Is a TESC associate degree doable by financial aid?

[bubblepop]

I don't have a lot of pocket money, however my local CC distance courses fill up lightning fast, nor do they accept many CLEPs and don't exactly have a vast amount of classses to attain a degree within a decent amount of years. I'm interested in TESC, but don't want to fall into debt. I think I only have 3 credits to transfer and I expect to be eligible for the 5,500 pell grant. I was hoping I could take however many classes I could that the grant lets me and try to exam my way out of other credits, but I don't know the estimate of how many years that can take or how realistic, and I'm confused about guidelines. Is 24 the minimum of credits I have to take per year to qualify for a grant? Are book fees steep? Do I have to pay TESC's admission fee before I find out if I qualify for a grant? Should I just throw this idea out the window? Haha.