With all the talk about CLEP exams and the big three, I'll share a post I made on another board dealing with the cheapest methods of earning a degree at one of the big three. I didn't see a thread addressing this question, so if anyone is interested.... This is a road map for Thomas Edison State College's Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree. This is (I believe) the cheapest route for someone starting with zero credits and willing/capable of testing out at this specific school. relevant links: www.tesc.edu www.collegeboard.com www.aleks.com www.fema.gov Thomas Edison State College cheapest degree possible starting from 0 credits (as of 2/12/09) BA Liberal Studies $1785 active duty military# BA Liberal Studies $3065 in state (New Jersey) BA Liberal Studies $4160 out of state Application Fee to TESC $75 Out of State Enrollment Fee to TESC $2445 (in state $1350) Technology Fee to TESC $100 Graduation Fee to TESC $240 Credit Requirements paid to various agents $1300 (testing centers fees vary $0-$25 per exam) CREDIT SOURCES: 6cr. English Composition CLEP English Comp Exam, 6 cr., $80 12cr. Humanities CLEP Humanities Exam, 6 cr. $80 CLEP Literature Exam (American), 6 cr. $80 12 cr. Social Science CLEP Social Science and History Exam, 6 cr. $80 CLEP Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr. $80 CLEP Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr. $80 12 cr. Natural Science and Math CLEP College Math Exam, 6 cr. $80 CLEP Natural Science Exam, 6 cr. $80 18 cr. General Education Electives CLEP Foreign Language Exam level 1 score**, 6 cr. $80 CLEP Biology Exam, 6 cr. $80 CLEP Literature Exam (British), 6 cr. $80 27 cr. Free Electives FEMA Independent Study Courses, 24 cr. $0 ALEKS Business Statistics, 3 cr. $0 33 cr. Liberal Studies Area in 2 or more concentrations A. Humanities -12 CLEP Foreign Language Exam level 2 score**, 6 cr. $0 CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Exam, 6 cr. $80 B. Social Science-9 CLEP Human Growth and Development Exam, 3 cr. $80 CLEP Educational Psychology Exam, 3 cr. $80 CLEP Organizational Behavior, 3 cr. $80 C. Natural Science and Math -12 ALEKS Introduction to Stats, 3 cr. $20* ALEKS Stats for Behavioral Science, 3 cr. $0 CLEP Chemistry Exam, 6 cr. $80 NOTES: **This schedule assumes you can pass some pretty difficult exams, including a foreign language. If you know a second language, you can delete the social sciences section and replace it with a second CLEP language exam for a savings of $160 *Completion of 3 ALEKS courses inside 1 month. Some coupon codes will give you a month trial for free, saving $20 There are a lot of social science exams that would count from the history area, but I selected this group based on the principle of "exam grouping." #Active duty military may be eligible to take all CLEP exams for free, and will pay only in-state tuition, no matter where they are stationed.
Could these be considered duplicative? (He said, knowing he was badly nitpicking an otherwise lovely degree plan! Thank you for it.)
>> Absolutely, 100%, for sure they do NOT DUPLICATE at TESC. Excelsior college does consider them duplication, you have to choose one.
