LU to TESU or UMPI - please help!

[CharisandJon]

Your Location: Kansas, United States (moving to Connecticut in early 2025)
Your Age: 23
What kind of degree do you want?: Business Administration with Accounting concentration
Current Regional Accredited Credits:

Liberty University Total Credits: 66
ACCT 211 Financial Principles, 3, A
ACCT 212 Managerial Principles, 3, A
ACCT 401 Individual Taxation, 3, A
BUSI 390 Business Common Professional Components, 3 Pass
BUSI 201 Intermediate Business Computer Applications, 3, A
BUSI 240 Organizational Behavior I, 3, A
BUSI 230 Intro to Probability and Statistics, 3, A
ENGL 101 Composition and Rhetoric, 3, A
UNIV 104 Instruction Tech for Online Learning, 3, A
BIBL 104 Survey of Old & New Testament, 4, A
COMS 101 Speech Communication, 3, A
HIUS 221 Survey of American History I, 3, A
THEO 104 Intro to Theology Survey, 4, A
PHSC 121 Intro to Astronomy, 3, A
RLGN 104 Christian Life & Biblical Worldview, 4, A
CSTU Western Culture, 3, A
PHIL 201 Philosophy & Contemporary Idea, 3, A
CSIS 331 Networks, 3, A
CSIS 111 Intro to C++ 3, A
CSIS 345 Intro to Linux, 3, A
CSIS 320 IS Hardware and Software, 3, A
CSIS 330 Business Data Communication System, 3, A
CSIS 100 Intro to Info Science and Systems, 3, A
CSIS 110 Intro to Computing Sciences 3, A
CSIS 212 Object-Oriented Programming, 3 A
CSIS 310 Web Architecture & Development, 3, A
CSIS 312 Adv Object-Oriented Programming, 3 A

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:

Sophia Total Credits: 9
Principles of Management, 3, Pass (Liberty accepted on my transcript for BUSI 310)
Principles of Microeconomics, 3, Pass (Liberty – ECON 213)
Principles of Macroeconomics, 3, Pass (Liberty – ECON 214)

Any certifications or military experience? No
 
Budget: I know UMPI, WGU, or TESU will be most likely less than Liberty, so I’m not too concerned about budget. The most important thing for me is finishing as quickly as I can.
Commitments: Fiancé and traveling monthly to take care of my mom. I’m currently in a full-time accounting internship that ends in April. There’s a chance that the internship will be extended to December, but it would be part-time after April. If the internship ends in April, then I would be doing school full-time and not working.
Dedicated time to study: I estimate 35+ hours a week if I’m not working and 20 hours a week if I am working. Several weekly doctor’s appointments, monthly travels, and my own medical issues limit the time I have to study.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal. My goal is to be finished by June 2025 at the latest.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: No
 
I’ve been doing hours of research on the forum and on the websites for several colleges. I think I’ve narrowed it down to either UMPI or TESU (I’m considering WGU, but it’s my last option as GPA is important to me), but I am open to whatever college would enable me to finish the fastest with the most transfer credits accepted. I would prefer competency-based education, but I would rather take tests than write long papers. I don’t mind writing essays, but really don’t do well with 5+ page papers (which is my biggest reservation about UMPI). The weekly deadlines at Liberty are very challenging and stressful with doctor’s appointments and traveling, and it would be nice to have more flexibility than strict weekly deadlines. I’m open to doing ACE credits at Sophia/SDC etc. It would be nice to find a program that allows for a month-long break between sessions, as I’m getting married and moving before June 2025, and I will definitely need a month off for that. Also, I'm not planning to go for my CPA, so I'm ok if the degree program is not CPA prep.
 
I’ve tried looking at different websites to see how my Liberty credits would transfer, but I end up just getting lost or confused, and I’m really not sure which college would be best for me. Also, I'm not sure if I need to submit my Sophia transcript when I do apply somewhere, or if my Liberty transcript is enough since it has the Sophia credits accepted on it. Thank you SO much for your help and recommendations!

[jg_nuy]

For any of the options that you select, you would need to submit your Credly transcript for the ACE credits. At either school, you have room for more Sophia and Study credits.

UMPI
For speed, a BABA with a concentration in accounting from UMPI is hard to beat, as you can likely be done in 2-3 sessions of 8 weeks each ($3k to $4.5k). With the credits that you have and some additional credits from Sophia/Study dot com, you could even add a minor in MIS for example. UMPI has a 90-credit limit into the degree plan, but no overall max of transfer credits.

All links for UMPI: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI
General Education Requirements: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quirements
BABA Accounting: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

UMPI MAOL
You could also even consider doing 3 classes in Business Administration towards the MAOL at UMPI. Undegrad classes that can be taken to speed the UMPI MAOL from 12 classes to 9 classes:

• OLS 550 Team Leadership and Collaboration is subbed by BUS 335 Organizational Behavior
  
• OLS 610 Leadership and Business Operations is subbed by BUS 440 Business Analytics
  
• OLS 620 Strategic Communications is subbed by BUS 469 Strategic Professional Communication
  

TESU
At TESU, you could transfer in more credits in total since you have some many RA credits. TESU has a 90-credit limit for alternative credit into the degree, but also a separate 90-credit limit for RA, with a combined total max of 114 credits into a degree. You would need to do at least the cornerstone and capstone at TESU, but keep in mind that the classes that you take with them follow a traditional semester schedule. You could do a 15-credit semester with a flat tuition of around $4300 to avoid paying the residency fee or take just those two classes ($535/credit) and pay the residency few (a little under $3400)

For example, you could do the BSBA in Accounting and possibly even a BS in CIS or a BA in Computer Science if interested. 

The TESU links are available below:
All links for TESU: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU
General Education Requirements: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
BSBA Accounting: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

TESU also has easy paths to add-on associates and certs:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...gree_Plans
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...cate_Plans

[CharisandJon]

For any of the options that you select, you would need to submit your Credly transcript for the ACE credits. At either school, you have room for more Sophia and Study credits.

UMPI
For speed, a BABA with a concentration in accounting from UMPI is hard to beat, as you can likely be done in 2-3 sessions of 8 weeks each ($3k to $4.5k). With the credits that you have and some additional credits from Sophia/Study dot com, you could even add a minor in MIS for example. UMPI has a 90-credit limit into the degree plan, but no overall max of transfer credits.

All links for UMPI: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI
General Education Requirements: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quirements
BABA Accounting: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan

UMPI MAOL
You could also even consider doing 3 classes in Business Administration towards the MAOL at UMPI. Undegrad classes that can be taken to speed the UMPI MAOL from 12 classes to 9 classes:

• OLS 550 Team Leadership and Collaboration is subbed by BUS 335 Organizational Behavior
  
• OLS 610 Leadership and Business Operations is subbed by BUS 440 Business Analytics
  
• OLS 620 Strategic Communications is subbed by BUS 469 Strategic Professional Communication
  

TESU
At TESU, you could transfer in more credits in total since you have some many RA credits. TESU has a 90-credit limit for alternative credit into the degree, but also a separate 90-credit limit for RA, with a combined total max of 114 credits into a degree. You would need to do at least the cornerstone and capstone at TESU, but keep in mind that the classes that you take with them follow a traditional semester schedule. You could do a 15-credit semester with a flat tuition of around $4300 to avoid paying the residency fee or take just those two classes ($535/credit) and pay the residency few (a little under $3400)

For example, you could do the BSBA in Accounting and possibly even a BS in CIS or a BA in Computer Science if interested. 

The TESU links are available below:
All links for TESU: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU
General Education Requirements: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
BSBA Accounting: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

TESU also has easy paths to add-on associates and certs:
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...gree_Plans
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...cate_Plans

Thank you so much for the information and links, that's really helpful! Thank you for clarifying about TESU, I wasn't sure if it was a traditional semester schedule. Good to know about the MAOL, I'll look into that. 

If I apply to UMPI, do they allow deferred start dates? I'd want to take what I could at Sophia/Study first, and then start at UMPI after that. Would I just submit additional transcripts with the new credits before actually starting the UMPI courses? I'm ready now to get a transcript evaluation from them, but I don't want to get pushed into starting right away. I know each school is a little different about that.

[jg_nuy]

Yes, you can apply and then defer the start date if needed. Just talk to your advisor once you are accepted & they’ll set it up.

[natshar]

Have you thought of finishing your degree at Liberty? Just throwing it out there. They accept a TON of transfer credits, like ACE, CLEP, etc. You might only have to do a few more classes at Liberty and be done. Like I feel like you have a ton of the major stuff done. Maybe just do ACE and stuff and then do only 1-2 more classes at Liberty and be done. Idk just worth looking into.

Also if you go to TESU look into double majoring in CIS and accounting. You might have all the CIS stuff already so no extra work. Same with UMPI look into either double major in CIS or mnoring in CIS. Not saying you have to do it. But if the work is already done and it is litterly no extra work, why not.

[CharisandJon]

Have you thought of finishing your degree at Liberty? Just throwing it out there. They accept a TON of transfer credits, like ACE, CLEP, etc. You might only have to do a few more classes at Liberty and be done. Like I feel like you have a ton of the major stuff done. Maybe just do ACE and stuff and then do only 1-2 more classes at Liberty and be done. Idk just worth looking into.

Also if you go to TESU look into double majoring in CIS and accounting. You might have all the CIS stuff already so no extra work. Same with UMPI look into either double major in CIS or mnoring in CIS. Not saying you have to do it. But if the work is already done and it is litterly no extra work, why not.

Thanks for your response, I’ll look into the double majors at both TESU and UMPI! 

Yes I’ve done tons of research about Liberty’s ACE credits. For the accounting degree program I’m in, they only accept the macroeconomics and microeconomics Sophia courses I’ve done already and two business courses. Other degrees and gen eds have more ACE credits that transfer over, but unfortunately for accounting, it’s just those (I’ve already taken all my gen eds). They don’t even accept any of the accounting courses that SDC offers. I still have 48 credits left that have to be taken at Liberty, and I wouldn’t graduate until Fall 2025. I was hoping TESU/UMPI would be faster and accept more accounting ACE credits.

[bjcheung77]

Essentially... TESU, WGU, UMPI, and a few others that we recommend can work for you. It depends if you're looking at a competency based degree or something that allows a max transfer of credits. WGU/UMPI require 30 residency credits, TESU just 6 credits if you pay the residency waiver or 15 credits if you do the flat rate, you need to investigate the mix/match of cost, energy, time into your degree planning.

[indigoshuffle]

Looks like UMPI or TESU. TESU will let you transfer in more since you have more than enough RA credit. I would say TESU for the win with UMPI being an extremely close second, especially if you don't like writing a bunch of papers.

[Gumbeaux]

On a side note - what is your opinion on LU? I am probably going to move forward with going to LU Online, and a good friend of mine just finished his degree through LUO, but I'd love more opinions/feedback.

Thanks!

[CharisandJon]

On a side note - what is your opinion on LU? I am probably going to move forward with going to LU Online, and a good friend of mine just finished his degree through LUO, but I'd love more opinions/feedback.

Thanks!

Hi, I’d be happy to share my opinions/feedback on LU! I’ve been there for almost 4 years on and off in a few different degrees. What degree and level are you planning on doing? Also, do you have experience in the subject or starting from scratch? Liberty varies a LOT by degree. I might be able to give more helpful and specific feedback with your answers, but if not I’ll just share my general opinions and experiences!