Competency Based Education

Today’s post is the seventh in a series of practical tips on how to save money on college. Today’s saving money on college tip is: Enroll in a school with a liberal credit transfer policy that makes it easy for you to start college in a low-cost, low risk environment. Pursuing an online degree requires commitment and discipline and is often more demanding on your time than you might expect. To avoid putting your finances and goals at risk, you can prepare for success in college in a a low-cost, low risk online learning environment. According to the Pew Research Center, over 40% of households headed by young adults are burdened with student loan debt; many who never earned their degree. When you enroll in a degree progra ...

Today’s post is the third in a series of practical tips on how to save money on college. Today’s saving money on college tip is: Take an additional course each semester. As a busy college student, you may wonder why bother adding an additional course per semester. Here's why: students who maximize the number of courses each semester, beyond what is required, can reduce the total number of semesters it takes to earn their degree. Since the average 2014-15 tuition and fees at a 4-year private university is $31,231, the cost saving on your college degree can be significant. Eliminate enough semesters (and get a scholarship!) and you could cut your college tuition in half! "Students who maximize the number of courses each semester ...

Johnnie Galbo’s career goal is to become a biology teacher. It’s been years since she earned her associate degree – but after taking a job as a paraprofessional in a high school, she knows she needs her bachelor’s degree to take her teaching career to the next level. So, with one daughter still in high school, and another in college, Johnnie decided it was time to go back and get her Bachelor of Arts in Biology at StraighterLine partner college, Western Governor's University (WGU). There was just one speed bump – her advisor at WGU told her she would need to complete several prerequisite courses before being able to start her degree program. Johnnie was concerned:  “If I couldn’t find a way to take my courses o ...

This article originally appeared on Western Governors University Night Owl Blog. By: Nick Rothacher, WGU Scholarship Program Manager MYTH:  Where you attend college matters more than your major. REALITY:  Your degree field is the major indicator of your future earning potential. While public perception is that you will make way more money when you graduate from a prestigious school (think Ivy league or small liberal arts college), the data tell a different story. Your degree field will dictate your future earnings much more than your alma mater. While there are exceptions to the rule, an education degree from Harvard is going to land you a teaching job with a salary comparable to that of a graduate from a state school. MYTH: ...

We’re proud to announce City University of Seattle, Colorado Technical University, Seward County Community College and University of Bridgeport – College of Chiropractic as the 4 newest schools to join our college savings network of accredited partner colleges. As our successful students know, every course you complete at StraighterLine saves you money on your college degree from schools in our network. Students starting with StraighterLine know exactly how their credits will fit into our partner college degree pathways. Together, we develop a personalized degree plan that will show you what courses to take with us and how much you can save on your college degree. Your StraighterLine courses are guaranteed to transfer to s ...