The $6K Bachelors article...by request

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mimic the lower level education at any regionally accredited Community College in the country. Small details may vary but the essential elements will be more or less constant. I will show both the estimated in state tuition as well as the estimated alternative credit cost. There are many ways to plan the degree, this is just one example. Note that Florida Gateway will require 15 credits in residence or taken at the college either in person or online. The balance of required credit can come from several sources. The total required is 60 credits as follows:
Course at FGC/Cost/Length/Credit Alternative/Cost/Length/Credit
o English Comp 1 $300/16 weeks (3) Straighterline $138/4 weeks (3)
o English Comp 2 $300/16 weeks (3) Straighterline $138/4 weeks (3)
o Speech $300/16 weeks (3) DSST Public Speaking $100 (3)
o Biology w/lab $400/16 weeks (4) Straighterline $138/4 weeks (4)
o Chemistry w/lab $300/16 weeks (4) CLEP General Chem. $100 (6)
o A&P 1 w/lab $400/16 weeks (4)
o Math 1106, 1107 $300/16 weeks (3) CLEP College Math $100 (6)
o Soc Science 1 $300/16 weeks (3) CLEP Am. Gov $100 (3)
o Soc. Science 2 $300/16 weeks (3) CLEP Psychology $100 (3)
o Humanities 1&2 $600/16 weeks (6) CLEP Intro Hum $100 (6)
o Electives $2400 (24) 15 at FGC(residency) $1500
Choice of any 3 CLEP to achieve
8 (9) more hours of credit $300
Credit Total Florida Gateway 60 Alternative 61
Cost Total: Florida Gateway $5900.00/2 years, Alternative Method $2814.00/1 year
Despite the difference in cost the degree would read the same. Estimated time to complete the traditional degree is two years. The self paced Test out option is often completed in less than one year by a motivated student. Now take the Associate in Art’s from Florida Gateway College and transfer to Charter Oak State College for a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies.
She student will need roughly 60 more credits to complete a Bachelor degree. Of the 60, 36 credits will need to be in a specific discipline like business or liberal arts, and 30 will have to be at the upper level, 300 and 400 level classes. Charter Oak Requires 2 online courses; the Cornerstone and the Capstone. All general education courses are fulfilled with the transfer of the Associate’s degree. The Charter Oak courses and Exams might be as follows…
Concentration in Organizational Leadership:
o 3 lower level credits (LL) Cornerstone Seminar $900 (out of state tuition)
o 21 General Elective Credits acquired for free from FEMA $0.00
Concentration 36 hours, :
o 3 LL credits Principles of Marketing CLEP $100
o 3 LL Credits Principles of Management CLEP $100
o 3 UL Operations Management TECEP Exam $99
o 3 UL Strategic Management TECEP Exam $99
o 3 UL Marketing Communications TECEP Exam $99
o 3 UL Advertising TECEP Exam $99
o 3 UL Business Ethics in Society DSST Exam $80
o 3 UL Management Information Systems DSST $80
o 3 UL Business Law 2 DSST $80
o 3 UL Organizational Behavior Excelsior Exam $99
o 3 UL Human Resource Management Excelsior Exam $99
o 3 UL Charter Oak State College Capstone Experience $900 (out of state tuition)
Charter Oak Tuition Total $2834.00 + $1000 in fee’s over 2 semesters = $3834.00
Since the upper level courses are grouped around management and business there is a great deal of overlap in the study and preparation of each examination. Completing the above in 12 to 18 months is a manageable project for the motivated student. Total Cost is approximately $2814.00 for the Associate’s, $3834.00 to add the Bachelors, for a Total estimated cost of $6648.00 for a regionally accredited Bachelor’s degree in a business related concentration! Compare that figure to your local state college. Consider that you would mainly study at home at your own pace and not experience the costs associated with driving to school for several hours of classes per week. Realize that the opportunity cost is much lower than a traditional degree because the student would spend only two to three years completing the coursework traditionally done in four years.
There are a few things a student does not receive when completing a degree path as outlined above. There is little social interaction with professors and other students when you are preparing for credit by examination and taking independent study online courses. This issue is likely less important to an older student returning to school, but the missed networking cost should be noted. There is also an intangible relationship that develops when face to face with and instructor. When all of your interaction is via computer verbal clues and body language are lacking. Some of the best learning often takes place in a classroom when the group steps beyond the syllabus and Socratic methods take hold.
Of course a student does not have to take all of their courses online or via exam. They can pick and choose their courses. Simply eliminating 30-60 credit hours of work and attending a brick and mortar school for the balance would expedite the degree process and save thousands of dollars while providing the opportunity to be an engaged on campus student. Selecting the appropriate extracurricular activities can also minimize the loss of interaction with others.
The alternative education student can pick from a wide variety of social opportunities to replace those lost on campus. Toastmasters International has chapters that meet weekly and engage in public speaking. Rotary Club International and the American Red Cross Society are active across the country and need volunteers and citizen participation. Volunteer opportunities abound, and reward the participant with a richer and fuller life. Alternative Education requires the student to take responsibility for their education.
Remember a couple for success in alternative education. Remember that regional accreditation is the gold standard in the United States. By staying with colleges that are accredited in this way you will have an easier time transferring from institution to institution and have your work recognized by the broadest employer base possible. Always check with your degree granting institution regarding courses and exams you plan to take. Be sure they will accept credit by exam, Straighterline and FEMA before spending any time or money. Read through your college’s website or catalog and become familiar with the testing and alternative credit policies. Most schools don’t deal with nontraditional students every day, you may find yourself as the expert on their policies. Remain flexible; alternative education is about new approaches and methods.
College students today face challenges in keeping the cost of school at manageable levels. Fortunately there are many tried and true alternatives to expensive traditional classes. Education should be about what the student will learn not what you will pay, but practicality dictates that the cost is a factor. It is possible to greatly reduce the cost of a college education. Even Harvard University will accept up to 12 credits of CLEP credit in some programs. Work to your strengths, reinforce your weakness, and seize the opportunities afforded in a dynamic and vibrant learning environment.