For a young student just starting out, which of the top three is the best choice?

[AquaDragonfly]

Hello there!

I've been a lurker for awhile now, and finally realized it was time to join!

My son is a homeschooled eleventh grader and he's going to begin taking CLEP tests this year. We are looking at which college it would be best to pursue a degree with (he's looking at an accounting degree, so a BS in Bus. Admin with Acct. for instance). The only school that had info on their website as to what CLEPs correlated with their degrees was Excelsior, so we are leaning in that direction, however from comments gathered on this site, it seems that may be the most expensive college of the three (albeit WAY cheaper than the traditional route, I know). Also, I talked to one of those schools and they stated that their students had to be over 21. (That would obviously be an issue for my son as he hopes to complete his degree before then.)

I'd love to get input from people currently pursuing degrees or who've recently graduated, what the pros/cons/basic costs are at the present time to complete a degree at your college.

I look forward to your responses and thank you in advance!!

Sincerely,

Lori in NY
Penn State University grad from waaaaaay back, who used the old-fashioned method of being on campus to pursue learning.

[laughter]

The pros of my college? It's the cheapest option (or at least one of the cheapest). :p And the most flexible.

Regarding the age requirement, I believe you're referring to TESC. It's possible to get a waiver on that, but you'd have to submit a special request. I'd say take several college credits to "prove" he's ready for college and then submit a special letter.

[rebel100]

His age isn't really an issue, waivers of that requirement are common.

What are the in state options? Is there a local CC that accepts CLEP and has block transfer agreements with universities you might consider? Most schools accept some clep, your not limited to the Big 3 by any means.

[Prloko]

Lori in NY
Penn State University grad from waaaaaay back, who used the old-fashioned method of being on campus to pursue learning.

Your Alma Mater accepts 60 CLEP/DSST credits in transfer. There are many CCs that will accept 45 of the 60 for an AA, Utah State and UWYO were also very CLEP friendly. Regis University will accept 98 credits, Empire State also. The "Big 3" with their increasing restrictions, are getting close to losing their title as the "Big 3 " with many schools both public and private creep into the non-traditional market.

[JohnnyHeck]

Hello there!


Lori in NY
Penn State University grad from waaaaaay back, who used the old-fashioned method of being on campus to pursue learning.

Hey Lori, just to perk up your day, I am really waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back, Northwestern BSCE '70; the last class completely trained on a slide rule! Welcome to the forum!

[cookderosa]

Hi Lori
Let's get some people to toss in their 2 cents on this if he's looking at becoming an accountant and or possibly a CPA. Accounting is one of the rare fields that are really picky about how credits are earned. If CPA is in his dreams, you'll need to do lots of homework first. (of course there are accounting degrees that don't lead to CPA, just throwing that out there).

[sanantone]

Hello there!

I've been a lurker for awhile now, and finally realized it was time to join!

My son is a homeschooled eleventh grader and he's going to begin taking CLEP tests this year. We are looking at which college it would be best to pursue a degree with (he's looking at an accounting degree, so a BS in Bus. Admin with Acct. for instance). The only school that had info on their website as to what CLEPs correlated with their degrees was Excelsior, so we are leaning in that direction, however from comments gathered on this site, it seems that may be the most expensive college of the three (albeit WAY cheaper than the traditional route, I know). Also, I talked to one of those schools and they stated that their students had to be over 21. (That would obviously be an issue for my son as he hopes to complete his degree before then.)

I'd love to get input from people currently pursuing degrees or who've recently graduated, what the pros/cons/basic costs are at the present time to complete a degree at your college.

I look forward to your responses and thank you in advance!!

Sincerely,

Lori in NY
Penn State University grad from waaaaaay back, who used the old-fashioned method of being on campus to pursue learning.

COSC and TESC have info on their websites on how CLEPs and other tests transfer.
DANTES
Thomas Edison State College: All TECEPÂ Tests
CLEP - College-Level Exam Program
https://www.charteroak.edu/current/acade...r-list.pdf

Adding to what Cookderosa said, if he wants to become a CPA, then he should look at the state's requirements. My state requires a certain number of butt-in-seat courses, but I don't think this is a problem in New York since Excelsior has a completely online degree program that meet's New York's requirements. The only other thing you have to worry about is whether New York will count business and accounting courses that aren't from a regionally accredited source.

This information is very important.

To fulfill the education requirement for licensure, you must complete:

an accounting program registered by the Department as licensure-qualifying, or
an accounting program that is accredited by an accrediting body accepted by the Department. Currently the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is accepted. Receipt of a Master's degree in accounting from such a program will be deemed as meeting New York's 150 semester hour education requirements, or
a program determined by the Department, after review of your official transcripts, to be equivalent to a registered program, or
15 years of public accounting experience acceptable to the State Board for Public Accountancy.

NYS Public Accountancy - Initial License

In order to guarantee that the degree will be accepted, you have to either choose a school approved by New York's accountancy board or a program in an AACSB-accredited business school. At least we know that Excelsior is already approved.
Home Page

He can choose to attend a program that is neither AACSB-accredited nor approved, but it has to meet these requirements.

a bachelors or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university and completion of 150 semester hours in the following content areas, including the following:

33 semester hours in accounting with at least one course in each of the following areas:
financial accounting and reporting
cost or managerial accounting
taxation
auditing and attestation services
36 semester hours in general business electives and
The curriculum must also include, either as stand alone courses or integrated into other courses, the study of business or accounting communications, ethics and professional responsibility, and accounting research.

More details on acceptable coursework.
NYS Public Accountancy - Typical 150-hour program

I want to point this out. It sounds like they wouldn't accept courses from Straighterline, Propero, etc. I don't know if they'll accept CLEP/DSST. I don't know if Penn Foster will meet the government-recognized requirement.

Transcripted college-level credit given for internships in accounting may be counted toward the accounting content requirement or the general business content area (maximum 6 credit hours).
Money and Banking courses may be applied toward the general business content area.
Personal finance courses are not acceptable for business or accounting credit, but can be accepted toward the 150-credit total.
Insurance courses may be counted toward the general business content area.
To satisfy the Auditing and Attestation Services requirement, applicants must complete a course covering “external” auditing. Internal auditing and performance auditing courses will be accepted as accounting credit; however, they will not fulfill the Auditing and Attestation Services requirement.
In order to be acceptable, studies must be credit-bearing (not continuing education, or non-credit, courses). Credits must be taken at a regionally-accredited (or government-recognized), degree-granting, postsecondary institution, and must not represent duplicate college credit.

[sanantone]

I don't know if this is up to date, but I found this.

Correspondence, CLEP credit, CPA Review courses and online courses are acceptable when an
applicant receives credit for the courses at a regionally accredited college or university. These courses
must appear on an official transcript.
 Pass/fail grades are acceptable when the applicant receives credit for for the courses at a regionally
accredited college or university. These courses must appear on an official transcript.

http://www.nasba.org/files/2011/02/Info_...ewYork.pdf

[mrs.b]

Does he ever want a CPA license? If so, look at not only the state requirements of your states, but all the state requirements of all the states he might live. In my mind, that translates to mean a degree plan that meets the strictest states. (I've heard Kansas is up there on the list, and closely mirrors a lot of the other strict states.)

At the very least, he'll need 150 total credit hours. Most states require at least 20% of those credits be specific Accounting courses. Of those, a lot of them require at least those Accounting courses be graded and delivered from a regionally-accredited source (so ACE is out; they are accepted by some RA schools but are not RA themselves). I've heard some states require all 150 credits come from RA sources, so in those cases, not even the random Gen-Eds can be shortcutted.

That does not mean you cannot use some nontraditional options. So long as they are offered and transcribed FROM an RA school, self-paced or CBE will work if it transcribes as graded.

There will be several ways to qualify. In my state, earning a bachelors in anything and then a Masters in Accountancy from an AACSB-accredited school will also get a seat (120 hours for a bachelors, at least 30 at grad-level to still meet the 150). But, those are competitive and will also require undergrad be geared for that goal.

Start backwards in this case:
1) Look at all the end goals and make a list of the requirements that need to be met, and the paths of least resistance to meet those requirements.
2) Put those solutions in the degree plan before anything else (including mandatory course type, course level, and course title).
3) THEN (and only then) look for a school that has a mold that fits around that skeleton plan.

It is possible to make a CPA-track degree plan at some of the Big3, but you might have an easier time of it through a state school (not necessarily your state, though it's a good place to start). Most states have not updated their CPA licensure requirements since the advent of computers (or so it feels). You'll be very niched into traditional (or something that looks traditional) credit sources for most of the credits. If you just go with any old degree that happens to have some accounting courses thrown in, you'll end up taking a lot of accounting courses after-the-fact at the undergrad level OR doing a grad-level program that you might not be fully prepared for if the undergrad had minimal pre-reqs included.

[sanantone]

COSC and TESC are state schools. Sorry, I just had to. :p

If any of the Big 3 offer all of the accounting courses, then I don't see the problem. They are no worse than your no-name, unranked, state or private university. If you're planning to go to some top 100 school, then I'd say go for it.