Helping My Brother Work Toward Associates

[dfrecore]

Personally, I would not recommend UotP. Too many papers to write. Pros and cons of different colleges include:

• Pierpont: AAS is technically free. Requirements are extremely lax for an Associate's degree. As long as the employer accepts this, Pierpont's degree will be the easiest to get, academically-speaking. The process is a bit convoluted, but it's not difficult to complete the requirements. Approximate cost: $1700 ASU EA credits.
  
• COSC: Cheapest of the Big 3 when it comes to getting an AA or an AS. However, both English Comp I and II will be required, as far as I am aware (Pierpont does not require them). Sophia's English Comp I & II classes are relatively easy but may or may not be doable for someone with a learning disability. 12 RA credits + the cornerstone class at COSC are required. Approximate cost: $2200 in COSC fees + $1700 ASU EA credits = $3900
  
• TESU: Most expensive of the Big 3 for an AA degree. They also require English Comp I and II. However, they do not require the 12 RA credits. Everything for the basic AA degree can be completed at Sophia except for American Government (which can be had at InstantCert.com for about $45) and TESU's cornerstone class. The cornerstone class may be a bit challenging for your brother, but it is easy enough that some students have finished it within a day or two. Approximate cost: $5000 TESU fees + $45 at InstantCert.
  
• Excelsior: Most inscrutable of the Big 3. Their exact requirements change depending on what degree you're trying to get. I think it's possible to transfer in almost everything needed for an Associate's from Sophia. However, they do require you to take 7 credits through them to TESU and COSC's 3 credits. This makes them both more challenging than the others but also the most expensive Associate's degree. Excelsior would not be recommended in this instance. Approximate cost: $5200 Excelsior fees.
  

I didn't include Sophia in the above calculations because it's subscription-based and the time needed will depend upon the degree that is being pursued. 6 months of Sophia would add another $475 to the above fees.

If you don't need to worry about proctored exams, then TEL is probably still a better (and half the price of) ASU.  The fact that it's self-paced is also a big plus.  Not all of EA/ASU courses are, and that may be a major issue for someone with issues (and you didn't say he had anxiety issues, or issues with testing).  My daughter is going to do a course soon, I'm happy to give input here once she's started.

EC requires a capstone for the AA/AS degrees, so that's out.

TESU is awfully pricy for an AA.  The raise/promotion better be big to justify the outlay of cash there.