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Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - ArboristFlames - 01-24-2025
Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone is aware of any online accredited universities that are primarily exam or project based, or have lots of courses that are exam or project based, and charge flat rates (like a fixed price for a whole semester within which you can take as many courses as you want)?
I'm looking for a school that provides grades too (i.e. not pass fail).
When I say exams or projects, I mean as opposed to essays for example.
So even though they're flat rate per semester, WGU wouldn't work because it's pass fail, and UMPI wouldn't work because it's primarily essays.
Thankss!!
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - Jonathan Whatley - 01-24-2025
There are two criteria in particular where you might have to make further inquiries of programs.
A program can have semester-based pricing with no publicized and maybe no technical maximum number of courses taken, but it turns out there are practical limits (e.g., technically unlimited total per semester, but you can only be enrolled in two courses at a time, and delays to receive assignment grades before moving on create a practical limit).
And a program can describe itself as project-based, but it turns out many of those projects are essays or other academic papers, or are not much distinguishable from academic papers (e.g., it's notionally a business report but it's in APA style and the grading rubric asks for the same things in it as in an academic paper).
Kairos University has CBE, letter grading, and semester-based pricing. Several Kairos University programs are fairly individualized. You might inquire about your potential use of practical projects (especially) or exams or versus academic papers.
Los Angeles Pacific University has one CBE program, an MS in Instructional Design and Technology. It uses descriptive grades that translate to A or B. It has semester-based pricing. It describes the program as project-based.
Westminster University has a CBE Bachelor of Business Administration (landing page, catalog entry.) It uses descriptive grades that translate to A or B. It quotes prices per semester but the prices per semester vary widely based on a scholarship and transfer credit, so it's not purely flat-rate. It describes the program as project-based.
Bottega University and Nexford University have CBE, letter grading, and semester-based pricing. Both are nationally accredited by the DEAC, not regionally accredited. You might inquire about their uses of exams or practical projects versus academic papers.
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - origamishuttle - 01-24-2025
I'm curious what your use case is. Are you trying to earn graded RA credits, are you trying to earn a degree, or something else?
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - bjcheung77 - 01-24-2025
You may also want to take a look at the WIKI for CBE programs as there are a few in the short list. I highly recommend you also explain what you're trying to do instead of requesting info through these type of questions. You're not elaborating enough, are you looking at undergrad or graduate, foreign credits, or NA acceptable? https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Competency-Based_Programs
An example is the UMPI MAOL, you can try to complete that for two sessions at $4700 or a WGU degree for about $5K, if you're not looking for a quick degree, the $3K HAU MBA is a flat rate, as that's what they charge for the entire degree! You may also want to review this sticky thread for Masters in 1 year: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-List-of-Cheap-Online-MBA-Programs-That-Can-Be-Completed-in-Under-1-Year
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - ss20ts - 01-24-2025
It sounds like you're describing CBE programs which are typically very heavy on writing papers. Even most projects have a great deal of writing in them. What degree are you looking for?
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - ArboristFlames - 01-25-2025
Sorry everyone, to clarify, I'm looking for somewhere where I can quickly finish a 4 year degree. Transfer credits (including ACE) are unimportant. I'm trying to go for a 4.0. Flat rate is needed because I want to go fast and not have to spend a ton of money.
UMPI and TAMUC seem to fit this? I've let off on my "no essay" requirement because that seems unlikely.
I'm concerned though because I've read things about UMPI having a "final lockout policy" that's somewhat new and can prevent acceleration?
Does anyone have a recommendation on what might be the fastest TAMUC CBE degree? I know for UMPI lots of people say the BLS with Management minor.
Thank you!!
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - Jonathan Whatley - 01-25-2025
(01-25-2025, 02:45 AM)ArboristFlames Wrote: I'm concerned though because I've read things about UMPI having a "final lockout policy" that's somewhat new and can prevent acceleration?
I haven't heard of such a problem recently. User Solid Snake on the UMPI unofficial Discord writes,
Quote:I'm not sure what you mean by final lockout policy. Perhaps you mean the course design? You are essentially locked out of the final until you complete the milestones. Every course has a number of milestones, usually starting at 3 (many courses), but can get as high as 13 milestones in BUS 489's case. These milestones all need to be graded by the professor until you can submit your final.
However, you can still look at the final at any point of the course if you want a head start, although you cannot accesses files like worksheets until it's unlocked, so sometimes that's not possible.
There are many people who accelerate very quickly thru UMPI, completing 10+ courses in an 8-week session. I'd say a more average pace is 4-8 for that timeframe.
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - bjcheung77 - 01-25-2025
All programs at the Bachelors and beyond, will require some form of academic research writing, even for CBE programs that are assessment and assignment based, and mainly transfer credit options COSC, Excelsior, TESU, with their capstones. There is no way around those, you'll have to get better with grammar, spelling, writing, overall when you start taking these classes, they're basically the backbone to get you closer towards a Masters and prepares you for that secondary journey. Even associate programs, for some institutions, have an associates capstone...
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - ss20ts - 01-25-2025
(01-25-2025, 02:45 AM)ArboristFlames Wrote: Sorry everyone, to clarify, I'm looking for somewhere where I can quickly finish a 4 year degree. Transfer credits (including ACE) are unimportant. I'm trying to go for a 4.0. Flat rate is needed because I want to go fast and not have to spend a ton of money.
UMPI and TAMUC seem to fit this? I've let off on my "no essay" requirement because that seems unlikely.
I'm concerned though because I've read things about UMPI having a "final lockout policy" that's somewhat new and can prevent acceleration?
Does anyone have a recommendation on what might be the fastest TAMUC CBE degree? I know for UMPI lots of people say the BLS with Management minor.
Thank you!!
It's great to aim for a 4.0 but then there's reality. Has it been done at UMPI? Yes. Are the number of people doing it decreasing? It appears so based on Discord. There are many more professors now and they're a bit less forgiving as the original professors. Even when UMPI had exams they were not easy nor were they open book. They were timed exams. I knew people who failed them. I've never heard of a final lockout policy unless you're referring to submitting the final after the deadline.
RE: Online university with exams, projects, flat rates - ArboristFlames - 01-25-2025
I mean that's the aim, but I'd be fine with a 3.8 too. Thanks for all the info.