About the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) CLEP: Exam Descriptions "what is CLEP" - Google Search
You study a subject on your own and then take a CLEP exam. If you pass, you get undergraduate college credit and can avoid taking that particular class. It's the cheapest way to get college credits and it's legitimate. Highly recommended if you are trying to get through a bachelor's as cheaply as possible.
Then you also might be interested in DSST - it is similar to CLEP except some exams result in upper division credit. DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com
Yes, it is a good way to go. Then you enroll somewhere like Excelsior University where the freely accept your CLEP tests and you have been able to skip a whole bunch of classes that you don't have to take or pay for. The CLEPs do cost something, I'm not sure how much, but comparatively speaking, it's cheap. I have never done any CLEPs, but had they been available when I was an undergrad, I would have jumped on it.
It is the way to go. I CLEPed just over 50 credits in less then 2 months or close to an associates degree in one semester!
so you "study" for whatever CLEP exams you want to take. and it appears that you can primarily utilize this for your basic courses covered within the first 2 years. I will have to look into it more. Meanwhile, how exactly does it work. for example i am enrolling to TESC. do i take the tests through them on class by class basis? does that pretty much sum it up?
What degree and subject are you planning? TESC may not be your best option. In general it is best to accumulate most of your credits, including those from CLEP/DSST exams, before enrolling in one of the big three colleges. This will save you paying annual enrollment fees. The only reason for enrolling any sooner is if the college plans a major change in degree requirements (not very likely). Also note that Exelsior does not accept CLEP English with essay any longer (I was lucky - they used to take it). I can't speak for TESC and COSC.
BS in Business Administration. I was going to all of the classes online until I found this site the other day. And now i am trying to understand the different ways to legitimately achieve my BS without spending about 20k. But I still have to research more as I am not fulling understanding how these different tests work. So please feel free to offer any advice.
Let's say you know a subject (like Principles of Management) and feel that you know everything that would be covered in a Principles of Management 101 class. You see if the school you want to earn your degree from would accept the CLEP, if they do you take the test and have the scores mailed to the school. If you pass - PRESTO - 3 credits in Principles of Management!
I just have to add, from what I read your just starting your journey toward a BS. If your enrolling at TESC, look into the FEMA courses, Iam a big fan and advocate of these free credits, and you can easily knock out 24 free electives credits in a long weekend. You will find a lot of help from a lot of smart people on this forum. Any questions regarding fema credits feel free to pm me. ~John
I suggest you download the Excelsior business catalog and read it through. It will give a great overview of how to earn a business degree (you may have to register for free but they wont bug you or sell your email address). https://www.excelsior.edu/Excelsior_College/School_of_Business_and_Technology The TESC and COSC degree requirements are similar. Then read about CLEP here About the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) And DSST here DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com To earn credits you can take courses at any US regionally accredited college – this is a great way to keep your costs low (for my BS I took courses from approx a dozen colleges then transferred in the credit to Excelsior). Ask about any course you need on this board and you will usually receive several suggestions. Quite often your local community college is a low cost and convenient source of courses.
Another cheap way to earn credit is Clovis Community College: Your College Search Solution: Clovis Community College, Clovis, New Mexico However, classes start Monday. Of course, you can wait until January. My homeschooled daughter earned her AA- General Studies from Charter Oak State College exactly how Ian described. Her AA broke down like this: 36 credits CLEP/DSST 18 credits from Clovis Community College 3 credits from BYU Independent Study (Public Speaking - completed in 10 days) 3 credits from Southern Baptist Seminary (Ethics Requirement). Up next in our homeschool, my 15 year old son is using the Excelsior AS - General Studies degree as his template to earn a degree while in high school. Shawn
Thank you all. I have been doing some research before i get started, my next question is, for example, I plan on graduating from Thomas edison. do i or should i enroll first in thomas and then start taking my cleps or start taking cleps from where ever and then when i have completed enough for my program transfer them all in at once? once agina i am just starting out and have only about 6 credits from my local community college
Take your CLEPs and DSSTs first, then enroll. Not only that, make sure you don't enroll until you are close to completing all of the degree's requirements as stated on their website and in their undergrad catalog.
. . . but make sure you leave SOME credits until you enroll-- you have to do something while enrolled with them to earn that degree.
Now you say that once you take the test you have them forwarded to the school. what if you want to start taking the CLEPs but are not enrolled yet?
