need help with degree planning for son for Bachelor's in Business Admin or Finance

[EducationSeeker]

Not sure where the costs were found, but the EC tuition info is wrong:

Excelsior
Application fee: $0 (if you're using a partner like Study.com or Sophia)
Tuition: $510/cr x 7cr = $3,570
Technology fees: $20/cr x 7cr = $140
Student Services fees $28/cr x 7cr = $196
Graduation fee: $125
Total: $4,031

TESU
Application fee: $50
Tuition: $519 x 6cr = $3,114
Residency Waiver = $3,192
Graduation fee $298
Total for Per-Credit tuition $6,654
Total: $4359

TESU also has a per-term fee, but it will require more courses at TESU (16cr) in a single term; I would say that you need to be a fairly strong student to pull this off.

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I normally like EC over TESU for a general business degree, but for the Finance concentration, EC has very specific courses you must take.  So, I think you would be required to take at least another 9cr at EC, with the remaining Finance electives available from Study.com.  While that would get you a lower price for tuition, bumping you up past 12cr, it would still be offset by the increase:

Excelsior - Finance concentration
Application fee: $0 (if you're using a partner like Study.com or Sophia)
Tuition: $410/cr x 16cr = $6,560
Technology fees: $20/cr x 16cr = $320
Student Services fees $28/cr x 16cr = $448
Graduation fee: $125
Total: $7,453

With that price, it becomes a better option to go through TESU, whether the per-credit or per-term, doesn't matter, as both are cheaper.

TESU will also take D grades for GE except English, so with the 28cr you're bringing in, you'll hit the 30cr of RA and so no additional hoops to jump.
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So, your real options, at this point, are between TESU which can be done easily via alt-credit, and gives you the Finance concentration that you want; and UMPI, which will be cheaper, but will not get you the concentration.

You'd also have to decide between "regular" credit-earning vs. CBE, which can be challenging for some students.

dfrecore,

In your opinion and experience, would the students that be have trouble with the CBE option such as UMPI be not as self directed, disciplined, "go-getters" (often younger people compared to older adults) so that they are not optimizing the maximum value they can obtain for a flat rate fee such as WGU or UMPI (I am guessing this is how UMPI works) charges tuition per term? I think has been my son so far although he just needed to grow up somewhat and I can see maturity in him as he is approaching 21.  This was most helpful and thank you so much for the accurate cost information!

Education Seeker

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Hi, 

Sorry, I am a bit late posting to this response that was a little over 1 month ago, but, I am following up to a post trying to help my son finish his Bachelor's Degree in either Business Administration or most likely Finance. 

He is 20 going on 21 so he is still more of a traditional college age student and figuring his life out. He has about 1.5 years of courses at Youngstown State University in Ohio. He took this Spring semester off to work and figure his life out right now as he did not have a great start to University with the death of his mom and COVID (graduated HS in 2020). 

He thinks he would like to manage or own real commercial real estate or work in an investment firm. Additionally, he is considering law school after his Bachelor's degree and working in Real Estate or Corporate Law.

The traditional path of another 3 years of full time work seems daunting to him at a traditional university. So, we are looking potentially cheaper and/or faster options such as TESU, WGU, SNHU, Purdue Global (has nice Finance concentrations like Wealth Management or Real Estate, but, it seems expensive), or UMPI. From a budget standpoint, I am still helping him pay tuition and I would like to try and stay under $20k for the remainder of his Bachelor's degree.

As directed, I am listing the course #, full course name, # of credits, and grade if less than a C from Youngstown State to get some good options and projected ball park costs for the Bachelor's Degree.

Transcript

Course Number/Course Name/Number of Credits/Grade

ANTH 1500 Introduction to Anthropology 3 cr  B
REL 2601 Introduction to World Religions 3 cr A
THTR 1500 History of Motion Pictures 3 cr B
ASTR 1504 Descriptive Astronomy 3 cr B
CHMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3 cr B
ENGL 1550 Writing 1 (same as Engl Composition) 3 cr A
PSYCH 1550 General Psychology 3 cr C
YSU 1500 Student Success Seminar 1 cr A
HIST 2605 US History 1 3 cr D
GEOG 2630 Weather 3 cr C

Credit hour total: 28 credit hours (1 class is below C grade and may not transfer). This leaves him roughly about 92-95 credit hours to earn before he would get about 120 credit hours for a Bachelor's Degree. If he can finish in 1-2 years for under $10k, that would be ideal. I appreciate any recommendations, degree plans, and tuition ballpark estimates.

Thanks,

EducationSeeker

I helped my 20 year old earn a bachelor degree in 15 months using Study.com. He took placement tests to test out of what he already knew which made his classes go a lot quicker. He would focus on watching the lessons and getting 100% on the quizzes (they are 5 questions and the questions don't change) and understanding everything. He would take the chapter tests after reviewing his quizzes (tests only took 10-15 min) and then review with the online flashcards they provide and then take the course practice test at the end. If he scored a 70% or higher he knew he was ready for the proctored final (at home and no need to schedule) If he earned 100% on his quizzes then he only needed a 55% on the final to earn the college credit (only the quizzes and final count towards grade). The majority of the classes had zero papers and for the ones that did (upper division) he had 3 attempts to turn in each paper for the highest grade. Here are two degree plans I created for TESU and Excelsior. 

Excelsior Business Degree Plan: https://bit.ly/3NccxfS

TESU BSBA in Finance Degree Plan: https://bit.ly/3sD08cV

Hi Dragonwolf,

That is an awesome achievement for you and him and you should both be proud!

I had some questions if you don't mind me asking about your son's individual situation and learning style.

1. Was your son a very self-motivated, self-directed, go getter type of student or average academic ability drive?
   
2. Was he working part time or full time when he was going to school?
   
3. Was he living on his own or at home when he got his Bachelor's degree?
   
4. How many hours a week would you say he worked on school work?
   
5. Is the 15 month span you mentioned for the TESU or Excelsior Finance Bachelor's degree from beginning until end of college or did he have credits coming in before he started TESU or Excelsior?
   
6. What kind of job did you son end up getting after graduation with his Bachelor's degree in Finance?
   
7. If a student would rather write papers and gets standardized test anxiety, would you still recommend TESU or EC? He has not expressed a strong opinion on writing papers/vs. taking an exam.
   

Thank you,

Education Seeker