I think I've hit a roadblock at work and need a degree to advance further. I'm currently a supervisor for a small network administration team and am looking to use life experience and over 3 years of university credits towards something like a MIS degree. Cost is a big factor since I'll be getting married next year and being older the biological clock is ticking so we'll most likely have kids right after. I'm sure it's been asked before but I'm looking for some schools to look into that are cheap, hopefully regionally accredited, and that will accept as many credits as possible. Last time I looked at this I applied to Indiana-Bloomington (I think) and got accepted and need a year for a liberal degree. Anyway, where should I look for a degree that has the holy trinity of not costing much, is quick, and is a valid respected degree? Thanks for your time and I'll do some more searching tomorrow but I was hoping maybe someone would take pity on me and point me in the right direction...thanks!
You have a variety of options some being less expensive and other being more expeditious. Western Governors University (WGU) is regionally accredited and uses a competency model rather than specific courses; no requirement to take courses from WGU. Charter Oak State College (COSC) is regionally accredited and you can transfer 100% of the credit hours into the degree. The school offers an individualized studies concentration in addition to many subject specific concentrations. I am not certain whether their specific general education requirements can be bypassed with an associate degree (AA/AS/AAS) from another school before applying to COSC for a bachelor degree (BA/BS). You should ask them, and if the answer is yes, then Thomas Edison State College is very flexible if you are seeking an AA/AS. Thomas Edison State College (TESC) is regionally accredited and you can transfer 100% of the credit hours into the degree. There are many other schools out there but these three are probably the quickest route to a bachelor degree. I did not mention Excelsior College simply due to its name, but perhaps it works for you. As to where to earn the additional credit hours there are plenty of choices; search the forum but it is universally acknowledged CLEPs, DANTEs are very inexpensive as well as community colleges. Beware of any limits on the number of credit hours acceptable from a 2-year institution when transferring them into a 4-year degree.
Excelsior is the other good option for cheap, flexible and regionally accredited. They should be good about credit for your certs. I'm nearly done with a BS in business w/ a MIS concentration. Most of my tech credit is from classes, however. Credit for "Life experience" at most schools can be credit-by-exam or portfolio credit. Portfolio can be a big job, I looked into it and decided that if there's an exam or an accelerated class that's the way to go. Phillip
Is there a list of certs somewhere that count for credit? Aren't certain certs ones that expire? The only one I know that doesn't expire is A+.
thanks for the replies guys...so I'll be ok with a degree from one of these places or will i need a masters to solidify the creditential? I looked up my employers tuition reimbursement and its 80% up to 3500 a year if they approve but I'm thinking I may be able to afford more for education if I can talk my boss into it. But if WGU, TESC, Charter Oak or Excelsior are good then I'll just look into those. thanks
Here is the list. COSC uses the same guidelines as Excelsior for credits and CompTIA exams (all of them) never expire.
Good thinking for advancing your study. I got same issue i'm looking for answer too. But i'm not getting maried! Congrats in advance.