Trying to decide between the big 3

[SpeedyAlchemist]

Can someone help? I'm looking for the least expensive way since I'm paying for it myself.

Plan is to do FEMA (not 100% understanding how, yet) and CLEP. Can I just take all the CLEPs beforehand, and then apply? What would the cheapest way to do that be? Need an AA for my job (the major doesn't matter); not sure if I'm going to continue to BA.

Thanks for helping a newbie.

[ryoder]

I recommend TESC to everyone because they are a state school, they have generous transfer policies, I graduated from them, I am currently attending the school and I like their name.

Go take a look at the degree plan on TESC's site for an AA. Then map it out to a bunch of CLEP, DSST, straighterline, Penn Foster, ECE and other sources of credit. You can find course equivalencies in this forum, just do a search.

Once you have it figured out, or atleast partially figured out, begin studying for the CLEP tests first, then DSST, then choose straighterline classes and others, in that order. CLEP/DSST are considered RA credit which is worth more in transfer than ACE credit that straighterline provides. TESC will accept both though.

Start with the easiest CLEP tests first so you get the hang of it. There are multiple sources online that show which tests are considered the easiest.

My opinion, don't waste time and money with an associates. Just work toward the associates as a goal, collecting credits and knowledge along the way. Once you get to that 60 credit mark, continue CLEPing until you have 120 credits. Then pay the $2400 to TESC to enroll, pay the $275 to graduate and you now have a BA/BS/BSBA or whatever.

I also recommend the BSBA general management to everyone. You can test out of this one and many have been there and done that so there is a LOT of help on this. The degree will expose you to math, science, history, humanities, writing, human resources, psychology, marketing, finance, economics, accounting, computers and other subjects. It is a very well rounded degree to have and will serve as a basis for an MBA later in life.

[sevyn220]

They're probably all going to be comparative in costs in the end so be sure to factor in things other than costs. However, if you're looking strictly at money as the determining factor here's the breakdown in required fees before FEMA:

TESC: $3243 (2858 enrollment, 113 tech fee, 272 graduation)
COSC: $1375 (220 enrollment, 930 out of state capstone course, 205 graduation)
EC: $1470 (975 enrollment, 495 graduation)

But if you factor in FEMA and try to max out with it, TESC becomes competitive again because they accept FEMA credits directly without paying the $77 per credit fee to Frederick Community College. Excelsior and Charter Oak will want you to submit your FEMA credits through Frederick CC for $77 per credit. So then the numbers look like this if you max out on FEMA:

TESC: $3243 with up to 18 FEMA (max free electives for Associates degree) leaving you needing 42 credits

COSC: $3585 with up to 30 FEMA credits (max for AS I think) leaving you needing 30 credits

Excelsior: $3703 with up 29 credits (max for AS) leaving you needing 31 credits

So if you're looking at just costs TESC looks better with FEMA. However, if you are thinking strictly costs, it's actually cheaper to do COSC or EC and not FEMA. In place of FEMA at $77 a credit, tests and things like ALEKS and Straighterline are cheaper per credit.

**Disclaimer: I just did a quick look on their sites for these numbers. You should always verify things on your own and with the school itself.

[SpeedyAlchemist]

Thank you! You guys are awesome.

[sanantone]

You can max out even more with the FEMA credits if you choose the AAS in Environmental, Safety, and Security Technologies program at TESC. You can fill the area of study and free electives with FEMA credits. TESC accepts a max of 32 credits in FEMA courses which will leave you with 28 credits in tests or courses. This makes TESC the cheapest option. The AAS will transfer easily into the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program since FEMA courses can be used in free electives and the area of study electives. You can't test out of the Homeland Security program though, so if you aren't into taking courses, you can still use 27 of the FEMAs as free electives in other programs. You can test out of the BSBA in General Management, but there are only 6 electives in which you can use FEMA. Your other options in which you can use up to 27 FEMAs to fill free electives and completely test out of are psychology, social science, liberal studies, and maybe even history and humanities. Those degrees aren't as useful as the BSBA, but it all depends on your goals.

[CLEP101]

TESC: $3243 with up to 18 FEMA (max free electives for Associates degree) leaving you needing 42 credits

COSC: $3585 with up to 30 FEMA credits (max for AS I think) leaving you needing 30 credits

Excelsior: $3703 with up 29 credits (max for AS) leaving you needing 31 credits

Correct me if I'm wrong but there is one AAS degree at TESC that takes 21 FEMA credits as the main Area of Study.
AAS in Environmental, Safety and Security Technology degree. Below is the link to the degree's credit distribution. Looks simple enough to test out of. I might just get that one too.

Thomas Edison State College | AAS in Environmental, Safety and Security Technologies

[rebel100]

A great*exchange of information.

you really don't need to pat the back on every post you read....your clogging the new posts section without really contributing anything.

[IrishJohn]

"Jordanka" is a spammer from some "no credit check loans" internet scam. Hence why they are resurrecting old threads to put in their junk. Check out their tagline but I wouldn't recommend clicking the link. Hopefully the moderators will delete their posts soon.