Question please?

I have done some new Straighterline classes in the past month and asked for a transcript to be sent to me. I got it and see that they now show the actual number grade on the transcipt. When I got my BALS, it was just pass or fail. 

Do they now take them as number grades at TESU?

Dear Walden Community,

Each year, Walden University carefully reviews our educational offerings and tuition with a focus on investing in resources to help you succeed. Today, we are announcing 2026 tuition and fees, which will take effect on March 2, 2026, for Tempo Learning® programs.

You can view a full breakdown of your program costs in the Walden Student Handbook. 

2026 Tuition & Fees for Tempo Learning Programs

Tuition and fees are determined using a rigorous process. Walden aims to keep education in reach while adjusting for increased costs to the University. When evaluating program needs, we are careful to invest in educational resources, innovations and partnerships that strengthen our education programs and support student success. 

• Tuition for Tempo Learning undergraduate and master’s degree programs will increase between 0% to 5% depending on the program and its assessed needs.
  
• Program fees will increase 3%.
  

Long story short: My Goddaughter is spiraling. She's dropped out of college and has limited motivation. She's depressed and down on herself for not completing her degree. 

I'm not here for advice at how to get to the "root of her problem" and etc. I know what she needs. She needs a WIN. Sometimes when you've been on a losing streak, you just need a WIN to get your mindset back in gear towards positive upward spiral. 

I know her getting just her AA will reinvigorate her towards that goal.

So that's the objective: We want to get her an AA degree in ANY field in the cheapest fastest way possible. 

Problem is: It's been so long since I've gotten my AAs, BAs, and MAs via alternative methods (with the help of all you people here on DegreeForum! Thank you so much!), that I don't think the options I was thinking of are viable anymore.

For Pierpoint, you have to now take 12 credits through them to get the BOG AAS Degree.

Amberton doesn't offer AAs. 

I realize she'll like have to take at least a couple of courses via the actual school, whether it be TESU, Charter Oak, etc., or any others you can think of.

But what options come to your mind first? 

Ideally, I'd want her to take as many Straighterline classes as possible. 

Back in the day, before Pierpont's 12-credit residency requirement, you could literally just take 60 credits of Straighterline courses, transfer 'em all to Pierpoint, and get the Associate's Degree. Not anymore.

That still could be an option though, I guess.

But what else can y'all think of for her situation? Any ideas on how to get the cheapest and fastest AA Degree from anywhere (that is regionally accredited)?

FYI: She has zero college credits. She dropped out of her first semester. 

Thank you so much in advance!

One thing many UMPI students talk about — especially those balancing work, parenting, or other commitments — is the challenges of carrying too many requirements at once. UMPI’s CBE format is flexible, but it still demands steady output, and having a lighter course load going into a term can make a meaningful difference.

From earning my own degree at UMPI and spending time in this community, one strategy stands out as surprisingly effective: clearing certain gen eds or elective requirements before your next UMPI session can make the weekly workload far more manageable.

This isn’t about rushing or maximizing credits in a month — it’s about removing smaller requirements that tend to stack up and pull attention away from the bigger CBE projects.

Why students often use Study.com before starting a UMPI term

Many students choose to complete some transferable gen eds or prereqs on Study.com ahead of time because it can reduce the number of courses left to complete during their UMPI session. Fewer courses to manage means:

-fewer overlapping deadlines
-fewer simultaneous projects
-more time to focus on UMPI’s writing-heavy or major-specific assessments

For working adults, that shift can turn a session from “constantly juggling” into something much more predictable.

Enter UMPI with a lighter weekly schedule

The fewer smaller requirements you have competing for attention, the more bandwidth you can devote to the CBE work that moves your degree forward.

Students who offload some of the gen eds beforehand often report that their UMPI session feels easier to pace, less stressful week to week and more focused on the meaningful work in their major.

Even removing just a couple of classes ahead of time can make a noticeable difference.

You can look up UMPI transfer options here: 
http://study.com/college/school/umpi.html?adkey=eda9847cda664406840db845f2a02f6b&_channel=ambassador&_campaign=DFUMPI2

One thing I’ve learned from transferring Study.com credits into different universities over the years is this: the hardest part of starting (or restarting) a degree isn’t the classes — it’s the routine. 

Whether you’re heading into WGU, another online school, or finishing a degree elsewhere, having a consistent daily study rhythm makes everything smoother. What finally helped me build that rhythm wasn’t a planner or a productivity system — it was using Study.com as a way to create micro-study habits.

This post isn’t about “cramming as many credits as possible.” It’s about getting into a sustainable groove.

Why Study.com worked for building consistency

The lessons are short enough that you can fit them into spare moments throughout the day without needing a full study block. I ended up doing things like:
-watching a short lesson while waiting between commitments
-reviewing a quiz during a quick break
-finishing a chapter wrap-up instead of scrolling endlessly

Those small touchpoints built the muscle of “showing up daily,” which matters a ton once you’re in a degree program.

The new mobile app makes it even easier to stay engaged

Study.com’s new mobile app (rolled out this fall) makes sticking to the routine even easier. It doesn’t replace a laptop for bigger uploads, but it you can still get through lessons and quizzes easily on your phone.

Fast feedback keeps the routine from breaking

Getting graded work back within about two days can prevent your momentum from stalling out.

If you’re trying to build a habit, waiting a week for feedback can really disrupt your flow. With steady progress and steady feedback, it’s much easier to maintain a daily rhythm.

Why I’m sharing this

Most posts here focus on cost savings or transfer strategies (valid reasons), but momentum is its own form of advantage — especially if you’re juggling work, family, or returning to school after a long break. If you’re prepping for WGU or any other online program, Study.com can be a really effective habit-builder, not just a credit source.

You can see the Study.com courses that transfer to WGU here: 
https://study.com/college/school/western-governors-university.html?adkey=eda9847cda664406840db845f2a02f6b&_channel=ambassador&_campaign=DFWGU2

I started a Data Analytics degree at SNHU this year. I'm halfway through my fourth class, but I'm getting very frustrated with this particular class - either nothing is explained for the assignments, and I have to figure out what I'm supposed to do, or it feels far too easy, and I'm not learning anything. I've been wanting to do this degree for a long time because I want to make a career change, and I also get some tuition reimbursement from my job, which makes this possible. I already have one useless degree (BA in Art Studio), I don't want to rush through this and end up with a second one, but I am older, so I don't have a ton of extra time to slowly work through multiple courses and then lose my chance to change careers. 

I took a few courses on Sophia prior to starting this degree, and I really liked being able to power through a course quickly, so I thought SNHU would be good (and the price is great, of course), but now I think maybe I need a little more structure and courses that are a little more challenging? I've looked into WGU, but as much as the unstructured format (and potential savings) appeal to me, I think it might not be the best one to consider. 

I talked to someone at Purdue Global today, and it seems like they have a really good program, but its a lot more expensive, and I don't want to go into debt, so it would probably take a much longer time to finish the degree. I was also going to contact ASU as well. Not sure if there's any other schools I should be considering? Or if I'm overreacting?

I'm in my final term at TESU.  I started in July 2024 after I got my AAS from Pierpont in December 2023.

I have a 3.5 GPA (I had a couple of terms where I bombed a class) but I've done really well in the last two terms.

I changed my major from Liberal Studies to Liberal Studies/Social Sciences. This term, I'm taking my last two classes: Voices and Views in Criminal Justice (with Dr. Morris Jenkins) and my Liberal Studies Capstone (with Dr. Nickolas Dominello.)  I like both of these classes, but I am really digging the Capstone.  I was so anxious about it for the last year and a half, but "Dr. Dom" is a great mentor for what I'm doing (a capstone about religious identity and technology.)

I have a phone call with my advisor this afternoon.  He said I can apply for March 2026 graduation.

Once I graduate, I have no idea what I want to do (besides go to grad school.)

Something that comes up often in the TESU community is what to do when you’re between terms. Whether you’re waiting on the next session date, an updated evaluation or just trying not to lose momentum, those gaps can feel longer than they need to be.

One approach that a lot of students find useful is picking up a few courses on Study.com during that downtime. It gives you a way to stay active in your degree plan without having to wait for TESU’s next official start date.

A few reasons this tends to work well:

You can start immediately. There’s no calendar to work around, so even a short break can be turned into a couple of finished requirements.
Quick feedback. Assignments typically reviewed in about two business days, which makes it realistic to finish credits within a small window.
Short study blocks. With the newer mobile app, lessons and quizzes fit easily into spare moments during the day, which keeps you from losing the habit of doing schoolwork.

For TESU students, this in-between period is often the perfect time to clear remaining general education courses, electives or individual requirements that would otherwise clutter your next term. It can make the transition into your official TESU workload much smoother since you’re not juggling as many smaller pieces.

Hey everyone, I’m really hoping someone here can help me out.

I ordered my UMPI Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership regalia 2 weeks ago, and Balfour just got back to me saying the hood is out of stock and could take 1–2 months. My graduation photos are THIS Sunday, and I really don’t want to show up without the proper hood.

If anyone has an old UMPI Master’s hood they’d be willing to loan me for a week, I will: • pay for overnight shipping both ways, • pay a rental fee for borrowing it, • take great care of it, and return it right after the photos.This is super time sensitive and I’d be so, so grateful for any help. Thank you so much ??

Suppose UMPI were to announce a BS Computer Science degree in the YourPace program. I should clarify that I made an assumption here today (another thread), and I believe I need to correct it. I recently emailed UMPI inquiring about the availability of a BS Computer Science degree in an online competency-based format. Regardless, perhaps this speculative thread could benefit both international and domestic students in planning their educational pathways.

My proposal outlines a strategy where students would complete their remaining credits at UMPI during a single term (8 weeks) at a cost of $1,800. The primary objective is to minimize overall educational expenses.


I am sure people here who made this course can give a better direction. It is not my case, yet.
My idea here is to think in public. 

Status Update & Inquiry
Note on Timeline: While UMPI has not announced an official launch date for the BS Computer Science degree in the YourPace (competency-based) format, this post explores a strategic framework for students preparing NOW to potentially complete this degree in the fastest and most cost-effective manner possible.
My 2 cents to repair my mistake.


The Opportunity
For those following UMPI's program development, the BS Computer Science on YourPace has been "coming soon" for several years. However, recent community discussions (here and there) suggest possible developments could materialize in 2025-2026. Rather than waiting passively, this guide presents how strategic credit stacking via ACE providers (Sophia Learning, Study.com, Saylor) could enable completion in as little as 1 YourPace term (8 weeks) at $1,800.



Program Structure: What We Know
The traditional BS Computer Science (presential) requires 120 credits comprised of (please correct me if I am wrong, I could not find the complete class to presential BSCS at UMPI):

51 credit hours of CS core courses

40 credit hours of general electives (Math, Probability, English)

29 credit hours of upper-level electives and electives

2 credits University Experience (UNV101)


Critical Finding: 
Approximately 65 credits are lower-level or general education courses that CAN transfer via ACE providers, while 54-55 credits are upper-level CS core courses that CANNOT transfer (must be completed at UMPI).


ACE Transfer Policy Changes (May 2025)
Question for the community: Has anyone confirmed whether UMPI's May 1, 2025 policy changes actually permit 90 credits (75%) of ACE transfers for the BS Computer Science program, or has the acceptance been more restrictive than initially reported?

The policy shift on that date reportedly restricted some upper-level course transfers, but clarification is needed on whether lower-level courses from Sophia Learning and Study.com continue to be accepted as of late 2025.



=======

Optimal Scenario: 1 YourPace Term Strategy



Phase 1: Stack ACE Credits (3 months pre-enrollment)

The plan is to complete 90 transferable credits before applying to UMPI, leaving only 30 credits to be completed during a single YourPace term.


Tier 1 – Sophia Learning (Lower Cost + Easier Testing)

Starting with Sophia offers a strategic advantage: all exams are open-book, making course completion more manageable while stacking credits rapidly.

Monthly cost: $99 base

With available $20 coupon discount: $79/month

Timeline: 1-2 months

Recommended credits: 48-50 credits

Courses to prioritize: 
Introduction to Java Programming (4.5 cr), 
Introduction to Networking (4.5 cr), 
Introduction to Relational Databases (4.5 cr), 
Introduction to Web Development (4.5 cr), 
plus general education requirements (Psychology, History, Sociology, Ethics, etc.)

Important advantage: Sophia offers early access—you can begin studying immediately without payment, allowing you to accumulate completed courses before your paid subscription begins. It is exactly my case.



Tier 2 – Study.com College Saver Plan (CS-Specific Courses)

Study.com's College Saver plan provides access to specialized computer science courses that map directly to UMPI's BS CS requirements.

Base cost: $235/month

With 10% current discount (via promotional links): $211.50

Timeline: 1 month (after Sophia)

Recommended credits: 15-18 credits  (maybe a bit more)

Courses to prioritize: 
Intro to Programming (CS109, 3 cr), 
Data Structures (CS201, 3 cr), 
Discrete Math (3 cr), 
Computer Architecture (CS306, 3 cr), 
IT Fundamentals (3 cr).

Note: College Starter ($95/month) only provides access to ~70 general education courses. For CS-specific courses, the College Saver ($235/month) plan is required.


Tier 3 – Saylor.org ($5 per course)

A critical question: Is Saylor worthwhile?

Saylor offers 17 computer science courses: https://learn.saylor.org/course/index.php?categoryid=9 . However, detailed analysis shows only 6-7 of these courses directly transfer to UMPI's BS Computer Science as lower-level courses (those that transfer): 
Introduction to Computer Science (Java), 
Python Programming, 
C++ Programming, 
Data Structures/Algorithms, 
Computer Architecture and Organization, and Computer Networks. 
The remaining 10-11 courses are upper-level and will not transfer.

For general education requirements, Saylor courses at $5 each could supplement remaining needed credits—but comparison reveals that 2 months of Sophia at $79/month ($158) covers equivalent general education credits more efficiently than Saylor's per-course model.

Recommendation: Use Sophia for both CS fundamentals and general education. Reserve Saylor only if pursuing very specific advanced topics or if your study timeline requires maximum cost minimization. I like Saylor, but I like more to sleep and study fast and easy. If you have time, maybe you can use Saylor for a few more credits.


Financial Breakdown: ACE Phase
Sophia Learning (2 months with $20 coupon): $79 + $79 = $158

Study.com College Saver (1 month with 10% discount): $211.50

Sophia Learning (If necessary, 1 additional month for gen-ed overflow with $20 coupon): $79
Saylor: $__

Total ACE Phase: approximately $369.50-450

Total Credits: 90 (2 or 3 months)








Phase 2: UMPI YourPace Term (8 weeks)
Remaining 30 Credits (upper-level CS core):

The 54-55 (or 30) upper-level CS core courses that cannot transfer must be completed during one YourPace term. These include:

Introduction to Web Design (3 cr), 
Databases and Database Security (3 cr), 
Software Engineering (3 cr), 
Operating Systems (3 cr), 
Algorithm Theory and Development (3 cr), 
Advanced Web Design (3 cr), 
Software Engineering II (3 cr), 
Computational Science (3 cr), 
Parallel and Distributed Computing (3 cr), 
Object-Oriented Programming (3 cr), 
University Experience (1 cr)

Cost: $1,800 for one term


Feasibility: 
With YourPace's self-paced, competency-based format, students capable of dedicating 30-60 hours weekly can realistically complete these 30 credits in 8 weeks.


Total Investment & Timeline (without transcript costs for international students):
ACE stacking phase: $369.50-450 (3 months)
UMPI YourPace term: $1,800 (8 weeks)

Total investment: approximately $2,169.50-2,300

Total timeline: approximately 4 months

Result: BS Computer Science degree


Comparison to Alternatives
WGU BS Computer Science: ~$3,500-4,000, 4-6 months
TESU BA Computer Science: ~$2,500-3,000, 3-4 months
UoPeople:...



Key Questions for the Community

Transfer policy confirmation: 
Can anyone confirm current UMPI policy on accepting 90 ACE credits (approximately 75% of the 120-credit degree) for a future BS Computer Science YourPace program as of November 2025?


Course equivalencies: 
Have students currently enrolled in the Information Systems YourPace program identified which courses have equivalent lower-level counterparts in the traditional BS Computer Science program?


Timeline expectations: 
Has UMPI provided any updated timeline for the BS Computer Science YourPace launch? (I'll reply here when they reply my last e-mail)


Sophia/Study.com status: 
Are Sophia Learning and Study.com courses still being accepted as transfer credit by UMPI for non-BLS programs post-May 2025? Any recent denials or issues?


Why This Matters
UMPI's YourPace competency-based format, combined with aggressive credit stacking from ACE providers, could offer one of the most affordable bachelor's degrees in computer science available today—potentially $1,000+ cheaper than WGU with faster completion.


However, the success of this strategy depends entirely on confirmation that UMPI's transfer policies remain accommodating to lower-level ACE credits.


Next Steps for Interested Students
Let's wait for Black Friday's promo codes. Maybe this can be a good time to start to study for the next degree.


Community Input Requested
Has anyone:

Recently transferred credits to UMPI from Sophia or Study.com?

Completed the Information Systems YourPace and identified transferable courses for a CS pathway?

Successfully stacked 90+ credits via ACE providers for another university's degree?

Your insights would help clarify feasibility and timeline expectations for this strategy.