Associates in Computer ... something?

[SolarKat]

You're comparing testing out to competencies when you really should be comparing WGU's courses to TESU's courses.
WGU has almost no CS content...

I was considering both, actually. TESU doesn't generate much of anything for show & tell, whereas the WGU IT does get certs. Absolutely right, WGU, doesn't do CS, it hits IT...which is one angle to approach app development.

I mean, if the OP's son has any input, it would be super helpful in narrowing this down. You can do "game development" with literally *just* C++. My son's C++ project this last term (and this was intro C++, plus a lot of personal independent study), was a Wolfenstein clone complete with a 3D raycaster. (There were some interesting 2AM phonecalls and plenty of salty language for *that* project, I can confirm.) So the OP's son can start working in game code on his own, for free, with no degree/classes. Minecraft = Java, as another example. Python (while a bit slower, as an interpreted language) is the basis for Blender, the 3D game/modeling engine, so that's a reasonable start, too. The bigger point is, he can do one of the free online tutorials to figure out if he even *likes* it (and if he leans toward hardware, he may actually hate code once he's wallowing in it)...before he signs up for any for-credit classes.

I think the plan someone (OP? dfrecore? sanantone?) mentioned waaaaaay back, of starting with ALEKS math and at least getting gen-ed crap done is a decent step while he researches AOS/degree/program options. If he goes brick & mortar as davewill suggested, he could hopefully transfer some in to save $. Otherwise, the gen-ed scutwork is common across most of the bachelors...knock it out while considering career paths. Ask him, what does he want to be when he grows up?