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+--- Thread: Newbie starting college (/Thread-Newbie-starting-college)
Newbie starting college - hope22 - 04-22-2026
I'm at a point in my life where I've raised my kids and now want to work on myself. I never finished my degree and am looking at online courses. I only want to go part time as I have a demanding job, and I want to try this out. I was looking at TESU as they seem to offer more online courses than UMPI and I can go for an associates. What is the best course for someone who wants to "try out" college part time? I'm thinking General Studies.
RE: Newbie starting college - Jonathan Whatley - 04-23-2026
UMPI also offers associates and all the online courses you’re ever likely to want, unless you’re interested in a highly technical field offered at TESU which doesn’t seem the case.
RE: Newbie starting college - hope22 - 04-23-2026
(04-23-2026, 03:27 AM)Jonathan Whatley Wrote: UMPI also offers associates and all the online courses you’re ever likely to want, unless you’re interested in a highly technical field offered at TESU which doesn’t seem the case.
Thank you, I only want to start with one class per session and UMPI charges $1800 per session regardless of the number of classes. Looking for alternatives..
RE: Newbie starting college - Jonathan Whatley - 04-23-2026
But TESU charges $1719 for one three-credit class unless you’re a NJ or PA resident (in which case it’s $1320) or eligible military (in which case it’s $750). And most TESU courses require an outside commercial textbook, whereas I’ve never seen a UMPI YourPace CBE course require an outside textbook.
RE: Newbie starting college - LevelUP - 04-23-2026
With TESU, the first thing you normally do is start taking courses through alternative credit providers like Study.com. You build up the credits you need for your degree, then complete the remaining requirements through TESU. TESU requires 30 RA credits to graduate, so if you have previous college courses, they may transfer. You can also earn college credit through TECEP exams and TESU courses.
Usually, I suggest taking a few alternative credit courses before enrolling at TESU.
If you want to just “try” an online course, the best and cheapest option for one course is probably University of the People, which charges only $160 per course.
RE: Newbie starting college - ss20ts - 04-23-2026
(04-23-2026, 08:18 AM)Jonathan Whatley Wrote: But TESU charges $1719 for one three-credit class unless you’re a NJ or PA resident (in which case it’s $1320) or eligible military (in which case it’s $750). And most TESU courses require an outside commercial textbook, whereas I’ve never seen a UMPI YourPace CBE course require an outside textbook.
UMPI is all contained. All of the course material is contained on the learning platform. There are no outside books or anything else to purchase or rent.
(04-23-2026, 08:25 AM)LevelUP Wrote: If you want to just “try” an online course, the best and cheapest option for one course is probably University of the People, which charges only $160 per course.
The OP should also check their in state community colleges. They may be eligible for free courses as they haven't completed a degree or lower tuition than U of the P.
RE: Newbie starting college - davewill - 04-23-2026
If you want to work on things part-time, then you could start with some of the ACE credit providers like Sophia. It's more expensive to work part-time than full-time through them as well, but much cheaper than any of the actual colleges. Adult students are often able to complete work faster than they expect, and the ACE providers allow you the flexibility to speed up or slow down as needed.
When you're ready to buckle down and finish your degree, then you can enroll in UMPI or TESU or some of the other choices around and transfer the ACE credit in.
RE: Newbie starting college - wow - 04-23-2026
(04-23-2026, 08:25 AM)LevelUP Wrote: If you want to just “try” an online course, the best and cheapest option for one course is probably University of the People, which charges only $160 per course.
I would not recommend University of the People for people who just want to try things out. There is next to no support within and outside of classes, and I think there is a high risk of being turned off of secondary education altogether. I would recommend a community college like New Mexico Junior College instead. I had a very good experience there. I have not taken classes at Clovis CC (New Mexico) or some of the even cheaper CC options we sometimes talk about on this board, but I would also expect them to be more supportive than UoPeople. And some of them are even cheaper than UoPeople