Beginners Guide To Getting Cheap/Fast College Credit

[bjcheung77]

Please review Degree Forum Wiki as it has a great amount of information for Beginners.

The following guide is also available and updated on The Basic Approach - Degree Forum Wiki

Degree plans for institutions we recommend are here: Degree Plans - Degree Forum Wiki

Basic Approach - Online Education Guide: Steps to obtaining your desired degree

1) Find out what you have credit for / what you already know

2) Research the Big 3/WGU/UMPI to find candidate degree plans

3) Decide on one or more schools and get an initial evaluation
($75 or so per school, plus the cost of each transcript you have to send in)

4) Based on the initial evaluation, decide on a school and degree

5) Build a degree plan using your unique combination of existing credits,
CLEP/DSST/TECEP tests, Saylor.org/Sophia.org/Straighterline/Study.com courses, plus other ACE/NCCRS etc.

6) Once you are all done (all courses/tests completed), enroll in the school you chose, pay the enrollment fees
(check for current fees of the school) and submit all your transcripts for review.

7) Once approved, pay the graduation fee, then sit back and wait for your sheepskin to arrive!

8) Start planning on that Masters Degree as you aren't done learning for life!

Throughout all of the above: Read a lot over at DegreeForum.net as well and ask questions as needed for guidance!

(Note: This is "the basic approach." Nobody ever really gets to go through a process this simple,
but this is the general outline of what you should expect to have to do in order to get through this successfully)

Thread Links:

Beginners Guide To Getting Cheap/Fast College Credit - Degree Forum Wiki

How/When To Start? Start Now For Cheap - Degree Forum Wiki!

Several Sources Of Cheap Credit - Reference - Degree Forum Wiki

The Spreadsheet - Track Your Progress - Reference Tool - Degree Forum Wiki

The ABCs - A, CBD, E, F, G - Accreditation, Competency Based Degree, Evaluation, Fees, GPA - Degree Forum Wiki

Overwhelmed - Too Long Didn't Read - Just Help Me Please, Step By Step - Degree Forum Wiki!

[bjcheung77]

All courses from two year community colleges/institutes will come in as LL, unless it's in the BSAST program (it's the ONLY exception).
In regards to the TESU BALS/BSBA, you need at least 18 credits UL - you'll get more of those UL if you transfer from SL/Study.com

Study.com $199/month for 2 exams, if you fail, you can take the exam again. All other subsequent exams are $70 each.
People don't intend on failing, and it's not that hard, you just need a 55% on the final. Make sure to ACE the quizzes.

Most courses are 100 points for quiz (33.3%) and 200 points for final (66.6%), so, just try to get 100% on those quizzes.
A few have assignments/discussions, 33.3% of grade, quiz 33.3%, and the final 33.3%. These are "SL easy" in my view.

Study.com also drops the price down by removal/waiving of the Cornerstone requirement.
TESU Tuition: http://www.tesu.edu/tuition/Comprehensiv...n-Plan.cfm
TESU Payment Plan: http://www.tesu.edu/tuition/payment-plan.cfm

TESU Study.com details: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/
TESU Study.com BALS/BSBA: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/How-to-Get-Started.cfm
TESU Study.com Tuition: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/Costs-Tuition.cfm
TESU Study.com Transfer: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/Transfer-Cr...o-TESU.cfm

TESU BALS UL Requirements: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/BA-Degree-i...tudies.cfm
Area of Study: Liberal Studies
Students complete a total of 30 credits of Liberal Studies courses that include at least 15 credits at the 300/400 level (upper level) and no more than 6 credits at the 100 level.

TESU BSBA UL Requirements: http://www.tesu.edu/studycom/BSBA-Degree...gement.cfm
Area of Study: General Management
Students must complete one course from three of the following areas.
At least 12 credits within the specialization must be at the 300-400 level.
A total of 18 credits with a grade of C/CR or better are required.

[bjcheung77]

Update: Oops... Missing a post, this should be "in between post number 5 and 6".
Read Post#12 for the spreadsheet lists: http://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthre...#pid244391
Chose ACE/NCCRS courses over CLEP/DSST exams - fully online without the need to visit testing centers.

Read the Basic Approach - Online Education Guide (within my signature hyperlinks)
(Beginners Guide to Getting Cheap/Fast College Credit on the degreeforum wiki)

Quick Guide/Spreadsheet: TESU Bachelors Degree in 1200 hours (120 days or 4 months)
---This assumes you start the TESU Capstone course on the second month---
The spreadsheets were created by dfrecore and I customized it to reflect my recommendations

1st month: Free Credits & Saylor/Shmoop courses, Start SL/Study.com
2nd month: Straighterline & Study.com, Start your capstone
3rd month: Straighterline & Study.com, Continue with capstone
4th month: Finish Capstone and remainder of degree requirements

1: For the BALS, you can take Shmoop courses for the AOS/Free Electives
2: For the BSBA, you take more required courses from SL/Study.com for AOS
3: All the courses in the BALS/BSBA are transferable to TESU

This is very much doable for someone who has time on their hands, example 10 hours/day.
The courses chosen for the degree spreadsheet are cheap/easy/fast and the style of learning.

Straighterline courses use ProctorU for the final exams, scores are displayed in real time.
I use Straighterline as they are "cheap/easy/fast" credits and you get to learn a little.

Study.com uses RPNow and you will need to wait 3-5 days for the final score to display.
I chose Study.com courses as they are "high school easy", and also learn a little as well.

[bjcheung77]

BSBA AOS (Area Of Study) Requirements - Recommended Courses
**18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits**

General Management Area of Specialization - $297
You must take at least 1 course in 3 out of the 4 areas (MAN, ACC, MAR, FIN)
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

Saylor - Corporate/Managerial Communications (UL) - $25 (Davar $85)
Saylor - Management Information Systems (UL) - $25 (Davar $85)
Straighterline Intermediate Accounting I (Financial Accounting) - $59
Straighterline Managerial Accounting (UL, transcribed as Cost Accounting) - $59
Straighterline Organizational Behavior (UL) - $59
Study.com Digital Marketing & Advertising (UL) - $70

Accounting Area of Specialization - $704
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

StraighterLine Intermediate Accounting I (Financial Accounting) - $59
Penn Foster Intermediate Accounting II - $329
TECEP Federal Income Taxation (UL) - $117
StraighterLine Managerial Accounting (UL, transcribed as Cost Accounting) - $59
Study.com ACC 301: Applied Managerial Accounting (UL) - $70
Study.com ACC 302: Advanced Accounting (UL) - $70

CIS Area of Specialization - $494
(Fee's range as some may want to take extra Saylor courses, *MIS/SIT are transferred into TESU as the same course)
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

Straighterline Introduction to Programming in C++ - $99
CSU Global CBE for Information Systems Analysis and Design (UL, CIS-320) - $250
*Saylor Management Information Systems (UL) - $25
*Saylor Strategic Information Technology (UL) - $25
*Saylor Computer Communications and Networking (UL, may duplicate TECEP) - $25
Saylor Software Engineering (UL, get pre-approval) - $25
Study.com Digital Marketing & Advertising (UL) - $70
TECEP - Networking Technology (UL) - $117
TEEX Cybersecurity for Business & IT Professionals (4 UL free credits) - FREE

Finance Area of Specialization - $754 (cheaper if you get an LL CC course)
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

*CSU Global - Assessing & Managing Risk (UL, get pre-approval) - $250
*If TESU denies, you can find a cheaper LL Finance course at local college/university
DSST Money & Banking (UL) - $100
Davar Corporate Finance (UL) - $85
Davar Multinational Business Finance (UL) - $85
TECEP Financial Institutions & Markets (UL) - $117
TECEP Security Analysis & Portfolio Management (UL) - $117

Human Resources/Organizational Management - $544
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

CSU Global - Organizational Development - $250
Study.com Human Resource Management - $70
StraighterLine Organizational Behavior - $59
Study.com Project Management - $70
Study.com Strategic Human Resource Management UL - $70
*Saylor Business Statistics or MIS/SIT (UL, get TESU verification) - $25
*If TESU denies, you can use Saylor Corporate Communications - $25 
*If you prefer Study.com, you can use Study.com Labor Relations - $70

Marketing Area of Specialization - $608
18 credits required, minimum of 12 upper-level credits.

Study.com Marketing Research (UL) - $70
Study.com Digital Marketing & Advertising (UL) - $70
TECEP Marketing Communications (UL) - $117
TECEP Sales Management (UL) - $117
TECEP Advertising (UL) - $117
TECEP Public Relations Thought & Practice (LL) - $117

[bjcheung77]

Currently, as of December 20,2017 for those asking me about the current breakdown of pricing.
Break down of the cost of attending either of the three, this does not include any courses/fees you will need to transfer.
TESU Application fee: $75
Residency Wavier fee - Study.com discount: $1800 (Regular $2500)
TESU Capstone - Study.com discount: $1098 (Regular $1500)
Graduation fee: $332
TESU Total: $3305
Link: https://www.tesu.edu/studycom/Costs-Tuition.cfm

COSC Application fee: Waived until Jan 5, 2018
COSC Cornerstone - $1176 at $392/credit | $750 ($250/credit for Military)
COSC Capstone - $1176 at $392/credit | $750 ($250/credit for Military)
Student Service/Technology Fee: $275 / $68 - Both waived for Military
Graduation fee: $215
COSC Total: $2910 for civilians | $1215 for service people
(Yes, it's not that much cheaper than TESU but much harder to find UL courses for transfer)
Link: https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...t-fees.cfm

Excelsior Course Option - Pricing differs from Multi-Source Option
Residency Credit Requirements: 12 for civilians, 15 for service people
Excelsior Application Fee: None for partnership pricing or service people
Excelsior Capstone Fee: $410/credit | $250/credit for service people
Enrollment/Student Fee: 0
Graduation Fee: $130
Total: Expensive! Choose the Multi-Source Option! ($3,880 for Service People)

Excelsior Multi-Source Option - Pricing differs from Course Option
Residency Credit Requirements: 3 (Capstone)
Military: https://www.excelsior.edu/web/excelsior-...duate-fees
Partner: http://www.excelsior.edu/documents/46041...1057044e71

Excelsior Application Fee: None for partnership pricing or service people
Excelsior Capstone Fee: $410/credit | $250/credit for service people
Enrollment/Student Fee: $1095 for Civilians | $760 for Service People / $495
Graduation Fee: $495
Total: $3315 for civilians | $2500 for service people
(Yes, it's practically identical in pricing with TESU but slightly harder to find UL courses for transfer)

[bjcheung77]

Due to degree requirements and course offerings changing constantly, closing the dropbox as those are out of date.
If you need a sample plan, please search the threads for possible spreadsheets and use them for reference.

[bjcheung77]

Hello Everyone!

I have been getting PM's lately without much info but the basic "I need help to start my degree!". So...
I am deciding to make it more streamlined for either myself, youself, other members of the forum to help you.
I started making a minor change in answering posts July 1...
Here is my Q/A template.  Copy/paste and start a new thread!

---
1) Basic info about yourself: A mini introduction and degree you are looking for!
Have you read the Beginners Guide? http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/The_Basic_Approach - Y/N
Have you read the Wiki? http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Degree_Forum_Wiki - Y/N
Do you have any certificates? Credits from previous studies? - Y/N

2) Answer the following questions, so I can better gauge which of the 3 you're looking at - cheap, easy, or fast.
A) Are you close to a testing site for CLEP? How far and how long would it take you to get there and back?
B) Do you have time to study and test at a site or would you rather do everything online for a little extra in price?
C) What is your price range you're looking at for the degree and time you want to set to complete the degree?
D) Are you leaning towards cheap, easy, fast or a combo of them all? Rank them in priority.

3) Have you applied to the school of choice, are you currently enrolled (taking a course)? Y/N
Do you have an academic evaluation? Y/N - If yes, copy/paste the evaluation.
If no, enter all your credits you have completed and note the school/course you took and grade.

4) What exactly are you looking for help with or advice on?  
---

See Example: (This is just a dummy example, for privacy/security, please don't put personal info into your posts)

Hi, I'm bjcheung77.  

I am a janitor by day/stripper by night, I also like to fart often.  I need a degree in Biomedical Systems Engineering as I want to help others once I get my degree. I am into creating Machine Learning AI Robotic systems that can help disabled/handicapped individuals with everyday life. Can you steer me in the right path?

I currently have no credits, no certs, but I am a quick learner/tester.  I have read the Guide, Wiki and am still a bit confused on the process. I am far from a testing site, it takes me at least an hour there and another back, I work full time as a janitor as you know!  I can/want to pay slightly more for online. Currently looking at TESU and want a BS LDAS Biomedical Systems Engineering for under $7-8K, I am leaning towards cheap,easy,fast in that order.

What I need is - advice on - how you created the spreadsheet and how you can "find" those courses to place into the spreadsheet!  I want to customize my own learning if possible. Please provide your advice and recommendations!  

Thanks, Bjcheung77

PS. Please don't tell my significant other I am a stripper by night!  It's a surprise trip I am saving up and paying for!  Janitor jobs don't pay much as you already know.

[bjcheung77]

Continuation/Update on Question 4: How busy are you? How much time do you have to spend on studying?  Do you have family/kids that you have to attend to?  Have you done a search for answers to your questions on the forum or through a search engine?

I have attached a "My Degree Plan!" spreadsheet template I created last quarter of 2017 to this thread post.   You can be the "active" degree planner for yourself or others, in three easy steps!  If I can plan a degree, so can you!  Steps are actually in the Guide/Wiki and Links as well.  Basically, you have to know what the degree consists of, the 40 courses/120 credits that make up the degree courseload, and where to get the equivalency/transfer info.

1) Create a spreadsheet with course requirements from the degree/school of your choice - Example, TESU BSBA GM
2) On the school and course provider websites, find all relative info - exact course transfers or equivalency exams
3) Enter into each field - all 40 courses from different providers that make up the Lower and Upper-level requirements

Wow! That was it, yes, you're now the best of the best degree planning machine in the world!  High five...*fart*
You are now the degree planning master! *Honorable bow to you, future sensei.*  Yes, the transfer links are in the wiki.
It would be best to search the website yourself for the "master list" of exams, just in case they change the links address.

To further expand on what was mentioned, TESU has links for CLEP/DSST/Saylor equivalencies; On StraighterLine, Study.com, and Saylor, they also have equivalencies showing for TESU.  All you're doing is "finding the right one" and putting the desired course into the AOS (Area of Study) you want, and use the exact equivalencies for required courses that can't be substituted.  That's IT!

For COSC/Excelsior and WGU, it's exactly the same steps.  You would need to find their Master Exam List and Equivalencies PDF or link to download, or it might have a URL/Site of info that can't be downloaded.  Create a spreadsheet of required courses and where you can find exact transfers from.  These are for all types of credit by testing exams or course providers.

Big Note: The spreadsheet attached is for reference only - You can "customize" the My Degree Plan! sheet. StraighterLine no longer provides Upper-Level credits.  Don't forget to use coupons or anything for all the providers you can find, use CLEP/ModernStates or StraighterLine coupons.

A few months ago, before some major changes were made January 1, 2018 - My cousin had an interesting challenge for me and put me up to the task.  They wanted to see template options for Bachelors, Associates, Certificates using the best cheap/easy/fast credits available and using mainly StraighterLine, Study.com and Saylor courses.   It's in THIS file for reference!

Big Note: For "service people" who get FREE CLEP/DSST exams, or individuals who like testing at a test center, I would recommend going through those equivalent courses instead of the ACE options. For individuals strapped for cash in an unknown economy, I would recommend the same or the use of Saylor exams.

And for individuals who want the comfort/luxury of having classes entirely online through ACE methods, cheap/easy/fast - no need to drive to/from a test center, then ACE/NCCRS courses are for you.  This is my method as I live far or have other commitments, I would rather use the extra time working OT to pay for those courses online.

[Lewis.Yim]

Update FYI: Degreeforum Wiki page has now moved to https://degreeforum.miraheze.org

[bjcheung77]

Post #18 is outdated on fees - As of November 2018, for those asking me about the current breakdown of pricing.
Break down of the cost of attending the Big 3 and WGU, this does not include any courses/fees you will need to transfer.

COSC Fees
$50 App fee
$225 Grad fee
$284 Student fee
$70 Tech fee
$2448 Capstone & Cornerstone
$3077 Total
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...t-fees.php

Excelsior Fees
Excelsior Application Fee: None for partnership pricing (SL/Study.com)
Excelsior Capstone Fee: $410/credit
Enrollment/Student Fee: $1095 / $495
Graduation Fee: $495
Total: $3315
https://www.excelsior.edu/costs-and-fina...ergraduate

TESU Fees
$75 App fee
$332 Grad fee
$300 Cornerstone fee
$2200 Residency Waiver
$1098 TESU Capstone
$4005 Total
https://www.tesu.edu/studycom/costs-tuition

WGU IT Undergraduate programs
Tuition $3,225
Resource Fee $145
Program Fee $150
Total: $3520
https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuitio...grees.html

WGU Business Undergraduate programs
Tuition $3,225
Resource Fee $145
Program Fee $0
Total: $3370
https://www.wgu.edu/financial-aid-tuitio...grees.html