Least Expensive Accredited Courses I've Found

For those that are interested or are just starting, I've done a good deal of searching DL schools to find the least expensive, accredited options. I've come up with two schools, one for secular classes and the other for religious classes:

1) LSU. This school is RA and charges $67 per credit hour. With some minor mandtory fees a 3-hour class runs $216. They offer tons of classes in a wide variety of areas. They do not offer a complete degree program but their credits do transfer into the UNO (University of New Orleans) Bachelor of General Studies program. LSU is a great option if you are looking to complete general education or open elective requirements before transferring to the school you ultimately plan to graduate from. Since they are RA their credits should easily transfer to any school.

2) Eugene Bible College. This school is NA through the AABC. Most of their classes are 4.5 quarter units, the equivalent of the traditional 3 hour course. Their tuition per quarter unit is $45. This equates to only $225 per class. They offer about 90 classes through DL ranging from General Education classes to Ministry, Bible/Theology, Missions, etc. Like LSU, they don't offer a complete degree program online but it's a good place to start to inexpensively build your credit bank before transferring to the school you want to graduate from. Since they are AABC their credits should easily transfer into any Bible College or into RA schools that also are accredited by TRACS or the AABC, like Liberty, Moody, Trinity (currently RA Candidate), etc.

3) FHSU. This school is RA and a bit more expensive at $112 per hour. Still, at $336 per class it's a bargain. They offer several complete degree programs through DL. For a secular field, LSU to FHSU would be a very inexpensive RA degree path, especially if you picked up some CLEP credits along the way.


Pug

 

If you want cheap...

...and are a California resident, check out the local community colleges. The current rates are in the neighborhood of 17-19 dollars per credit.

 

YOU'RE SO RIGHT ABOUT LSU!

I'm taking some courses there now, and they are GREAT!

I do have a question about FHSU. You mentioned CLEP, does FHSU grant credit for CLEP and/or other tests? If so, is there an online page that lists the tests they accept, how many hours they grant, what is the minimum passing grade, etc. like COSC does?

Thanks!

 

Don't forget Amberton University...

Based out of Garland Texas, this combination "bricks & clicks" institution is RA accredited through SACS, and offers a graduate per credit rate of $200, this is about as cheap as you'll find a legitimate Master's program going for anywhere in the world.

I'm currently working on completing an MA at Amberton, entirely through distance learning. My experiences (quality of academic coursework, instruction, and student services) have been all positive. The institution is extremely accommodating to working adults, and also will accept up to 12 credits of prior graduate level coursework as transfer credits towards a degree. 24 credits (out of 36 needed) must be completed at Amberton.

 

<I do have a question about FHSU. You mentioned CLEP, does FHSU grant credit for CLEP and/or other tests? If so, is there an online page that lists the tests they accept, how many hours they grant, what is the minimum passing grade, etc. like COSC does?>


Gunsmoke, the FHSU link you are looking for is:

http://www.fhsu.edu/kellycenter/testing/clepcredit.shtml

I couldn't find anything that states how much CLEP they accept. You may have to call.



<Based out of Garland Texas, this combination "bricks & clicks" institution (Amberton) is RA accredited through SACS, and offers a graduate per credit rate of $200, this is about as cheap as you'll find a legitimate Master's program going for anywhere in the world.>


Amberton seems to be a good school, no question about it. $200 per hour is certainly inexpensive. FHSU offers a masters program for $150 per hour.

Pug

 

University of California, Berkeley has a lot of 3 credit courses for around $475


http://explore.berkeley.edu/UCExt/subdiscipline.asp?value=6.0.&action=Internet

 

University of Texas-Austin. Courses are 299.00. Nice customer service too!

 

THANK YOU pugbelly!

 

Hey Gunsmoke....

You're welcome. I have an LSU question for you:

What are their testing procedures like? I know their website says that they require exams to be taken at testing centers. Is this enforced or will they allow a librarian or CPA to act as a proctor like many other universities?

Pug

 

I din't know CPA's could be used as proctors.

 

<I din't know CPA's could be used as proctors.>

Yup, at least as some schools. Eugene Bible College allows a CPA to act as my proctor. Other schools state that a proctor can be anyone unrelated to the student, in a position of authority, trust, and neutrality.

Pug