Question about course credit

[shadowgem]

I have the unique experience of having taken both the ASU course and the CLEP for College Algebra. Note that with the ASU class, your entire grade is based on the exam, so there's no real difference between it and the CLEP except that ASU costs $400 more. If you like the ALEKS setup in the ASU class, then once you've completed that material, take the CLEP. If you don't pass, then try the final exam for ASU. Note that the practice exam is almost identical to the actual exam, so if you can do well on the one you'll do well on the other.

Thank you so much for your advises! I will complete my ALEKS practice first and probably attempt the CLEP exam with the Modern States voucher. I have one more question: which online BSCS do you recommend that meet the following requirements:
a) It is offered from a CAE (Center of Academic Excellence) designated institution
b) Low credit hour total cost (definitely less than $400, which includes the tuition+per credit fees). Not intention to mess with student loans.
c) Reasonable prerequisites for non-STEM degree holders (I have BA).
From my research I found only the FHSU BSCS ($218 credit hour). Another option would be the Middle Georgia State University BSIT with concentration in Software Engineering ($300-330 per credit hour and it has the ABET accreditation) but it is not BSCS. I like very much the University of Illinois Springfield BSCS but it's very expensive ($421 credit hour). If you are aware of another program please let me know.

Have you researched Excelsior's programs? They are a CAE designated institution. While the tuition is higher than other options you listed, they have lower residency requirements than many other schools, and they do allow you to transfer in up to 113 credit hours for their BSCS program and their BSIT program. Also if you complete 2 courses via Straigherline, they have a Partnership agreement that will reduce the tuition to $410 per credit hour if you complete 12 credits with Excelsior online. They award credit for IT certifications, ACE providers ect so it may be possible to complete a good portion of the degree requirements using outside sources that are cheaper than taking the courses directly through them. It could be worth looking into if you haven't already ruled them out.