The Shortest Route to an accredited Bachelor's Degree = BS in Liberal Arts

[Life Long Learning]

In overall flexibility and simplicity I would say Excelsior might be the winner. They are not demanding almost any specific course. Getting to be a rare breed these days even with the Big 3.

Excelsior College | Bachelors Degrees | BA - BS Liberal Arts | Online Classes

96.7% "you design" degree plan.cheersmate
4 SH designed by them.
No Lab science needed.
Capstone 3 SH with them required!
https://my.excelsior.edu/documents/78666...b19936b2c3

[jsd]

I wouldn't call a 30 UL credit requirement, or Excelsior's prohibitive cost, the "shortest" or more flexible option. But different programs work best for different folks, so I'm sure many people will appreciate this option.

[sanantone]

I wouldn't call a 30 UL credit requirement, or Excelsior's prohibitive cost, the "shortest" or more flexible option. But different programs work best for different folks, so I'm sure many people will appreciate this option.

I think that TESU only requiring 18 UL credits is out of the norm, but it does make the degree easier to complete especially considering that TESU accepts a wider variety of tests as UL. I don't think the 30 UL credit requirement is really all that bad; the limitation comes from Excelsior accepting less tests as UL. In the end, the flexibility ends up being about the same because there are only so many tests Excelsior accepts as UL. If I were concerned about cost and speed, I would choose COSC because of their direct acceptance of FEMA credits.

[Life Long Learning]

TESU has over-complicated a once brilliantly simple system.
Design Your Plan 3 - HC USA

[jsd]

I've always found TESU's plans much easier to navigate than Excelsior's. The requirements seem more straightforward. But if this works best for, great, go with what works for you

[sanantone]

I've always found TESU's plans much easier to navigate than Excelsior's. The requirements seem more straightforward. But if this works best for, great, go with what works for you

When I was applying to all of the Big 3 schools, I found Excelsior's requirements harder to figure out. It's mostly because of the lack of information they give you on their website, and the terrible preliminary evaluation they give. The depth requirements also restrain you more than TESU's liberal studies AOS requirements. TESU's general education requirements are now the most specific out of all the Big 3, but they clearly tell you on the website what can fulfill those requirements. I dreaded having to meet the speech requirement, but with Straighterline, it was super easy to complete. The ethics requirement is also easy (and free) to meet with the Institutes course, which only requires the passing of an exam you can take multiple times. I forgot all the details, but I know Excelsior is very picky about what they accept for their English requirements. TESU's information literacy requirement can be fulfilled with a variety of exams, whereas, Excelsior's has to be a course titled Information Literacy.

Excelsior's BS in LA is a good option for those transferring in a lot of non-liberal arts credits they've already earned due to the large amount of applied credits that can be included. Although, I recommend that people put in a little extra effort to earn a more specialized degree with some value.

The website Life Long Learning linked to appears to be a little inaccurate and is definitely out of date. If I remember correctly, TESU stopped accepting FEMAs before or around the same time they switched to LEAP. Also, the Network Technology TECEP can't be used in general education, and Udacity was never able to offer its ACE-approved courses and, subsequently, dropped the dropped ACE recommendations altogether. Additionally, that page is old and covers the old LEAP requirements. TESU made some additional changes last year.

[TrailRunr]

Let's not forget WGU as well for IT folks. I think this is the era of the big-4. WGU has a nasty 30 credit residency requirement, but you can finish all of that in 6 months or less for $2.9k if you are motivated enough. For IT majors, you also get some IT certs included in the all-you-can-eat buffet which may be needed to get a first or second IT job.

[jsd]

Yeah, because WGU is so specialized, I wouldn't put it in the same category as the Big 3. But there is no doubt about it being a great option for IT folks in particular. I'm eyeing them for my next step.

[Lindagerr]

I have not been paying as much attention to cost and requirements lately, but I have just been talking to my son and friend about at least getting a liberal studies AA so if they are NJ residents would TESU still be the quickest, cheapest alternative. Would they only need to take one course/capstone? I am hoping if I can at least get them started they will get the credit bug.:coolgleam:

[sanantone]

Let's not forget WGU as well for IT folks. I think this is the era of the big-4. WGU has a nasty 30 credit residency requirement, but you can finish all of that in 6 months or less for $2.9k if you are motivated enough. For IT majors, you also get some IT certs included in the all-you-can-eat buffet which may be needed to get a first or second IT job.

Some people have said that Athabasca University should be included in the Big 4, but they do not accept CBEs, and their no-residency program is only 90 credits. WGU is pretty much the same as Patten without the included certifications. I don't know if NAU, Capella, and Hodges are as flexible with their competency-based programs.

I have not been paying as much attention to cost and requirements lately, but I have just been talking to my son and friend about at least getting a liberal studies AA so if they are NJ residents would TESU still be the quickest, cheapest alternative. Would they only need to take one course/capstone? I am hoping if I can at least get them started they will get the credit bug.:coolgleam:

There is no capstone for TESU's AA in Liberal Arts or whatever it's called. They just list it as an Associate in Art. It's the quickest and easiest option, but probably not the cheapest because of the $2,000 residency waiver fee. COSC might be the cheapest.