Help making a degree plan!!

[madiknune]

I've merged your two threads because the new one was unnecessary.

I know that PSU allows a lot of transfer credits, you just have to take the last 36 credits (just over a year) through them. Here’s a link to their page that explains more about that. What is the fastest way for me to earn 66 credits? I like the idea of study.com/straighterline ACE course credits rather than CLEP exams.

For that particular university, it appears that you may be out of luck. The page you're looking for is this one: https://admissions.psu.edu/academics/credit/cbv/ They do not have a blanket policy of accepting ACE credits from things like SDC/Sophia. Your only guaranteed transfers would be through CLEPs or taking AP exams.

How much will ACE credits cost me?

This varies a lot. It can be anything from NOTHING (for CLEP exams) to a couple thousand (for Study.com). Most students are able to get 60-90 credits from Sophia in 2-4 months, which would be about $300. Compared to the standard cost of university courses, most ACE credits can feel like they cost nothing.

Last question, if I end up deciding not to transfer to PSU will I waste credits?

It depends on where you go and what their credit acceptance policy is. A lot of schools don't accept ACE credits at all or have a very, VERY limited view of what is acceptable (such as at PSU). CLEP exams will almost always transfer, as will AP exams. Others sources of alternate credit: not so much.

Also, if anyone has any other school recommendations please let me know!!

I would suggest looking into colleges/universities in Maine. Why Maine? Because Maine seems to have very broad acceptance of ACE credits. UMPI, in particular, accepts almost anything, so long as it is ACE. There is some difference in policies between the online and on-campus programs, so you would want to contact them to find out exactly how many ACE credits you could transfer in.

Including room & board & meals, it looks like UMPI out-of-state tuition would be cheaper than your in-state tuition: https://www.umpi.edu/offices/student-fin...on-a-fees/ Unfortunately, I don't see a finance degree: https://www.umpi.edu/academics/ but another school in Maine may have one and still be cheaper than your local school.

It would be so much faster and cheaper to complete, but at the same time I want to experience living on a college campus yk?

Personally, I don't see the point of spending so much money for such a thing, but everyone has different priorities. If you really want to live on-campus, I would reject schools that are super close to you. I mean, why bother? It won't be that much difference than staying at home in the first place. Should you decide to go, go somewhere that you can actually experience new things and not just the next town over. If you currently live in a big city, try to find a more rural campus. If you live in the boonies, try to find a school smack-dab in the middle of a busy city.

Thanks for merging the treads! I am on my phone and things look super wonky for mobile. So, pretty much it seems like PSU is out. I just looked at schools in Maine and didn't really find any schools that look like a good fit. Are there any other states that have a broad expectance of ACE credits? Honestly, I would check out anywhere on the east coast, hopefully near a city.

I kind of have a feeling I might be out of luck finding an in person school that accepts ACE and is a good fit. I'm trying to widen my search and have broad expectations. But, maybe getting my degree through UMPI or another online school is the way to go. I just need to make up my mind lolll. I don't understand why no one talks about ACE credit. No one from my High school even knows what it is. All of my friends are going straight to PSU, Pitt, Bucknell, and Villanova next year. Which puts them each back around 150-250k (depending on school). THAT IS CRAZY. I can't justify doing that when my parents aren't helping me. 

Ok im rambling now, but I need to get things figured out and make a plan asap. Thanks for answering my questions!