Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Printable Version

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At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Solihull - 10-14-2025

If anyone can help I would very much appreciate it.

My Location: UK. So I would be an international student. English is my first language.
My Age: 78
What kind of degree do I want?: BS Business
Current Regional Accredited Credits: None
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None
Any certifications or military experience?: None
Budget: Can go up to $10k, but as with many others would like it to be less expensive.
Commitments: I'm married and retired. I have some time on my hands. At my age, I don't want to start a 4-5 year degree - I may not live that long.
Dedicated time to study: I can spend about 30 hours a week
Timeline: I would like to finish in 1 to 1.5 years
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None available
College of interest: Purdue Global ExcelTrack, but I'm happy to consider any other suitable college.
General comment: I'm a retired Sales Director, and I'm only looking to obtain a degree for my own satisfaction, I'm assuming that a Business degree will be the easiest to obtain, I'm happy to consider testing out and/or CBE

Thank you in advance for any help/guidance


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - jg_nuy - 10-14-2025

UMPI or TESU seems like the best options, in that order.

Overview for UMPI: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/University_of_Maine_at_Presque_Isle
General Education: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UMPI_!General_Education_Requirements_Roadmap
Degree Plans: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

Overview for TESU: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison_State_University
General Education: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sample_TESU_General_Education_Requirements_Roadmap
Degree Plans: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU

Best of luck!


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Solihull - 10-14-2025

@ jg_nuy
Thank you very much for your fast reply.
It's 03:30 so I'll look into the links tomorrow
Regards


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Jonathan Whatley - 10-15-2025

(10-14-2025, 08:40 PM)Solihull Wrote: I'm a retired Sales Director, and I'm only looking to obtain a degree for my own satisfaction, I'm assuming that a Business degree will be the easiest to obtain, I'm happy to consider testing out and/or CBE

At UMPI the likely easiest path for you is the Bachelor of Liberal Studies (titled BLS and the major is Liberal Studies, and you choose at least one minor) with a minor in Business Administration (more hard-skills) or in Management (more soft-skills but maybe countervailed by a bit more work writing about them).


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Cookbecomeingnerd - 10-25-2025

Seeing as you dont NEED any specific degree, UMPI Liberal Studies is definitely the way to go. I would try to get as many Study.com credits as you can as they will be much cheaper and easier. Knock out the of required prerequisites, then just take whatever you find interesting.


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - bjcheung77 - 10-26-2025

Basically, I'm thinking the same thing, getting a BLS with a minor of your choice would be the way to go, as 60 credits can be in anything for your electives. The other option I was thinking is to do the UK Level 4/5/6 and top it up... It depends on you and what you're looking at to finish, but for the cost, ease, speed to finish, UMPI is the first option. If you're really strapped for cash but have time to complete classes, you can do the UofPeople Bachelors.


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - Smarterthanthat - 11-17-2025

I helped a Job Corps student obtain a BA in 47 days, since many have helped me on this Forum, here are details !

You will need a college level english and math Base, with also a art or science, Coursera, ed-x , straighterline can cover this pretty standard.
Next go to FEMA website, get Student ID, cost zero. Then proceed to "independent Study" There are 185 or more courses /tests there..If you take the test and pass..GREAT! If you take it and "fail" Take it again, and/or you know what to study now Smile.
There are courses with Coursera, Ed-x, ETC. which you likely will enjoy, much the better.
Then look into /at "BAin4weeks.Com" and /or this forum (big 3 info).
One can also run their past history through one or more "PLA" for fairly cheap, and use that as well.


RE: At 78 I'm looking to get my first degree - bjcheung77 - 11-17-2025

(11-17-2025, 12:14 AM)Smarterthanthat Wrote: I helped a Job Corps student obtain a BA in 47 days, since many have helped me on this Forum, here are details !

You will need a college level english and math Base, with also a art or science, Coursera, ed-x , straighterline can cover this pretty standard.
Next go to FEMA website, get Student ID, cost zero. Then proceed to "independent Study" There are 185 or more courses /tests there..If you take the test and pass..GREAT! If you take it and "fail" Take it again, and/or you know what to study now Smile.
There are courses with Coursera, Ed-x, ETC. which you likely will enjoy, much the better.
Then look into /at "BAin4weeks.Com" and /or this forum (big 3 info).
One can also run their past history through one or more "PLA" for fairly cheap, and use that as well.

That's awesome, which institution did they graduate from? Which degree and was it a CBE program?