Transfer to Calif State Univ for BS Computer Science Degree with Tuition Waiver

[USMCWinger]

Your Location:  California, but I'm not a California resident for tuition purposes until the spring 2026 semester
Your Age:  60
What kind of degree do you want?  BS in computer science with an emphasis in software engineering
Current Regional Accredited Credits:  24 semester units
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:  3 CLEP units, 5 database administrator courses at Oracle University, and 2 computer programming courses at New Horizons.
Any certifications or military experience?  USMC veteran with a JST listing 132 ACE-recommended units, including CLEP units 
Budget:  ~$1,200 for this school year, then later ~$1,200 each year for the next 2 school years
Commitments:  Work part-time; weekly medical appointments
Dedicated time to study:  about 40 hrs/week
Timeline:  next 3 years
Tuition assistance/reimbursement:  California's "Over 60 Program" available at a few California State University campuses will waive tuition for fall and spring semesters, waive the $70 application fee, and reduce other student registration fees.  (See https://www.csuci.edu/sbs/tuition-and-pa...rogram.htm)  The program doesn't pay for books, parking fees, lab fees, etc.

The bottom line is that I have nearly 2 decades of experience, skills, and education in software engineering, relational databases, and system administration, but I don't have the credentials to back it up when HR/ATS is checking my resume for job opportunities.  I'd like to fix that with a BS in computer science.

I'm currently planning to transfer to California State University, Channel Islands, (CSUCI) as an upper-division transfer student.  I've already signed up for ModernStates.org to help me study for CLEP exams.  My plan is to take at least one CLEP exam this fall and then attend a California community college in the spring and summer of 2026, when I become a California resident for tuition purposes again, then transfer to California State University, Channel Islands, in the fall of 2026 to complete my BS degree in computer science by the spring of 2028.

I'll need at least 60 units to transfer as an upper-division student, but I'll only have 56 units.  I'd like to take the German Language CLEP test for 6 more units, because I took 2 years of German in high school.  However, that was decades ago, so it may take me a while to review it.  In case I don't have time to pass this test before my scheduled transfer, I plan to take the TEEX Cyber 201 - Cybersecurity for IT Professionals courses for 4 elective units over the next few weeks and, after I pass the courses, use Credly.com to send a free transcript of my TEEX credits to CSUCI next year.

Does anyone see any flaws or pitfalls in my plan that I should be aware of?  I've looked at the degree plans for several online BS/BA CS degrees generously provided in this forum, and while it looks like I'd complete my degree much faster than 3 years (which would be better for me), the fact is that I don't have the money.  It will take much more than 3 years to save up enough money to pay for those courses, while California's "Over 60 Program" provides free tuition at the state university.  I really, really don't want to take out student loans to finance my education, but the high cost of living limits the amount I can save each year.

Ultimately, I'd also like to get an MS degree in computer science, too, so that I can teach computer science at the community college level to both give back to the community and to supplement my income as I find it harder and harder to find steady, full-time employment.

If anyone has any other advice that would benefit me, I'd like to hear it.  Perhaps an approach where I take just enough courses at the community college to be eligible to transfer to CSUCI, then take enough nearly free courses at CSUCI to then transfer to an online university where I only need 1 semester in residence that I can quickly (and VERY CHEAPLY!) finish my BS degree in computer science.

Thank you for your time and your good advice.

Below is a list of my current and expected credits before transfer to CSUCI:

24 RA Credits:
-----------------

3 California community college credits:

English Composition, 3, A

21 Chapman University credits:

(Lower division)
Computer Architecture I, 3, A
Computer Systems/Assembly Lang Programming, 3, A-

(Upper division)
Operating Systems, 3, C
Data Comm/Computer Networks, 3, B+
Computer Graphics, 3, A
Database Mgmt, 3, A
Human Computer Interaction, 3, A

11 Other credits:
--------------------

USMC Boot Camp, 3 GE units + 5 Elective units
CLEP Humanities, 3 (CSUCI only accepts 3 units, not the ACE-recommended 6 units)


My planned credits before transfer to CSUCI:
------------------------------------------------------

CLEP Calculus I, 4 (using ModernStates.org)

17 California community college credits @ $782 tuition + books & fees:

Calculus with Analytic Geometry II, 5
Introduction to Symbolic Logic, 3
Public Speaking, 3
American Gov't & Politics, 3
Intro to Ethnic Studies, 3

-------------------------------------
21 units Chapman University
20 units community colleges
8 units boot camp
7 units CLEP
-------------------------------------
Total:  56 units 


Proposed units:

TEEX Cyber 201 - Cybersecurity for IT Professionals, 4 elective units
   OR ...
CLEP German, 4 GE units + 2 (or 5, if my score is high enough) elective units

[davewill]

The biggest pitfalls are that the 60+ program specifies you are always in the last enrollment group, so you may find it difficult to get courses. A little research in student online groups might help you identify courses that could be problematic, and that you might want to plan on taking some other way.

The other pitfall is one you've acknowledged, the extra time you'll be spending waiting to become a CA resident, and then taking butt-in-seat courses. You could complete a bachelor's at TESU, WGU or UMPI in a year, then start on your master's much sooner. I'd be looking really hard at ways I could afford to save that time. Perhaps taking a contract gig that would earn you a nest egg to use for education?

[USMCWinger]

The biggest pitfalls are that the 60+ program specifies you are always in the last enrollment group, so you may find it difficult to get courses. A little research in student online groups might help you identify courses that could be problematic, and that you might want to plan on taking some other way.

The other pitfall is one you've acknowledged, the extra time you'll be spending waiting to become a CA resident, and then taking butt-in-seat courses. You could complete a bachelor's at TESU, WGU or UMPI in a year, then start on your master's much sooner. I'd be looking really hard at ways I could afford to save that time. Perhaps taking a contract gig that would earn you a nest egg to use for education?

Thanks for the reply.  Fortunately for me, CSUCI has only 1 impacted program, the BS in Nursing degree, which doesn't apply to me.  CSUCI is a small campus that has had trouble filling seats since the Trump administration started arresting and deporting foreign students with valid student visas.  I looked at the class schedules for the spring, summer, and fall sessions this year, and it looks like there will be seats available in most of the courses I need, but I'll have trouble with the Probability and Statistics course, for sure.

I may have found a way around being the last to register for classes each semester, though.  California has passed laws so that certain students who meet certain requirements get priority registration at the California State University and University of California campuses.  If I spend an extra semester at a community college and earn my Associate in Science in Computer Science for Transfer degree, whichever California State campus approves my enrollment for the BS in Computer Science degree will guarantee I get all the courses I need to graduate on time.  Essentially, they would create a seat for me, even if the class is already full.

That said, I've been doing some more research and discovered that the tests for Study.com and Sophia are open book/open notes.  I could knock out the required courses fairly quickly before transferring to TESU, WGU or UMPI.  In my earlier research, I found that the suggested time at one of these universities would be 3 terms, and the price a few years ago (according to the date on the post) at TESU (the cheapest) was about $4,000 tuition per term, meaning next year would be about $5,000 to $6,000 tuition per term multiplied by 3, which is out of my reach.  But I also spotted a few posts mentioning a degree at TESU might only need 15 units in residence if all the other course requirements were made beforehand.

If that's really possible, then I need to find out what steps to take and calculate the exact cost.  But it sounds like I would pay the expensive tuition for only 1 term at TESU after zipping through the necessary courses on Study.com and Sophia first at their much cheaper tuition rates.  That total cost isn't as far out of reach as I thought!  That just might be doable!

[Jonathan Whatley]

But I also spotted a few posts mentioning a degree at TESU might only need 15 units in residence if all the other course requirements were made beforehand.

Not only might: Whereas most colleges require a minimum 30 semester hours in academic residence for a bachelor's, TESU's number is 15.

Additionally, you can waive even that 15-credit minimum by paying the $3400 Edison Accelerate Fee (formerly called the residency waiver fee). With the Accelerate fee you will still have to take the capstone at TESU, and for a first bachelor's degree the cornerstone (SOS-1100 Information Literacy).

[davewill]

...

I may have found a way around being the last to register for classes each semester, though.  California has passed laws so that certain students who meet certain requirements get priority registration at the California State University and University of California campuses.  If I spend an extra semester at a community college and earn my Associate in Science in Computer Science for Transfer degree, whichever California State campus approves my enrollment for the BS in Computer Science degree will guarantee I get all the courses I need to graduate on time.  Essentially, they would create a seat for me, even if the class is already full.

That said, I've been doing some more research and discovered that the tests for Study.com and Sophia are open book/open notes.  I could knock out the required courses fairly quickly before transferring to TESU, WGU or UMPI.  In my earlier research, I found that the suggested time at one of these universities would be 3 terms, and the price a few years ago (according to the date on the post) at TESU (the cheapest) was about $4,000 tuition per term, meaning next year would be about $5,000 to $6,000 tuition per term multiplied by 3, which is out of my reach.  But I also spotted a few posts mentioning a degree at TESU might only need 15 units in residence if all the other course requirements were made beforehand.

If that's really possible, then I need to find out what steps to take and calculate the exact cost.  But it sounds like I would pay the expensive tuition for only 1 term at TESU after zipping through the necessary courses on Study.com and Sophia first at their much cheaper tuition rates.  That total cost isn't as far out of reach as I thought!  That just might be doable!

Make sure that that priority registration will still apply if you use the 60+ program. I find it likely that you'd only get the priority if you were paying full fees.

TESU is likely to cost you $5-7000 depending on whether you choose to earn 15 residency credits by taking them in a single term, or pay the accelerate fee. You could probably do the whole BACS in one year (or even less) since you have plenty of study time available, and it sounds like you probably already have much of the CS knowledge already.

[bjcheung77]

For TESU, you only pay for residency credits (15 credits by using the flat rate tuition, which includes the cornerstone/capstone) or you pay the Edison Accelerate Fee plus the cornerstone/capstone. You're not going to be paying that X3 as you mentioned... If cost is a concern, you can do the UoPeople BSCS or the UMPI BSCS when they roll out...

[USMCWinger]

But I also spotted a few posts mentioning a degree at TESU might only need 15 units in residence if all the other course requirements were made beforehand.

Not only might: Whereas most colleges require a minimum 30 semester hours in academic residence for a bachelor's, TESU's number is 15.

Additionally, you can waive even that 15-credit minimum by paying the $3400 Edison Accelerate Fee (formerly called the residency waiver fee). With the Accelerate fee you will still have to take the capstone at TESU, and for a first bachelor's degree the cornerstone (SOS-1100 Information Literacy).

Thanks to the links you guys have provided, I've done some more online research and calculations:

I'll need a minimum of 47 more units (120 - 73) to graduate from TESU, which could probably be achieved within a 12-month Sophia.org membership.

24 RA units earned already
17 units expected at a community college
26 units expected for CLEP exams
  6 units expected at TESU
----------------------------------
73 units total

Cost calculations:
----------------------------------

NOTE:  Normally, it's $498 for EdX Information Literacy: SOS-110 Critical Information Literacy, but I found the "Get up to 30% off with code FORYOU30OFF until July 30, 2025" on the EdX web page for the course.  According to the Wiki:  "This course can be taken via TESU or on EdX as a MicroBachelor's degree (it's just the one course) for Computer Science (BA or AS) or Computer Technology degrees only."

       $0.00  Application Fee (currently waived for military and veteran students)
   $348.60  SOS-110 Critical Information Literacy at EdX with 30% discount
$1,719.00  Capstone course with Out-of-state Residents tuition ($573 x 3 units)
   $298.00  Graduation Audit Fee
$3,400.00  Edison Accelerate Fee
----------------------------------
$5,765.60 at TESU
   $599.00 12 Months Sophia.org membership
   $782.00 17 units at a community college
   $350.00 Books + fees at a community college
   $235.00 Study.com College Saver Plan for 1 month for any upper division courses I still need
----------------------------------
 $7,731.60 total
-$2,400.00 my savings over the next 2 school years
----------------------------------
$5,331.60

I haven't filled out a FAFSA form yet to determine if I'm eligible for federal student financial aid, but if I were to get $2,500 each year for school years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, then that would just about pay for my BACS degree at TESU.  If I get a reasonable amount of financial aid, then it sounds like this plan is doable!  I'll also check out the costs for the UMPI BSCS online degree when that becomes available.

Thanks for all the great advice!  Have a great day!

[Jonathan Whatley]

       $0.00  Application Fee (currently waived for military and veteran students)
   $348.60  SOS-110 Critical Information Literacy at EdX with 30% discount
$1,719.00  Capstone course with Out-of-state Residents tuition ($573 x 3 units)
   $298.00  Graduation Audit Fee
$3,400.00  Edison Accelerate Fee
----------------------------------
$5,765.60 at TESU
   $599.00 12 Months Sophia.org membership
   $782.00 17 units at a community college
   $350.00 Books + fees at a community college
   $235.00 Study.com College Saver Plan for 1 month for any upper division courses I still need
----------------------------------
 $7,731.60 total
-$2,400.00 my savings over the next 2 school years
----------------------------------
$5,331.60

I haven't filled out a FAFSA form yet to determine if I'm eligible for federal student financial aid, but if I were to get $2,500 each year for school years 2025/2026 and 2026/2027, then that would just about pay for my BACS degree at TESU.  If I get a reasonable amount of financial aid, then it sounds like this plan is doable!

My knowledge of federal financial aid is limited. My understanding is it generally requires you to be enrolled in a degree program and taking at least a half time course load, 6 semester hours per semester, in that program. Alt-credit including Sophia and the EdX Information Literacy course will not count toward that course load.

Scenario A: If your degree program of record for your federal financial aid is at TESU, but courses to fulfill your course load are from a different college, I think you would need a consortium agreement to be signed between TESU and the other college. Will both colleges form a consortium agreement for you?

Scenario B: Alternatively, you could enroll in an associate's degree at the California community college and make that your degree of record for your federal financial aid. But then your financial aid would be tied to your taking courses towards that associate's degree, which might not be the same courses as you need for the TESU BACS.

Question arising in both scenarios: Do both the California and federal rules allow you to benefit fully at the same time from both the 60+ tuition waiver and federal financial aid? Some benefits can't be stacked.

[davewill]

Or you skip community college and CLEP and do it all via Sophia and Study.com, the usual method around here.

Edit: Sorry, I now realize you're trying to maximize financial aid.

[USMCWinger]

...

I may have found a way around being the last to register for classes each semester, though.  California has passed laws so that certain students who meet certain requirements get priority registration at the California State University and University of California campuses.  If I spend an extra semester at a community college and earn my Associate in Science in Computer Science for Transfer degree, whichever California State campus approves my enrollment for the BS in Computer Science degree will guarantee I get all the courses I need to graduate on time.  Essentially, they would create a seat for me, even if the class is already full.

Make sure that that priority registration will still apply if you use the 60+ program. I find it likely that you'd only get the priority if you were paying full fees.

TESU is likely to cost you $5-7000 depending on whether you choose to earn 15 residency credits by taking them in a single term, or pay the accelerate fee. You could probably do the whole BACS in one year (or even less) since you have plenty of study time available, and it sounds like you probably already have much of the CS knowledge already.

The California law governing the "Over 60" program at Cal State Universities guarantees that I'm dead last to register every semester at the campus I'm approved for, if I'm approved for enrollment.  The other California law for Associate of Science for Transfer (AS-T) degree graduates from California community colleges guarantees that, as long as I'm approved for enrollment, and I'm successfully passing every course taken, and I enroll continuously until graduation, then I will graduate with a bachelor's degree in 4 semesters (or 5 semesters for high unit majors, and computer science is one of those majors).

The way it's supposed to work is that, as an AS-T degree graduate, when I go to register for a class that's required for graduation at the university, if it's already full at a max of 40 seats, then the campus will enlarge that class to 41 seats for that semester, so I get to take the class.

Of course, I see several workarounds for the state of California to avoid giving free tuition to seniors:

1.)  Rescind the California law to cancel the "Over 60" program.
2.)  Suspend the "Over 60" programs at the last 5 CSU campuses that haven't already suspended the program.
3.)  Not approve my application for any of the 23 CSU campuses.
4.)  Not approve my application for CSU Channel Islands but redirect me to another CSU campus that doesn't have the "Over 60" program running, and only approve that campus, so I have to pay full tuition if I want to transfer and graduate with a BS degree.

With the current and future expected government budget cuts, I think I have a very good chance of needing to find an alternative to the "Over 60" program if I want to earn my BSCS degree, so I'm very happy that I found this forum and your good advice regarding TESU.  Cheers!

---

Or you skip community college and CLEP and do it all via Sophia and Study.com, the usual method around here.

Edit: Sorry, I now realize you're trying to maximize financial aid.

Correct.  I'll be enrolled in a community college with at least 12 units each spring and fall semester to ensure I can qualify for student financial aid while I knock out the Sophia.org and Study.com courses as fast as I can.

---

Question arising in both scenarios: Do both the California and federal rules allow you to benefit fully at the same time from both the 60+ tuition waiver and federal financial aid? Some benefits can't be stacked.

Other "Over 60" program students have received federal student financial aid in the past to pay for other student expenses, such as books, housing, and transportation, but that's always subject to change.  I know I can't count on it.  But I can ask for it!