Need some help deciding how to start TESU/COSC

[axelsnoski]

I want to do an associate's degree, I am looking for the most cost-effective way to go about doing this relatively quickly.

I am looking at doing as much as possible through Saylor, CLEP/DSST etc.

I have a ton of IT knowledge so I'm sure I can cruize through AS, Computer and Information Technology pretty easily but I have a few questions, it looks like I can do up to 75% (45 credits for the 60) leaving 15 Credits to do at the college?

Since I'm assuming the capstone is required and it's only 3 credits what are the remaining 12 credits that cannot be done outside of the college?
Which of the two is more cost-effective when going this route, I'm a little confused on how the pricing works when transferring credits?
Do TECEPS fall under the credit limit or can I still Test out the remaining credits?

any other insight or guides would be greatly appreciated.

[rachel83az]

Why do you want an Associate's degree? The fastest, easiest, and cheapest would be the Associate degree would be through Pierpont. Otherwise, the cost for JUST an Associate's degree is pretty prohibitive - especially when compared to a Bachelor's degree. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/As...7s_Degrees

[axelsnoski]

Why do you want an Associate's degree? The fastest, easiest, and cheapest would be the Associate degree would be through Pierpont. Otherwise, the cost for JUST an Associate's degree is pretty prohibitive - especially when compared to a Bachelor's degree. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/As...7s_Degrees

I need college credits for a military packet, I figured going for the degree looks a whole lot better than the bare minimum credits required.
I'm, not 100% sure what I am going to do but I figured a bachelor's would probably take a little too long for the timeline I'm trying to achieve.

[bjcheung77]

You're in the military? Good choice for either of the Big 3! Tuition is much cheaper and TECEPS/PLA will count towards the 30 RA credits needed and also the 16 credit residency requirement. My suggestion is, find your degree you're wanting, add the Associates but focus on the Bachelors. I suggest TESU, you need to take 8 LL TECEPS at $150 each and take the cornerstone/capstone at $250/credit.

[rachel83az]

If you're 20 or older, you can get a Bachelor's from UMPI in roughly the same time that it would take you to get an Associate's from COSC or TESU.

If you're younger than 20, getting a Bachelor's at TESU or COSC wouldn't take that much longer than getting an Associate's degree because both require RA credit. COSC would be a General Studies degree or a BSBA. TESU, you could get a Comp Sci degree or a BSBA Computer Information Systems (or something else, but you did mention IT/comp sci, so those would probably be the fastest/easiest).

[axelsnoski]

You're in the military? Good choice for either of the Big 3!  Tuition is much cheaper and TECEPS/PLA will count towards the 30 RA credits needed and also the 16 credit residency requirement.  My suggestion is, find your degree you're wanting, add the Associates but focus on the Bachelors.  I suggest TESU, you need to take 8 LL TECEPS at $150 each and take the cornerstone/capstone at $250/credit.

Not in yet, I need the degree first.

[rachel83az]

In that case, I would go after the Pierpont degree if you're old enough and then get a TESU degree as soon as you're active military.

[axelsnoski]

If you're 20 or older, you can get a Bachelor's from UMPI in roughly the same time that it would take you to get an Associate's from COSC or TESU.

If you're younger than 20, getting a Bachelor's at TESU or COSC wouldn't take that much longer than getting an Associate's degree because both require RA credit. COSC would be a General Studies degree or a BSBA. TESU, you could get a Comp Sci degree or a BSBA Computer Information Systems (or something else, but you did mention IT/comp sci, so those would probably be the fastest/easiest).

I saw UMPI though it didn't have a ton of info at first glance it seemed to be a fair bit more expensive than the others, I will have a closer look though.

[rachel83az]

I saw UMPI though it didn't have a ton of info at first glance it seemed to be a fair bit more expensive than the others, I will have a closer look though.

It's actually a fair bit cheaper than the others, except TESU w/ military discount. https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-for-3-222

[bjcheung77]

In that case, I would go after the Pierpont degree if you're old enough and then get a TESU degree as soon as you're active military.

If you currently have some credits at the college level, 12 RA credits minimum... This is also my recommendation, you can get the remaining of your courses needed at Sophia.org - in fact, do as many Sophia.org courses that can be completed for both the Associates at Pierpont and also towards the Bachelors!