No good Associates options?

[Silversurfer76]

New here. I would like to go to WGU for either a IT or business degree. But I have no credits. Seems like it would be better if I transferred in a associates degree, or so Ive read. Because then you could finish the degree in a semester. I’m attempting to avoid going to CC for two years and get it done faster. But it doesn’t seem like there are any good options for testing out or competency based associate programs? Excelsior and TESU seem too expensive for a two year degree. COSC’s AA or AS is probably the cheapest of the three, but don’t know how well that transfers into WGU with FEMA credits. Any ideas or alternatives?

[allvia]

You can always earn ACE/CLEP credits for your gen eds and transfer them in instead (WGU does not take NCCRS - so no onlinedegree for example).  CLEPs can be taken for free through the Modern States program (https://modernstates.org/).  Once you know what WGU degree you want, they offer a listing of what can be transferred in vs what cannot - it varies by degree, but generally Gen Eds are pretty easy to match up.

[quigongene]

I came in with 67 CUs by using WGU's transfer guidelines:

https://partners.wgu.edu/transferguidelines

They pretty much tell you what you need for transfer credit.

[acamp]

I thought someone in the past said you can transfer in 90 credits into WGU?

[dfrecore]

New here. I would like to go to WGU for either a IT or business degree. But I have no credits. Seems like it would be better if I transferred in a associates degree, or so Ive read. Because then you could finish the degree in a semester. I’m attempting to avoid going to CC for two years and get it done faster. But it doesn’t seem like there are any good options for testing out or competency based associate programs? Excelsior and TESU seem too expensive for a two year degree. COSC’s AA or AS is probably the cheapest of the three, but don’t know how well that transfers into WGU with FEMA credits. Any ideas or alternatives?

So there are 2 separate things you're talking about.

1) Getting an AA/AS/AAS and transferring it to get a waiver for the GE's
2) Transferring in 90cr

If you are starting off with zero credits, you're actually much better off skipping #1 and going straight to #2.  With the first option, you need at least 60cr, in the right places, to get an AA.  Then, that AA transfers to WGU and gets you out of roughly 42cr.  So, it's not a great deal (it IS a great deal if you already have an AA).

So, your best bet is to actually make a degree plan and use inexpensive options to get ACE credit for 90cr, and then have 30cr left to get completed in a single term at WGU.  It's a much straighter line from A-Z using this method.

[Silversurfer76]

So where can I find some WGU degree plans for their business and IT degrees?

[bluebooger]

So where can I find some WGU degree plans for their business and IT degrees?

have you looked at WGU's site to see what the requirements are ?

https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees.html

https://www.wgu.edu/online-business-degrees.html

start with that

[quigongene]

So where can I find some WGU degree plans for their business and IT degrees?

Also check the link I posted above.

[msganti]

I started working on a couple of WGU degree plans for BSCS and BSIT-SW. Never could finish.

I'll be glad if someone can update and expand them with more options.

[Jenniferinfl]

Once you figure out which degree you are going for, I would suggest clearing the gen ed requirements with CLEP and 4 straighterline classes. Don't waste time though, study hard and get them done quickly. The whole appeal of WGU is being able to go through it quickly instead of a 12 credit semester at a time.

I initially started out with a plan to get a BALS so I could get a master's in library science with the idea that I could just get promoted where I already work. I reexamined all my options, talked to some good friends about their careers and completely changed my mind. My ex finished his accounting degree at WGU and is already employed in the field working for the state. We've worked together before and he basically told me I would love it and I would be stupid to get a masters degree for a $35k job. I did my own research and had to agree.

I do have an AA, only about 34 of those credits transferred in. I just took a bunch of CLEP to clear business gen ed's and I'm starting WGU on April 1st. I was originally going to take more courses through sdc or something, but, since I qualify for financial aid with WGU I will have less out of pocket going straight to them if I hustle.

File your FAFSA for sure, a lot of people qualify for pell grants. You can get $500 off a term if you've transferred in 4 Straighterline courses. I couldn't do that because I had too many regular college credits and not enough straighterline courses that would actually transfer in. Since you have no college credits, you could take 4 courses there at $59 or so each. There's a monthly fee as well, so you'd want to stay on top of it and get them all done in the same month if possible. Try to take ones that you wouldn't want to CLEP. You can take CLEP for practically free through Modern States.

Where I live, community colleges are $100 per credit hour. Very affordable for college. But, most classes are on campus and there's very little in the way of accelerated classes so it's taken me years to get an AA while working full time. Sometimes there hasn't been a single class that fit into my work schedule.

WGU is a lot more expensive than that, BUT, only if you only do 12 credits per term. If you actually hustle and do a lot more than that you save time and money.

Since I can't start until April 1st, I've been prestudying on my own with Khan Academy and other resources. I've guessed which courses will be first based on what other people have been assigned and I'm studying them now. There are so many resources online. I got a study.com teacher account on sale for $49 a month, the credits don't count, but, I can take as many classes as I want. I am taking ALL the accounting classes before I start WGU's accounting program. They won't count, but, I'm betting that what I learn will let me accelerate once I hit the program.

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in. But, I would absolutely not bother getting a whole associates degree, just clear your gen ed and get started.