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+--- Thread: Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? (/Thread-Associates-Degree-Cheaper-Easier-of-the-Big-3)
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - JaronB34 - 05-11-2011
From what you've experienced in your research of the big 3 colleges, which one has the least expensive and most streamlined associates degree with the majority of it being through CLEP, etc...?
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - emichele20 - 05-11-2011
In my opinion I would have to say that it would be the AAS in Administrative Studies degree from TESC. This degree is a steal considering that you can use fema credits in the free elective area. With the rest of the degree you can clep or aleks use SL to meet the requirements. However I have been told that AAS degrees normally do not transfer well to other institutions but for the price you cannot beat it. This is what my husband is planning to get his degree in. It does sound girly yes but none the less it is a degree. He is using a combo of SL credits, Aleks, and FEMA to meet the requirements. So far we have spent $373.00 on SL and $20.00 on Aleks (he has 9 credits so far with aleks and is completing Trig for Pre-calculus credit). He will have more than enough to transfer in for the degree plan. Hopefully the credits that are left over will be applied to his BS program with ease as they are mostly general education courses.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - NAP - 05-11-2011
Welcome to the forum!
Here is a thread to help you compare the requirements for Associate degrees at the Big 3:
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-education-testing-discussion/9276-associate-arts-degree-plans.html
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - cookderosa - 05-11-2011
JaronB34 Wrote:From what you've experienced in your research of the big 3 colleges, which one has the least expensive and most streamlined associates degree with the majority of it being through CLEP, etc...?
Cheapest associate's degree will likely be from your local community college, there are several excellent alternatives. COSC the cheapest of the big 3, TESC the most expensive.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - burbuja0512 - 05-11-2011
cookderosa Wrote:Cheapest associate's degree will likely be from your local community college, there are several excellent alternatives. COSC the cheapest of the big 3, TESC the most expensive.
I think that this might depend on where you live. My local CC cost works out to be around 60 bucks a credit plus books, so I'm still better off testing, but I have seen posts here where people talk about crazy cheap CC prices. TESC tuition is really expensive, but if you can maximize your FEMA's, it could work out to be a better deal. As Cookderosa mentions, COSC is the cheapest and their tuition now is really low, but EC is a close second.
One of the main questions to help figure out is what is more important: time or money? Would spending an extra 500 bucks if it saved 3 months be worth your time? Or do you want the bargain degree and aren't in a rush? Do you have any credits at all? What about your specific interests and/or goals?
This might help give a little bit more guidance and determine the best way to go.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - P00057870 - 05-11-2011
Broward College charges residents $94.60 per credit hour for this year but have proposed an 8% increase for next year, and that is for residents. If you are out of state, it is $330.85 per credit hour.
From what I read when I researched, TESC also has an in-state charge for residents and a higher rate for out of state people. For me that made EC more affordable and, more importantly, EC would let me use old credits from the 1970s. :hurray:
I have a friend in California who was telling me that they pay something like $26 per credit hours.
Bottom line is you have to do your homework and figure out your specific situation and the degree you are going for.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - sanantone - 05-12-2011
Many community colleges accept CLEPs and DSSTs. My CC starts accepting credit by exam after you complete 6 hours with them.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - ryoder - 05-12-2011
My advice is to work towards the associates in business at tesc but do not formally enroll or pay the fee until you are totally done. Then sit bald, congratulate yourself and decide if you want to fork over the two grand to have those sixty credits recognized. At this point you may decide to go ahead and pick up another sixty and get a bachelors degree.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - emichele20 - 05-12-2011
ryoder. you have given me my first laugh of the morning
. That's what I am planning to do with my DH. I think that it is absolutely absurd to have to pay the 2k for the credits but hey its their game and we have to play it if we want that piece of paper. I am still sorta trying to understand how that fee is even legal and the fact that it can be paid with financial aid is even more puzzling to me. maybe other schools have it worked out into their tuition per credit and tesc does not.think about it COSC still charges like $700 something for their annual fee and their tuition is higher and they don't accept fema. on the other hand excelsiors tuition was so high to me that i could not stomach looking through the rest of the site. excelsior wanted like $400 per year along with $335 per credit. thats damn near $1000 per course and they still do not accept fema. My local community college here is around $46 per credit which isnt bad but my husband would have to travel and I mean travel to get it.
Associates Degree - Cheaper / Easier of the Big 3? - burbuja0512 - 05-12-2011
emichele20 Wrote:think about it COSC still charges like $700 something for their annual fee and their tuition is higher and they don't accept fema. on the other hand excelsiors tuition was so high to me that i could not stomach looking through the rest of the site. excelsior wanted like $400 per year along with $335 per credit. thats damn near $1000 per course and they still do not accept fema. My local community college here is around $46 per credit which isnt bad but my husband would have to travel and I mean travel to get it.
Nope - they just changed it Tuition for Affordable Online Degree Completion and Online Courses at Charter Oak State College will show you what the charges are now. COSC is really cheap now. The only drawback to COSC is that for the associates, you are required to take the Cornerstone class, and they don't take FEMA's directly. However, if you weren't relying on FEMA credits, you can get the associates for very little money.
I wrote a thread about it here: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-thomas-edison-charter-oak-specific/13468-cosc-lowered-enrollment-costs.html?highlight=cosc+tuition but in looking at the website, the prices seem even lower than what I had posted. Yeah!! A college LOWERING tuition. It's unheard of!!