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Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - Bubblywater - 12-10-2025

Hey, good morning. I utilized this website to get my own bachelor's degree so I appreciate your help and assistance with that. My little brother is in the military and he’s looking to get an associate's degree but not a bachelor's at the moment. What would be the fastest way for an individual in the military to get a degree? He just wants a piece of paper basically for continuing promotional pathways. I told him he should make a post, but he’s silly so I’m just trying to help him… Ps on my phone I apologize for any mistakes 

Your Location: currently Missouri
What kind of degree do you want?: just a fast associate's degree doesn’t matter what it is
Current Regional Accredited Credits: he has nothing with any colleges minus what he’s done in the army which I can get a breakdown list of his training classes
His budget doesn’t matter. He just wants to get one as quickly as possible
Commitments: is commitment. Time is very random so we need to be self-paced
Timeline: He wants to get it as quickly as possible


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - Jonathan Whatley - 12-10-2025

Likely the best will be an Associate of Arts in any concentration from UMPI, especially since you can help orient him to UMPI.


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - Bubblywater - 12-10-2025

Oh had no idea they had a associates with umpi. How many credits does that require? Still the ten classes? Do you know of any guides/power points to follow on what classes should be taken?


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - bjcheung77 - 12-11-2025

UMPI AALS, on route to a BLS, you'll need at least 45 credits transferred in using ACE options such as Sophia.org or my new favorite, Study.com or the Sophia.org/Study.com combo if there is a need of different classes for the BLS with a minor of your choice. Your cost is anything from Study.com at $95/month and $1800/session at UMPI. Having said that...

TESU might be better by completing any of their AA, AAS, ASBA, etc options. TECEPs are the best bet, you can take 8 TECEPs and transfer in the rest, you should take more TECEPs to max the credits to 24 in case they're going for a Bachelors later. You get residency through TECEPs, $53x24=$1272 plus Study.com for $95/month (Associates & Bachelors).

TESU Fees: https://www.tesu.edu/tuition-financial-aid/tuition-fees/military-veteran/index.php
TESU Residency: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/current/undergraduate-catalog/university-policies-and-procedures/undergraduate-academic-policies/enrollment/residency-requirements

The kicker is, TESU can be 100% transfer credit for their Associates, and a Bachelors would be just $750 more. A second Bachelors would be $750 more as well. Thus, you can get 2 Bachelors for $1500 flat after the first associates is completed.


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - Seeker42 - 12-22-2025

(12-11-2025, 09:50 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: UMPI AALS, on route to a BLS, you'll need at least 45 credits transferred in using ACE options such as Sophia.org or my new favorite, Study.com or the Sophia.org/Study.com combo if there is a need of different classes for the BLS with a minor of your choice.  Your cost is anything from Study.com at $95/month and $1800/session at UMPI. Having said that...

TESU might be better by completing any of their AA, AAS, ASBA, etc options.  TECEPs are the best bet, you can take 8 TECEPs and transfer in the rest, you should take more TECEPs to max the credits to 24 in case they're going for a Bachelors later.  You get residency through TECEPs, $53x24=$1272 plus Study.com for $95/month (Associates & Bachelors).

TESU Fees: https://www.tesu.edu/tuition-financial-aid/tuition-fees/military-veteran/index.php
TESU Residency: https://tesu.smartcatalogiq.com/current/undergraduate-catalog/university-policies-and-procedures/undergraduate-academic-policies/enrollment/residency-requirements

The kicker is, TESU can be 100% transfer credit for their Associates, and a Bachelors would be just $750 more.  A second Bachelors would be $750 more as well.  Thus, you can get 2 Bachelors for $1500 flat after the first associates is completed.

How do these two sentences fit together? 

TECEPs are the best bet, you can take 8 TECEPs and transfer in the rest.

The kicker is, TESU can be 100% transfer credit for their Associates.


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - bjcheung77 - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 08:02 AM)Seeker42 Wrote: How do these two sentences fit together? 

TECEPs are the best bet, you can take 8 TECEPs and transfer in the rest.

The kicker is, TESU can be 100% transfer credit for their Associates.

For service people (military, etc): 12 residency credits using TECEPs at the Associates level, 24 residency required at the Bachelors level
AAS Applied Computer Science, the Cornerstone and Capstone (plus Writing for Success I) can be done through EdX. TECEPs are exams offered at TESU, not a class. The rest of the classes can come in through Study.com using their $95/month College Saver plan.


RE: Degree how to get associates as fast as possible - Mint Berry Crunch - 12-22-2025

(12-22-2025, 01:18 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote:
(12-22-2025, 08:02 AM)Seeker42 Wrote: How do these two sentences fit together? 

TECEPs are the best bet, you can take 8 TECEPs and transfer in the rest.

The kicker is, TESU can be 100% transfer credit for their Associates.

For service people (military, etc): 12 residency credits using TECEPs at the Associates level, 24 residency required at the Bachelors level
AAS Applied Computer Science, the Cornerstone and Capstone (plus Writing for Success I) can be done through EdX.  TECEPs are exams offered at TESU, not a class.  The rest of the classes can come in through Study.com using their $95/month College Saver plan.

This may be a great opportunity for someone to try out Excelsior's B.S. BA program and their Associates with the fixed pricing that was recently mentioned.