment = $3296
Technology Services Fee = $131

Estimated costs for degree: $3,814

TESC Calculator
Thomas Edison State College | Cost Calculator

I'm confused. Help me out...........

As I type this, I believe I have fulfilled every requirement for the TESC AA in General Studies. It is my understanding that there is no residency requirement? Which tuition plan would I need?

Edit - It looks like I'd have to pay $ 3296 just for them to process my transcripts and graduate me. Is that right? Where did the $ 444 above come from?

Thanks!

[boalex207]

Application Fee = $75
Transfer of previously earned credit = 60 credits
Annual Enrollment = $3296
Technology Services Fee = $131

Estimated costs for degree: $3,814

TESC Calculator
Thomas Edison State College | Cost Calculator

Thank you. That settles that!

[dfrecore]

You can bypass the enrollment fee and go for the Per Credit Tuition Plan, and take 12 units of TECEP exams to fulfill your residency requirement. I would either take the 4 easiest (to you) exams, or 4 that will need toward your BA if you're going to get that.

Application Fee = $75
4 TECEP exams = $444
Technology Services Fee = $131
Graduation Fee = $312

Estimated costs for degree: $962

[RA808]

Are the above costs still accurate?

I have one test left and intend to get this out of the way soon.

[dfrecore]

Are the above costs still accurate?

I have one test left and intend to get this out of the way soon.

Not unless you're on a 2015 catalog (or prior).  At this point in time, TECEP's no longer count for residency.  So you would have to pay $199 for a Study.com membership for 1 month (gives you 2 exams), and then you'd be eligible to pay $1800 for the residency waiver fee, and the $332 graduation fee.  The Study.com affiliation also gives you a waiver for the cornerstone.

[davewill]

No. Unless you are under the military plan, you can't use TECEPs to fulfill residency anymore. The costs are now:

$75 application fee
$300 cornerstone (skip with Study.com discount)
$1497 capstone ($1098 with Study.com discount) not needed for most associate's degree
$332 graduation fee
$2500 residency waiver fee ($1800 with Study.com discount)

Total $4705; ($3305 with Study.com discount)

Plus whatever your various tests and classes cost. For this reason, associate's degree are no longer recommended from TESU...too expensive.

[Thorne]

Not unless you're on a 2015 catalog (or prior). 

Are you certain about that? I thought someone here mentioned that TECEPs don't fulfill residency anymore, regardless of the catalog you're in.

[dfrecore]

Not unless you're on a 2015 catalog (or prior). 

Are you certain about that? I thought someone here mentioned that TECEPs don't fulfill residency anymore, regardless of the catalog you're in.

I'm sure.  I applied for graduation, and they just informed me that I need 2 more credits for residency, and that the TECEP I'm signed up for will count for my residency.

I'd read on here that they were trying to change it to not have them count, but ultimately ended up letting TECEP's count for residency for anyone on the 2015 catalog, AND that they only needed 16cr (rather than the 24cr that were previously required).  Kind of a win-win there.

[sanantone]

Well....the the answer is unclear. I'm under the 2015 catalog, and they told me that I would not be allowed to graduate since I didn't have 16 credits in residence. I do have 16 credits from TECEPs, but three of those credits were earned after the May 2016 term. I had to file an appeal and complaints with multiple agencies for them to count my last TECEP toward the residency requirement. However, in 2016, they let me graduate with the AS with only 13 credits in residence when the requirement had changed from 12 to 16 for associate's degrees. Once again, TESU is being inconsistent and doesn't know what it's doing.

The technical answer is that TECEPs taken after May 2016 don't count as residency credits for anyone other than military. The real answer is that TESU might mistakenly clear you for graduation, or they'll waive the residency requirement if you raise hell and embarrass them. Since I filed a complaint with the higher education agency in New Jersey, they're probably letting everyone from the 2015 catalog and before graduate. Working directly with the school got me nowhere. A few people here said that I shouldn't complain to outside agencies. Don't let anyone walk all over you.

[dfrecore]

A few people here said that I shouldn't complain to outside agencies. Don't let anyone walk all over you.

Please!  That's ridiculous advice.  Sometimes, working with outside agencies is the ONLY way to get something accomplished.  I would never let someone tell me not to take a problem higher, and if that means outside, that's fine too.