Possible misrepresentation of the new COSC policy

[Merlin]

I still say they are one of the Big 3 until they no longer accept 114cr of transfer, and require more than 6cr in residency.  Once they require 30cr in residency like most schools, THEN they'll be out.  But until then, they are just a bit more difficult for SOME people to get the credits, but really, I think most people on this forum already have some credit, maybe from past schools.

Also, they're the only one of the Big 3 that requires a lab science.  Does this make it a bit more difficult to meet the GE requirement? Yes.  But does that mean that because of this requirement, they aren't one of the Big 3? No.  It's just an obstacle to be overcome in their process.  It's like TESU's residency waiver, or EC's Enrollment fee - something that makes it more difficult for some to overcome, but it's not impossible.

I see the 24 RA credit requirement as much more of a block to big 3 status than the requirement for a science lab course. The lab is inconvenient but can be overcome with extra money via online options. Coming up with 24 RA credits is a showstopper for people who don't have prior RA credit to bring in. I don't have any data to back this up, but just based on posts, it feels to me that the majority of new people are effectively starting from scratch. Even if it isn't the majority, my guess is that most people who come to this forum are not coming in with 24 or more prior RA credits that will meet the transfer requirements for COSC.

For the people who are coming in with zero RA credits, there is no difference between COSC and any other school that has a 30 credit residency requirement. This includes anyone coming from an NA school or who have only earned ACE/NCCRS credits. It may also include foreign school transfers.

I still see a big 3, but I see COSC and WGU as making up half of a school each. WGU and COSC both have a 30 credit residency requirement in my perspective, but with the recent change in accepted providers, WGU accepts more alt. ed. transfer options than COSC. Then again COSC is easier to match prior credits to in transfer. So its a wash.