Cheapest U.S. bachelor’s degree for American residing abroad?

[wolfhq]

Your Location: Ontario, Canada (American residing abroad)
Your Age: 37
What kind of degree?: Bachelors

College Credits:  60 semester credits (quarter converted to semester) A mix of semester and quarter credits from three different U.S. schools, 15+ years ago:
Semester Credits:
EN 1101 Eng I (3 credits)
MP 0010 Basic Math (3 credits)
BY 1116 Biological Sci I (3 credits)
CH 1103 Gen Chem 1 (4 credits)
SA 1105 Intro to Small Animal Sci (3 credits)
EN 1201 Eng II (3 credits if C- is accepted)
PE 1209 Aerobics (1 credit)
ANT 1045 Intro to Anthropology (4 credits)
BIB 1001 OT History and Lit (4 credits)
SPE Foundations of Communication (3 credits)
ART 1005 Principles of Art (2 credits
BIB 1002 NT History and Lit (2 credits)
ICS 2015 World Religions (4 credits)

Quarter credits:
Color and Design Theory
Historic Textiles
Survey of Western Art I
Sketching Techniques
Drafting Techniques
Design Process
Drawing Fundamentals
Film History and Development
Survey of Western Art II
Digital Imaging
Computer Illustration
Marketing and Brand Development
Editing I
Digital Comp I
3D Modeling & Animation
Sound Design I

Sophia Learning Credits: 6 credits so far in Visual Comm and Intro to Nutrition. Will be doing more.


Any certifications or military experience?
none


Budget: Preferably less than $12k CAD
Commitments: None.
Dedicated time to study: Unlimited for the next several months-year.
Timeline: ASAP
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)
Goal?: Obtain a bachelor degree of any type ASAP


Hello and thank you in advance for any and all advice.

I am looking for school and program suggestions that won’t be costly for an American living abroad. I’ve looked at UMPI, WGU, and UoPeople. I am not sure about the validity of UoPeople.

I want to complete a bachelor’s degree in any major. Preferably a major that will take my random assortment of college credits spanning from science to biblical studies to design. I signed up at Sophia last week and will be completing more courses on that platform.

I would like the cost to be less than or equal to $10k- $12k. Would like to avoid paying international tuition.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Hello fellow US citizen in Ontario!

As a US citizen, even though you're living abroad, there's a good chance you're eligible for US federal student aid through FAFSA, including if your income is low enough Pell Grants.

Looking at OSAP's approved school list for 2024-25, UMPI and WGU are both approved. So is TESU which could potentially have a good fit program for you. Excelsior is not. I do not see University of the People listed, although it would not be super costly out of pocket. It is legitimate, but how well accepted it would be in Canada holding US national accreditation and candidacy for regional accreditation is an untested question. The cost of earning alt-credit, e.g., Sophia or Study.com College Saver Plan, to send any of these destinations would be out of pocket.

[bjcheung77]

@wolfhq, Great initial post with the addendum and template, plus some extra info in regards to your scenario. In your particular situation, you may want to do the UMPI BLS with a minor or two of your choice. You can take 3 classes towards the MAOL if that's part of your educational goal later. Having said that, if you want something more 'technical', you can go the UMPI BAS instead of the BLS...

[wolfhq]

Hello fellow US citizen in Ontario!

As a US citizen, even though you're living abroad, there's a good chance you're eligible for US federal student aid through FAFSA, including if your income is low enough Pell Grants.

Looking at OSAP's approved school list for 2024-25, UMPI and WGU are both approved. So is TESU which could potentially have a good fit program for you. Excelsior is not. I do not see University of the People listed, although it would not be super costly out of pocket. It is legitimate, but how well accepted it would be in Canada holding US national accreditation and candidacy for regional accreditation is an untested question. The cost of earning alt-credit, e.g., Sophia or Study.com College Saver Plan, to send any of these destinations would be out of pocket.

Hello, hello!

Thanks for the reply and info. Good to know UMPI and WGU are on the OSAP list. I will take Excelsior off my list. I'm really leaning towards UMPI because of their YourPace program.

---

@wolfhq, Great initial post with the addendum and template, plus some extra info in regards to your scenario.  In your particular situation, you may want to do the UMPI BLS with a minor or two of your choice.  You can take 3 classes towards the MAOL if that's part of your educational goal later.  Having said that, if you want something more 'technical', you can go the UMPI BAS instead of the BLS...

Thanks for your advice! I will look into the UMPI BLS program. Any particular reason you suggested that program?