Currently have Semi-Senior status, need Bachelor's ASAP! Welcoming suggestions!

Good Afternoon Everyone;

Since 2010 I've been enrolled in a university originally studying Software Engineering and then quickly switched to Electrical Engineering. As of December 2014, I have not completed the degree program, but it will not be possible to stick with it with my current financial situation, and slowly it has been eating away at my physical and mental health to the point of manifesting sickening thoughts according to society, but my current job requires that I have a college degree of some sort. The job that I currently have is my dream job, the job I've been thinking about since I was in Kindergarten, and I refuse to let it go over a degree printed on paper.

I've decided to take a leave of absence to get my head straight and for health reasons, but I have also been passing the imaginary ball back and forth in my head about online colleges. People say it's a different experience for classroom environment, but I've done that for 4.5 legitimate years, so it wouldn't be a loss for me as I would be able to get both experiences.

At the moment I have roughly 85 credits, my original major choices were not dream fields( I get a lot of flak for that, but it was the only way I saw), I wanted to choose them to have access to my dream job, (Which it has so far in a way). What type of institution would work in my favor to receive a bachelor's before the end of 2015? (Latest):thinking:

 

You have number of choices.

Did you check the Big Three?
They will accept your 85 semester hours in to a degree program and let you graduate by completing the rest of the classes or challenge exams, plus cap stone.
Basic degree has 120 semester hour to 140 semester hour requirements.
You will need to take some challenge exams and do some projects, its possible to complete in 1 year.

So check Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State College , or Charter Oak State College. Also you may challenge additional credit by portfolio.

You also have some NA degree options. Most NA Universities accept 75% of degree requirement matching classes in transfer credit.

They allow you to pay down payment of 300 $ for example and then 125 $ a month.
DETC degrees are not as wide accepted as RA degrees.
But they do provide adult workers a lot of flexibility.

Check out Cal Coast University or if you want Engineering Technology degree, maybe at Grantham University.

 

Some fine-tuning of your statements:

1) I don't think that DETC degrees universally allow the 300/125 deal you've described.
2) I don't think that DETC degrees as a group are any more flexible than RA degrees earned through distance learning.

 

Since you are essentially "changing your major" regarding your academic studies you have to assume that not all your credits will transfer into a new degree program. Right now, at 85 credits, you're 35 short of a standard Bachelors degree. That's going to translate into 11-12 courses in a standard program where courses are 3 per course. Can you do 12 courses in a year? Sure. Standard workload for a full-time student is 15 credits per semester. However, the clock is ticking and it sounds like you're not enrolled in anything right now and you'll have to hurry to get it all done in time for the Spring semester. You need to pick a major, pick 2 or 3 programs, get your transfer credits evaluated and work toward filling the gaps. The easiest, fastest and cheapest way is to test out of as many courses you can and then transfer the whole mess of credits into one of the Big 3 schools. We have a forum describing just how to do that. Read it carefully. Read a bunch of threads and ask lots of questions.

 

What is it that you want to major in now? Do you need ABET accreditation?

 

What new major or degree plan will we be pursuing?

A liberal studies or general studies degree might be the quickest. I second the Big 3 (Excelsior, COSC, TESC) as they would take most of your credit most likely and allow you lots of options for obtaining the remaining credits...end of 2015 is likely quite doable. Self paced options like Western Governors, Northern Arizona, and Patton come to mind too...of course these days many traditional schools offer attractive non traditional programs. One of my favorites is Colorado State Univ Pueblo Undergraduate Degree Program > Division of Continuing Education > Colorado State University-Pueblo (I have no idea if these social science related degrees are of interest to you of course).

 

Along those same lines, there are also a nice little selection of "degree completion programs" that are set up for people who will be transferring credits towards a degree.

 

I checked a few of DETC accredited universities, they offer flexible options, one of the options is a payment plan.

Some offer Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
“You are not required to demonstrate financial need to receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Just like the RA schools.

I recommend RA school as a first choice.

As to flexibility, it depends on schools. Its case by case.
Private for profit in my opinion, and based on feedback from my colleagues, friends and my own experience seems to be a little bit more flexible.