To College or Not To College

[AutumnCrown]

After chewing on this, researching dozens of schools, and lurking the forum trying to learn as much as possible, I thought I'd reach out to you guys for help. 

I have 100 credits toward my Bachelor's degree in Lib Arts, according to TESU. I thought I had a good plan there: test out of my 20 remaining credits and get my degree. But then I discovered I'd have to take their cornerstone and capstone for $2000. Not cheap, but ok. Then they tell me that because I'm not taking at least 16 credits through them, I have to pay an additional $2500 residency fee. Then add the cost of testing out of classes, about $700, and it blows my plan clean out of the water. 

So, now I'm debating. 

~ University of the People - $2,500ish, but nationally accredited, and I couldn't test out because I already have the maximum transfer credits

~ Charter Oak - $3,500, if I'm able to test out of everything except the cornerstone and capstone

~ Continue educating myself with the wealth of free resources  and try not to chafe at my ongoing student loan payments for a degree I won't get.     (Ok, end of pity party)

Do you guys know of any other good options?


Thank you so much for your help!

[Ideas]

With the Study.com affiliation, if you graduate quick enough, you can get $700 off the residency waiver. They also waive the cornerstone and give you a discount on the capstone. Your costs would be $1800 waiver + $0 cornerstone + $1098 capstone + $332 graduation fee, plus application fee. You can get 6 free courses at Study.com and get some others free through Modern States. Or there are cheap Saylor exams.

[eriehiker]

I would finish up the TESU degree. Take a study.com course to knock the residency fee down to $1800. It is the easiest best option. The return on investment for a degree vs. no degree blows that 4 to 5 thousand out of the water.

[quigongene]

There's also this:
https://study.com/blog/guardian-s-person...rship.html

[AutumnCrown]

Oh man, you guys are good! I didn't know about the discounted residency waiver!

So, let's see:

~TESU - $1800 waiver + $0 cornerstone + $1098 capstone + $332 graduation fee = $3230 + the cost of tests
~COSC - $0 residency waiver + $1200 cornerstone + $1200 capstone + $400 student fees = $2800 + cost of tests

~UoPeople (is that name the WORST??) $2060 for tests and fees.

Or does Study.com have a similar arrangement with Charter Oak? Is the National Accreditation for UoPeople really a problem?

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There's also this:
https://study.com/blog/guardian-s-person...rship.html

Whoa! That's awesome! I'm on it. 

[eriehiker]

If you are going to spend thousands of dollars, make sure you get the sure thing. Regional accreditation is the gold standard and that is what you should go for. I also recommend TESU because it is so flexible in terms of credit transfer. If something comes up, you'll have options.

[Ideas]

Yes, don't go for NA when you're so close.

Your cost of tests might be only $50 depending on what you need. Especially if you're willing to do CLEP

COSC doesn't have a graduation fee?

[Life Long Learning]

I would pick COSC over UP. $1000 is nothing in the course of your life.

I have in the past been required to have an RA degree (US Gov.).

[Ideas]

Are you sure the capstone and cornerstone are only $1200 each for you?

At either school you could probably get a loan for the cornerstone/capstone.

[AutumnCrown]

Yes, don't go for NA when you're so close.

Your cost of tests might be only $50 depending on what you need. Especially if you're willing to do CLEP

COSC doesn't have a graduation fee?

Oop, looks like you're right. The COSC graduation fee is $215. The student services fee is 275 per semester (minimum of two) and the technology fee is $68. That raises the estimate by about $430.

And I think you're right about the NA. It's not THAT much more for TESU.

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If you are going to spend thousands of dollars, make sure you get the sure thing.  Regional accreditation is the gold standard and that is what you should go for.  I also recommend TESU because it is so flexible in terms of credit transfer.  If something comes up, you'll have options.

I think you guys are right. And I'm already registered at TESU and have had my credits evaluated. Plus, they have the degree program that I like the best.   

Next steps:

- Figure out which courses will fill the requirements for my degree
- Find the cheapest source of said classes
- Take all courses except two from Study.com
- Take Capstone
- Graduate

Does that sound about right?

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I would pick COSC over UP.  $1000 is nothing in the course of your life.

I have in the past been required to have an RA degree (US Gov.).

Oh, see that would suck to have an NA degree and still get denied.