making a "top choices" list

I'm making a list for my dearest friend. While she is totally internet savvy, my resources for finding RA college at a good price are better than hers at this point (Read: I've got peeps).

As a kicking off point, we worked up 2 cleps for her to study for (Human Growth Development, Analyzing and Interpreting Lit). She studied- passed both with good high scores, and as a result has now been bitten by "the bug" and is ready to work toward a degree!

Her work history- limited to zero/full time mom her whole life.

Her prior college experience- 12 credits at the local cc and 9 clep credits

She definitely wants a 4 year degree. She definitely wants to use CLEP to some extent. She is leaning toward an online degree through an RA B&M school, and I think that's a decent plan. I'd like to make a list of about 5-6 schools as a starting point. She will take my advice, and values my opinion. (talk about pressure!!) But, seriously, I'm working up a list now. I'd like her to be able to use about 30 CLEP minimum, and keep the price on the low end. Since she has not zeroed in on a major she'd like, I'm leaving that wide open for now. She has no idea since she's never worked/taken classes. She is, however, drawn to psychology, religion, philosophy, social sciences, ethics, etc. *the thinking disciplines* I'm limiting the list to Illinois/Iowa.

I don't need anyone to run a search for me, but if you have a school in IL/IA that you like and would be worth suggesting, please let me know. I'd like to bump off a few of these.

My list so far:
1. Ashford University. *problem: full ride if you attend on campus, but that restricts you to 30 alternative credit and requires full time enrollment-that's a deal breaker the online program allows 90 alternative credits but is considerably more money.

2. Western Illinois University *problem: only way to use CLEP is through the liberal arts degree

3. Upper Iowa University *not a lot of majors to pick from

4. University of Illinois *good name, all online, only a few degrees and no clep

 

Several years ago when I was checking into Liberty U one of their advisers told me they would accept up to 90 credit hours of exam credit. If this is still true, Liberty would be a great one to add to your list. It has a huge brick and mortar presence in addition to its great online offerings.

 

Still true. LU will take 90 credits of anything at all into the LS Degree and up to 90 for other degrees if they match up.

 

Holy cow! I wish they were that generous with transfer credit in their grad programs. That would have saved me a lot of money.

 

What is the "LS Degree?"

 

Excellent!! Thank you!