AAS options post-Pierpont

[staceydiane]

I looked into this a while back when the Pierpont policy change was first announced. I'll split this up into two posts.

Not ideal: 12 Credit hours at host CC - Pierpont Community & Technical College, Southern Community & Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community College
Not possible(?): Blue Ridge Community & Technical College - doesn't seem to offer online courses (not sure, on website states "Formats On-campus, Hybrid")

The most ideal scenarios are these CCs that require 3 credit hours at the host institution and 12 RA credits total:
Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, Base non resident Tuition for 3 credits: $564
https://easternwv.edu/academics/customiz...rs-degree/
https://easternwv.edu/get-started/tuition-fees/

BridgeValley Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,428.51
https://catalog.bridgevalley.edu/preview...turnto=113
https://www.bridgevalley.edu/financial-a...-fees.html

Mountwest Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,538.01
https://www.mctc.edu/wp-content/uploads/...4-2025.pdf
https://www.mctc.edu/paying-for-college/tuition-fees/

New River Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,206
https://www.newriver.edu/wp-content/uplo...r-2023.pdf  (page 84)
https://www.newriver.edu/wp-content/uplo...t-hour.pdf
Not sure what this is: Board of Governor’s AAS Degree Posting Fee (Per Credit Hour) $10. If it applies, then add an additional $570+.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: 1,128.00
https://catalog.wvup.edu/ProgramPage/BOG_AAS/8
https://www.wvup.edu/future-students/cos...-and-fees/

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I didn’t investigate any further, so I am not sure of each institution’s alternative credit policies or if they accept international students. We now know that WVUP is not an option for international students. Captainrekt000 looked into Eastern West Virginia in another thread and I agree that it looks the most promising of these options. (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...tive-EWVCC) 

I found this on their admissions policy page: “Eastern's "open door" admissions policy and welcomes all adults wishing to continue their education.” If that means they accept international students, the RA requirement shouldn’t be an issue: I had a friend forced to pause his education at UMPI due to real life issues, so we “reverse” transferred the UMPI credits into the Pierpont BOG (like the degree was originally designed for). The only cost should be the base tuition + any additional fees.

However, I still don’t think it’ll be worth it even if everything goes perfectly. Even in the best possible scenario, the earliest UMPI BAS graduation would be May 2025 since 3 credit course for residency needs to be completed for the BOG to get processed. I recommend looking into pursuing a BA instead (unless a BAS is more valuable than a BA in your country).


Links to the less ideal CCs from the other post:
https://catalog.southernwv.edu/preview_p...turnto=123
https://catalog.wvncc.edu/preview_progra...turnto=707
https://www.blueridgectc.edu/academic-programs/associates-degree-programs/occupational/board-of-governors/

My stepchildren go to Blue Ridge and they take all their classes online.

[Hotdogman1]

I assumed that the last course was required to be in person or hybrid due to the website stating "Formats On-campus, Hybrid"

Updated list:

Not ideal: 12 Credit hours at host CC - Pierpont Community & Technical College, Southern Community & Technical College, West Virginia Northern Community College
https://catalog.pierpont.edu/preview_pro...urnto=1745
https://catalog.southernwv.edu/preview_p...turnto=123
https://catalog.wvncc.edu/preview_progra...turnto=707


The most ideal scenarios are these CCs that require 3 credit hours at the host institution and 12 RA credits total:
Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College, Base non resident Tuition for 3 credits: $564
https://easternwv.edu/academics/customiz...rs-degree/
https://easternwv.edu/get-started/tuition-fees/

BridgeValley Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,428.51
https://catalog.bridgevalley.edu/preview...turnto=113
https://www.bridgevalley.edu/financial-a...-fees.html

Mountwest Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,538.01
https://www.mctc.edu/wp-content/uploads/...4-2025.pdf
https://www.mctc.edu/paying-for-college/tuition-fees/

New River Community & Technical College, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: $1,206
https://www.newriver.edu/wp-content/uplo...r-2023.pdf  (page 84)
https://www.newriver.edu/wp-content/uplo...t-hour.pdf
Not sure what this is: Board of Governor’s AAS Degree Posting Fee (Per Credit Hour) $10. If it applies, then add an additional $570+.

West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Base non-resident tuition for 3 credits: 1,128.00 (may not accept international students) *update from soulking's post
https://catalog.wvup.edu/ProgramPage/BOG_AAS/8
https://www.wvup.edu/future-students/cos...-and-fees/

Not possible(?): Although Blue Ridge also requires 3 credit hours at the host institution and 12 RA credits, the BOG program website states "Formats On-campus, Hybrid." Therefore, I am unsure if it is possible to complete it without going in person. The CC does offer online courses. *update from staceydiane's post
Blue Ridge Community & Technical College - Base non resident Tuition for 3 credits: $981 + $570 ($10 per credit fee for posting credits to the transcript.) = $1,551
https://www.blueridgectc.edu/academic-pr...governors/
http://catalog.blueridgectc.edu/content....navoid=683
http://catalog.blueridgectc.edu/preview_...turnto=209
https://www.blueridgectc.edu/financial-a...tion-fees/

Thanks for the update!

[Hotdogman1]

I was starting to look into the feasibility of transferring 4 of the free support courses from Pima Community College to fulfill a WV BOG RA requirement. (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid435899)

Found this on the Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College BOG website:
Graduation Requirements
At least 15 of the 60 credits hours must be completed at Eastern
https://easternwv.edu/academics/customiz...rs-degree/

I don't think any WV CC BOG is worth it at this point.

[homeschoolmom1]

I had not gone to the Pierpont website in a while, but when I checked again today, I found this:

https://catalog.pierpont.edu/preview_pro...urnto=1745

It seems as if Pierpont has changed the requirements for the BOG degree again. It is now very similar again how it was. Most notably, it can be gotten without any Pierpont credits, as long as you have the required RA credits. And you have to pay a $350 fee if you don't have any Pierpont coursework.

Worth looking into again, I think.

[jg_nuy]

I had not gone to the Pierpont website in a while, but when I checked again today, I found this:

https://catalog.pierpont.edu/preview_pro...urnto=1745

It seems as if Pierpont has changed the requirements for the BOG degree again. It is now very similar again how it was. Most notably, it can be gotten without any Pierpont credits, as long as you have the required RA credits. And you have to pay a $350 fee if you don't have any Pierpont coursework.

Worth looking into again, I think.

I like that they clarified the following as well:

• The Board of Governors (A.A.S.) degree is available only to students who have not previously completed a college degree at the associate level or higher.
  
  
• Prospective students must have graduated from high school at least one year prior to admission to the program.  Students who earned high school equivalencies must be at least one year removed from the graduation date of their traditional class.  (If a homeschooled student’s traditional graduating class would have been May 2024, for example, the student may be admitted to the BOG in June 2025.)
  

[Hotdogman1]

I don't think so. At the bottom:
*Disclaimer: Per the handbook for the BOG degree program in WV, Pierpont requires a residency requirement of 12 credit hours (passing grades only) of coursework completed through Pierpont.

[newdegree]

I had not gone to the Pierpont website in a while, but when I checked again today, I found this:

https://catalog.pierpont.edu/preview_pro...urnto=1745

It seems as if Pierpont has changed the requirements for the BOG degree again. It is now very similar again how it was. Most notably, it can be gotten without any Pierpont credits, as long as you have the required RA credits. And you have to pay a $350 fee if you don't have any Pierpont coursework.

Worth looking into again, I think.

On the pierpont website at the bottom it still states you need to get residency requirement 12 credit hours. 

*Disclaimer: Per the handbook for the BOG degree program in WV, Pierpont requires a residency requirement of 12 credit hours (passing grades only) of coursework completed through Pierpont. Effective October 4, 2024, extra-institutional credits will not count toward the 12-credit residency requirement. Extra-institutional credits include ACE credits. BOG students without an approved application for graduation and degree audit for fall 2024 or those who apply to the institution after October 4, 2024, declaring the BOG (AAS) degree, will be required to complete 12 credit hours of Pierpont residential credit. 

[homeschoolmom1]

I think legally a home school diploma IS a high school graduation diploma though. It is NOT a "high school equivalency". A high school equivalency is a G.E.D. diploma, which is something very different.

So if I issue a home school diploma=high school diploma for my 15 year old, then he will be eligible for this degree one year later (at the age of 16), even if his "traditional class", meaning his age peers will not graduate until they are 17. That's my legal take on this at least.

If Pierpont ever gave me grief about that, I would simply contact HSLDA to help me explain that the homeschool diploma IS a legitimate high school diploma and not a "high school equivalency". Accelerating our home schoolers is just as legit as a gifted public school kid being accelerated and then graduating a year or two earlier than their peers. You don't tell them that they have to sit idle before they can receive their high school diploma at the same time as their age peers either.

Just my 2 cents, I am not criticizing you.

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*Disclaimer: Per the handbook for the BOG degree program in WV, Pierpont requires a residency requirement of 12 credit hours (passing grades only) of coursework completed through Pierpont. Effective October 4, 2024, extra-institutional credits will not count toward the 12-credit residency requirement. Extra-institutional credits include ACE credits. BOG students without an approved application for graduation and degree audit for fall 2024 or those who apply to the institution after October 4, 2024, declaring the BOG (AAS) degree, will be required to complete 12 credit hours of Pierpont residential credit. 

I agree that it makes no sense to have this disclaimer but then above it to state that you have to pay a $350 fee if you have no Pierpont credits.

[jg_nuy]

They should be publishing their updated catalog soon, but the best folks to get a straight answer on these points are probably the Registrar and the BOG liaison.

[Ares]

Pierpont is still reading the WVCTCS BOG Handbook (Page 3) wrong.

The BOG Residency Requirement is very clear:

Residency Requirement:

12 credit hours from a regionally accredited higher education institution. A minimum of 3 credits may be required at the host institution.

It only says that they MAY require 3 credits be completed at the host institution.

Someone should probably inform them.

The only problem is if they enforce that 3 credits be taken at Pierpont for non-residents that is $1,707 in addition to the $350.

Someone forward thinking at Pierpont would bundle a special online class with this degree for a lower cost.