Sophia, Straighterline, or study.com ?

[Kadenbloom]

It depends on what degree you want. If you want computer science, TESU is still the cheapest and easiest. But if you want business, history, or English then UMPI is probably a better choice. COSC and EC have their own good options as well.

Ugh, you're right. I was in the business mindset only. My comment of not going with TESU was meant for a business degree only.

You need to figure out what degree you want (if you haven't already) and then figure out what's most important to you: time, cost, accreditation/concentration/AoS options, etc. and choose a degree program based on all those things.

The thing is I'm still mostly focused on collecting Gen Ed credits, and still considering between computer science and possibly business.
Would TESU still be a good choice?
I would like to stay with either TESU or COSC.
Also, can I collect credits without being enrolled in any particular university I'm still in high school?

---

Check this other page on the wiki for course recommendations: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

I should add SL because some people do favor that style but SDC and Sophia are usually going to be cheaper.

Thank you so much for the link it's really helpful!
Also, do you know if Sophia is proctored?

[Flelm]

If you're still in high school, are any AP classes available to you? They're very valuable for Gen. Ed. credit. Often a single AP class can be 6-8 credits when transferred to a college/university.

TESU is fine, but it's intended for adult learners. If you have no college experience, there's extra hoops to jump through: https://www.tesu.edu/admissions/undergrad-admissions. It's also not the cheapest (except for CompSci like rachel83az said), and not the fastest.

I have no real knowledge or experience with COSC so I'll let someone else answer that.

You can take ACE/NCCRS classes and courses, but they don't count as true college credit until they're transferred into a college that accepts them, after you apply. TESU just revised their ACE guidelines and that left a bunch of people scrambling. If you're just focused on collecting credit, I would look at only Sophia because of its price and ease of use until you make more decisions.

[rachel83az]

It depends on what degree you want. If you want computer science, TESU is still the cheapest and easiest. But if you want business, history, or English then UMPI is probably a better choice. COSC and EC have their own good options as well.

Ugh, you're right. I was in the business mindset only. My comment of not going with TESU was meant for a business degree only.

You need to figure out what degree you want (if you haven't already) and then figure out what's most important to you: time, cost, accreditation/concentration/AoS options, etc. and choose a degree program based on all those things.

The thing is I'm still mostly focused on collecting Gen Ed credits, and still considering between computer science and possibly business.
Would TESU still be a good choice?
I would like to stay with either TESU or COSC.
Also, can I collect credits without being enrolled in any particular university I'm still in high school?

TESU would be good for comp sci but maybe not business. For gen eds, you're going to want to get RA credit (see the roadmap for why). If you're still in high school, check for dual-enrollment options available to you locally. Some localities allow you to get gen eds that way for SUPER cheap.

If you don't have dual enrollment available, make sure you focus on gen eds from TEL Learning or some other inexpensive RA source FIRST before you go grabbing alternate credit.

[Kadenbloom]

If you're still in high school, are any AP classes available to you? They're very valuable for Gen. Ed. credit. Often a single AP class can be 6-8 credits when transferred to a college/university.

TESU is fine, but it's intended for adult learners. If you have no college experience, there's extra hoops to jump through: https://www.tesu.edu/admissions/undergrad-admissions. It's also not the cheapest (except for CompSci like rachel83az said), and not the fastest.

I have no real knowledge or experience with COSC so I'll let someone else answer that.

You can take ACE/NCCRS classes and courses, but they don't count as true college credit until they're transferred into a college that accepts them, after you apply. TESU just revised their ACE guidelines and that left a bunch of people scrambling. If you're just focused on collecting credit, I would look at only Sophia because of its price and ease of use until you make more decisions.

I'm trying to head straight for a bachelor's degree and collecting Gen Ed instead of focusing on a high school diploma. I won't be able to test for AP in person due to my parents' work and relocating often. Can you do an AP test online proctored?

---

It depends on what degree you want. If you want computer science, TESU is still the cheapest and easiest. But if you want business, history, or English then UMPI is probably a better choice. COSC and EC have their own good options as well.

Ugh, you're right. I was in the business mindset only. My comment of not going with TESU was meant for a business degree only.

You need to figure out what degree you want (if you haven't already) and then figure out what's most important to you: time, cost, accreditation/concentration/AoS options, etc. and choose a degree program based on all those things.

The thing is I'm still mostly focused on collecting Gen Ed credits, and still considering between computer science and possibly business.
Would TESU still be a good choice?
I would like to stay with either TESU or COSC.
Also, can I collect credits without being enrolled in any particular university I'm still in high school?

TESU would be good for comp sci but maybe not business. For gen eds, you're going to want to get RA credit (see the roadmap for why). If you're still in high school, check for dual-enrollment options available to you locally. Some localities allow you to get gen eds that way for SUPER cheap.

If you don't have dual enrollment available, make sure you focus on gen eds from TEL Learning or some other inexpensive RA source FIRST before you go grabbing alternate credit.

What exactly is RA credit?
And Why should I focus on collecting that instead of ACE credits?

[rachel83az]

Are you planning on getting a GED or what? Because you're not going to be able to even enroll in a degree program if you don't have a HS diploma or GED. And I would highly recommend you don't go for the GED, though a GED can grant you up to 10 college credits.

---

What exactly is RA credit?
And Why should I focus on collecting that instead of ACE credits?

All of this is covered across this forum and on the wiki, which is why multiple people have suggested you read that first. RA credits = actual college credits. TESU now requires that you have at least 30 RA credits. 6 have to come from them, 24 (about 8 classes) can come from another college or university. If you don't have any RA credits, you won't get a TESU degree. End of story.

[Kadenbloom]

Are you planning on getting a GED or what? Because you're not going to be able to even enroll in a degree program if you don't have a HS diploma or GED. And I would highly recommend you don't go for the GED, though a GED can grant you up to 10 college credits.

I'm in a homeschool private school where my ACE credit are counted for high school credits. So I will have an HS diploma before enrolling in college/university. Similar to dual credit enrolment. My friend is in college collecting credits while homeschooled during high school.
It's a bit confusing.

[rachel83az]

Are you planning on getting a GED or what? Because you're not going to be able to even enroll in a degree program if you don't have a HS diploma or GED. And I would highly recommend you don't go for the GED, though a GED can grant you up to 10 college credits.

I'm in a homeschool private school where my ACE credit are counted for high school credits. So I will have an HS diploma before enrolling in college/university. Similar to dual inrolment. My friend is in college collecting credits while still in high school.
It's a bit confusing.

Ah, okay, yes. That works. You still need RA credit, though. Or else your only inexpensive options will be Excelsior or UMPI.

[Kadenbloom]

Are you planning on getting a GED or what? Because you're not going to be able to even enroll in a degree program if you don't have a HS diploma or GED. And I would highly recommend you don't go for the GED, though a GED can grant you up to 10 college credits.

I'm in a homeschool private school where my ACE credit are counted for high school credits. So I will have an HS diploma before enrolling in college/university. Similar to dual inrolment. My friend is in college collecting credits while still in high school.
It's a bit confusing.

Ah, okay, yes. That works. You still need RA credit, though. Or else your only inexpensive options will be Excelsior or UMPI.

So even if I do Sophia, SL, SDC, or CLEP I will still need RA credits??
What exactly is RA credit?

[rachel83az]

RA credits = Regionally Accredited credits. Credits from an actual college or university, NOT ACE credits.

Yes, TESU no longer allows you to get a degree with only ACE credits from Sophia/SDC/SL. Please read the wiki.

[dfrecore]

There are many dual enrollment options out there, including TEL - from many different schools. If you can't get free DE (state-based generally), the next cheapest option I know of is $25/cr at WVU. But there are many for $30/cr, $50/cr, $60, $65, $70, $75, etc.

Also TEL has an option through their MCA (Micro-Collegiate Academy) where you can do a 5-course bundle for $100/course.